Meet Joon Gloom | Singer-Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joon Gloom and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joon, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
For me, making music is mostly about self expression and the therapeutic value it brings to my life. The writing process is one of the most healing activities I’ve found over the years for when I’m in pain, need to work through something, and/or need to get something off my chest. That in itself makes music such a gift to me. When I’m able to share my music with other people, it allows me to put all my emotions and thoughts out on the table for others to hear, digest, and hopefully relate to. Many artists oftentimes are really scared to put themselves out there like that, but it’s one of my favorite parts. There are many hopes and aspirations I have for my music career, but to me the most important part is that I stay inspired to keep creating and sharing music. This industry is not always easy when you’re wearing your heart and soul on your sleeve and trying not to let the little things affect you, but they really can, and I want to keep my love for creation alive and my spirit going, whether I find “success” in the industry or not. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want my music to be loved by millions, but if I found even a smaller space in the indie scene, I’d be stoked for that, too! I would love to get my music placed in TV and Film, and would even like to find a career in that industry, possibly with Music Supervision. Lastly, piecing together a great band, and regularly playing live shows (maybe on tours), would be delightful.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
For me, writing has always been a very personal process. It’s something I do in my room, alone, usually when I’m feeling some type of way. It’s always an outpouring of my heart and typically very emotional. It’s like writing a diary entry. My writing style has always been very inspiration-based, never forced. Some years I write 1 or 2 songs, some years more, but I don’t usually just write to whip up a song. When I do write, however, it’s usually a very quick process. More often than not, it’s a melody or some lyrics that pop into my head (or both simultaneously) that ends up sending me into a writing frenzy, and I’m done within an hour or two. I’m proud that I’ve been able to use this as a coping mechanism, but also that I’ve been open enough to share my feelings and stories with others, even when I was still learning how to play guitar and sing. I’m also proud of my growth and the improvements I’ve made as a musician over the years, as well as dabbling with new instruments. The road leading to where I am today has been mostly putting myself out there as an amateur artist and learning each year as I play, write, record, and perform more. I went from playing in my room, to little impromptu performances for friends and family, to playing at an open mic night, to playing real, solo gigs in front of strangers, to joining a band, and now playing weekly, hosting my own open mic night. Every year has brought more experiences and with it more growth, strength, and confidence as a musician. It’s been a slow and steady process, as I let everything happen pretty naturally, while also pushing myself to get out of my comfort zone many times because that was the only way I was ever going to take bigger steps as an artist. I can’t say it’s been easy – putting yourself out there in the public eye to be judged is a constant emotional battle and a true test to your ego and confidence, but the people that do support you keep you going. I’ve learned that a lot of being an artist is learning to accept that not everyone is going to support you or like you, so just do it for yourself and those that do want you to succeed. Don’t focus on the negativity for too long, take it with a grain of salt, maybe learn from it, and move on. It’s easier said than done, but it’s something you have to try your best to do if you want to remain sane in this industry. That and remembering that NO ONE can do it like you because NO ONE is YOU. Authenticity is a big one for me so comparison can be very toxic. I want the world to know that I will always battle with genre and may never settle for one specific sound because my influences and love for all music is never ending, and I would never want to put myself into a box like that. I’d like to think that if one song or one album isn’t for someone, the next one might be. I’m excited that I still have so much music to record, produce, and share with everyone. I’m excited to see the different audiences I can conquer with my various influences and styles.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Living in Ventura County, my experience in LA has been mostly attending shows and events. I’ve mostly gone out there to see some sort of live music, so if I saw a good band playing at The Moroccan Lounge, The Echo, or the Hi Hat, I’d show them some of my favorite, intimate venues. I also might look into getting tickets to a Dodger or Kings game, maybe a museum. In the summer time, I’d definitely try and take them to all the outdoor summer concerts we have going on around us in various cities. It’s one of my favorite parts about the summer months and I feel like it’s always the best vibes. I would take them to eat along the Westlake lake in my neck of the woods. I’d also take them to the beach, as it’s the most beautiful part of LA! Potentially finding our way into Santa Monica, I might show them The Victorian for a night out and a good time. If they’re feeling a more retro vibe, I might show them Good Times at Davey Wayne’s or Breakroom 86.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are a lot of people I am thankful for in regards to my recent single release, as well as with supporting my music in general. First off, I’d like to thank my artistic partner and guitarist, Michael Kohl, for believing in me since that day I reached out to him on Bandmix and asked if he wanted to work with me. He has given me nothing but support, help, kindness, advice, professionalism, and his all when it comes to collaboration. He has helped me take my songs to the next level with his brilliant ear and creativity. I can’t wait to continue working with him! Next, I’d like to thank my friend Kevin Kim, who engineered, mixed, and produced my last two releases. When it comes to my recent release, “NIGHTMARES,” he spent many hours in the studio finessing the mixes with patience for over a year, after already spending 2 years recording and re-recording the song. He placed his magic touch on it and played a huge part in what it is today. Lastly, I’d like to thank my Uncle Paul for his aid in this project, as well as my other family, friends, and those who have supported me and my music throughout my release process and in general.

Website: https://joongloommusic.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joongloommusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joongloommusic

Others: Here are the links to my single that came out on all platforms June 10th, as well as a passage describing the track!

https://joongloommusic.bandcamp.com/track/nightmares

https://open.spotify.com/track/71ikLYDfB3tHlM7atvtT9E?si=3Ikkej1CSBKDfZGWsjOW8Q

Over the course of the past few years, I worked with brilliant collaborators to make this smooth, emotional, acoustic soul track about unrequited love. I wrote NIGHTMARES 3 years ago, the brilliant Michael Kohl got his hands on it soon after and worked out the freshest guitar parts. We recorded and re-recorded it with the talented Kevin Kim (using the most talented of local musicians and some Zoom sessions) and spent over a year in the mixing process before reaching true satisfaction. It’s been truly a labor of love from me and my two co-producers, Kevin and Michael. The single is now available on all platforms, as well as on my Bandcamp!

Image Credits
Neisha T. Ford, Kyle Berman, Brian Coxen, Crystal Kline, Jacqui Gaball