LONELEE, an emerging talent from Korea, debuted in December 2022 with the EP SHOWER. Shaped by years spent abroad in English-speaking countries and influenced by artists like Post Malone and Justin Bieber, he mixes hip-hop, British pop, alternative rock, and electronic textures into a strong vocal style that is quite expressive. From the start, LONELEE has been hands-on with every detail of his work – sound, storytelling, production – encouraging listeners to connect not just with the songs, but with the identity behind them.

Only a month after his debut, he followed SHOWER with SNOW FLURRY. This release leaned deeper into hip-hop, enriched by contributions from producer team 801 and a roster of respected collaborators, including Rakon, OLNL, Andnew, and OoOo. In the months that followed, singles like LEDGE and HIGH-END showed that he is a versatile artist who transitioned from thoughtful storytelling to self-assured confidence. Each new track has broadened his musical palette, from atmospheric melodies to fearless genre-mixing, revealing a clear desire to experiment with mood and sound. With remix releases and new drops like his recent single MTML, LONELEE continues to grow at a healthy speed, sharpening his voice and his presence within the Korean music market.

What makes LONELEE particularly exciting is not just his sound, but the ambition behind it. His stage name – born from the idea of standing alone as ‘No.1’ and becoming ‘The Only’ – reflects his goal of growing into an artist who can shine in every part of the music industry.

LONELEE is part of a new wave of rising Korean creatives who refuse to be boxed in, artists who absorb global influences and reinterpret them with a distinctly Korean feel. Through our own interview with him, we realised that LONELEE is one of those rare gems. Korea has no shortage of talented newcomers, but LONELEE is unquestionably one worth watching closely.

I had a hard time finding my identity, but it turned out my vocal is my identity. Genre doesn’t matter. Growing up abroad made my musical spectrum wide, and my interests help me notice what type of song will be good for my voice.

View of the Arts: Your new single MTML (My Time My Life) has such a great connection between the melody and lyrics. Can you walk us through the creative process behind this song, from initial concept to final production?

LONELEE: Some core fans might know that I uploaded this track on SoundCloud in 2023. I made it while working on my EP SHOWER, but I couldn’t reach the song’s composer at the time, so I couldn’t release it quickly. As time passed, I saw people leaving comments saying I should officially release the song — and my co-worker and partner photographer, YTK, even told me it was his favourite track (including the ones I had already released). So I rearranged it and re-recorded it to finish the song properly.

The concept of the track is based on my story of choosing between my life, work, and debut plans, and devoting myself to the person I loved at that time.

VOA: How did your experiences growing up abroad and exposure to multiple music cultures influence the lyrical themes and sonic textures of MTML and your previous music?

LONELEE: Actually, nothing specific influenced this song. The textures and sounds mostly came from the time I worked with my producer, TRYDENY. As for the lyrics and topline, writing some words in English affects the process because it helps me think about pronunciation, making it easy for Koreans and people of other nationalities to understand. My strategy is to make the song easy to listen to without any difficulty.

VOA: The title My Time My Life suggests a personal manifesto. How much of the song reflects your own life philosophy versus storytelling for your audience?

LONELEE: After releasing this track, a lot changed in my life. My older brother got married, and now I’m trying to focus on my own path. I moved out of my studio and set everything up at home, and I’m trying to balance working a full-time job with making music. I used to chase the idea of becoming a successful artist, but what really matters is how I think about my journey and how I enjoy being myself. So I’m focusing on me before “LONELEE” existed, and letting go of some of the pressure that comes with being an artist.

VOA: When writing MTML, did you approach melody, lyrics, and production simultaneously, or did you start with one element and build the others around it?

LONELEE: I mostly create the toplines right away when I record. Then I find certain points — like words or feelings – that guide what I should write. It’s quite simple, but the chorus and the arrangement take a lot of time, sometimes 2 or 3 months.

VOA: Collaboration has been a hallmark of your work. Did MTML involve any external producers or featured artists, and if so, how did their contributions shape the final sound?

LONELEE: As all my listeners know, I have two co-partners in every song. The music is done with TRYDENY (@hiimtrydeny), and the photography and creative direction are by YTK (@ytkitsme). They’re my colleagues from the Seoul Institute of the Arts, and I’ll keep working with them until I retire as LONELEE. They know me better than anyone, so we can easily fill in the parts we miss. Our discussions are always straightforward, so we don’t take things emotionally. We talk like we’re angry or upset, but that’s just our style — and it comes from the strong competitive spirit we share.

VOA: Your vocal delivery is really expressive; I really like the palette of it. How did you approach vocal performance in MTML to balance technical precision with emotional delivery?

LONELEE: In my opinion, I have a high, slightly nasal vocal quality but a lower tone, so I studied Auto-Tune a lot to make my vocals sound different from other artists. I was influenced by electronica and rock. I don’t try to make everything perfect in the mix – I just go with what I feel and keep some of the “dirty” takes or raw delivery choices so listeners can feel what I’m feeling.

VOA: I truly appreciate your meticulous involvement in production, from planning to mastering. How do you manage to do so much yourself, and which parts of the MTML process did you find most rewarding or unexpectedly difficult?

LONELEE: You have to start somewhere; there’s always a first-time experience. I wanted to work in every part of the music industry, so I studied and figured out what I could do best. That’s why I’m able to communicate and manage myself through the whole process. I never thought I would do it all alone. The process needs to be compact and direct, which is why I work closely with my co-partners.

VOA: From your debut EP SHOWER to your recent singles, your work mixes K-hip-hop with British pop and alternative influences. How do you reconcile these diverse genres while maintaining your own identity?

LONELEE: I had a hard time finding my identity, but it turned out my voice is my identity. Genre doesn’t matter. Growing up abroad broadened my musical spectrum, and my interests help me recognize which songs suit my voice. I just listen to a lot of music and find inspiration or stories that fit my tracks.

VOA: You’re involved in visual concepts, album design, and photography. How do you see the interplay between visual storytelling and music enhancing the listener’s experience?

LONELEE: You wouldn’t buy it if the packaging is terrible. It’s a crucial part of presenting myself to the audience. Especially for new listeners or industry professionals who see hundreds of covers every day, the brand, fashion, and overall tone always matter to grab attention.

VOA: Many of your tracks feature collaborations with emerging and established artists. How do you choose collaborators, and what do you look for in a creative partnership?

LONELEE: For collaborations, I don’t think too much. If I think the artist fits the song, I just leave a message or call to join. The quality matters, so I don’t like to edit their tracks or lyrics as feedback.

VOA: Your EP SNOW FLURRY explores emotions that build uncontrollably like heavy snow. Do you find yourself drawn to natural metaphors as a recurring theme in your songwriting?

LONELEE: I named it to represent disasters or something big falling from the sky – SHOWER, SNOW FLURRY, etc. It feels like many things fall quickly but disappear just as fast. I wanted to convey how emotions pass by before we even notice them.

VOA: Looking forward, how do you envision your musical journey evolving in the next five years, both in Korea and on the international stage?

LONELEE: I’m not sure, because I always want to work on other things, and I’m at the age to get married and settle down for my family. But I’ll always try to maintain my career and make better songs for the listeners. Thank you! I love London, Chelsea, blues – looking forward to working in London – if someone hires me [laughs].

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of LONELEE

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}