Finding your sound can take time. For 200 (EBACK), her first solo EP, Battle Bunny Crossbow, was the project that finally made her feel like she was getting closer to her own.
After collaborating with 88rising on “OMAKASE,” the artist followed the single with a project that gave her more room to explore the music she grew up with, tell personal stories, and share more of herself with listeners.
“This was the first project that made me think, ‘This feels like me,’” 200 tells The Mikan Box.
Listeners may also know 200 as part of SIKKOO, where she shares the creative process with two other members. Going solo gave her more freedom, but it also meant taking on a bigger share of the responsibility herself.
We caught up with 200 to talk about the making of “OMAKASE,” the influences behind Battle Bunny Crossbow, the difference between creating solo and with SIKKOO, and the unexpected role the Minions played in shaping her voice. And yes, we had to ask about the sushi. 🍣
Getting to Know 200 (EBACK)
The Mikan Box: For listeners discovering 200 (EBACK) for the first time, how would you introduce yourself as an artist?
200: Hi, I’m 200, and I make a little bit of everything. I recently followed up my single with a solo EP, and there’s plenty more I want to share with you. Stay tuned!
The Mikan Box: How did “OMAKASE” with 88rising come together, and why did it feel like the right song to introduce you to a wider audience?
200: 88rising reached out first about working together. We had a lot of conversations, brought our ideas together, and they even put together a track around the direction we landed on. I was really happy to take that first step with them, and everything flowed pretty naturally all the way through the release.
The Mikan Box: Your first solo EP is coming out on October 21. What does releasing your first EP mean to you at this point in your career?
200: “Battle Bunny Crossbow” is an album I hold really close to my heart. I spent a long time feeling lost, trying to figure out what kind of music I wanted to make. This was the first project that made me think, “This feels like me.” I’m still figuring out exactly what that looks like, but I hope you’ll hear it as a little teaser of what I want to show you moving forward.
The Mikan Box: What can listeners expect to hear from you across the EP that they might not get from “OMAKASE” alone?
200: I took music my generation grew up with, like K-pop and SeeU’s “Hide and Seek,” and reinterpreted it however I wanted. Then I brought in more honest, personal lyrics and storytelling, sampled CHEATKEY’s voice, and paid homage to their toplines. I tried to let go of the limits I’d put on myself and share as much of what I wanted to make and express as possible.
The Mikan Box: How is 200 the solo artist different from the version of you people hear as part of SIKKOO?
200: The biggest difference is that, as a solo artist, I have to bring the full 100 percent myself. In a group, the three of us make up that 100 percent together. We have to look out for each other and know when to take the lead, but we can also lean on each other’s strengths. With this album, I didn’t have anyone to lean on creatively, but I had more freedom. That comes with a bigger sense of responsibility, too.
The Mikan Box: Your voice is one of the first things people seem to notice about your music. How did you develop your vocal and rap style?
200: I guess I have my parents to thank for the nice things people say about my voice! I think being a little shy, along with a past obsession with the Minions, somehow shaped the way I talk today. And that naturally finds its way into my music.
The Mikan Box: The “OMAKASE” music video has a really distinct and cinematic style. What did you want the visuals to add to the song?
200: “Omakase” might not be the first word that comes to mind when you hear the track without knowing its title, so I wanted to bring it to life through visuals that made the connection immediately.
The Mikan Box: With your first solo EP introducing you to more listeners, what do you hope people understand about 200 after hearing it?
200: I’d be really grateful if people remembered me as an artist who does this kind of music well.
The Mikan Box: You’re serving sushi in the “OMAKASE” video, so what would be on your perfect omakase menu?
200: I’ve actually never had omakase! But the flounder sushi I had while filming the music video was so good that I still think about it. So flounder would be my pick!
Watch the “OMAKASE” music video and check out 200 (EBACK)’s first solo EP, Battle Bunny Crossbow.
