By\u00a0Nicole Ng\u00a0–\u00a0published 15 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A young hongjoin <\/b>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 \u201cYou\u2019re My Everything\u201d\u2014now his second biggest hit on Spotify\u2014and the next, he was opening for his favourite artiste, Charlie Burg<\/b>, and doing shows across the globe<\/a>. What started out as casual covers of songs such as 1975<\/b>\u2019s \u201cGuys\u201d and Harry Styles<\/b>\u2019 \u201cTwo Ghosts\u201d 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<\/a>\u2019s distribution label, SoundOn.<\/p>\n 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\u2019 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<\/a>. 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related article: <\/i><\/b>These Are Yeule\u2019s Best Songs, According To A Longtime Fan<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019t 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\u2019ve come a long way indeed.<\/p>\n I guess I loved it so much that I never stopped doing it, and it slowly consumed my life, and I\u2019m lucky enough to have turned that passion into a career.<\/p>\n Photo: Angela Guo<\/p>\n 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\u2019ve built a community around my music since then, and it\u2019s something I\u2019m proud of. My listeners keep me going and I\u2019m 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\u2019 lives, and that\u2019s something I treasure very much.\u00a0<\/p>\n To be honest, I don\u2019t think that much when I\u2019m writing. I write for myself and in that moment, all I\u2019m focusing on is how I\u2019m feeling, so realising that this is going to be a song other people listen to comes later. In retrospect, I guess it\u2019s honest songwriting that people gravitate towards, and I hope for my music to be just that.<\/p>\n Related article: <\/i><\/b>Musical Duo 229 On Their Inspirations, How They Came Together, And More<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/p>\n 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 \u201990s 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.<\/p>\n Photo: Angela Guo<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\nWhat were your beginnings as a musician like?<\/h2>\n
Who do you create music for?<\/h2>\n
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What motivates you to express yourself so vulnerably to your listeners?<\/h2>\n
Who are your musical influences?<\/h2>\n
Why is being hands-on with your music important to you?\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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What is one track that is particularly significant to you?\u00a0<\/h2>\n