Punk-rock Hitmaker LØREN On Style, Music And More

You may not be too familiar with LØREN—yet—but you’ve definitely come across his work. After producing hit songs for the likes of G-Dragon and Blackpink, the 27-year-old released his debut single in November 2020 to much success. Now, the singer-songwriter and music producer is well on his way to becoming one of South Korea’s greatest solo punk-rock acts. 

We caught up with the Seoul-based artist while he was in Singapore to perform at Culture Cartel to find out more about his journey, love for music and more.

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Tell us about your music journey.

I have been jumping from band to band ever since I was in high school. Eventually my interest turned from playing music to songwriting and production, and after gaining enough knowledge I dived right into writing my own music.

You’ve been credited as a music producer and lyricist—namely for G-Dragon and Blackpink respectively. What made you decide to debut as a solo artist?

It has been a dream to have worked with such talented people. After spending some time writing music as a producer, my ambition as an artist grew, and I decided to start writing songs for myself.

Your music videos are very conceptual. How involved are you in that process?

For the past three videos, I've been pretty heavily involved in the process. From planning to editing, I've spent days with the directors to get the outcome we wanted. 

Describe yourself in three words, and why?

Ambitious, persistent, and stubborn. I feel like I always have the drive and ambition to evolve and move forward, and I'm very eager to keep going at my goals regardless of the outcome. I have a very specific vision as to what I want to create, and I stand firm on it.

What do you hope people take away from your music? What do you want them to think or feel while listening to it?

Growing up, music has always had a very special place for me. To this day, a song means more to me than most other things. I almost feel like I owe it to the ones who created what I loved so dearly, and I hope someone feels that way about my music someday.

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How would you describe your sense of style?

I'd say it's pretty rugged and specific. I'm not very good at dressing creatively, so I have a pretty limited wardrobe. With that said, I don't like wearing something generic, so I try to find something old and/or unique. Bands from the past definitely had the most influence on how I dress even as a kid, and I guess I never grew out of that.

What do you enjoy most about making music?

The fact that something that is not tangible or visible can influence others so much feels almost magical. Writing songs feels somewhat like taking a part of me and sharing it with others, and that's something I've never felt before. 

At just 27 years old, you’ve already accomplished so much. What’s next for you?

To be honest I don't feel like I've done much at all. Showing the world what sits inside my head, and naturally, in my folder of music will always be my number one goal—whether that be an album or a show.