Harvesting energy for the Fall

Throwback photos: a few moments from Labor Day 2016 weekend when I moved back to LA from SF.

It’s been eight years (!!!) since I’ve moved back home to LA after 10 years of living in the Bay Area. I moved back Labor Day weekend in 2016. My whole family and even Kiwi our sweet Jindo pup who was only 5 at the time road tripped up to help me pack up my things. After a weekend hopping around the city, we drove back down together. It was a bittersweet, emotional weekend to say goodbye to a place I had essentially grown up in during my formative years. It was during this transition that I started my blog and newsletter. What a journey it’s been these past eight years, cultivating new roots back in LA. Despite some breaks in between the years, I continue to write and for that I’m grateful.

When a new month approaches in the year, I also like to look up its spiritual meaning or what it represents. Learning about each month’s themes and meanings helps provide a framework of guidance, grounding, motivation and energy to channel towards various parts of my life.

As summer transitions into autumn, September represents change and transition–what must I let go in order to make space for new beginnings? 

Known as the harvest month, September also signifies growth and abundance–what have I harvested and worked hard through this past year that allows me pause and grace to celebrate and revel in gratitude?

Summer highlight: 임윤찬 Yunchan Lim at the Hollywood Bowl

“I made up my mind that I will live my life only for the sake of music, and I decided that I will give up everything for music… I wanted my music to become deeper, and if that desire reached the audience, I’m satisfied.” —Yunchan Lim 임윤찬 

What a beautiful and powerful statement from 20-year-old Korean pianist Yunchan Lim. I had the privilege of seeing him perform with the LA Philharmonic and legendary conductor and music director of the LA Phil, Gustavo Dudamel at the Hollywood Bowl on Thursday.

My mom of course was the first person to put me onto Yunchan so we went together. I attribute my love for music and concerts to her so this was special. We were so excited for the concert we bought tickets as soon as they released back in May for the Summer season at the Bowl. One of my favorite things about summers in LA are concerts at the iconic Hollywood Bowl.

Yunchan’s performance was beautiful and mesmerizing. I felt joy and pride in seeing a young Korean musician showcasing his talents while the audience sat quietly entranced as he played Beethoven’s Piano concerto No.5, “Emperor.” You could palpably feel everyone’s minds being blown by his exceptional talent, myself included.

Born in Siheung, Korea, he enrolled in piano lessons at 7 which I read is considered a bit later compared to other piano prodigies who begin learning at a younger age. He went on to become the youngest winner ever of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of 18. I highly recommend watching Yunchan’s winning performance from that competition even if for a moment. The amount of hours of practice and dedication to arrive at this stage at only 20 years old is admirable and remarkable. Even though I never continued my piano lessons, watching him perform was motivation for me to continue to nurture my own creative pursuits and passions.. Never give up y’all!

August gems playlist round-up:

Listen to the full playlist here.

That Mexican OT ft. Curren$y and LE$ - 1982
Texas rapper That Mexican OT is one of my favorite discoveries from last year. My dearest bff Chrystal put me onto his hit song “Johnny Dang” that put him further into the spotlight. I love his flow, and I’ve also been enjoying the Texas Technician album he released in May and of course his collab with Denzel Curry on “Black Flag Freestyle.” “1982” is another cruise-worthy single.

Billy Lemos & spilltab - Chip Away
Billy Lemos is a talented producer born and raised in Iowa and currently based in LA.I love his production style—creative, unique beats woven through interesting textures and samples that allow the featured artist to also shine in harmony. I love this one in collaboration with spilltab. It reminds me of the end of summer or something I’d play as the sun is setting.

Yaeji - booboo
I remember catching a clip of Yaeji dropping “booboo” during her Boiler Room Brooklyn Mirage set and was instantly hooked by its energy. I love her inclusions of singing in Korean like when she sings repeatedly in the intro, “If you’re sleepy, go home.” “booboo” feels like a reminder that summer isn’t over yet (we still have until September 22), and it features a sample of the hook from her 2017 hit, “raingurl.” It was interesting to read about what she processed after all the success she experienced following “raingurl.” Via Stereogum, she shared: “i think with anything — a little breathing room, a little break — distance makes the heart grow fonder. with the overpowering attention that came from “raingurl,” i took a break from clubbing, dance music, and the underground scene, but in that time away from it all, it’s allowed me to gain new perspective and a deeper appreciation for it. this year is the 10-year mark for many of the parties my friends and i used to go to, so “booboo” coming out now feels like full circle moment. and with my closest friends — who i’ve witnessed grow as DJs and start their own labels, throwing parties & having fun, all while creating a radical and safe space, it’s been so fun being their cheerleader and now rejoining them in the club, front right!” I’ve been a long-time fan of Yaeji, and she just seems like the coolest person. I hope to work with her one day.

