He co-wrote K-pop's summer hit of 2024. Now Joh! is stepping out on his own
After co-writing 'Sticky' by KISS OF LIFE, Joh! opens up about his own musical aspirations
(Photo credit: NAISU Agency)
Joh! knows a thing or two about what it takes to make an earworm. After all, he played a role in creating K-pop’s song of the summer in 2024.
Joh! co-wrote KISS OF LIFE’s “Sticky”, an addictive afrobeats song that perfectly captured the feeling of being on the beach during a sunny and hot summer’s day. The single became a viral hit, following the K-pop girl group’s performance at the Waterbomb Festival. “Sticky” also led KISS OF LIFE to achieve their first-ever win on a music competition show—securing them as the next hit K-pop girl group to watch.
The success of “Sticky” is something Joh! could not have imagined, considering that his own music-making journey has largely been a solitary one. But he says getting to collaborate with KISS OF LIFE and producers he admires has further given him the drive to release more music of his own.
On March 14, the Korean artist released his new single “cupid”, an R&B-hyper pop track that delves into the complexities of love and toxic relationships.
Joh! recently sat down with bunni pop over Zoom to talk about his approach to making music, working with KISS OF LIFE and who he wants to work with next.
Can you tell me about your new song “cupid”?
This song is about a so-called situationship. I wanted to express the confusion. It’s about reminding myself not to get into the relationship because I know it’s gonna be toxic to me. But, my heart just keeps on following her. The song is about the confusion or chaos of this type of relationship.
This is a song that will be part of your upcoming album Discord Kid. As a self-described product of the internet age, how has being online inspired you to make music?
I think I'm not that social of a guy. I feel way more comfortable when I'm alone. I've been always stuck in a room making music or just listening to music.
[Therefore], I think I can explore a lot of music freely because of the internet. That gives me more inspirations and has me imagining a lot more. And when it comes to making music, it makes me feel like this is not work. It’s just play for me. The internet is like my favourite playground.
How did you start making music?
I started making music when I was in high school around five years ago. At that time,. I used to rap. But during that time, I realized I wanted to make more diverse music and wanted to sing. Through that, I discovered hyper pop through artists like Brakence and Glaive. I started singing, and it’s been two and a half years since I started working with the company NAISU Agency.
You are an accomplished songwriter in your own right, playing a huge role in making K-pop’s song of the summer in 2024. How did the opportunity to work with KISS OF LIFE on “Sticky” come about?
That song came from a one day session. There were producers and another topliner in the studio and they wanted to do something with a dancing vibe with afrobeats.
We started around 1 pm and ended around 6 pm or 7 pm. Everything went well and I felt, “Yo, this song feels different!”
A few days later, I got a call that told me “Sticky” will be released. That was so special to me. I never thought the song would get so big like that. It still feels surreal to me.
When you actually heard the members of KISS OF LIFE singing it, what was that like?
We targeted KISS OF LIFE originally when we started making “Sticky” because the people I was working with in the studio were their in-house producers. So when we were in the process of making “Sticky”, we imagined a lot on how KISS OF LIFE would perform it. Like, which parts they would dance to.
After “Sticky” dropped and I saw the performances, the music video and the stages, it felt kind of weird because I imagined everything in my head. It turned into reality, so it was like, “Oh, this is insane!”
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A lot of people don’t realize just how much work goes into writing and producing a song, then sending it to the artist. Can you tell me a little bit about that process?
There’s a lot of people in that process. I think we start by imagining a lot, because [making music] starts from nothing. It starts with a vibe.
Whenever we make music, we gotta think about dancing parts, pitch, vocal range. We have to think a lot about the performance. When songs gets picked up, the company asks us for changes and that also needs a lot of time. After, the band has to record and the song gets mixed and mastered. We also have to think about when it’s going to be dropped. So when it’s summer, we have to think more about the summer vibe even if it’s winter time.
I’ve never experienced this kind of thing before [he says about “Sticky’s” success]. This is crazy!
On top of KISS OF LIFE, you’ve also worked with artists like sunkis and Ethan Low. What has working with different artists taught you about where you want to take your music?
I usually work alone and I love working alone. But when I met the other artists like KISS OF LIFE, Ethan Low and sunkis, those experiences taught me a lot of things like making melodies, lyrics and how they get ideas.
I really like to follow their process. That got me thinking about how I have to do more and more. They are so good, and so special and I want to keep working on music with them. I have to try harder.
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In your songs, I can hear hints of artists like Keshi and Starfall, the latter who you also worked with. Why are they big influences for you?
I’ve been a big fan of Starfall since two or three years ago. I have always gotten influenced by their [Keshi and Starfall’s] melodies. I think melody is the most important part of making music.
I’ve also been [struck] by what they say in lyrics, like how they express love, sorrows or emptiness. While I am not that good at English, I still want to write in English. So when I saw their lyrics, I see how they use certain phrases and words to express something. And I’ll say, “Okay, I will use it later.” I’m not trying to copy them, but I have learned a lot from the two of them when it comes to writing.
I really want to work with Starfall again. And I really want to work with Keshi one day.
What is next for you?
These days, I love to do everything. I just love making music, so I don’t mind if it’s for another artist or just for me.
The biggest thing is making my upcoming album Discord Kid perfectly. After that, I want to show more fresh and fun music to listeners. I just want to try as many genres as I can. And in the future, I really want to go to the U.S. and work with a lot of artists there because I’ve never been to the United States.
This conversation has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Follow Joh! on Instagram and Spotify.
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