S1E13: How young Singaporean singer Hongjoin aims to make his mark in the US

The Straits Times Podcasts

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 ([e-mail]), 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

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Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [e-mail]

Read Eddino Hadi's articles: https://str.sg/wFVa

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

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챕터

1. How young Singaporean singer Hongjoin aims to make his mark in the US (00:00:00)

2. How he ended up as a musician in the US (00:00:55)

3. His solo show in Singapore was sold out (00:08:11)

4. Tapping into Japanese roots for new album (00:13:38)

5. Pandemic led him to to take music seriously (00:15:50)

6. How TikTok and Instagram boosted his audience (00:22:08)

7. Hiatus from school to focus on music full-time (00:23:32)

8. Plans to return to SG and support music scene (00:25:42)