You surely remember him. A while back, we laid our eyes and ears on Riaan, who charmed us with his voice and style. Turns out, we were onto something! Today, the artist we introduced you to with his track Adore You is back, and he’s done it with a single that has all the flavor of summer: Ben & Jerry feat. JUNNY (which, of course, we’ve translated—you can find it here).
If the title makes you think of a delicious tub of ice cream to enjoy on the couch, you’re not far off. It was his favorite ice cream that inspired this new track, created to cool down the hottest days with an R&B sound that gets stuck in your head instantly. And for such a sweet feature, a name of equal caliber was needed: JUNNY, one of the most well-rounded and respected artists in the Korean scene, who has collaborated with giants like IU and NCT. The result? A song that is the true cherry on top, a perfect mix of Riaan’s crystal-clear voice and JUNNY’s unmistakable touch.
We at Koreami had the privilege of chatting with Riaan to get the full story on this collaboration. He shared with us how his songs are born, what it feels like to work side-by-side with an artist of JUNNY’s caliber, and what his personal “Ben & Jerry’s” is when he needs to recharge his creative batteries.
Without spoiling too much, we can tell you that in the interview, you’ll find an honest, mature Riaan with a special affection for Italy. In fact, he made us a promise that we hope he’ll keep soon.
Are you ready to discover what he told us? Get comfortable, here is our interview with Riaan!
Hello Riaan! It is a privilege for us to have you on koreami!
Please, briefly introduce yourself to our audience.
Hi guys, this is Riaan, R&B singer of Korea, good see you y’all back with my new single Ben&Jerry!
We know that you were a trainee at SM Entertainment in the past, and that you have studied at the Seoul Institute of the Arts. You described your formative experience as a journey that includes both the structure of SM Entertainment and the artistic freedom of the Seoul Institute of the Arts. How does the disciplined ‘performer’ converse with the academic ‘vocalist’? Is there ever a conflict between these two souls when you create, or have they found a unique harmony that defines who Riaan is today?
Well, when it comes to music, I don’t define it into a certain answer.
Yes, I’ve been through different kind of systems and places to expand my thoughts on music and had a great opportunity, but between those experiences, I noticed that place where I belong makes me to feel as an artist. The conflict between discipline performer and the academic vocalist
Is where and how do they deal with their own music and feelings from what they’ve learned from the place where they belongs to
Let’s talk about the genesis of this new song, Ben & Jerry (feat. JUNNY). Every track has an initial spark. Could you walk us through its journey? For example, did it originate from a melody that suddenly came to you, like with ‘Treat Me Better,’ or from an emotion you felt the need to express? How did this idea evolve when JUNNY, with his experience as a producer and songwriter, joined the project? Was there a moment when the song took an unexpected turn, perhaps changing its color or mood compared to your original vision?
Like most creative stuff, this song just kind of sparked in my head out of nowhere. A hooking melody and some lyrics popped up, and I thought it had a totally different vibe from my previous releases, something that really fits the summer and stands out a bit more. While working on it, I ended up finding the perfect artist for it, and we all felt like Junny could really bring the whole thing to this song. As we kept building it together, our colors naturally well fit in, and the song came together smoothly in the end
JUNNY is a complete artist: a singer, but also a songwriter and producer who has penned tracks for giants like IU and NCT. Collaborating with someone who has such a defined vision of sound and writing must be an intense experience. Beyond the technical aspects, was there a moment in the studio—a conversation, an unexpected piece of advice, or even just his way of approaching a melody—that made something click for you? An instant that led you to see the song, or perhaps your own potential as an artist, in a completely new light?
Working with JUNNY for the first time, I was honestly shocked when I got the final version. It had such a different vibe from the melodies and lyrics I had originally imagined. It was a big learning experience for me, and of course, Junny as always, brought his incredible energy and experience. We could really feel it, even on set during the shoot. Being around him, both in and out of the studio, I found myself learning a lot. It felt like a real step up for me, a moment where I could grow not just as a person, but as an artist too.
On a lighter note, the song is named after a famous ice cream, which is the ultimate comfort food for many. Besides music, what is your personal ‘Ben & Jerry’—your go-to comfort activity or food when you need to recharge your creative spirit?
Recharging creative spirits, that’s like the most important part of my life right now. When I’m struggling to come up with different types of songs and lyrics I just put myself on the mood of the day. Rather if it’s movie, books or any types of activities I could, I just try to fit myself on the mood of the day. Well, recently I guess it was boxing haha It gave me tones of energy and let me free from the stresses.
After this collaboration, what does the future hold for you? Are you dreaming up the concept for a larger project, like an EP or album, or are there other artists you hope to create with next?
I’m sure there will be changes and develops through this collab
As an artist, I always wanted to write songs with stories what I like and create what I desire. And hopefully we all can see through those emotions and stories through my albums. Collaborating with others sounds great as well and I’m sure I could bring tones of colors to y’all
Finally, your music is building a bridge to fans all over the world. What is the core message you hope to share through your art these days, and do you have a special message for your listeners in Italy who are discovering you through koreami?
Sending love to all my fans, what started as a dream of becoming an artist is slowly finding its way into the world, and I’m incredibly thankful for all the love and support you’ve given me. Time will pass, and with it, there’ll be both joy and sadness but as always, I won’t stop creating music. That’s a promise. To all my fans in Italy I have to confess, I’m a big fan of pasta. Haha! I really hope I can visit Italy someday soon. And I also made a Italian friend recently, and it really reminded me how amazing and kind the people of Italy are. Hope to be there with ya’ll and of course, eat real Italian pasta. Can’t wait to see you all!
