He may have been hiding in the shadows for some time, but Junny is back to provide his fans with a boost of energy they desperately need with his new EP release “Dopamine.”
After the success of his first studio album release ‘blanc,’ Junny took time to reestablish his creative mojo and work on the things that were meaningful to him and his music career. Now, with a more make-up and chic image, Junny has returned with his EP and title track “RUSH” feat. BOBBY – a mid-tempo R&B Hip-Hop fusion track following a bubbly synthetic tune that blends a smooth chorus with a cool autotuned highlight that makes for an enjoyable start.
Junny has written K-pop hits we all know and love and has transformed the music scene (and the careers of idols) in various ways. Outside of his work with NCT 127, EXO, IU, and more, Junny enjoys his collaborations and seeks to be an artist that people can keep an eye out for as he steps back into the spotlight to showcase his creative talents.
Junny didn’t hold back during his interview with ZAPZEE. Junny shared just how much effort went into the development of ‘dopamine,’ his evolution as an artist and how the trends in both America and South Korea have formed and shaped both his interests and perspectives. See what makes Junny such a memorable artist in his video greeting and enjoy ZAPZEE’s exclusive interview down below!
Q1. Tell us all the details about the new EP. Was this something you were cooking up for a while or was there a sudden burst of inspiration and made rapidly? What can you share about your title track “RUSH” and the creative process?
Junny: “I’m not sure if I can call it a long time but it was right after I released a single called ‘Promise’ and had many songs already in the works. For some reason, I felt like it was about time that I released something special – especially after turning 28. It just made me want to do something different, I’m not sure? (laughs)
I started focusing on what could be the key message of the album and continued to work on new music with different producers and writers and eventually ended up creating a sketch of ‘RUSH’ the title song of the album. I ended up realizing that I’ve been naturally writing towards this album instinctively. This album describes how I have been and how I’ve been getting my personal dose of ‘dopamine’ during my time away.”
Q2. Can you explain the title of the EP and why ‘dopamine’ was chosen? Can you share more details about the EP’s concept?
Junny: “It describes the songs that I’ve been writing and naturally found myself writing; about the things that drove me to keep going, to work hard and where I get the dopamine to keep myself sane from a hectic life. It came so naturally that it basically wrote itself and each track of the album describes all the different sources of where I get my dopamine, starting from love and lust to ambition, nostalgia, etc.”
Q3. What exactly were you doing during your two-year hiatus? Were you mentally rehearsing, rediscovering yourself and your music, or simply preparing and honing your skills for a comeback?
Junny: “I was definitely rediscovering myself, continuously thinking about how I can improve as an artist and kept working on new projects to find that spark of inspiration. Since my last album, ‘blanc,’ I’ve released a handful of singles and was able to tour around the world – including a song called ‘Invitation’ that has become one of my biggest songs. I gotta thank my fans and my team for making this all happen and I am just so thankful and proud of what we’ve achieved so far. This album is definitely the response to all the amazing things that have been happening in my life.”
Q4. You last had a comeback in August of 2022 with your full-length album ‘blanc.’ How do you feel looking back at your music from that time and now?
Junny: “I’d like to say that I’ve evolved as an artist, musically and in terms of visuals. The process of making this album was much more cohesive because of all the experience from the previous album. What’s most important to me is for the fans to feel the same, for those who’ve been supporting me from day one till now, to feel the growth and to see me improve.”
Q5. You’ve been occupied with various collaborations as of late (like with Dynamic Duo). Do you have any favorites or fun stories from your experiences working with these various artists?
Junny: “There were a lot of memorable moments and I’m thankful for all the songs I was able to feature or participate in including the “PITAPA” feature. It was honestly like a dream come true as a huge Dynamic Duo fan ever since my time in high school. It was first supposed to be me participating in writing on the track that Crush sang called ‘다리없는새‘ (Fly or Die) but, in addition to that, Gaeko asked me to feature on their title song and it was such an honor for me.”
Q6. You have a slew of stages to perform on as of late such as at Kintex’s Rap Music Festival. What are you preparing for this performance? Also, how were your performances in Hong Kong last year? Any other places you plan on visiting?
Junny: “I have a few major festivals in Korea that I will be performing at with my band and also will be continuing my tour afterwards! More info will be out very soon and I’m so excited to announce all the cities!” Stay tuned for our updates on when and where you can catch Junny on stage!
Q7. What are some trends you’re following in Korea these days?
Junny: “I’m aware of the trends that’s been going on in Korea because I see it on my feed every time I open Instagram or TikTok (laughs) but it’s honestly so hard to keep up. I just watch.”
Q8. Do you indulge in Netflix shows or binge any K-dramas/movies? What was a personal favorite?
Junny: “During my break, I finally got a chance to watch ‘The Bear’ and ‘Severance’ recently and both were so amazing and I literally couldn’t stop watching. I definitely recommend these two shows for a binge.”
Q9. With the year 2024 almost over, did you accomplish any particular goals you set out? Is there anything left to do before 2025?
Junny: “Every year my goal is to just stay healthy, put out music for my fans, and just evolve as an artist and a human being. I think so far in 2024 I’ve been successful in fulfilling my goal.”
Junny was sweet, charming, sociable, and always delighted us with a laugh and a smile each time he answered our questions! Although Junny is dedicated and obsessed with his music, he has a passion towards his fans that cannot go unnoticed. Before wrapping things up, Junny had one last thing to say to his loving fans.
Junny: “I hope each and every one of y’all are doing amazing, I missed you all so much and its so good to be back with my new album. The tour is about to start so I hope to see you all on the stage soon!”
Overall, Junny was a pleasure to chat with and showcased how much of a phenomenal artist he is. Although “RUSH” is quite the earworm, “dopamine” offers a brilliant array of sound in each piece with tracks “Here We Go Again,” “TASTE,” “Complications,” “Daylight” and “figure8.”
Be sure to see Junny’s fan-greeting in our video as well as the other artistic songs Junny has released throughout his career by following him on social media. What did you think of Junny’s latest release and our exclusive interview? Leave a comment and follow ZAPZEE for more exclusive interviews and K-Pop news!
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