By: Quinn Que
Q) How did you first discover your passion for music, and what inspired you to start creating YouTube covers?
A) I’m the quiet sort, but music switches something on in me. The YouTube covers began with a gentle nudge from a legendary Korean artist: “Pop one online.” I did and that small step set everything else in motion.
Q) You’ve amassed over 17 million subscribers and billions of views. How has your relationship with your audience evolved since you began on YouTube?
A) Fridays became sacred. If an upload slipped, my heart did, too. That routine built trust and the audience met me with so much warmth that I still feel a bit undeserving. They’ve often made me feel like someone extraordinary.
Q) What was the transition like from being primarily known as a cover artist to developing as an original songwriter and producer?
A) I began covers to introduce myself before releasing originals then they took off far more than I expected, which made the shift trickier. I spent a long while figuring out how to move forward without losing what people loved.
Q) What artists or musical influences have shaped the vintage textures and modern electronic elements we hear in your new work?
A) From Tame Impala I borrowed the hazy, tape-tinted glow.
From Jungle the tight grooves and choral hooks.
Together they nudged me towards a sound that feels retro and new at once.
Q) Tell us about the creative process behind “Stellar Paradox.” What was it like working on a song that lived on your iPad for four years?
A) To finish “Stellar Paradox” my heart had to be ready. I parked it for a while so I could process the tug-of-war between my “cover” self and my “original” self and reach a place where I could sing it plainly, head up. The technique grew, yes, but the real work was emotional.
Q) The song explores themes of duality, inner conflict, and cosmic wonder. How do these themes reflect your personal and artistic journey?
A) I’ve always had a soft spot for the cosmos. It keeps my imagination honest, beautiful yet baffling, precise yet unknowable. That tension feels very familiar. It mirrors the way my life often swings between clarity and mystery.
Q) You used vintage ribbon microphones and gear from the 60s and 70s for “Stellar Paradox.” What drew you to that particular sound aesthetic?
A) I wanted the paradox to live in the sonics too: vintage warmth and softness carrying a modern, high-energy engine. Think ribbon-soft edges with proper bite underneath, a hug up top, a heartbeat below.
Q) How did your personal growth between 2020 and 2024 shape the final version of “Stellar Paradox?”
A) For over three years I posted one cover a week of well-loved songs. It was a standing challenge and the best classroom I could ask for musically and technically. Keeping that promise built stamina, skills and a thicker skin.
Q) How does “Stellar Paradox” set the tone for the rest of your upcoming EP, and what can listeners expect from the other tracks?
A) Around “Stellar Paradox,” the EP swings between high-energy, powerful tracks and gentler songs that feel like a warm hug. There’s a cut that leans properly vintage, too. Altogether it’s a little hamper of moods, something for every hour of the day.
Q) In what ways has working entirely out of your private studio in Seoul influenced your creative process and artistic independence?
A) I love working alone. In London writing sessions I even asked for an hour on my own. That’s how my ideas breathe. My studio in Seoul is a playground: no interruptions, just room to daydream until the song arrives.
Q) Your upcoming EP represents a complete DIY approach from writing to final production. What challenges and rewards have come with taking on every aspect of creation yourself?
A) It was challenge after challenge. When I hit the wall, I left the chair, went out to meet people who care and could help and asked a frankly ridiculous number of questions. The toughest bit was the fog. Those days when I couldn’t tell if anything was good anymore. The conversations pulled me through to the end.
Q) Who are some artists that you would love to collaborate with on music in the future?
A) Top of the list: Tame Impala and Jungle as mentioned.
Their palettes sit close to where my ear naturally goes.
Q) How do you envision balancing your established YouTube presence with this new chapter of original music?
A) It’s my big ongoing homework. I’m working out the balance in real time, and I’d love you to watch this space and cheer me on while I get it right.
Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?
A) I do worry I sound like a broken record saying “thank you” all the time. I’m just that grateful. I’ll pour that feeling back into the music and, with a bit of luck, return more love, strength and encouragement than I’ve received.