There are many talented artists in the music industry to discover, but if there’s one artist we believe everyone should listen to, it’s Korean-Canadian rapper James An. Even those who are perhaps unfamiliar with hip-hop will find themselves drawn to his incredible new EP, I Have No Friends and I Must Party.

James is clearly passionate about two things: hip-hop and his seven-year-old dog, Sasha. Not only was Sasha the muse for the title song of the EP, but she was also a source of inspiration for the eye-catching album cover, which was designed by the talented heyhoney.

Working with artists he admires encouraged him to dip his toes into the creative pond and embrace his own artistic vision. He’s since gone on to organize, partake in, and direct art fairs such as The Art of Hip-Hop Exhibition at Urban Break 2023. As discussed in our interview, you get the impression that James isn’t afraid to experiment with style and sound. Instead of shying away and playing things safe, he relishes the creative freedom that comes with being an independent artist, giving him the opportunity to push himself and enjoy the reactions of his listeners to the new music he releases.

James is just like his music: multi-layered and philosophical. In 2023, he collaborated on a research paper with professors Jung Myunggu and Kim Yoona, and PhD candidate Choi Wonjae, navigating the premise of the hip-hop scene. Their work allowed them to present their findings at Goethe University in Frankfurt. Luckily for us in the U.K., he’ll be heading to the Korean Music Festival at Leeds University in June, where he will give a lecture about the hip-hop industry and perform his new songs. We at View The Arts cannot recommend his new EP enough, and we truly think there is a song that will cater to everyone’s musical taste.

View of the Arts: I Have No Friends and I Must Party is the title of your new EP. While many might see this as a less-than-happy title, I perceive it as a positive, optimistic approach. What inspired you to choose that EP title, and how do you maintain optimism?

James An: The original inspiration came from Harlan Ellison’s 1967 dystopian sci-fi novel, Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. Through my EP, I wanted to express the narrator’s perspective on his ‘Dystopia of today’ that was through an introspective lens on different relationships, power dynamics, and society at large. To the narrator, to party is to be deemed normal in society and to get along with people, but one needs friends in order to party. What kind of thoughts has the narrator had that results in finding himself alone in the club at the end of the EP? I think the narrator realises and finds solace in the fact that we’ve all been alone, together and maybe we can find each other in unexpected places and relationships.

View of the Arts: The opening track, GTA, not only kicks off the EP with its hip-hop influences but also brings nostalgia reminiscent of the early 1990s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air era. Do you feel that drawing from the sounds of your upbringing influences the direction of your music?

James An: Oh definitely! When I create music, especially hip-hop sounds or rap, I think about the hip-hop that I fell in love with. Paying homage to artists or individuals, directly or indirectly, is quite an important act for me, and I’ve noticed that I felt moved to do so. I believe that it’s very important to acknowledge the history pioneers of the culture that really moved me, as well as others. Being inspired by the sounds that affected my upbringing and creating my music is an extension of not only my meaningful expression, but also the hip-hop I loved listening to when I grew up.

View of the Arts: You’ve recently unveiled two new pre-release singles, A Streetcar Named Desire (feat. Donna Goldn) and Sasha, alongside your EP. I’m particularly intrigued by Sasha, which captures the bond you share with your dog of seven years. It explores the relationship between a pet and its owner. What made you write from the perspective of Sasha?

James An: It felt very natural because I think a lot about Sasha as well as our relationship. As much as we love Sasha and Sasha loves us, I’ve always felt conflicted about the imbalance in the relationship. To the dog, the owner/family is everything, but to the owner/family, as much as the dog means the world to them, the dog is “only” a part of their lives. How much time does Sasha spend waiting to see us? How much uncertainty does Sasha experience every day? I wanted to express these thoughts by writing lyrics from the perspective of Sasha, and this is also my attempt to anthropomorphise Sasha. In the process, to what extent am I expressing my desires? To what extent am I able to better understand Sasha, if at all? Through the creation of this song and the music video, our relationship has dramatically and beautifully changed.

