Cifika: ‘It’s Less About Perfection and More About Authenticity’

“With Bonfire, I feel like I’ve grown as a musician and a storyteller,” Cifika reflects on her latest offering—Bonfire—an 11-track album that unveils a “richer and warmer sound,” drawing inspiration from myriad genres—a departure from her earlier electronic music.

Cifika, a Korean artist, producer, and singer, uses Bonfire to musically express her creative process over the last year since winning Best Electronic Song at the 2024 Korean Popular Music Awards for the track “Hush.” Her sophomore album, ION, was also nominated for Best Electronic Album. “Unlike ION,” she explains, “which was more about pushing electronic boundaries, this album focuses on merging intricate production with raw, introspective lyrics.”

Bonfire’s sound includes ambient, pop, alternative folk, and other genres alongside electronic music. “Little Drama,” for example, is a roots track featuring electronic sounds, metal, psychedelic, and diverse rock music, leading up to sweeping drumbeats. Central to Bonfire is Cifika’s honesty and vulnerabilities, personal experiences, and the insights she gleaned along the way. “It’s less about perfection and more about authenticity.”

The album’s title track, “Bonfire,” an alternative folk number, embodies the album’s name. Its chorus has the voices of Cifika’s close friends. Elaborating on the title’s significance, she says, “For me, Bonfire represents a gathering place—a moment of warmth, vulnerability, and shared connection. It’s about creating a space where people can come together, share stories, and find solace. I wanted the title to evoke that feeling of sitting around a fire, baring parts of yourself that might have been hidden, and listening to the untold stories of others.”

Cifika emphasizes that the process of growing, learning to accept her flaws, and prioritizing “storytelling” over “technical precision” gave her the inspiration for the album. As evidence of the limitless potential of musical expression, it represents a significant milestone in her discography. Bonfire broadens her creative horizons by breaking away from her existing musical identity. “Much of it also stems from exploring the tension between individuality and community, especially in a culture that prioritizes ‘us’ over ‘me,’ according to the artist. “That irony shaped much of the album’s emotional core,” she adds.

Bonfire provides warmth and an emotional connection, bringing in a different personal sonic encounter; Cifika describes the album-making process as both “challenging and transformative.” “I collaborated with Nancy Boy and Umaka, and their insistence on keeping the complexity of their original demos pushed me to approach melody and lyric writing in completely new ways. It was like stepping into unfamiliar territory, but it forced me to grow.”

Acknowledged in 2018 with the Korea Popular Music Awards for Best Dance & Electronic Song, Cifika has made a name at home and abroad. Having spent her early years in the United States, she fuses Korean and English in her lyrical compositions, bridging cultural boundaries. In Bonfire, she makes new music narrating a story of identity, belonging, and artistic aspirations while remaining true to who she is as a person. In her words, “I see it as a testament to my evolution, blending technical expertise with an emotional depth that feels true to who I am now.”