Singer-model Donna Goldn / Courtesy of Donna Goldn and Darina Shaposhnikova

From Belgian roots to the Korean stage, singer-model Donna Goldn finds her artistic inspiration within the everyday tapestry of Korean life. During a relaxed Friday afternoon at The Korea Times headquarters, Goldn revealed the secrets behind her "flavorful" musical creations in a lively interview.

"Interesting inspirations tend to spring up in the midst of everyday life," the 28-year-old singer said in fluent Korean.

From long commutes in Seoul to the flavors of local cuisine, her daily life unexpectedly sparks ideas.

"I'm currently living in Gyeonggi Province, so whenever I visit Seoul, I inevitably find myself stuck on buses for what feels like ages. But those endless commutes, staring out at the passing scenery, always spark something musical in me, out of the blue," she said.

"I remember a time on public transport where I stood for ages, unable to find a seat. Suddenly, lyrics and rhythms about leg cramps just struck me. It actually turned into a song I'm working on right now," she added with a playful grin.

Stemming from these everyday encounters, "Mashiketta," the singer's debut single released last year, sparked a frenzy across the digital sphere.

"Mashiketta" — a Korean term which means "must be tasty" — features lyrics entirely in Korean. It originates from a parody of the viral video "Mooo!" by American rapper Doja Cat, and according to Goldn, the parody clip was inspired by her initial impressions upon arriving in Korea.

Singer-model Donna Goldn / Courtesy of Donna Goldn and Darina Shaposhnikova

Goldn's Korean journey began in 2015, where she was immediately enchanted by what she fondly calls the nation's "flavorful allure."

"When I first arrived in Korea, I went to visit a friend in Daegu and they introduced me to 'makchang' (grilled pork intestines). I was a bit hesitant about trying animal innards at first, but after a few bites, I was hooked. So those experiences made their way into the lyrics of 'Mashiketta.' The 'jeyuk bokkeum' (spicy stir-fried pork) that my friend's father made was also out of this world, so I had to include that in the lyrics too," she reminisced.

"During nights out with friends at clubs, when recovering from a hangover, I often craved something sweet. So I mentioned Bongbong Grape Juice and Melona ice pops in the lyrics, as they were our favorite treats at the time."

Her favorite Korean dish now is 'kimchi-jjigae,' or kimchi stew.

"I used to love 'doenjang-jjigae' (soybean paste stew) the most, but after living in Korea for a long time, I came to love kimchi-jjigae more. I really love well-made kimchi-jjigae. It's a simple dish, but there's nothing better for a hangover," the singer said.

The album cover of Donna Goldn's second single, "Grape Wifey" / Courtesy of Donna Goldn, Moonyoung URC

Goldn revealed that she did not anticipate the immense love her parody video, created as a playful homage to the tasty experiences she had in Korea, would receive.

"I didn't have high expectations for that video. In fact, it was just a simple video made for fun," she explained.

"But gradually, more and more people found the video, praised the song and even asked if I could officially release the audio. So, I contacted a producer friend and went into official music production. The whole process felt amazing."

Officially released in February last year, "Mashiketta" has now garnered more than 77,000 views on YouTube. Its popularity has continued with the release of her second Korean single "Grape Wifey."

"It was fascinating that people could enter my world and relate to the things that I wrote about. I feel so thankful that people understand where I'm coming from. Food is something every human being can relate to. It's really heartwarming."

Singer-model Donna Goldn / Courtesy of Donna Goldn and Cathy Liu

Born in Belgium, where Dutch, German and French serve as official languages, Goldn found herself captivated by the Korean language through K-dramas, despite having no ethnic connection.

"I got hooked on Korean after watching the rom-com series 'Big' (2012). The Korean language sounded like music to my ears. At first, it was just simple curiosity, but as I watched more dramas, Korean naturally stuck with me. Next thing I knew, I was spouting Korean like a professional," chuckled the singer as she recalled the experience.

Embarking on a more serious journey to learn Korean, Goldn's family and friends initially found her newfound passion peculiar.

"My friends often gave me strange looks... During my high school years when everyone was obsessed with American actors in Hollywood, I was the only one intrigued by Korean," she said.

"My family wasn't too pleased at first either. My mother either encouraged me to focus on something else instead of Korean or suggested I learn Chinese instead."

However, Goldn managed to persuade her parents with her belief that Korea would someday culturally thrive.

"It just made sense to me. At that time, when people thought of East Asian cultures, they usually thought of Japanese or Chinese cultures. But from the moment I encountered Korean contents, I was convinced that this was going to be big. It was an inexplicable pull," she said.

And her steadfast belief has carved her a distinct niche as one of the most unique singers in Korea.

"Even my initially hesitant mother has started taking an interest in Korea. Now, she greets my Korean friends with an 'Anyeonghaseyo' first," Goldn expressed.

Singer-model Donna Goldn / Courtesy of Donna Goldn and Jules Emile J.

Goldn plans to steadily continue her artistic journey in Korea.

Alongside her vibrant modeling career, she recently completed featuring work on Korean rapper James An's new album slated for May, with plans to release her own one next year.

"In my upcoming work, I want to show a different side from what I've shown so far. 'Mashiketta' and 'Grape Wifey' were both music related to food, fun and bubbly styles, but the album scheduled for next year is about attempting a completely different style," she hinted.

According to the singer, her upcoming work will highlight her versatility across diverse musical genres.

"Some artists focus on a single genre for their music career. But I don't think I can do that. I enjoy R&B, electronic, punk, classical, and even Korean trot. I admire artists who can handle various genres, from Kim Gun-mo to Kim Wan-sun," she said.

"So, in my upcoming album, I'm planning for listeners to choose genres as if they were picking from a menu. I hope my listeners will appreciate how diverse my talents are."