SUMIN and Slom - Just a Breakup
I’m digging SUMIN and Slom’s “Just a Breakup” intro track off their MINISERIES 2 album which is a delightful adventure to listen through that draws influences from hip hop to electronic to jazz and of course K-Pop. I love the influence of Brazilian bossa nova in this song “Just a Breakup” in particular. SUMIN is a multifaceted artist, singer-songwriter and producer who’s produced for BTS, Red Velvet and more. Slom is a talented producer who was born in the Bay Area but moved to Korea when he was a child. He’s been producing for many artists in the Korean hip hop scene like Zion.T. The effortless collaboration between these two greats on MINISERIES 2 has me going back to explore their first MINISERIES album.

Whilewesleep - Act II, Scene IV
Whilewesleep is a reminder that the youth are doing more than all right. They’re doing great. I love this song especially the grungy chorus and instrumental breakdown at the end. This one is a particular personal gem because it’s only been in recent years that I got to reconnect with Seb Yu, the main singer and guitarist of Whilewesleep. Seb is my sweet cousin Jenny’s son, but I like to call him my nephew. It’s been a special experience to reunite and bond over our shared love for music. I’m so proud to support him. Hearing him navigate through the last years of high school and embark on his college journey all while hearing the music he’s creating and performing at some shows I’ve gotten to attend have been healing even for me. It’s helped me reconnect with my inner teen to let her know she’s turning out more than all right too. Please support young artists, bands and musicians in your local communities!

Catch you in the Fall,
Jane Shin

A meditative, sweet July

Hello! How did we get to the end of July already? How are we already halfway through the year? I’m trying to hold onto every bit of summer I can: enjoying meditative, cool walks in the evening, trying new ice cream spots, getting to the beach, wearing tank tops, the list goes on.

A couple of July highlights:

• Caught legendary ‘70s French jazz funk group Cortex at the Mayan earlier this month. They’ve been one of the most sampled French artists particularly in hip hop from the likes of MF Doom to Tyler, the Creator to Lil Yachty. Put on by Jazz is Dead collective, it was a memorable night and a reminder of the importance of giving past artists and groups their flowers.

• Enjoyed a work trip to NYC where I got to interview Glass Animals as part of their Amazon Music City Sessions performance. I also got caught in a downpour as I was walking back to my hotel, and it felt like a movie scene. I stayed in Manhattan for the first time in a while as I’ve usually stayed in Brooklyn on past visits. Savoring Magnolia Bakery’s banana cream pudding on a park bench on a warm night in NYC couldn’t be beat.

• The Olympics. Kim Yeji has stolen my and the rest of the world’s hearts. I made my phone lock screen the viral image of her breaking the past world record for air pistol shooting. She’s my reminder to stay focused and sharp. All the Asian women shooters at the Olympics have been truly inspiring to see. Loved this hilarious tweet from comedian and writer Youngmi Mayer. Sign me up to be a part of this badass group too.

Here’s my short and sweet round up of July gems. Listen to the playlist here.

Zacari - Berserk!!!
TDE’s R&B artist Zacari hails from a musical family in Bakersfield, and his voice is pure angelic magic. If you’re not familiar, you may have heard him on past features like on Kendrick Lamar’s “LOVE.” His new album Bliss released a few weeks ago, and there’s a lot of heat on the album—Zacari’s voice paired with incredible production from long-time collaborators like Teddy Walton make these songs perfect to cruise to on a summer night. My other favorites are “Destiny” and “Lonewolf Still.” I’m excited to catch him on tour with SiR in the coming weeks.

Keshi - Say
I’m so excited for Keshi’s forthcoming album Requiem due out on September 13. Two years later, I still have GABRIEL in regular rotation. “Say” is a sweet catchy song about wanting to make a first move on a crush and swirling in that hesitancy. In an interview with Genius he says, “In all my attempts to make meaningful music, I overlooked songs that were built to just get people to move…I remember touring on the road and really craving to play songs that just felt good to groove to. ‘Say’ is my answer to that. It’s got a moody sort of cadence with an admiration for city-pop baked into it.” I love the music video as well that was filmed in Korea. I had the honor to host a film screening on behalf of Amazon Music two years ago when GABRIEL dropped along with an accompanying documentary that told the story of the making of the album. I interviewed keshi and director Kenji Chong in a special Q&A, and I’ll forever be grateful for that experience. I am stoked to see boylife is also supporting keshi on his upcoming Fall tour.

