As far back as I can remember, my life has always been this way. I listen to tons of music—album after album, playlist after playlist, genre after genre. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes very distractedly. Every now and then, a track particularly hits me, it draws me in, and I listen to it again. And this time, it happened just like that: I was working, paying attention to whatever it was, and absentmindedly listening to a playlist, one of those Spotify creates for me, knowing me better than my own mother… and I was hooked.
A young, sweet voice I’d never heard before, set against a simple guitar riff so evocative, so full of feeling, sexy, nocturnal—just how I like it. I was listening to the Acoustic Version of All I Want Is You. I saw there were two other versions of the same track: an English version and a Korean version. And wow, three completely different songs! Three styles, three distinct vibes. “How unusual,” I thought. “… I like it!” I listened to all of them once, twice, three times…
Then my eye fell on the “Credits” section of the Spotify page, where it read:
drewboi: main artist, composer, arranger, lyricist.
And I was like… what? So young, so talented, and so versatile?? Immediately into my current favorites playlist. As fate would have it, a few days later, he announced the release of his third single, Wrong (feat. Tommy Gunn), on May 25th, and… well. By May 26th, I was already writing to ask him if he’d be willing to answer some questions for Koreami.
And he said yes.
Hello drewboi, welcome to Koreami! Tell us something about yourself: who is drewboi?
I’m an artist focused on constantly evolving and sharing my own sound.
You debuted in 2023 with the single Sunday, followed by All I Want Is You, and yesterday Wrong feat. Tommy Gunn was released. How would you describe your creative process when working on a new song? Is there a particular moment or emotion that usually prompts you to start writing, and how do your ideas then evolve into a finished track that you present to the public?
My creative process is different every day and pretty unpredictable. Some days, I start with a melody that pops into my head. Other times, I begin by building the track first, or I might just sit down with a guitar or piano and see where it takes me.
One fun (and kind of chaotic) part of my process is that even when a song feels almost done, I go back and question everything again near the final stage 😂. Sometimes the sound of the song changes quite a bit at that point
You’re known for your R&B sensibility. Which artists or musical genres have influenced you most over the years and which do you feel have shaped your current sound? Is there a particular song that made you say, “this is the kind of music I want to make”?
I think anyone who’s been a fan of mine or has known me for a while would know the answer to this one. There’s one artist: Justin Bieber. He’s someone who has influenced me not just through music but also through his lifestyle, fashion, and overall mindset. I still remember when I was 11, I bought his Purpose album and listened to it every single day on the CD player at home. Looking back, I think that was the moment I realized how deeply connected I was to music.
Besides singing, you write, compose, and produce your own songs. How important is it for you to have complete creative control over your music, from the initial idea to the final version? What aspect of this process (writing lyrics, composing melodies, arranging, producing) are you most passionate about?
Being able to have full control over every part of the music making process is honestly such a blessing.
Sometimes it does get overwhelming and exhausting when I have to handle everything on my own, but I think I push through because I know how proud I’ll feel once the song is finished.
It’s hard to pick just one part of the process that I’m most passionate about every step means so much to me. I actually try not to ignore even the smallest details, because they matter just as much.
What message do you hope your audience takes away when they listen to your music, especially in today’s global context? And how would you describe the emotion or “feeling” you want to leave with someone who listens to you for the first time?
what I really want is for people to feel the vibe and energy I put into my songs. Whether someone’s having a good day or a tough one, I hope my music can be something they enjoy or connect with.
For first-time listeners, I want them to catch the mood and feel like they’re hearing something fresh and honest !
And finally, any spoilers for the future? When can we expect new music?
I’ll be dropping new music in July, so stay tuned and keep following my journey!
