
By: Staff
just Min released, "High Speed" and we loved it so much that we reached out to the artist behind the creation.
Every once in a while, a song comes along that doesn’t just catch your ear, it stops you in your tracks. A track that pulses with raw emotion, electrifying energy, and an unmistakable sense of urgency. From the moment the first notes hit, you’re pulled into a world that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. It’s a sonic rush, a bold declaration, and a testament to an artist fully embracing their creative power.
The latest release from the rising talent, just Min is no exception. Opening with a bold, pulsing bassline, it immediately sets an intense soundscape, pulling the listener into a whirlwind of emotion. The track captures both the pain and exhilaration of breaking free, cutting ties, letting go, and embracing the unknown. It’s a moment of reckoning wrapped in an alt-pop anthem, seamlessly blending raw vulnerability with undeniable energy.
But what fuels a song like this? What experiences, emotions, and moments shape an artist's decision to craft something so intensely gripping?
We had the chance to sit down with the mind behind this incredible release, an artist whose ability to write, perform, and mix their own music makes their sound all the more immersive. From the inspiration behind the title to the emotional weight of performing such a raw track, we dive deep into their journey.
Read on as we unravel the story behind the music, the passion behind the performance, and what’s next for this unstoppable force in the industry.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
We are excited to have connected with Brian Kwak, aka just Min!
Hello just Min, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more excited to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. What is the inspiration behind your stage name?
A. I always knew that I wanted my stage name to be something related to my Korean name, which is “Minseok” (민석). I spent months before releasing my debut single coming up with literally hundreds of different names and ironically, “just Min” stuck with me. I always wanted a simple stage name as an artist, and it’s a reminder for me to just be myself in my music. It’s also a message to my audience and listeners that at the end of the day, I'm ‘just’ a normal person like them.
Q. The vocals—WOW! We were blown away by your powerful and precise delivery. Your exceptional intonation, dynamics, and commanding expressiveness are truly outstanding. When did you first realize you had this talent, and was there a defining moment that pushed you to record your voice for the world to hear?
A. Honestly, I started singing pretty late, around when I was 15-16 years old. At the time, I was just teaching myself how to play ukulele and naturally started singing along. When COVID got really bad, I started singing every day with the sole intention of improving my voice; I went on YouTube and watched the same “vocal exercises” video for months and practiced. By the time I got back to school after COVID, my voice had improved massively. I didn’t actually start writing my music until around 2 years ago though. When it comes to my own music, everything is self-taught and everything has moved so fast.
Q. We read: “High Speed” ultimately embodies the painful yet liberating act of cutting ties, and the exhilaration of letting loose.” Was this inspired by a specific event or a collection of experiences over time?
A. A few years ago, I cut off a best friend and a lover; I found out both of them had been seeing each other behind my back. Going through this as a young adult was traumatic but also life-changing. I matured so much from this experience and also started making music because of it and I found my passion and true calling. The emotions and baggage that came with this experience naturally poured into the making of “High Speed” years later.
Q. Do the emotions in this song represent the most common feelings that inspire your projects, or do you draw from a broader range of emotions when creating music?
A. I never restrict myself when I write or produce music, whether it’s genre, feel, or emotions. I just go with what feels most natural and trust my instinct because at the end of the day, your taste is what will set you apart from other artists. I have the firm belief that experimentation leads to natural versatility if you practice it consistently. I’ve always aimed to be an exceptionally versatile artist from the day I started making music, and I’m super glad that my music, especially “High Speed”, reflects that.
Q. Do you see this song as a natural progression of your musical journey, or were there specific personal or musical experiences that shaped its direction?
A. Yes and no. For months, before I wrote High Speed, I was selfishly manifesting that ‘hit’ song that every artist wants in their catalogue. Every day, I’d think “I’m gonna make a banger today” before making music, and ironically, that led me to have my first real writer’s block. Months later, once I had stopped the naive and materialistic thoughts, I made High Speed. It felt like this song was meant to be and I just had to stop forcing things in order for the idea to come to me.
Q. This song clearly captures deeply personal and raw emotions. How do you feel after performing it, whether in the studio or live? Would you describe the experience as cathartic, draining, or something else entirely? And how do you prepare yourself for the emotional weight of delivering such a heartfelt performance?
A. The chorus was the first melody I hummed after hearing the beat for the first time. While it did take me a couple months to fully write and record High Speed, I knew this was going to be special, and at the very least, very different to anything I’d made before. I delayed recording the final vocals for High Speed for a long time because it felt like a lot of responsibility, knowing that this could be my best release to-date; that was definitely quite draining.
Q. We loved the title “High Speed”! Initially, we assumed the song would take a different direction, but when we realized it was about running away at high speed, it deepened our connection with it. What emotions led you to this brilliant wordplay?
A. In the past, I was always someone who was too nice, would always give people the benefit of the doubt, and never acted decisively. All of a sudden, I had to cut toxic people out of my life, and that led me to write High Speed years later. I’d never felt such contradicting emotions simultaneously: feeling immense pain, freedom, and change all at once. These overwhelming emotions made the songwriting process feel so natural and High Speed was born. I guess High Speed came so long after cutting off toxic people from life because my brain needed the time to heal and process what had happened.
