At the core of it all, we’re driven by love. Whether it’s the passion we have for the things we do, the comfort we feel with someone special or the appreciation we have for ourselves, our lives are rooted in love and Jimmy Brown expresses just that in his music.
While sometimes pain and tears are inevitable, the Korean indie act reminds us that the entire experience is immensely beautiful.
“Love is essential to our lives and even if your love lets you down, what you had in your heart is the most precious emotion-wise. At the end of the day, I always tell listeners that love is one of the most beautiful things and it will always be on your side,” he tells Bandwagon.
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While exploring the many and ever-complicated notions of love is nothing new to music, Jimmy has a way of engulfing you in a world that makes the abstract emotion seem a little clearer.
Beyond taking inspiration from his own adventures through love, the ‘2 Things’ hitmaker also looks to daily life to fuel his stories.
“Frankly speaking, some of my tracks have my own experiences in it but mostly I get inspiration from everywhere—for example, good music, conversations, even just looking at beautiful sceneries,” Jimmy shares.
And you see all those experiences unfold throughout his extensive discography that resonate with people all over the world, whether it’s the heartwarming stories he shared in ‘Mom’ and ‘Grandma’—two songs that mean the world to him—or the fluttering romance of ‘Irene’.
One of Jimmy’s most popular songs is his 2020 single ‘Let Me Know’ which fosters good energy and warmth. “Making music is all about sharing good vibes, energy and eventually messages,” he says.
“In that sense 'Let Me Know' has led people to see the beauty of all emotions they have felt. There is always someone who gets your back, you know?”
Narrating tales of love has been a common thread throughout Jimmy’s journey in music that started right after discovering the world of R&B through Chris Brown—the very person that inspired his stage name—and Kanye West as a teenager.
Since then, the singer-songwriter knew this was the path he was meant to be on. Even through the struggle of financially sustaining his creative career, Jimmy’s passion for music never faltered.
Today, the ‘i got you’ act is one of the most notable indie artists to come out of Korea. With a fanbase that spans the entire world, Jimmy’s proven that love and music can truly bring people together.
“Love is an international language everybody can relate their feelings to.”
But maintaining and sustaining love often means hard work, and Jimmy’s creative process is no different. Behind his comforting music and touching stories are hours of recordings and extreme attention to detail.
“When I'm in my zone, I keep telling myself, there is no one who could understand your work better like you do. Even if I'm struggling, I just know I will figure things out eventually,” Jimmy on his music-making process.
While it’s exhausting, especially working on all aspects of production on his own, it’s always fruitful of course. When asked about his favourite part of it all, he shares, “Creating something I don't even know exists in me. I think sometimes people just don't realize how talented they are.”
2021 was a great year for the ‘Dance’ hitmaker, with a long line of singles, collaborations, and projects added to his repertoire. This includes his collaborative album The Good Days Boys Playlist 1 with fellow Korean acts Rovv and Sweet The Kid.
Serving as a continuation to their The Good Days Boys EPs, the album is the product of friendship, pure fun, and artistic experimentation, all aspects of music that Jimmy especially adores.
“Rovv started building a studio about a year ago I guess? Sweet and I lent a hand every single day. I think that makes us brothers. We were right off to producing in the brand new aka self-built studio,” he reminisces.
“More than 20 tracks will be out this year as well. You know, we are all open-minded. That's what I love about us and I'm learning so much working with them as well. It's nothing but worthy.”
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Before the year came to a close, Jimmy also released his single ‘high’. Drawing parallels between love and being drunk, the track tells a story of being with that special someone that makes every moment feel out of this world.
“Feeling 'high' can be demonstrated in many ways. When you're with someone who makes you feel special and you're the only one, that's one of my highs too. I tried to show those kinds of highs alongside being drunk high,” he shares.
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For 2022, the ‘Yours’ act has a lot of exciting things in store including his first-ever studio album. While everything’s still under wraps, the record is set to showcase everything Jimmy is as an artist and of course, a lot of love stories.
"[You can look forward to] new music. A better version of myself. My first full album. I'm so pumped up to see a physical CD," he shares.
Listen to Jimmy Brown's 'high' here.
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