Singer-songwriter and producer GK has released “G.Race,” his first EP in two years and second overall. The five-track project arrived October 27, following his pre-debut EP “G.Round.” If that earlier release introduced the ambition to create his own turn from the ground up, “G.Race” picks up after the starting signal. Rather than presenting success as a finished image, the introspective EP stays close to the middle of the process, dwelling on financial pressure, responsibility and emotional exhaustion. GK took part in the lyrics and composition of all five songs and handled vocal direction and recording throughout.

That perspective is shaped by an unusually wide-ranging career. As man who has worn many hats, GK joined P NATION as an artist before moving into A&R, eventually rising to A&R Director, with credits that include A&R direction on PSY’s ninth studio album and work on Jessi’s “ZOOM.” He now leads JJ Music Group, a company spanning music production, artist development and creative production, which recently signing former E'LAST members IN CHOI and Romin. All while continuing his own recording career and studying at NYU Tisch’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. His work increasingly stretches between Korea and the United States.

The EP is anchored by two lead tracks that approach its themes from opposite directions. ‘Money on My Mind (feat. HANSE)’ confronts the sleeplessness and constant calculation that can sit behind ambition. ‘Tear is Nothing’ turns toward release rather than pressure, giving listeners permission to stop pretending to be fine. Its performance- and choreography-driven music video offers a physical counterpoint.

Moving across pop, hip-hop, R&B and bedroom-pop textures, the EP features Yechan of OMEGA X and JinE, with contributions from longtime collaborator SINGKI and producers REDIC, Ruiz, and ZEN. We spoke with GK about what it means to keep running, what carries him through, and how someone who shapes other artists’ releases approaches telling his own story.

“G.Race” brings together two words: “race” and “grace.” Between making music and running a company, I often feel the pressure to keep moving forward. But when I look back, I also see the people, opportunities, and moments of comfort that have helped me along the way. That is where the idea of grace comes in. 

My earlier EP, “G.Round,” was about my starting point. “G.Race” explores what happens once you actually start running: the financial pressure, the responsibilities, and the moments when you feel exhausted. I wanted to be honest about those feelings while also acknowledging the grace I have received along the way. 

Living between Korea and the United States has exposed me to different kinds of music and different ways of expressing myself. Those experiences naturally come together when I write. 

When I use Korean and English, I think about which words best fit the emotion and melody. The same feeling can have a different rhythm or sense of intimacy depending on the language. I want both languages to feel natural within the song and help listeners connect with what I am trying to express. That mixture is part of how I experience the world, so it becomes part of my music too. 

For the track 'Money on My Mind,' money can influence relationships, ambitions, and personal decisions in complicated ways. What aspect of that theme interested you most when creating this song? 

I was interested in how money can stay on your mind even when you just want a moment of peace. You need it to keep pursuing what you love, and as your responsibilities grow, there is more to think about and calculate. Working on my own music while running a company has made me very aware of that pressure. 

'Money on My Mind' captures the feeling of those thoughts following you into the night and keeping you awake. The title and repeated phrases are easy to sing along to, but there is real anxiety underneath them. I think many people will recognize that feeling from their own lives. 

HANSE is really good at this kind of music, so he felt like a natural fit. He has also experienced different chapters in his career, including moving from being an idol to establishing himself as a

solo artist. That experience of going through different roles and stages felt familiar to me, and I thought we would have a lot to talk about. 

He contributed to both the lyrics and composition, bringing his own perspective and way of expressing himself. Having another artist approach the same subject through his own experiences gave the song more depth and personality. 

Your title track, 'Tear Is Nothing,' explores a different emotional space. What inspired this song, and what do you want listeners to feel from the song and music video? 

I wanted to offer the kind of comfort that gives someone room to feel whatever they are feeling. When you are exhausted, even explaining what is wrong can take a lot of energy. 'Tear Is Nothing,' whose Korean title means “It’s Okay to Cry,” gives you permission to stop pretending you are fine. 

The music video is built around performance and choreography, allowing those emotions to come through movement as well as my voice. I hope listeners can let their guard down for a moment and feel comfortable acknowledging where they are emotionally. 

Do you see these tracks as connected in any way, or do they represent separate sides of “G.Race”? 

To me, they are closely connected. 'Money on My Mind' expresses the anxiety that comes with feeling like you have to keep going, while 'Tear Is Nothing' takes a moment to look after the person carrying that pressure. 

Wanting to achieve something and feeling exhausted can happen at the same time. Both feelings are part of this EP. You can still want to move forward while needing a moment to cry or catch your breath. Together, the two songs express a lot of what “G.Race” means to me. 

In addition to HANSE, the EP features Yechan of OMEGA X and JinE. How did these collaborations come about, and what qualities did each artist bring to the project? 

Yechan is a close friend. We listen to music together and work on music together a lot. We were listening to the song when I casually asked, “Do you want to do this one?” He immediately said yes, so it happened very naturally. 

JinE and I had filmed a lot of content together before, but it suddenly occurred to me that we had never actually sung together on a track. Once I realized that, I reached out right away and asked JinE to join. 

Yechan’s rock-influenced vocal tone and JinE’s clear, pure vocals each added just the right flavor to their respective tracks and really brought the songs to life.

As a producer, you can shape a song from its earliest stages through its final arrangement. Which part of the production process do you enjoy most, and which part tends to challenge you the most? 

I love the moment when a feeling I had in my head becomes something I can actually hear. Watching a melody and a few lines develop into a song is exciting. I especially enjoy vocal direction because a small change in pronunciation, phrasing, or breath can completely change how a lyric feels. 

The biggest challenge is knowing when to finish. There is always something you could adjust, and after spending a long time on a song, it can be easy to lose touch with the feeling that started it. I value the perspectives of the people I work with and try to keep returning to that original emotion. 

You have worn many hats throughout your career. If you could share one song from “G.Race” with the version of yourself who was just beginning his musical journey, which would it be? 

I would choose 'Money on My Mind.' I grew up in a financially comfortable family, so money was not something I had to worry about very much when I was younger. But once I stepped outside that protective bubble and began experiencing more of the world for myself, I realized how difficult and lonely life could be. 

If my younger self had known this song, I think he would have returned to it for comfort often. Sometimes hearing someone put those feelings into words can make you feel less alone. I would want my younger self to have that. 

Finally, what would you like to say to the listeners who will be discovering GK and “G.Race” for the first time? 

First, thank you for giving my music a chance. “G.Race” holds a lot of different feelings: worrying about money, wanting to get closer to someone, and needing a moment to cry. Those emotions can all exist within one person’s everyday life, and I hope you find something in these five songs that feels familiar to you. 

I would love for one song to make you curious about the others and gradually bring you closer to my music. It has been two years since I last put out an album like this, so please give “G.Race” lots of love and listen to it as much as you can!