Photo Courtesy of HANZ

“When I step into the booth, I project a visual landscape in my mind like a movie scene.” Is how singer-songwriter HANZ describes his thoughts when recording his music. Just put on any of his singles, and you can see how that works magically. Tracks like “Be My Rose” have those visuals come to life as you sit back and listen. That in part is down to his voice, famous for that distinct husky tone, which is what made him stand out in the singing competition Sing Again 3. In 2024 he made his official solo debut and now he's back with his latest release, A Diary of One I Loved. One that is a personal exploration of love.

Tracks like “Kissing a Heaven” are a personal standout and recommendation of mine. The gentle keys of the piano paired with his voice are pure excellence. I spoke to HANZ about the process behind the release, exploring his emotions and life since debut.

July saw the release of A Diary of One I Loved, and it truly feels like a diary filled with love songs and the exploration of first love. What was the initial concept of the album, and did it turn out differently than you had expected?

HANZ: The story actually starts with our debut track, "Falling", which originally takes place in the latter half of the diary—capturing the period after a farewell. However, right from the production phase, we carefully crafted the overarching narrative arc. I wanted to tell a complete, unbroken love story from a single perspective.

While the broader framework unfolded as envisioned, the process itself became much more dynamic. As we prepared the album and continued our activities, I felt empowered to take on new musical challenges across different genres and share even more nuanced stories. It turned out to be an incredibly fulfilling journey.

Many of the songs can be interwoven, and with topics like love, it's both a personal and universal subject. With your own stories, do you like to explain the meaning or touch on them briefly, allowing them up to interpretation by the listener?

HANZ: I dedicate a tremendous amount of energy to capturing my own emotions authentically through the lyrics, striving to convey the subtle emotional textures I experience in daily life. But what’s truly magical is when listeners take those songs and interpret them through their own unique lenses. Seeing the music gain new, rich dimensions through their personal stories brings me a profound sense of reward and reminds me why I love making music.

Photo Courtesy of HANZ

With you having co-written and composed all the tracks, what do you enjoy most about the creative process?

HANZ: To be honest, I wasn't originally someone who sang a lot of medium-tempo tracks—I always gravitated toward slow pop and ballads. So whenever I push myself to step into new genres during the creative process, I hit walls and experience self-doubt before picking myself back up. But after navigating that long period of intense contemplation, achieving that breakthrough gives me an unmatched rush of excitement and happiness.

When it came to naming the album, it seemed like the perfect title. Is that something you had in mind before the album was recorded? Or was it a conscious decision to tie the whole track list together like a story?

HANZ: The title wasn't set in stone from the very beginning. As we released 'Falling', followed by 'Be My Rose' and 'B.F.', the vision of connecting these individual points into a single continuous line became much clearer. That’s how the album naturally evolved into one cohesive story. It was toward the end of working on the remaining tracks for the full-length album that we finally locked in the title.

You do a fantastic job at using your voice as a main tool to entice the listener in with your voice. How do you tap into those vocals and emotions so that they are at the forefront first?

HANZ: When I step into the booth, I project a visual landscape in my mind like a movie scene. I usually envision quiet, contemplative imagery—like a vast field covered in pure white snow or a soft, rainy day. I fully immerse myself in that cool, nostalgic atmosphere before delivering the first line.

That distinct husky voice which listeners have come to love. At what point in your life did you realise you had a gift for singing and eventually decide that this was to be your career?

HANZ: When I was younger, friends used to tease me because my voice was quite thin. That sparked a sense of determination in me to study and practice all kinds of vocal techniques every day. I kept stripping back unnecessary elements and filling in the right emotional tones until my current sound naturally took shape.

My decision to pursue music professionally came in elementary school while watching the show I Am a Singer. Watching Korea’s iconic artists pour their hearts out on stage gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes. That burning desire—'I want to stand on a warm stage like that'—never left me, and that was the moment my dream of becoming a singer was born.

How do you like to approach the art of writing? Do you keep a diary or have set times you like to work on music?

HANZ: I love collaborating with my trusted creative partners. Whenever inspiration strikes, we coordinate our schedules, gather in the studio, and brainstorm together to build the music organically.

Many creatives are hard on themselves when it comes to their own work. With the album recording, did you have any hardships in terms of rewrites or re-records? Do you put a lot of pressure on yourself to produce the standard you expect of yourself?

HANZ: I do put a lot of pressure on myself, to the point where it gets mentally tough. If a song doesn't capture the exact mood I pictured, or if my throat isn't at its best that day, I get deeply frustrated. This album involved countless rewrites and re-recordings. But interestingly, the takes that ultimately made the final cut were usually the ones where I let go of all the burden at the very end and just sang comfortably.

Photo Courtesy of HANZ

The album itself feels like the perfect backdrop to the K-drama style of first love. Aside from the lyrics and the stories, what influences did you take towards the sound of the music? 

HANZ: These days, people rarely experience music purely through audio; it’s almost always paired with visuals. I often find inspiration in music paired with aesthetic visuals on short-form platforms like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts. The thought of my songs naturally blending into those visually warm, poetic moments definitely influenced my sonic direction during the creative process.

You officially debuted on November 21, 2024, with the single album "Falling”. Compared to today, do you feel your musical style or identity has changed since then?

HANZ: At the time of my debut, I felt somewhat boxed into certain genres and styles. Today, I feel much more versatile and open to embracing a wider range of sounds. While defining my identity is an ongoing journey, I’m filled with ambition to explore and create diverse, fresh music moving forward.

You showcase your vocals well in various songs that have different genres and sounds. Are there any sounds like you'd like to play with next that can challenge you further?

HANZ: I really want to interpret and express deep, traditional Korean emotional sensibilities through my own vocal colour. On top of that, if given the chance, I’d love to throw myself into a powerful, band-driven sound similar to James Arthur's 'Finally' and pour every ounce of energy I have into it.

Having appeared on shows like Sing Again 3, I can imagine those shows help mould you into the artist you want to become. What was your key lesson you learnt throughout and took into your own artist journey?

HANZ: Because audition programmes demand high-quality performances under incredibly tight deadlines, it was an immensely intense and exhausting period. However, taking full ownership of my arrangements and delivering those performances built an unwavering sense of self-conviction within me. Above all, I’m deeply grateful that so many people connected with and loved my voice.

Is there a particular memory from those times that still sticks with you today?

HANZ: Arranging the song 'Even If I Say I Love You' (사랑한다 말해도) in Round 3 stands out the most. I locked myself in the studio for days, constantly confronting doubt and picking myself back up. After spending sleepless nights refining the track and perfecting the vocals, feeling that deep surge of emotion upon finishing it is a memory I will treasure forever.

Photo Courtesy of HANZ

From singing competitions to officially debuting in 2024, so much has happened in such a short time. Would you describe yourself as someone who is determined to make their dreams come true?

HANZ: My ultimate dream isn't about becoming world-famous. My only goal is to remain someone who genuinely loves and enjoys music, regardless of fame. There are times when I'm fiercely passionate, and other times when I get completely lazy. But because this dream hasn't shifted once since childhood, I strongly believe in my ability to steer myself in the direction I want my life to go.

Finally, what does the rest of 2026 have in store for you?

HANZ: While we are keeping details under wraps for now, we are currently having very positive discussions regarding international performances! I'm also preparing to introduce a set of brand-new self-composed tracks. I still have so many stories I want to share with everyone, so please stay tuned!

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