Megan Lee Talks About 'Make It Pop' And Her Journey To Stardom [Exclusive Interview]

Korean-American pop vocalist and actress Megan Lee leads the stellar cast of Nickelodeon’s musical comedy, “Make It Pop.” She portrays Sun Hi Song, an enthusiastic, aspiring pop idol who draws on electronic dance music for inspiration. “Make It Pop” weaves the vibrant aesthetic of Korean pop into a tale of prep school students who are on the verge of breaking into show business. Set within the hallways of Mackendrick Prep, Sun Hi and her roommates Corki (Erika Tham) and Jodi (Louriza Tronco) enjoy madcap adventures during their journey towards stardom. The 19-year-old rising star provided KDramastars with a phone interview, where she discussed her role on “Make It Pop” and her journey towards becoming one of Nickelodeon’s hottest new stars.

“Make It Pop” intersperses elaborate musical numbers with scenes that provide a comedic take on the trials and tribulations of high school. The series approaches pop music from the perspective of young adults, making it an all-ages take on prime time programs like “Glee.” The multidisciplinary aspect of “Make It Pop” made the show an attractive project for Megan Lee. “What made me interested in ‘Make It Pop’ was that I always wanted to do a project where I could sing, dance and act, “ Lee said. “That was what drew me in. The character of Sun Hi is just so outgoing and is so fun to play.”

She joined the cast after a rigorous, year-long casting process. The Nickelodeon series initially drew attention for its label as a K-pop inspired show, but critics have taken notice of the star power delivered by the vocalist-turned-actress. Nickelodeon is an American children’s television network which has served a launching pad for some of the brightest pop stars and comedians in Hollywood. Ariana Grande experienced breakout success as a pop idol following her recurring role on Victorious” while countless comedians like Kenan Thompson and Nick Cannon emerged from Nickelodeon live-comedies. Nick Cannon is heavily involved with the network and is the co-creator of “Make It Pop.”

Sun Hi is a vibrant Korean-American teen who is obsessed with pop music and video blogging for her fans, Sun Hi Nation. Sun Hi is a character with an omnipresent appreciation for the arts. Lee weighed in on her pursuit of a career in entertainment and the influence this has had on her portrayal of Sun Hi. “I have always loved performing, even when I was very young,” said Lee. “I started working professionally in entertainment when I was 10 years old. Ever since I can remember, I participated in community musicals, school talent shows, or anything that could showcase my talent for audiences.”

Even though she has an extensive performance resume, she admitted that one of the most challenging aspects of starring in “Make It Pop” was quickly mastering the choreography for the musical numbers that were featured in each episode. “Because of the time slot we were given for the first season, we did not have a lot of rehearsal time,” Lee said. “We had a day or even a half-day to rehearse the choreography. Most of the time, we had to learn choreography through dance videos that were sent to us. We would also meet off-the-clock to make sure we were prepared for the day. Hopefully, we will have more rehearsal time for the future season.”

Her prior experiences as a singer-songwriter and Korean pop trainee have provided invaluable knowledge for her role on the show. “I have been performing as a solo vocalist since I was a child and released a few YouTube videos,” Lee said. “Also, I performed in Korea and released a single. These experiences definitely helped me become more comfortable as a performer on ‘Make It Pop.’ Having experience with production numbers and working in the studio has helped with working on the show. Hopefully, my performance reflects that I have become more confident as I have been honing my craft.”

While her experiences as a Korean pop vocalist have helped to shape her portrayal of Sun Hi, “Make It Pop” does not directly reference K-pop and the songs featured on the series are performed in English. During the interview, she explained the incorporation of Korean culture in the show and its influence on the aesthetic of the set. “We don’t perform in Korean because it is not a K-pop show,” said Lee. “For one song, we did include the Korean word oma, which means mother. That is the extent that Korean language has been included in the songs. We have random Korean pop posters included in the set that serves as the girls’ dorm room. That’s how we have included the Korean culture background in the show.”

She continued to explain, “It is more Korean influence or inspiration than K-pop. I’m not sure if we will include any more Korean culture or language, in the next season. The show is purely K-pop inspired and Korean culture inspired.”

During her time spent in Korea, she competed on two seasons of MBC’s “Star Audition -The Great Birth” and released the single “8dayz” which featured Yong Jun Hyung. Even though she is currently working in Hollywood, she continues to have great appreciation for K-pop. “My all-time favorite group is 2NE1,” Lee said. “Recently, I have become interested in B1A4. I love their music and the fact that they write their own songs. They are such a great group and are all very good looking.”

The first season of “Make It Pop” did not include special appearances from K-pop idols but that does not rule out future opportunities. On May 1, Nickelodeon announced that “Make It Pop” would be extended for a second season.

She expressed her enthusiasm for the show and her desire to present messages to young audiences through the platform. “The cast and crew have been really sweet,” Lee said. “We’ve become one big, happy family. I feel really honored to be part of the project. I hope that the show continues to empower kids, in a positive way. Each episode has a very empowering message behind it.”

As the interview reached its conclusion, Megan Lee provided words of wisdom for young people who are interested in pursuing a career in entertainment. “No matter what happens or people say, keep believing in yourself and never give up,” Lee said. “Whether you want to become a singer, dancer or actor, always be confident in yourself. Have a very clear vision of your own path. My dream is to always inspire younger people in a very positive way. I really hope aspiring musicians or actors can look to me and will follow their dreams, without ever giving up.”

The first season of “Make It Pop” has completed its 20-episode run but the series is available for viewing on the Nickelodeon website and Hulu. Music performed by XO-IQ on “Make It Pop” is available for download on iTunes.