Interview with Adeline Um – Jazz singer and producer

Justfocus is honored to introduce Adeline Um, jazz singer and music producer from the United Kingdom who comes to talk to you about her work and her new album.You can discover his divine and sublime voice thanks to the video on Youtube. Enjoy this beautiful interview and discover with us his magnificent talent.

How long have you been making music? Adeline: I've been singing since I was 14, but I started writing my own music at the age of 18. I first started writing my own indie pop music, but then I expanded into EDM by writing/singing in most cases. In recent years, especially because of Covid. What I realize is that many projects can be done remotely, which has given me the privilege of being able to work with people from all over the world.

What musical genres have you done so far? Adeline: My musical journey has been interesting and it has by no means been conventional. Early in my music career, I trained with Berklee City Music in Jazz and recorded several jazz covers with Berklee teacher/producer Sam JC Lee. I uploaded a cover of Dinah Washington called "What A Difference A Day Makes", which became very popular on Soundcloud and caught the attention of a few EDM producers. I started getting requests from dm asking if I would lend my voice to some EDM tracks, and I recorded my first EDM song "Keeping Me Close" with producers Rohaan and Hanz, who signed with Lowly Palace. It was honestly my very first experience working in EDM, but it opened many doors for me in terms of exploring my sound and expanding my genres. Currently, I work in both EDM and singer-songwriter. My next EP will contain all the original indie pop versions paired with remixed versions of EDM. I'm really excited about this fusion of musical genres because I feel like it's pushing the boundaries of what it means to write/sing/perform in a certain genre of music.

What kind of emotions do you like to put into your songs? For example, romantic songs, good vibes, sad songs, etc. Adeline: In the past, I was writing more sad songs, I think it was my mental state that I was in that really inspired me more morose/sad music. But right now, I'm in a mental state where I'm writing more playful music. I think it always depends on my personal background and my own current emotions, so if I release a sad song it's probably because I'm sad!! But if I release a happy song, it's probably because I'm happy… (haha). In your songs, are there any particular meanings? Adeline: Not really, I think the music I create definitely varies depending on the emotions I feel that day, so every time it's different. About Korean songs, have you ever thought about writing and singing Korean songs? Adeline: I've already thought about writing and singing Korean songs, even though I don't speak the Korean language fluently, so I think that's what holds me back a bit. In fact, I recently followed the vocals of a cover of Squid Game released by Afterpeak Records, which was the first time I made a song in Korean, and even so, I had to send the vocals to my mom to make sure I pronounced everything correctly. I know that many of my listeners are from Korea, so I hope to create Korean/English fusion music soon! Recently, you worked with Strybo, Justfocus interviewed him in November 2021, and we need to know a little more about this collaboration. What was the best time you spent together? Even if the circumstances are really complicated. Adeline: Yes! To be honest, every experience I've had working with musicians for my music on Spotify/Soundcloud has always been with male producers/musicians. I don't think it's intentional. I just believe that the music industry is heavily dominated by men. It was really refreshing to work with Strybo, a producer. The dynamic was really different from what I'm used to. It was so wonderful to be able to work collaboratively with her and feel like the music we were producing was a joint effort. We did everything remotely and by phone/email/voice notes, but honestly, I'm very happy with how it went and she's actually going to collaborate with me on my next EP and make it an EDM remixed version, I'm so excited! Do you plan to come and sing here in France? Or just to visit? Adeline: I was actually supposed to go France for my honeymoon but it keeps being postponed because of the border closures with Covid. I really hope we get there soon because I love the France, the food, the people, the culture so much – everything is so wonderful. I would love to have the opportunity to sing there one day, I haven't sung in France yet, so it would be such an honor to be able to do that. Finally, the last question. Can you say in a few words what you wanted to say to your fans? Adeline: Yes! I just want to thank everyone who supported me and stayed with me, especially during the Covid setbacks and the release of my upcoming album. I am so grateful for everyone's support and I hope you will like my new music coming out this year <3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqWtMHamKxc Music made by Strybo and sung by Adeline um See or listen to her songs on:

The interview in français

Hello Adeline,you're a singer and Producer in U.K. Your mother tongue is english but you have some origins from South Korea. And recently you are working in the new album, it is your very first album?