Glass Animals - On the Run
Oxford, UK band Glass Animals have been around since 2010, and they released their new album I LOVE YOU SO F****** MUCH a few weeks ago. It’s remarkable they’ve been creating together for the past 14 years. “On the Run” is a favorite of mine from the album. I love the build-up of this song. This album encapsulates all the levels and milestones one goes through in their relationships, whether romantic or platonic. It certainly had me reflecting on mine, both past and present.

Charlotte Day Wilson - Dovetail
I revisited Charlotte Day Wilson’s recent album Cyan Blue that dropped in May, and this song “Dovetail” reminds me of the summer. She mentions the album is about all the stages of love and grief and the process of writing it was also about reconnecting with her inner child. I’ve been trying to do that more myself.

wave to earth - love.
I love me some K-indie music. I discovered this band wave to earth on Instagram Story’s recommended songs when I was looking for a song to pair a fit check video with. Released in 2023 from their album 0.1flaws and all., the instrumental intro had me locked from the start. I saw they’ll be in town in September for a show so look forward to catching them live.

A fulfilling birthday in Seoul

Summer is in full swing, and I love it. We’re already halfway through the year, and the Summer Solstice offers a great time for reflection on the year thus far. 

I’ve been on a major timeline of healing this year. I’m learning to be patient, stay focused on what’s in front of me and keep moving forward. I often remind myself to “stay in the 24 (hours).”

I had a beautiful birthday month in June. Having the opportunity to go on my first business trip to Korea was a blessing as it coincided with my birthday. I got to celebrate it for the first time with my mom’s side of the family in Korea–my grandma, aunts, uncle and cousins. We feasted on Korean grilled pork and nengmyun (cold noodles) before we headed back to my grandma’s house. My aunts got me a birthday tiara for giggles which was so fun and silly because I literally have never worn a tiara in my life. Suffice to say, little Jane felt special and loved. 

While eating delicious chocolate cake and sliced watermelon,we gathered around and looked at old photos together, reminiscing and sharing stories. I got emotional when we landed on the photo album of my first visit to Korea ever with my family. It was the summer I had finished 6th grade. It was a treacherous time for me as I harbored so much angst and fear about entering middle school that I did not appreciate that first visit then as much as I do now. 

Nonetheless, I still recall feeling joy and freedom during that visit, particularly with my grandma. My favorite memory then with her was sitting together on the pebbly shores of a beach on Jeju Island as the sun was starting to set. The waves crashed onto our legs as we sunk deeper into the coarse, rich sand, and she would shout with glee with every crash. I remember it felt like a fun game that I didn’t want to end. My grandma has Alzheimer’s now which saddens me because our interactions inevitably aren’t the same. But I’m grateful she still remembers my name, and I attribute my love for adventure and travel to her and my mom. 

I only get to see her and my family in Korea every few years, so each moment we get to spend together is so precious. Seeing them right before I entered a stacked work week was a gift of energy and pure love that carried me through. Seeing those old photos of myself in Korea for the first time also gave me energy because young Jane then probably could not imagine that her love for music would eventually lead her to be back in Korea on a business trip decades later. Here’s to celebrating this summer.

Here’s my round-up of six gems for June. You can listen to the playlist here.

Denzel Curry ft. Tia Corine & A$AP Ferg - Hot One
I’m very excited about Denzel Curry’s forthcoming King of The Mischievous South Volume 2 album out July 19. “Hot One” is the first single that he released featuring the incredible Tia Corine and A$AP Ferg. A triple threat! Denzel also just released “Black Flag Freestyle” with That Mexican OT, and I’m equally hyped about that song. I had the great honor of developing and producing a documentary about his roots in Carol City and South Florida for Spotify years ago. This feels especially full circle with the message and sound he’s pushing with the new album. If you want to see the film, hit me up and I’ll send you a private link. It’s Denzel Curry season baby!

