The South Korean R&B singer makes his long-awaited return after a brief hiatus with an all-English EP, Natural which he says is a testament to him staying true to himself and the time we’re living in
When one talks about R&B in South Korea, a name that would be on most people’s lips is GSoul (Kim Ji-hyun). The South Korean singer and songwriter is well-known for his heartwarming and calming yet strong R&B tunes. In 2015, he made his debut under JYP Entertainment after training for 15 years—the company’s longest trainee to date—since he was just 12 years old.
Before becoming a soloist in South Korea, GSoul briefly gained recognition in the US for being a protege due to his soulful voice and skills in songwriting. In a surprise move, he auditioned in The Voice of Korea in 2020 under his real name and emerged as the winner. Other than that, he has released numerous tracks that garnered him a loyal following thanks to his ability to sing bilingually and how relatable his songs are to the masses.
Now, after a brief hiatus, the R&B singer makes his long-awaited return with his first English EP. In an exclusive interview with Tatler, GSoul gets candid about how the EP showcases his growth and artistry, what he learned about himself during the creation process and why the songs’ themes are something that a lot of people can relate to, especially during the times we’re living in.
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Congratulations on your new EP! It’s your first English one. Why did you decide to release an all English EP after all these years?
Thank you! For my music writing process, everything usually starts in English and then, I put the Korean lyrics on top of that. For this album, I wanted to take as much natural process as possible which is why eventually decided to stay with the English tracks as they were.
This is also your first EP after your brief hiatus. In what ways does the EP showcase your growth and artistry?
I think I’m staying true to myself and I think that my fans can feel my vulnerability and honesty. I just wanted to present them with something on each of the songs on this EP. I didn’t really overthink it and this process helped me to grow. I am truly grateful to be putting out this EP.
What makes this EP different from the others that you’ve released?
It’s just a different phase of my life and I’m simply telling and sharing my current stories. That’s the only difference.
Why did you decide to have just one song—the Korean version of Natural—in this EP?
Since it’s my title song and I’m in South Korea and doing promos in Korean, I felt that it was right to put out a Korean version of it. It sounded that it would fit well in both English and Korean.
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