Singer-Songwriter Hongjoin On Writing Music For Himself And His Journey So Far

A young hongjoin would not have seen his whirlwind rise to fame coming. One day, the Brooklyn-based Singaporean singer-songwriter was a heartbroken 18-year-old penning the lyrics for “You’re My Everything”—now his second biggest hit on Spotify—and the next, he was opening for his favourite artiste, Charlie Burg, and doing shows across the globe. What started out as casual covers of songs such as 1975’s “Guys” and Harry Styles’ “Two Ghosts” posted on YouTube during the pandemic unexpectedly turned into a fullblown pursuit of his dreams that included a music education 10,000 miles away from home, and later, a deal with TikTok’s distribution label, SoundOn.

The bright-eyed 24-year-old attributes much of his success to luck, enough to turn his passion into a career and have his fans’ support; but a closer look paints a picture of an artiste who has carved out a path for himself through unrelenting authenticity and dedication to his craft. Making music has always been foremost a personal act for him, a safe haven to untangle and chart his emotions as he navigates new life experiences; and evidently, his honesty is exactly what resonates with thousands of listeners worldwide. 

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What were your beginnings as a musician like?

I actually got into music pretty late! I was the typical bored 18 year old posting YouTube covers and singing on TikTok during the pandemic, just doing it for fun. I didn’t have any connections to the music industry and I come from a very non-musical environment, so I had to learn how to produce on my MacBook just by watching YouTube tutorials. The microphone I bought in 2019 (AKG C214) is still the same microphone I use to track all my songs today, we’ve come a long way indeed.

I guess I loved it so much that I never stopped doing it, and it slowly consumed my life, and I’m lucky enough to have turned that passion into a career.

Who do you create music for?

Photo: Angela Guo

I initially made music for myself. Music was the only way I knew how to express and manage my thoughts and feelings. I want to say I’ve built a community around my music since then, and it’s something I’m proud of. My listeners keep me going and I’m lucky that they care; so my job is to make sure that their time and effort spent supporting my music is worth it. One of my favourite things is when I receive messages about how a couple got together because of my music, or that my song helped someone through a heartbreak. It reminds me that my work takes up meaningful space in others’ lives, and that’s something I treasure very much. 

What motivates you to express yourself so vulnerably to your listeners?

To be honest, I don’t think that much when I’m writing. I write for myself and in that moment, all I’m focusing on is how I’m feeling, so realising that this is going to be a song other people listen to comes later. In retrospect, I guess it’s honest songwriting that people gravitate towards, and I hope for my music to be just that.

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Who are your musical influences?

When I first started writing music, I was obsessed with modern folk-pop artists, but as I moved on from just writing on acoustic instruments, I have been more influenced by electronic and synthesiser-heavy music, then some rock and roll and ’90s R&B… this blend of genres have shaped my own music and I think they all contribute to my identity as a producer and songwriter.

Why is being hands-on with your music important to you? 

Photo: Angela Guo

I choose to be hands-on because all my songs are personal. Once I finish writing the song, I usually have a clear idea of how I want it to sound, so I enjoy the challenge of making the song that already exists in my head come to life. 

What is one track that is particularly significant to you? 

“A Little More Time” is one of my favourite songs to date. I wrote and released the acoustic version after being rejected at prom many years ago, but was never satisfied with the demos I made. It’s been almost six years in the making, so I’m glad this song got to see the light of day. Its meaning has changed over the years, and it’s cool to work on a song for so long and hit the eureka moment where I was like, “Okay, this is THE ONE”.

Has being based overseas helped you to grow?

Being exposed to new cultures allowed me to break out of my comfort zone. I grew a lot as an individual, and I formed deep and meaningful relationships with the friends I have there along the way. There’s this very precious unspoken form of support that I receive from my circle that pushes me to be a better person every day. These people are also people I look up to. I have many friends that are creatives—artists, producers, creators, brand owners, creative directors, videographers, photographers, stylists—the list goes on and on, and seeing them so passionately and fearlessly pursuing their craft inspires me to do the same for myself.

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How do you expect your music style to evolve?

My discography is very much like a diary. I feel like my music has matured and changed as I go through life, but I hope that people can recognise a hongjoin song by its core regardless of the genre—I’m still me! I really want to make a full R&B project one day. That’d be so dope. 

What’s coming up for you?

I don’t know if I [would] have announced it yet since I’m doing this interview ahead of time, but if you are reading this from Singapore: Let’s freaking sell out our show in July and run it back!

Art Direction: Sheryl Seah
Photography: Angela Guo
Stylist: Gracia Phang
Makeup: Rina Sim using M.A.C Cosmetics
Hair: Grego using Revlon Professional