Everyone! There is a new name to watch out for in the korean R&B scene. His name is Riaan, and he is a young (he’s a 2003!) talent who is making waves, and with very good reasons. A few months ago he made his debut with Treat Me Better, an English-language track that caught the attention of many, us included. As of a handful of days ago he released the stunning Adore You.
Riaan does not represent the classic product of the k-pop industry. Yes, he was a trainee at SM Entertainment-which intercepted him at a very young age when, in California where he lived, he was posting covers on IG – but he also studied Vocal Performance at Seoul Institute of the Arts. And that should say a lot about his vocal and performance skills. Moreover, her debut single Treat Me Better (July 2024) definitely deviates from the typical k-pop sound. Instead of a catchy dance pop song in Korean, she chose an R&B track completely in English, in collaboration with international artists such as Singaporean singer Gen Neo (highly recommended!!), His Majesty Jackson Wang, and Flip_00, who produced the track. This approach is more like that of Korean independent R&B artists such as Dean or Crush, who aimed straight for a global audience from the start.
His debut single is a blend of soulful R&B and introspective English lyrics designed for a global audience. The track owes much to Gen Neo, not just a co-writer: his imprint can be heard in the hybrid approach between pop and R&B, typical of his style; the Singaporean artist brings in two crucial elements:
- straight-forward lyrics that play on emotional dualities (“Don’t wanna be your friend, wanna be your lover”), his trademark (let me cite OTNW or Relapse 45 as examples).
- a clean production that leaves room for vocal nuances, avoiding electronic superstructures – a choice that aligns Riaan with the more “essential” contemporary R&B scene.
The result is a sound that blends Korean tradition, with a crystal-clear balance between catchy melody and lyrical depth, and global ambitions. Not surprisingly, Riaan cited Justin Bieber and Dean as musical references, two artists who have built careers across cultural boundaries.
Adore You was released on January 31st, confirming Riaan’s evolution toward a hybrid R&B that blends romance and refined arrangements. Produced by BOYTOY, known for collaborations with Jackson Wang and (G)I-DLE, the track maintains a collaboration with Gen Neo – author of the lyrics along with Riaan – who infuses his usual emotional duality, between longing and vulnerability (“I still dream about you”). The instrumental base, built on minimalist guitar arpeggios and synths, enhances Riaan’s evanescent voice, while the MV – with visual references to personal growth – aligns the artist with Dean’s poetics.
But beware, because this wonderful young man is not only a singer: he also plays piano and guitar, talents he uses to create alternative versions of his songs during live performances. Looking ahead, we are very curious how this very young gem will be able to exploit his multi-instrumental skills in upcoming studio productions.
The evolution of his collaboration with Gen Neo, which seems to be consolidating more and more, could lead to bolder experimentation, perhaps exploring territories such as electronic pop or lo-fi sounds, much loved by the writer. This versatility and openness to new influences make Riaan an artist to keep an eye on, with a creative potential that could surprise audiences in his upcoming releases.
Riaan seems to have what it takes to make the big leap: talent, solid training, and an international outlook. It will be interesting to see how his career evolves in the coming years. Could he be the next big global R&B star?
