Q&A: Jiwon Brings Back the 80s Diner Vibe with "so in love wth u"
JIWON GIVES US A BLAST FROM THE PAST with his new single, "so in love wth u”, and knows how to get his listeners in their feels. Jiwon, the NYC-born musician known for his genre-bending sound, blasts back to the 80s while drawing inspiration from classic love songs and the infectious energy of diner pop.
Jiwon's musical journey began in the diverse soundscape of New York City. Fueled by a passion for creation, he honed his skills across various instruments – from classical piano and cello to drums and bass guitar. This early exploration laid the foundation for his unique sound, a tapestry woven from diverse influences like Lou Reed's introspective storytelling and Jai Paul's innovative production.
Jiwon describes his music as defying categorization, a quality evident in his debut album album 1. Released in April 2023, the album garnered critical acclaim and solidified his position as a rising talent. Looking ahead, Jiwon is brimming with creative energy, eager to create more music, shoot videos, and connect with fans through live shows. With a commitment to artistic freedom and a knack for catchy melodies, Jiwon is poised to make a big splash this spring.
LUNA: Congrats on your new single "so in love wth u”! The track is a quintessential 80s diner pop song. What drew you to that particular style for this song?
JIWON: I think what drew me to the sound was how simple or naive it is. I feel like everyone’s first exposure to music involves a love song and with the 80s palette you get a really rich and warm expression.
LUNA: The song celebrates the tradition of love songs. What are some of your favorite love songs or artists who inspire your songwriting in this area?
JIWON: “Oh baby” by LCD Soundsystem. I’d say that’s a great example of what I was going for or trying to achieve. Everyone writes love songs so it’s not a very unique theme but the vulnerability you get with that track is super compelling.
LUNA: You grew up in New York City surrounded by diverse music. Can you talk about how that shaped your own musical tastes and the kind of music you create?
JIWON: Growing up in NYC you really just get exposed to everything whether you like it or not. I think when I was first starting out, it was great to see so many people’s different takes on a given genre. I kinda tried everything: rock, metal, jazz, jazz fusion, even classical. And then when I started producing and doing everything in the box, my whole thing became sound design and working with my own sounds but of course I’m still recording guitar and using other live instruments. But it’s great to be able to draw from so many different traditions without feeling like it’s tokenism or something forced. I just try to proceed naturally based on what sounds good to me and I hear in my head.
LUNA: Despite initial reluctance, music became a refuge for you. Can you elaborate on that transformation and how music offered a space for self-expression?
JIWON: Yeah I’m not sure when I realized that I wanted to be a musician but I definitely figured out that I didn’t want to be anything else. It seems like most people don’t find their passion until a bit later and so I guess I was fortunate that I found something I could pour myself in to. I think it can be a bit abusive or toxic sometimes especially when ur making everything on your own, but I think that’s how I’m able to hone in on exactly what I want to say or what feels like me.
LUNA: You describe music creation as a natural process for you. Can you walk us through your creative process? How do ideas turn into songs?
JIWON: My creative process is incredibly disorganized. I really try to standardize it as much as I can but it just happens when it wants to. I think it’s about putting urself in the best position to get lucky so working with interesting ideas hopefully produces more interesting ideas, but sometimes I’ll be working on a song and think it’s shit and then when I put it all together it comes off really well. For me, I think the most important thing is keeping the interest or excitement for as long as possible. When ur beating ur head against a song, I’ll tend to lose sight of what actually appealed to me in the first place. But then sometimes persistence pays off. It’s honestly bullshit how chaotic the process is. You just have to take a lot of shots and accept that they can’t all be bangers. Just make sure u only publish the good ones.
LUNA: Your music seems to defy easy categorization, drawing from various genres. How would you describe your own sound?
JIWON: I’ve been calling it alternative pop but who tf knows anymore. Obviously there’s discrete bits of other genres/influences, but nowadays there’s no point in even trying to draw lines. I guess it’s like internet pop or something since it’s so eclectic/ADD
LUNA: How have you seen your music evolve over the past year?
JIWON: It’s hard to say my sound has gone in one specific direction, but I am glad that I’m getting better at executing my ideas, whatever they are. That’s rly what I care about: being able to bring what’s in my head to life in a way that’s coherent enough for the listener but still true to what i was initially working with.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for this spring season?
JIWON: Definitely gonna make as much music as possible. Shoot some videos. Hopefully have some live shows. Definitely will be spending as much time outside as possible when I’m not in the studio.
