Korean-Canadian singer-songwriter JUNNY has had quite the career trajectory since his 2017 debut! After releasing his debut EP Monochrome, the singer went on to drop a variety of singles such as “Thank You” and “Hide & Sick,” release multiple EPs, feature on several K-drama soundtracks, collaborate with other artists, and more.
In addition, while the Vancouver native continues to add to his ever-growing solo discography, he has also made a name for himself as a songwriter and composer for some of K-pop’s biggest artists.
Some of these tracks include work for every unit of NCT, solo songs for multiple EXO members, JAY B, songstress IU, and even the fan favorite song “Gravity” from SHINee’s newest album Hard. If you listen carefully, you will even hear his voice in the background vocals on several of the tracks he composes and produces.
This year, following a successful European tour, JUNNY released his latest single “INVITATION,” featuring GAEKO of Dynamic Duo, on July 6th. The song is a trendy cocktail of R&B, hip-hop, soul and pop and is the result of the singer winning the “#8barrelay Challenge” which was a project held in 2020 by Codeshare and TikTok.
Participants were invited to freestyle over a given 8-bar beat for a song already entitled “INVITATION.” JUNNY’s entry received over 1.8M views on TikTok at the time and has since reached over 3M! Now, three years later, the full track has finally been released.
What The Kpop caught up with JUNNY recently to discuss “INVITATION,” his creative process, and the memories he made while on tour. Read below to get to know more about rising star JUNNY.
WTK: What was the inspiration behind your new song “INVITATION”?
JUNNY: The song was from a TikTok challenge that went viral back in 2020, and through many requests to release it as a full song, plus many years of waiting, I was able to release it as a full version, [along with] an amazing feature by GAEKO.
WTK: What led you to feature GAEKO on this song?
JUNNY: When I was doing the TikTok challenge, I knew that GAEKO took part as well, and I wanted him to notice my verse— almost to impress him in a way, as a fan of his. Three years later, I was able to finally release the song and wanted a feature. It only made sense to ask GAEKO himself, and thankfully, he was kind enough to be a part of it.
WTK: What inspired the music video concept?
JUNNY: We wanted to do a new visual for myself and create a new JUNNY for the future to show how much [I’ve] developed over the years as an artist. Through the lyrics of the song “INVITATION,” we decided on putting in little details in the video [by] showing the preparation of inviting someone over.
WTK: When writing songs, what usually comes first for you— the lyrics or melody? Can you tell us a little bit about your production process?
JUNNY: It’s always a mix, but I’d have to say melody. In terms of lyrics, I think about the title or just the subject of what I want to talk about and start working from there.
WTK: How do you decide if a song is going to another artist or if you will keep it for yourself?
JUNNY: When I write for other artists, it’s usually set before the creative process and [already] decided. So, these days when I write, I try to differentiate writing for myself and for others.
WTK: Since you’ve worked on so many songs— both for yourself and for other artists— is there one that is particularly meaningful for you?
JUNNY: Definitely “INVITATION” just because to me, every new song is the current version of myself, and the fact that this song was put out thanks to my fans, it means so much more to me.
WTK: When making music, do you lean more towards what you like creatively or do you put more thought into what fans might like?
JUNNY: It’s a perfect balance between both!
WTK: Is there a genre of music you haven’t tried yet that you would like to do?
JUNNY: Yes. [There are] so many, and I cannot wait to let you all hear it. I’m having a great time experimenting with different genres.
WTK: What’s something you have learned either about music or yourself while working with all these different musicians?
JUNNY: I learned that it’s always important to have a positive mindset and just enjoy what you’re doing. Especially when you’re in sessions with different people, it’s so important to create a vibe, rather than forcing out a song.
WTK: What is your favorite part of being a musician?
JUNNY: The love, the fans, the shows, the music… Just being a musician, I love it so much.
WTK: What is your least favorite part of being a musician?
JUNNY: [My] least favorite [part] is not having enough time to be with my dog Leo.
Prior to our interview with JUNNY, What The Kpop asked fans to send in questions they would like to ask the singer if given the chance. Two lucky fans were then chosen to film a video message asking JUNNY their questions. The videos were watched by JUNNY and are included below.
Question from fan heabylee on Twitter from Indonesia: “Have you ever felt bored with music or even felt anxious during your career as a singer or as a music producer? If so, how did you overcome it?”
JUNNY: Great question! I’ve never had that kind of experience yet when working on music, but I do try my best to be confident in my work and everything I do in the studio. Also, setting the right vibe is so important to me. Rather than going straight to work, I like to have conversations and take time, [as well as] set a positive atmosphere! Hope this helped. Love to Indonesia!
Question from fan wangsluv on Twitter from Brazil: “If you could only choose one song to listen to for the rest of your life, which song would you choose and why?“
JUNNY: Awesome question. Very difficult to answer, but as of now, I would be listening to “Always” by Daniel Caesar or “As It Was” by Harry Styles! Those two songs are always playing in the car. (laughs) Thank you, and sending lots of love to Brazil!
WTK: You are a co-host on the popular podcast Get Real on Dive Studios. Who is someone you would like to invite to Get Real and why?
JUNNY: [I] would love to invite my friends and just have deep conversations like we always do [except] on camera, because it’s absolutely hilarious. I honestly want to do [my own] podcast just for that.
WTK: You toured the U.S. and Europe earlier this year. Were there any particularly memorable episodes from the tour?
JUNNY: Just those moments when the fans sing back at you, [which makes me think] to myself onstage what a blessing it is to have this career, and have fans like mine to keep pushing me to become better. It’s just so memorable, and I still dream about it to this day.
WTK: What was or is your favorite song to perform live?
JUNNY: “INVITATION,” “INVITATION,” “INVITATION.”
WTK: Has your tour experience changed the way you write songs now or the types of songs you choose to release for yourself? Are you more mindful of how a song may work on the stage or translate into a live performance?
JUNNY: Definitely. Touring taught me so much about how I should write and also gave me inspiration to approach writing in different ways. I tend to think about performing the songs more after these tours and it’s led me to get more creative and I have more fun writing!
WTK: Do you have any interests or hobbies outside of music? If so, could you tell us about them?
JUNNY: Recently, I’ve been crazy about cars. It’s become a new interest of mine. [Then there is] obviously weekly basketball. Ball is life!
WTK: Favorite quote?
JUNNY: “The essence of everything is my happiness.”
WTK: Last but not least, what was the best piece of advice you ever received from someone?
JUNNY: Enjoy every part of the journey and always be thankful for those around you and who love you.
If you want more of JUNNY, you can catch him in the U.S. once more on September 2nd when he headlines K-PLAY! FEST Orange County. He will then head out on the Australian and New Zealand leg of his 2023 BLANC TOUR. Tickets for both events are available here: K-PLAY! FEST 2023 and 2023 AU & NZ BLANC TOUR.
In the meantime, make sure to check out “INVITATION (Feat. GAEKO)” available now on all streaming platforms. You can also watch the music video here.
To stay up to date with JUNNY and his activities and releases, make sure to follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Our deepest thanks to JUNNY for taking time out of his busy schedule to participate in this interview and for being so genuine and thoughtful in his answers! We wish JUNNY great success in his upcoming activities and hope to catch up with him again in the future.
Let us know your thoughts by tweeting to us @whatthekpop1 or leaving us a comment on Facebook and Instagram!
MEDIA: Mauve Company
Editorial Team: Amy Leigh, Justin Esposito, and Katherine
Chief Editor: Justin Esposito
*This interview may have been edited for clarity.