iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

it's just a shame that there just aren't many areas for people to really just express art and have the audience for it, whether it's singing, dancing, playing an instrument and so on. So annoying!

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

be proactive about things. Like, print out your setlist and give it to staff with the notes on how you want the stage to be, even if they didn't ask for it. and really not settle for meager stuff at cons.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

stuff in front of people. But I think, if we're more creative, we can find more places to perform and find that respect we deserve :/ I also think, something I will start to do and encourage others to try is to stop waiting for the con to ask you stuff and rather,

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

I feel like conventions as a whole are just losing their appeal. Because not only for singers, even DJs complain about not getting paid, and conventions rely on a lot of volunteers who are unpaid. That's how it is in the states. Sadly it feels like conventions are the only opportunity to try to do-

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

I think too many people say "it's just for fun" as a way to hide from criticism or people saying they should be more realistic.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

it's fine to do things just for fun, but if deep down you want this to be more than fun, and you want it to be serious and you want to strive for something greater, it's ok to admit that.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

cons don't really NEED to take kaigai idols seriously. Why? Because majority of kaigai idols say "this is just for fun" so why would you bother taking them seriously and trying to be all technical with them on stage when it's "just for fun"

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

where livehouses will want a setlist sheet for every performance, and notes on when to start the song and what color you want for lights. it's pretty obvious why there's a difference, I mean, japan gets idol, japan does idol well. but I think another thing is that,

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Recently Berry was on an podcast and talked about doing idol in the u.s. vs japan and what she said was very true. She mentioned that at conventions, staff often doesn't take idol performances so seriously or their job the entire weekend as staff isn't so serious compared to in japan,

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

In fact a lot of people will cheer on a performance if it looks like total garbage as long as they like the song that's playing. I really don't understand people, but maybe it's the convention crowd that cares more about fandom and familiar things.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

but then that brings us back to the idea "it's not hurting anyone" which YEAH TRUE. but it bugs people in the audience and let's them down. well, the ones who care. I suppose the majority of the crowd will still cheer it on and hype it up.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

that's why I don't like the idea that "everyone can be an idol" because it takes mental strength and endurance to really see it through. But a lot of people see idol as a cosplay thing. you have your "idolsona" and you get up on stage, just dance without singing, and you are an idol tah-dah.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

and people get so scared to try because people like me will exist in the crowd, but why wouldn't you want to work hard to avoid making people feel that way? I guess it's a sensitive subject, but as long as you work hard, give it your all, and know you really tried your best, people will feel it.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

I will NEVER understand cheering on a performance that just isn't good. I don't find enjoyment watching someone who looks unprepared, sloppy and doesn't have their heart in it.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

world building, concepts, strong vocal delivery and so on. they get their rewards, their follows, their flowers. so there really isn't much of a problem I guess. But I think for anyone who wants to complain about the lack of quality that some kaigai idols have, that's the answer.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

but people like that. people cheer it on. conventions allow it to take the main stage. people don't have a problem with it. there's no incentive to really get "better." of course there are kaigai idols, who operate more as artists and release good quality original independent music, and have

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

and the thing is, a lot of people actually like low quality kaigai idol stuff. I know it sounds harsh to say, but it's true. low quality as in, choreo isn't tight on stage, vocals are not perfect, there's a lot lacking. Yes, those people are probably doing their best, but... it's frankly not good.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

There are discussions about how kaigai idols should have better quality and then in that same convo, people talk about how kaigai idols shouldn't be held to such strict standards and be allowed to do this for fun.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

This is something that I'm afraid to say on twitter because it might get picked up and people will attack me LOL. I feel like since it's pretty empty here and people might read these much later after I post them, it's less likely there will be an inflammatory reaction but hmm we'll see lol

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

riiiiight. I kinda wanna bluntly say it's that you allow a parasocial relationship with fans but then again, nicki minaj has that and she's no idol LOL. Someone mentioned to me before that idol = supporting a dream. So like, I think with idol there's a lot of narrative building with fans?

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

tldr; I feel like I know what I'm doing but I also don't freakin know

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

even if you make darker music is what makes something "idol" but I'm open for that final point to be argued against. I just kinda think what makes something have that idol magic is that unwavering spirit you can feel in songs.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

and that would include things like, having a fandom name, livestreaming/vlogging to build more connection to fans, revealing more personal (but not too much lol) details about yourself beyond music-related things, and I do think generally having a fighting spirit/positive mindset,

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

taking the idea of being a popstar into your own hands. but on the other hand, there are some people who just sing and do a little dance but I wouldn't call that IDOL necessarily unless the person is really engaging in idol-style marketing and connections with fans.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

the thing I like about indie idol is that it works for people who are even inspired by k-pop concepts a bit, or even other asian pop or even taking it back to the 00s bubblegum pop idol era. It feels more flexible and yet one thing remains true: it's independent music and