Vince Staples - Little Homies
“Little Homies” is from Vince Staples’s latest album Dark Times. “Life hard, but I go harder…” Vince is always dishing out motivation that sticks with you. I always appreciate his level of personal introspection and storytelling in his music as evident in additional standouts like “Black&Blue” and “Shame on the Devil” from Dark Times.

TSHA ft. Rose Gray - Girls
London’s own electronic artists TSHA and Rose Gray come together to create this empowering, dance-y summer anthem for the girls. It’s a reminder to never settle for less and that things are going to get better when you focus on yourself. 

Kali Uchis - Never Be Yours
This is a remake and reimagining of Kali Uchis’s fan favorite demo “Never Be Yours” in celebration of the 10 year anniversary of Kali’s first EP Drunken Babble. I love the production and instrumentation on this updated version that makes me want to cruise to it at sunset.

Jay Som - If I Could
Hailing from the Bay Area, Melina Duterte pka Jay Som is so wonderfully talented. “If I Could” feels nostalgic and reminds me of summers in my youth. It’s fitting because it’s on the soundtrack of A24’s I Saw the TV Glow, a film set in the ‘90s about a teen whose friend introduces him to a late-night TV show where a supernatural world emerges.

onthedal & haan. - Two Lovers
I’m grateful for the vast universe of Korean indie and alternative music that exists and lends itself to so much music discovery for me like this sweet song by emerging artists onthedal and haan. I love the momentum and instrumentation that starts simple then builds up through the song.

Wishing you a celebratory and fun start to your summer,
Jane

A tender May for a sweet June

Greetings from Seoul. I write to you as I look across to Bongeunsa (봉은사) Temple, a Buddhist temple founded in 793 where the Mireuk Daebul stands at 23 meters high–I read it’s the tallest stone-made statue in Korea. Mireuk Daebul is the Great Statue of the Maitreya Buddha. I learned Maitreya is known as the “Buddha of the future, born to teach enlightenment in the next age.”

It’s a grounding sight and experience to be reminded of where I am and to choose peace and find gratitude in the present moment.

I’ve always traveled to Korea with family and for family, but this round, I’m back here for work reasons for the first time. I’ve deemed this a gift for my birthday (June 3) and for AAPI month. I’m grateful for this opportunity to travel solo and steep myself back into my culture and still have the chance to reunite with family again.

I’m going to keep this one short, so here’s my round-up of May gems. As I share these playlists monthly, it’s cool to reflect on the music that’s carrying the tone of my month. May was a tender one, so the songs here reflect that. June is a celebratory month, so it feels like I’m about to enter some sweetness soon.

Listen to the playlist here. 

Crumb - Genie
The intro to “Genie” immediately pulls me in. It’s my favorite off of Crumb’s new album Amama. The lyrics remind me of moving through the discomfort of changes, growth and uprooting from past people and places with lyrics like “The places that I've been before / There’s nothing left for me there anymore / Does this tree belong to me / Does my skin belong to mе / Cause even if I'vе grown it by myself / My body is it part of something else.” 

Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!
Hailing from a small town in Missouri, Chappell Roan is creating powerful pop anthems set to ‘80s-inspired synth sounds like “Good Luck, Babe!” about her experiences as a queer woman. She explained in her interview with Rolling Stone that it’s about “wishing good luck to someone who is denying fate.” I had the great fortune to work with Chappell on an editorial video about her breaking through, finding belonging in the queer community that moved her to create music and more that you can view here. 

Ravyn Lenae - Love Me Not
Ravyn Lenae created such a heartbreaking yet catchy song with “Love Me Not” about the limbo of letting someone go and wanting them back all at once. Dahi’s production ties it all together; I love the bass line in this song. Ravyn’s Bird’s Eye out in August which I’m excited about.

Raveena - Lucky
Raveena’s voice is heavenly. “Lucky” is a song from her forthcoming album Where the Butterflies Go in the Rain out in June. The video is so sweet and profound that matches the sound of the song, and it features a cool worm. You’ll have to see what I mean here. Shoutout to my friend and incredible bassist and producer Aaron Liao, notable producer for Raveena’s discography, including this one.

RM - Heaven
Love me some RM so much. I’ve been enjoying his latest album Right Place, Wrong Person. “Heaven” is one of my favorites, and I enjoyed this write-up on Teen Vogue about not contorting to others’ expectations and his evolution and growth in music both as a leader of BTS, a solo artist and as a person. 

Until then, May (no pun intended) you have a beautiful June ahead,
Jane Shin