View of the Arts: The sound of Sasha has distinct early N.E.R.D/Pharell Williams vibes. Who do you find inspires you?

James An: For sure, I’m influenced by a lot of artists and not limited to just musicians. Especially for Sasha, I was very inspired by Louis Wain, an English artist who is best known for his drawings of anthropomorphised cats. His art, as well as his story, is deeply inspiring. I tried to think hard about the process of anthropomorphising animals through art.

View of the Arts: With the new release came the accompanying music video, which is very serene and reflective. What was the concept behind the video, and how did filming on set go with Sasha, as dogs can be temperamental creatures?

James An: I was quite determined to appear in the music video with Sasha, partly for personal reasons. I kept thinking to myself that it was very important and meaningful for me to appear with Sasha in the music video for this song, and I wanted to convey our bond to the listeners and viewers. The director and I were worried because, of course, Sasha may not be controllable during the shoot, especially as we have to shoot scenes where she is out on the field without her leash on. Shockingly, she blew everyone’s mind away and followed our direction perfectly! I never knew or expected Sasha to follow so well. It was actually quite moving, and I’ll also be sharing some behind-the-scenes clips of the music video soon.

View of the Arts: Since your previous conversation with View of the Arts back in 2022, when you had just released One for the Old School, have you noticed a shift in your musical taste from when you first started?

James An: I will continue to express sounds that are reminiscent of or are impacted by the hip-hop that I fell in love with. But I really find joy in exploring different emotions and expressing them through various sounds, not limited to just rap. I don’t think I’ve necessarily shifted, but I’m feeling more driven to work on different sounds and voices. I think my willingness to immerse myself in and acknowledge various emotions inspires me to express myself through numerous sounds.

View of the Arts: Touching on the past, do you approach the songwriting process in the same way, and how do you think you’ve evolved as an artist?

James An: I think I still continue to put lyrics at the centre of my creation. I’m very topic-driven, and I like to touch on societal themes or interpersonal aspects, and I often spend a lot of time with the lyrics. On the other hand, I do think I’ve evolved as an artist in terms of the various sounds that I’m willing to try and create. It’s a great feeling. As much as it’s easy to stick to the usual ways, I try to remind myself that it’s important to find new inspirations, new ways to create and experiment, and to keep trying new things.

Read our first exclusive interview with James An

View of the Arts: You once said that your greatest joy as an artist is seeing comments from listeners. For those who are new to your work with this release, which song do you think would be the perfect introduction to James An as an artist?

James An: It’s really hard to pick just one because I feel that many of my songs that I really like show who I am and can differ a lot in terms of the sounds and lyrics. I think there are several sides of me that are very distinct but similarly important. Maybe Sasha and One For The Old School? I’m not sure!

View of the Arts: When you listen to your past albums, do you look back and see how far you’ve come? How do you evolve and shift your sound while maintaining your identity?

James An: I’m very appreciative of the process that I’ve got to experience thanks to the support of those who have helped create my music and those that listen and support my journey. I know I have a long way to go, but at the same time, I’ve come a long way too, and it’s important to celebrate the process. I think I evolve the most by creating new music and trying new things, and even if it might feel very new or unfamiliar to me, as long as I create with sincere effort, thought, and my own philosophy, I naturally feel that it’s a part of my identity. It’s also exciting to think about how others might react to my songs that are unexpected or new, but I’m comfortable that it’s all part of my identity that I create, define, and express.

View of the Arts: Besides the complexities of the sound you use, all of your album artwork seems to reflect the theme explored in the album itself, almost as if it represents your artistic identity. Is this a subconscious choice you make?

James An: Especially since I started working in the art industry last year as a director for art fairs and exhibitions, I’ve been very determined to put more effort into the visual aspects of my music, including both the artwork and videos. I try to treat them more as artworks themselves, not just simply as an extension or ancillary parts of my music, and I like to think about what kind of experience both the viewers and I can create together.

View of the Arts: Heyhoney, a wonderful illustrator, designed the album artwork for I Have No Friends and I Must Party. When it comes to creating album covers, what is the process? Do you both sit and create ideas, or did you give him free reign?