Adeline: Hello! Thank you for having me, it is an honor to interview with you today. Yes! I am ethnically Korean, originally from Boston, but I moved to the UK for my undergraduate degree in 2015 and I haven't left since. I am just about to release my first EP all as singles from mid-April until the end of December and I am so excited! It was originally supposed to be released in the summer of 2020, but it was postponed due to Covid. However, a lot came out of my album being postponed as I ended up writing two additional songs that are going on the EP, which I love!

How long have you been making music?

Adeline: I have been singing since I was 14 years old, but I started writing my own music at the age of 18. I first started writing my own indie pop music, but then I expanded into the EDM topline songwriting/singing in the most recent years, especially due to Covid. What I'm realizing is that many projects can be done remotely, which has allowed me the privilege to be able to work with people from all over the world.

What music genres have you done so far?

Adeline: My music journey has been an interesting one and it has not been conventional by any means. In the early stages of my music career, I trained with the Berklee City Music in Jazz and I recorded several Jazz covers with Berklee professor/producer, Sam JC Lee. I uploaded one Dinah Washington cover called "What A Difference A Day Makes," which became really popular on Soundcloud and reached the attention of a few EDM producer. I started to get some dm requests asking if I would lend my vocals for some EDM tracks, and tracked my first EDM song "Keeping Me Close" with producers Rohaan and Hanz, which signed to Lowly Palace. This was honestly my first ever experience working in the EDM realm, but it opened a lot of doors for me in terms of exploring my sound and expanding my genres. Currently I am working in both the EDM and the singer songwriter realm, and my upcoming EP will have all of the original indie pop versions paired with EDM remixed versions. I'm really excited for this fusion of music genres as I feel as if it is pushing the boundaries of what it means to write/sing/perform within a certain genre of music.

my own current emotions, so if I am releasing a sad song it is probably because I am sad!! But if I release a happy song it is probably because I am happy haha.

In your songs, have some particular meanings in every songs?

Adeline: Not really, I think the music that I create definitely varies depending on the emotions that I am feeling that day, so each time it is different.

About Korean songs, have you ever thought about writing and singing Korean songs?

Adeline: I have thought about writing and singing Korean songs before, though I am not fluent in the Korean language, so I think that is what holds me back slightly. I actually recently tracked vocals for a Squid Game cover that Afterpeak Records released, which was the first time I've ever done a song in Korean, and even so, I had to send my mom the vocals to make sure that I was pronouncing everything correctly. I know that a lot of my listeners are from Korea, though, so I do hope to create Korean/English fusion music soon!

What was the best moment did you have together? Even if the circumstances are really complicated. Recently your worked with Strybo, Justfocus interviewed in the past November 2021, and we need to know more about this collaboration.

Adeline: Yes! To be honest, every experience that I have had working with musicians for my music on Spotify/Soundcloud has always been with male producers/musicians. I don't think that this is intentional, I just believe that the music industry is heavily male dominant. It was really refreshing to work with Strybo, a female producer, and the dynamics were definitely different to what I am used to. It was so wonderful to be able to work collaboratively with her and feel as if the music that we were putting out was a joint effort. We did everything remotely and over phone calls/emails/voice notes, but I'm honestly so happy with how it turned out and she actually is going to collaborate with me for my upcoming EP and do an EDM remixed version for it, which I am so excited about!

Do you think about coming to sing here in France ? Or just to visit?

Adeline: I actually was meant to go to France for my honeymoon but it keeps getting postponed due to the borders closing with Covid. I really hope that we make it out there soon because I love France so much, the food, the people, the culture – everything is so wonderful. I would love the opportunity to sing there one day, I have yet to sing in France, so it would be such an honor to be able to.