James Alyn reinvents himself in new solo era: "I want to make music that I'm excited to play and listen to."

James Alyn is reintroducing himself to the world.

After a successful run as one-half of Thai pop duo HYBS, the singer-songwriter is ready to move on to his new area. While this isn't his first time to go solo, having released several singles under the moniker Alyn, this will mark his official debut as James Alyn.

He kickstarts this new era with his first single, 'Now and Ever,' "blending easy-listening pop melodies with infectious choruses". 

James Alyn chats with Bandwagon about his new musical journey as a solo act, living the dream as an artist, and more.

\You’ve been part of a duo, HYBS, over the past couple of years, and now you’re here with your first new single ‘Now and Ever’. What was the transition like working from a duo to a solo act?

Well, for sure I miss working with Karin. That was fun being a duo. It's always good to have someone to bounce your ideas. I'll definitely miss that. But I've written songs alone before, when I was an artist before HYBS. So now, the transition is new, but also familiar in a way. I would write alone, but then I would love to work with producers, with arrangers, so many talented musicians and people I work with. They really inspire me and [help me] bounce off ideas. So it's kind of the same as when I was in a duo. It's kind of a mix.

Who are the people you worked with for 'Now and Ever'?

I work with a super talented producer and arranger, as well as also my band. It's the band that plays with me live. They also help record the instruments in this song. Yeah, but I write it alone like I did before, but other than that it's been collaborative. I've been working with loads of talented people.

So even if like you're a solo artist, it's still very much like a collaborative process for you.

Yeah, I just have so much more fun working and sharing creativity with other people.

Tell us more about your new song and the direction that you want to take moving forward as James Alyn?

I really like to do things differently. So with my new music, I try to experiment more, try different genres and styles. I like to push myself creatively. Creating something fresh, that's something that I get excited about. I want to make music that I'm excited to play and listen to. So I hope others get excited about it and like it too.

I've been checking out your socials recently and saw how you've also been working on your merch. Is that how hands-on you plan to be with every facet of your journey as a solo artist?

Yeah, I just released the shirt, as you said. And I try to give back as much as I can to the fans. So I painted five T-shirts specifically. Made it with like a DIY kind of vibe. Then it turned out a lot more people liked it, so I might be making more of those. That was fun since I also always used to paint a lot as a kid. 

From watching you live as part of HYBS, you seem to have a very natural demeanour on stage. You show a very specific side of yourself as a performer, and you also play a multitude of instruments.  So how do you think that would translate into your solo stage?

I get a lot of that. Like on stage, I tend to have a completely different character when I'm not. So I like to do exciting things. When I'm on stage, I like to just enjoy myself and be in the moment. Do whatever feels natural to me. I also like to play lots of instruments because like I said, I get inspired by hearing new things. So playing and writing on different instruments also creates different vibes. I think in my music, I try to experiment and explore different kinds of creativities, songwriting, whatever. 

Do you have a favorite instrument or are they all equal for you?

They change from time to time. Like right now I'm back to playing a lot of guitar, electric guitar in particular. I used to write a lot on piano and acoustic guitar. So right now I'm into synthesizers and electric guitar. It just depends on what you feel like at the moment. I like to swap it out too, just to keep it fresh.

Is there an instrument you'd like to learn how to play?

I don't even know how to play the ones I'm playing. (Laughs) But yeah, I really like percussions right now. I would like to play how to play those exotic percussions and whatnot.

Now that you're reverting back to being a solo artist, what's the best thing you've learned about yourself as an artist and as a person in this journey so far?

Nice one. Let me think. I think that I've learned that I grow the most when I work with other people. The more input and the more ideas I get from the people I work with, the more inspired and creative I get. I don't know how to put it other than that. Yeah, so that's why I always tend to work with other people and I'm always open to suggestions and ideas and I think that really makes me grow as an artist.

You've mentioned that, you're more inspired whenever you're around other creatives, Do you have any other collaborators in mind for your future music or any dream collaborators you might have in the future?

So many. I'm actually working on my solo work album as well. But I also would like to collaborate with so many artists like PREP. I've had the honour of opening for them in the past. I'd love to work with them. Babychair. GANGGA, These people I've worked with, they're great and super talented artists. I would still love to work with them. Dream artists, so many. I'm just gonna say artists that I respect. At the moment I'm so into Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Phoenix, and the list goes on.

Are you planning to tour once your new album is out? 

I think that there will be some touring before the album but most of the touring will be after the album. But there are plans. 

Can we take a step back a little bit and maybe you can tell us what was your experience like opening for PREP? Was that your first performance after your split with HYBS?

That was my second actually, but the first with a full band. I've opened for PREP before as HYBS, but this was definitely a dream come true. We both love PREP so much, they've influenced us on our music, and being able to play on the same stage as them again is just incredibly honouring, and exciting. It was really fun.

Now that you're on your way to making more music, and you're working on your new album, where would you want to take your solo music to?

Wherever it takes me. Like I said, I think I just really love making music that I enjoy, experimenting for myself, and growing as an artist. Just making something that I'm proud of and being able to share it with fans across the world, travel, tour, singing the songs to them and them back to me, this is a dream come true already. I feel like I'm already living the dream.

What are your dreams for yourself as an artist?

For myself, I feel like it's already come true – Being able to have a job that I love, like truly love every process of it. Making something that I'm proud of, being able to share it with the fans and knowing that I mean something or if my songs mean something to someone, that's all I can ask for as an artist.