The Straits Times Podcasts S1E13: How young Singaporean singer Hongjoin aims to make his mark in the US
Hear how Spotify's Radar programme has helped expose home-grown singer-songwriter Hongjoin.
Synopsis (headphones recommended): Each month, The Straits Times invites music acts to its podcast studio.
In the 13th episode of Music Lab, ST’s music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi hosts Singaporean singer-songwriter Hongjoin.
The 22-year-old, whose music encompasses genres ranging from R&B and indie-pop, is based in Boston, United States, and is trying to make his mark in the US music scene while studying there.
He has regular shows in various US cities and has been highlighted by Spotify as a Radar artist, a program that highlights rising talents from around the world.
He recently returned to Singapore to do two concerts - a solo headlining show at the Esplanade in June, and as the opening act for US singer-songwriter Ricky Montgomery’s show at the Pasir Panjang Power Station in May.
Like many singers from his generation, he is active on TikTok and Instagram, which has helped him build up an audience in regional countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines.
In this episode, he also sings a live rendition of the title track from his sophomore album released recently, Komorebi.
Highlights (click/tap above):
0:55 How he ended up as a musician in the US
8:11 His solo show in Singapore was sold out
13:38 On tapping into his Japanese roots for his new album
15:50 How the pandemic led to his decision to take music seriously
22:08 On how TikTok and Instagram helped him find an audience in Indonesia and the Philippines
23:32 Taking a break from school to focus on music full-time
25:42 His plans to return to Singapore and contribute to the music scene here
Listen to Hongjoin’s live performance of Komorebi here: https://str.sg/ejzw
Discover home-grown artiste Hongjoin at:
YouTube: https://str.sg/o9mTN
Spotify: https://str.sg/pQwe
Instagram: https://str.sg/apXW
Produced by: Eddino Abdul Hadi (dinohadi@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim
Recorded by: ST Podcast Team & Studio+65
Edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Follow Music Lab Podcast here every month:
Channel: https://str.sg/w9TX
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/w9TB
Spotify: https://str.sg/w9T6
SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/
Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa
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Discover more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7
The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u
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Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7
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Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m
Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE
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Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX
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ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa
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Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2
Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn
Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB
Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa
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