Q. How does it feel to be the mixer, writer, and performer of a song? Does wearing all these hats add more pressure, or does it give you a sense of creative freedom?
A. There is definitely an element of more pressure, because doing more technical work in a song is ultimately a lot more responsibility. At the same time, fully writing and mixing a song gives me complete control of how everything comes out sonically. “Where do the background vocals go? Should I fade this layer of the vocal into the next bar? What if I slightly delay the arrangement of the ad libs half a beat towards the end of the song?” These are all thoughts that I have throughout the process of making a song and so naturally, it just makes sense that I try to have as much creative control over my art as possible. I’ve learned that at the end of the day, no one cares about your music as much as you, so only you have the true control to make your music the highest quality possible.
Q. We were so moved by this statement: “You give 110% effort for an uncertain outcome. But ‘High Speed’ reminded me why I make music—not for numbers or statistics, but to express myself through the medium I know best.” Your music and artistry exude this authenticity, and it’s exciting to see an artist focus on their message and vision rather than chasing commercial success. Do you feel this mindset has influenced the way you create such fantastic music?
A. Of course. I also think that humbleness is a necessity to focus on authenticity as opposed to commercial success. Understanding that at the end of the day, a song is just music, and that there are far more important things in life, is fundamental to creating meaningful art. It is this sort of humbleness and acceptance that allows me to, ironically, give my everything to my music and be as vulnerable as my music calls for. There’s thousands of songs with an unfathomable amount of streams, but some of these songs lack an objective level of musicality. I try my best to make sure that in all of my music, each song reaches an objective benchmark of quality and musicality, while also expressing myself authentically. I don’t want to just make something that’s already been made or do something that someone has already done.
Q. Thinking about your connection with fans and their musical tastes, do you have a favorite song from your early years that you’d love to cover in the studio, one that deeply connects to who you are as an artist today?
A. Throughout my childhood, I used to listen to Maroon 5’s Overexposed album every day, so covering Wipe Your Eyes by Maroon 5 would be really full-circle for me. It’s just a beautiful song and Adam Levine’s voice and songwriting has had a massive impact on the way I make my music and how I want it to sound.
Q. We feel like we’ve learned so much about you through this one song, it’s such a great way to connect with fans. But what’s one surprising fact about you that they might not know?
A. I actually really hated music growing up. I was raised quite musically by my mum, who has perfect pitch and played piano since she was 4 years old, so the standard of music was super high in the household. I was forced to play both piano and violin for so many years and my mum constantly pushed me to my limits as a musician and a person. I never ever thought I’d do anything with music again after turning 14 and quitting violin for good. Mind you having a career within the industry. Life works in crazy ways. I guess it’s all paid off now. Thank you Mum!
Q. Which instrument typically serves as the foundation for your songwriting? How does it influence the mood and direction of your final sound?
A. Definitely the violin. I played in an orchestra for 9 years at a pretty high level, so whether I like it or not, violin massively influences my decisions musically, whether it be in my songwriting or composition. The violin is almost always the main melody of orchestral pieces, so it’s arguably the best instrument that could’ve served as the foundation for my songwriting. It almost mimics the voice in a modern song.
Q. Where do you see your sound and artistry evolving in the future? Are there any exciting new directions you’re exploring?
A. I don’t set any sort of boundaries or ceiling when it comes to my sound and artistry. I do know that I will continue to drop better and better songs and I’m constantly pursuing pure authenticity and am obsessed with improving my craft.
I started making my own music just 2 years ago, so all I can say is that the future looks super exciting. I’m currently working on a debut EP (more news on that later) and it’s sounding incredible. I can’t reveal too much but I am fully writing and mixing this project, and it’ll include a couple fully self-produced songs too.
Q. We read: “Seoul, South Korea - Korean-born artist just Min.” How has this life experience shaped who you are as an artist today? Were you there to experience the music industry as a grown musician?
A. I was born in Seoul, raised in Hong Kong, and now I attend university in New York City. Having a unique background is an incredible privilege that has definitely set me apart not only as a creative but as a person. I think moving around throughout my life and constantly adapting to new environments has allowed me to feel free to experiment and try new things as much as possible when it comes to my music and daily life. I also try my best to represent Hong Kong and Seoul through my music; being from these places is a big reason why I am such a fundamentally creative person. I am who I am because of where I am from.
Q. just Min, we can't thank you enough for sharing these intimate details! So, what's next? Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans should be excited about? We'd love to be the first to share the news!
A. I’m working on a debut EP coming soon and High Speed is the third single from that project. I’m releasing one more single after High Speed before releasing my first ever project in full. Stay tuned; High Speed is just the tip of the iceberg of what’s to come!
just Min, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared just Min’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
Now, click the links below to experience their incredible work firsthand!
Check out this latest release and listen to more on Spotify & YouTube
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