Q&A: Hanuel on Collaborating With Yelloasis, Receiving a Keshi Shoutout & the Making of His Debut EP ‘RUN IT’
Digitally published by The Luna Collective, November 2022. View original publication.
READY TO RUN THE K-R&B WORLD — Hanuel’s brand new EP, RUN IT, features four heavy-hitting tracks that show the world a mastery of the craft normally unseen on debuts.
Emerging out of Vancouver, the South Korean–born artist pulls a variety of inspirations into the four tracks of his debut for a seamless story about recognizing when relationships are full of longing and regret. Hanuel first blew up due to his cover of Keshi’s “Somebody” being featured by Keshi himself, and since then Hanuel has been found opening the Vancouver show of JUNNY’s tour and developing his own sound at full force.
His debut is a strong showcase of expressive K-R&B, immediately making the artist one to watch. Luna got the opportunity to chat with Hanuel about the making of the EP, the impact of home on his music, and what comes next. Read the interview down below.
LUNA: How are you feeling now that RUN IT is out in the world?
HANUEL: I feel somewhat of a relief but at the same time it feels empty. I put a lot of time and effort into the record, so it means that much more to see it finally out.
LUNA: The four tracks of RUN IT are really vulnerable in their exploration of the good and bad parts of love and relationships. Is it hard being so honest and open in your lyricism?
HANUEL: I would say it is not easy being honest. I would have moments where, while writing, it catches me off guard and I'd be reminiscing about that moment, whether good or bad.
LUNA: Do you have any favorite lyrics from the four tracks of RUN IT?
HANUEL: All my lyrics mean something to me but if I were to choose it be, “Memories that are stuck inside me / Took ’em down cuz I know I can’t forget.” That lyric comes from track four, “TELL ME,” where I talk about letting go of someone and all of the memories we had together. Forgetting someone is not easy but to bury it in my thoughts by distracting myself was a way I coped with the situation.
LUNA: What was your process like putting together the EP?
HANUEL: It wasn't planned. I made them all as singles but later when we put it together, it felt like it all belonged together. Trying to figure out the order and the titles was a challenge, but managed to get it figured out the way I wanted.
LUNA: “SEE U” is a standout on the EP and features Yelloasis to create what is — in my opinion — a K-R&B masterclass. How did this collaboration come to be, and do you have any favorite memories from working with Yelloasis?
HANUEL: “SEE U” would have to be, by far, the best track I’ve written so far. From the writing to the production, everything just felt right throughout the whole process. Yelloasis was someone I listened to in high school, and to have him on a track with me was such a cool experience. He was very fast and very open to what kind of direction we were going. A great memory I'd say would have to be the calls we had on deciding certain melodies and lyrics. He was very supportive and kept telling me how much he loved the song, which meant a lot to me. We couldn't talk as much since we lived in different countries, but I will be having more projects with him coming out for sure.
LUNA: I know that you were born in South Korea and now live in Vancouver. Do you think the places you have lived have impacted the music you make?
HANUEL: Yes, it has definitely impacted the way I make music. I grew up on K-R&B, so artists like Crush, Dean, Jay Park, and other artists. But as I grew up in Canada, naturally I got influenced by American artists like Daniel Caesar, Justin Bieber, Jeff Bernat, and Keshi. Because of this, I try to blend all the different sounds to try and create something of my own.
LUNA: You gained some love last year on a cover of Keshi’s “Somebody,” including a shoutout from Keshi himself. What was that experience like for you, especially since Keshi is a clear influence in your music?
HANUEL: I used to work a 9–5 job and doing music on the side was not easy, but making covers was a way for me to cope with the stress that I got. Any other day, I made the cover and posted without really expecting anything, and then when I woke up to go to work, my Instagram notifications started blowing up. At first I thought I was hacked, but I saw that I was tagged in some stories so I checked them out and saw that Keshi reposted my cover. I couldn't believe it and started calling my friends to see if they saw it too. Once I realized what was actually happening, I was overwhelmed with joy and started to soak it all in. Having one of my biggest inspirations repost my cover and to say that they liked my voice just felt unreal. To this day, I still look back at the memories and set a new goal to collaborate with Keshi one day.
LUNA: Who else inspires your music?
HANUEL: I would have to say Keshi is my biggest inspiration but others would have to be Daniel Caesar, Dean, slchld, and Jay Park.
LUNA: What comes next for you as an artist?
HANUEL: Releasing my upcoming singles and collaborations will be the next thing in line, but along the way I do wish to be performing more.
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