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

I'm not sure where i stand because not too many people are really into this idea or at least really into the idea of pushing the genre of indie idol more and developing it into a thing that can stand on its own without reference to japan. people probably like being compared to what goes on in japan,

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

expectations such as the obvious: looks and behavior. I mean even "idol" itself is an oxymoron because I say I do idol music and yet I want people to just see me as a regular person and not put too much moral expectations on me.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

of course the original music absolutely has references to japanese idol music and j-pop in general, but at the same time, I guess what I'm trying to say is I just don't want to feel too chained to those kind of expectations,

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

I think many people are still into the idea of bringing japan to america, and making kaigai idol be an american equivalent of japanese idol. that's fine, and some people are doing a good job at that, but that doesn't feel aligned with me anymore as I work on more original music.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

which I hope to see become it's own version of diy underground idol pop music that has it's own culture separate from japan, but still slighty referencing it, but still something that a person can enjoy and understand even if they've never listened to japanese idol music before.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

I mean, it's not like what I'm doing is that complicated LOL but it's like... it IS complicated. it's' j-pop inspired music that is in english, so it's not j-pop, but it's not really standard american pop or singer-songwriter typical pop music. I also am trying to push the concept of "indie idol"

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

when idol stuff was so unknown and hard to explain to people, it felt complicated to explain what I did. now, idol stuff is a bit more understood, but I feel like I changed and now what I do feels too complicated to explain.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

I don't really know what to do. I want to make myself more understandable to people but at the same time, I have the hardest time ever trying to neatly fold myself into a concise sentence of some sort. I feel like I was always too ahead of things. Like, before,

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

plus, as an audience member myself, I prefer to watch a live music show while standing. sitting down feels like I can't feel as excited to watch the show compared to if I'm standing and can like, jump around a little lol.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

and also as a performer, I should be able to go all out and do my best no matter what the circumstances are, but I do think that if I want to facilitate the best experience possible for people, they need to stand (if physically able to.)

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

it felt like were were involved in the activity together vs when people are sitting down it just feels like I'm being judged. and obviously the people sitting down don't have those thoughts but when you're vulnerable and feeling insecure, that is where the mind goes.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

i came to the conclusion that the biggest issue with doing live performances is the difference between the crowd sitting down vs standing up. I finally experienced, for the first time ever, a crowd that stood up while I was on a stage during a performance and that helped A LOT

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

I did not go all in and felt myself holding back still damn it. I mean, I had moments of feeling free, but many moments of thinking too much about the environment and my appearance (in a bad way lol)

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

I started using twitter again a little bit but it doesn't really feel right to post there a lot and let my thoughts run wild and free there LOL. I think a couple posts a day is fine, but beyond that I feel like I'm doing too much.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

that there definitely ARE people out there who do >:3 From those who followed me while I still sounded pretty bad on stage, to those who met me for the first time during my florida trips post-2020, so even the friends I've made all the way here in korea. The world of opportunity feels big now!!!!

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Moving forward, I feel confident that I can "sell" idol to people who never heard of it before. I can "sell" the concept of "Cherry wallflower the indie idol" to people who never heard of that before. and if people still don't wanna take what I'm offering, that's fine, because I know-

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

I'm not sure how to conclude this thread with a nice summary of this string of thoughts lol. Well, I'm finally confident and feel free enough to just go all in next month. and sure, I will still have weak points, but I hope people can sense a higher level of vitality and personality 🥳

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

No, I'm just an artist and I see my life as "art" as pretencious as some might think lol. but, I just see live as a movie, and you can make life into art, and you can use your body for art and you can make yourself into your own muse.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

which was what had me spiraling for a bit. Because part of me thought, okay if I want to keep being creative, putting myself out there, make videos/music/art but... people don't really care... does that make me a crazy self obsessed egocentric maniac?

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

were there for ME. because, no one else was performing lol. So, it's not impossible. it's not impossible for me to have a crowd of people that are there and like me for me. I know it sounds sooooo silly but I had been going YEARS without this kind of validation.

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

but of course.......................... I had zero reason to worry. Although, during that performance, I did hold myself back a bit. I was afraid to do "too much." Be too expressive to where it looks cheesy. BUT that was the first time in my life where every one, all eight people LOL-

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

of course they're my friends, but I didn't think any of them listened to idol music, and they never saw me in person in this "form" lol. I didn't think they would make fun of me, but I didn't know if there would be some like, underlying confusion or just man idk!!

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Cherry Wallflower 🍒🌸❤️💚 @cherrywallflower.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

I think the breakthrough moment was the birthday party I organized in decemnber 2025 with 8 good friends. I did a live performance (uploading soon) that was like 30 mins worth, and beforehand, I had NO idea how people were gonna react.

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