The Story Of How Girls' Generation Completely Changed The Life Of K-Pop Producer Rodnae "Chikk" Bell

Working with Girls’ Generation was the big break that producer Rodnae “Chikk” Bell needed.

In an interview with reacttothek, the renowned songwriter talked about entering the K-Pop industry through the SM Entertainment girl group when she helped make Girls’ Generation’s 2014 title track “Mr. Mr.”

This song singlehandedly changed Chikk’s life. She went from making songs that would be cut from the final album lineup of Western artists such as Iggy Azalea, Jordin Sparks, and Jennifer Hudson to having a title track be sung by one of the top girl groups of the year.

Like, I wrote in the States for many years, and I had cuts, no album cuts on big artists…when I went to Korea I left with two #1s in my first trip.

— Chikk

Besides the prestige that the achievement came with, she also saw a significant difference in her finances.

I actually didn’t sign a very big advance, and as you know, you don’t see money for 9 to 12 months after a song is released. So ‘Mr. Mr.’ was my very first cut, like, pretty much ever, and I didn’t have money.

— Chikk

In fact, Chikk received her first payment when she was doing her main job as a grocery store worker.

I was actually delivering groceries when I found out that I had a #1 song out in the world, and it was hard because I was like, ‘wait-‘ But obviously, once the money started coming in, it all balanced. I was actually delivering groceries when I see that it was actually like Top 20 songs on Time Magazine‘s 2014.

— Chikk

This was the light at the end of the tunnel that she craved for.

For me it was like that little glimmer of hope, that light, like keep going, keep going! You might not be here, you might be delivering groceries today, but one day you might wake up and have the highest selling girl group in K-pop history, as I do today, so that’s cool!

— Chikk

It also gave her the experience she needed to learn her rights as a songwriter. This was in regards to the royalties given to her—or lack therof. Chikk lobbied to be paid for her vocals in the song and this helped inspire a fairer industry for K-Pop songwriters today.

So young, so green, not knowing, and actually I didn’t get paid initially for my vocals, I didn’t, and when I asked to get paid for it because I just felt like that should have probably happened, I had to fight for it. Now, today, it’s a given, it’s a given. I have actually had writers reach out to me like, ‘Thank you for fighting for us years ago because now, today, I actually get something.’

— Chikk

At the end of the day, Chikk is very grateful for the benefits that writing Girls’ Generation’s “Mr. Mr.” did for her personal and professional lives. She ended with a piece of advice: “Do not give up! Do not give up.”

Check out the full interview below!