James An: It’s really case-by-case, and it kind of depends. Sometimes, I’d provide the initial concept or even a rough sketch with a pen myself (and there are actually a couple of artworks that I’ve created myself). For this EP, heyhoney was the number one artist that I really hoped to work with, and I’m very lucky that he was willing to create the cover! I really wanted to respect his creative process, so I basically shared all the songs with him and told him that he can create anything that he feels inspired to. He wanted to respect my direction and input as well, so I shared various images and texts that were important to me and the EP. I absolutely love his art and the artwork he created for the EP, and I think a lot of people love it as well.

View of the Arts: In December 2023, you collaborated on a research paper about Korean hip-hop with Professors Jung Myunggu, Kim Yoona, and PhD candidate Choi Wonjae. Not only did you get to present the research at Goethe University in Frankfurt, but it will also be released as a book this year. How did the collaboration come together, and what was it like to write about your passion? Which part of the process was the most challenging, but also the most rewarding?

James An: Choi Wonjae, a PhD candidate in Demography at Seoul National University and is a very close and amazing friend of mine, who brought us all together. All of us love hip-hop, and we really wanted to write a fun research paper on the topic. In addition, we all believe that academia should be more fun and accessible. So we thought, let’s write a research paper on hip-hop which we all love, and, at the same time, have fun with the process, as academia should be! We would often listen to our favourite hip-hop tracks while we wrote the paper and discussed ideas. 

I think the most challenging part was deciding on the topic because there are so many interesting subject matters that we could research. The most rewarding aspect was sharing the research that we conducted at Goethe University in Frankfurt. To be able to share research with scholars around the world who truly appreciate its value and impact was such an amazing feeling and experience. I really appreciate the affirmation provided by different professors who listened to our research. Lastly, this was all possible thanks to the generous funding and support from Feel Ghood Music. I’m quite certain that they are the very first hip-hop label to fund academic research on hip-hop, at least in Korea!

View of the Arts: Speaking of the research, not only will you be giving a lecture at the University of Leeds but you will also be performing. Which song are you most looking forward to playing live, and do you plan on doing any other shows whilst in the U.K.?

James An: I’m super excited, and I’m having a lot of fun choosing the set list and the order for the show. I’m very eager to perform my new songs, and it’s hard to choose just one, but maybe Sasha, because it’s definitely not a high-energy song but it’s one that people can vibe to, and I’m also curious about the audience’s reaction. I don’t have any plans yet, but I would really love to perform more while I’m in the U.K. If anyone would like to have me come and perform, please let me know!

View of the Arts: Having accomplished so many things, what has been the biggest achievement, be it professional or personal, and what would be your next dream?

James An: It’s very random, and there are a few options to choose from (thanks to the incredible support of my family and friends, for real, because there’s nothing great that I can accomplish myself.) But I’d have to go with me being elected as the very first Korean class president at my high school in Vancouver. To be elected by my fellow peers and the faculty at a school that truly felt like family meant so much to me, but what was just as meaningful for me was the representation aspect of it and how the younger Korean students can feel more encouraged. (Even if it’s not something huge.) If I can do it, then they definitely can! 

I think my overall dream and goal is to set a positive example for the youths. I’m lucky to have had role models in my life that really shaped who I am, and if I can pay that forward by being one myself to the youths and leaving a positive impact, then that would be a life well lived.

View of the Arts: Finally, what does the rest of the year hold for you? 

James An: I’m very excited for my lecture, workshop, and performance at the Korean Music Festival at Leeds University in June, as well as the ones at Auckland University in August. I will also be performing at Asia’s biggest street art festival of its kind, called URBAN BREAK, this summer in Seoul. I’m also looking forward to rapping and walking for Seoul Fashion Week this autumn as well; it’s always a lot of fun and truly fulfilling. I hope I can perform more, anywhere, and I also hope to be able to release more music this year, for sure!

Written and interviewed by Kirsty Bright

Featured image © Jeong Jinyoung Photography

_{View of the Arts is an online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}