We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful HEESU. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with HEESU below.

HEESU, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

Absolutely. As a Korean artist living in the U.S., people often assume I make K-pop simply because of my nationality. With the global rise of K-pop, it’s usually one of the first things people ask me—before even hearing my music: “Oh, do you make K-pop?” Some of my songs have even ended up on K-pop girl group playlists on Spotify, even though they don’t reflect who I am as an artist. I want to be clear—I’m a Korean artist, but I’m not a K-pop artist. While “K-pop” technically means Korean pop music, in the global context it usually refers to idol-based music: highly choreographed, company-produced, and rooted in a very specific industry system. I grew up listening to it and have a deep respect for the genre, but it doesn’t define my work.

My music blends house, electropop, alternative R&B, and electronic dance. I draw from a wide range of genres and personal stories. As a Korean artist embracing my heritage in my own way, I often incorporate traditional Korean instruments—not to follow a trend, but to tell my own story. My hope is that people come to recognize what I do as the HEESU sound.

This experience really showed me how strong assumptions and labels can be—especially when people tie your identity to a genre. But it also reminded me to keep pushing past that, stay true to who I am, and just keep creating what feels real to me.

HEESU, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m professionally known as HEESU—a singer-songwriter, producer, and creative director based in New York City.
I studied at Berklee College of Music, where I began shaping my identity as an artist. Since graduating, I’ve been working as a full-time independent artist, creating music that’s personal and rooted in both sound and story.

I draw inspiration from house, electropop, alternative R&B, and electronic dance music—but what sets me apart is how I fuse those influences with traditional Korean instruments and sounds. As a Korean artist living in the U.S., I’m always navigating how to honor my heritage while also pushing forward creatively. I use sound, storytelling, and visuals to explore identity, emotion, and fusion in a way that feels uniquely mine.
I’m not just a singer—I’m a storyteller and visual thinker. I produce my own music, direct my own visuals, and build immersive narratives around each project. My track “Honey Eyes” was a turning point—it was my first fully self-produced release and the first time I incorporated traditional Korean instrumentation to express who I am. That song helped define my voice and connected with people in a way I hadn’t experienced before. One of my proudest moments was creating CHEONGSAN—a fully 3D-animated music video built around a song I co-produced using only Korean instruments and synths. It was a deep dive into my roots and a chance to showcase the beauty of Korean culture in a modern, visually immersive way.

Ultimately, everything I create—whether it’s a song, a performance, or a visual experience—comes from a place of honesty and intention. I want people to feel something real and be invited into a world that celebrates fusion, positivity, and authenticity.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is pouring my whole heart into a project—then performing it live and sharing it with the world. Seeing people dance, let go, and truly enjoy the music I created—that’s the most fulfilling feeling.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I’ve been really enjoying a podcast called Best Advice: Spotify for Artists, hosted by Kim Taylor Bennett. She invites established artists to share honest, insightful advice for up-and-coming creatives—from navigating the music industry to staying inspired and handling marketing. It’s all based on their personal experiences, which makes it incredibly valuable. I honestly wish I had discovered it sooner, and I highly recommend it to any independent artists out there!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.heesu.biz/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heesu_yu/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HEESU.music/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi8otUbV8umnvWhkVwK-1gg
• Other: Spotify:
  

  Apple:
  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/heesu/1564213762

Image Credits

bluntfotos

SK

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