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

Hi Jonathan, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I used to destroy my sleeping patterns just so I could finish a certain project or put in that extra effort. 4 am bedtimes were the norm. Sure, I was able to get a lot more done in the beginning, but I was paying it forward as the fatigue eventually stacked and collected its long overdue debt. My work suffered, and there were times when I was too tired to do anything. Now, I know better. Sleep, rest, and pleasure are all important elements of productivity. I’m more in tune with my body’s alerts to burnout. While still dedicated to my craft, I no longer consider myself a workaholic. I have made more time for friends, family, and new hobbies, giving me a sort of relaxed confidence when it comes to life in general.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have self-released 2 albums since starting several years ago. These were all trying to be something, but weren’t quite hitting the mark. I’ve taken time away from releasing music to develop my artistic abilities a bit more. I assisted others with their work, having credits in numerous releases. Not only did I get to collaborate with talented and passionate artists, but I was soon able to enter spaces that I’ve always been curious enough to be a part of. Best of all, witnessing different approaches to music has widened the palette I am able to utilize when returning to my own work. I’m working on a 3rd album currently, and I have a gut feeling that I’m pretty close to that standard now. It’s taking longer than usual, but the end result I’m excited to show everyone. It’s a blend of honesty in songwriting that I feel isn’t compensating, whiny, or cliche. There were many scrapped songs that I’ve learned were just for me: therapy to get the toxins out. I’ve filtered a lot of them out and selected the ones that I feel will resonate best with the listener. So far, it’s calm but soulful, and I hope those searching for solace will enjoy it as much as I did working on it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Places: Venice Beach, nightlife in Downtown LA, Koreatown with its gastropubs/sooljibs. Food: Tito’s Tacos, Kyochon Chicken, Langer’s Deli, multiple Korean BBQ spots, Han Bat Sul Lung Tang for that potential hangover.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My sister, Judith Kim. She is an amazing artist who has assisted me 360 degrees: providing design ideas, critique on my work, and confidence through her continued support in more ways than I can count.

Website: https://www.jonathanwookim.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimjonathan92/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCASJVk1v2uLjzlRuUTUMbDQ
Other: Jon Fledge: https://www.jonfledge.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jonfledge/ https://www.instagram.com/jonfledge/ https://twitter.com/jonfledge https://open.spotify.com/artist/0KRr25f6KnPInhT6z31VbX https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF5oaWOitZp–4g1wHRiGEg

Image Credits
Daniel Nguyen Kyle Vertin Judith Kim

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