Behind the Sound: I’MIN
Epidemic Sound’s artists make our company sing. Join New York City’s I’MIN for the 8th edition of Behind the Sound.
Epidemic Sound is the world’s leading soundtracking platform because of our artists. Together, we help everyone from fresh-faced creators to legendary brands find their voice — that’s worth shouting about.
Today, we’re heading into the 8th edition of Behind the Sound, in which we celebrate the musicians who’re taking Epidemic Sound to the next level. This month, it’s Korean-American R&B sensation, I’MIN.
Based in New York City, I’MIN’s music is a testament to his heritage. Inspired by jetting between the U.S. and Korea, the singer-songwriter’s bilingual lyrics offer listeners a window into his world. It’s a place with no primary language, without the restraints of genre.
Pulling influence from modern Korean visionaries like Zion.T and Crush alongside U.S. legends like D’Angelo and Maxwell, I’MIN’s music is, well, I’MIN. It’s K-pop, R&B, soul, and everything that falls in between.
Hot off the heels of his new EP, Unplugged, I’MIN checked in with Epidemic Sound. Keep reading for his thoughts on all things music, lyrics, and the existential questions you might ask yourself at night.
Your sound blends Korean and American R&B. What does your creative process look like when bridging those two worlds?
I’MIN: “I don’t think of it as ‘bridging’ two separate worlds so much as building a new one of my own. I take the things I love most from each tradition — sometimes it’s a technical detail, sometimes it’s a color or mood, sometimes even just a single word — and let them inspire me. Those pieces come together to form something uniquely mine: my own interpretation of R&B.”
You switch between Korean and English seamlessly. Do you feel different sides of yourself come out in each language when writing?
I’MIN: “Absolutely. Each language carries its own rhythm, tone, and cultural weight. Even when two words translate to the same meaning, their connotations and emotional textures can be worlds apart.
“Writing in Korean often brings out a more intricate, layered sensibility, while English opens space for directness and groove. Together, they let me express sides of myself that one language alone couldn’t capture.”
Your songs balance smooth neo-soul with sharp, modern R&B edges. How do you know when a track feels “I’MIN” enough to release?
I’MIN: “It’s a gut feeling more than anything else. I go through countless revisions, and in that process I build both love and frustration with the track. But once I reach the point where the song feels inevitable — like it couldn’t exist any other way — that’s when I know it’s ready. That’s when I say: ‘This is I’MIN.’”
Your melodies often feel like they’re floating. Do you sketch them out first, or do they come in the moment while you’re vibing?
I’MIN: “Most of the time, it’s spontaneous. I might catch an idea in the moment and then refine it hundreds of times until it feels right. For me, melodies are about flow — they usually come when I let myself go and just vibe, then evolve through experimentation and patience.”
Growing up between cultures, did you ever feel like you had to “choose” a sound, or did the blend happen naturally?
I’MIN: “The blend was natural from the beginning. I was never interested in copying what was already out there — sounds, rhythms, patterns. Instead, I pulled pieces from everywhere and followed what felt authentic to me. Of course, there are moments when I have to make choices about what ‘good sound’ means to me, personally. But those choices are always informed by a wide palette of influences.”
If someone described your sound as “Seoul meets New York City,” what would you want them to hear?
I’MIN: “I’d want them to hear the meticulous, detail-driven melodies and polish that Seoul is known for, fused with the raw energy and experimental spirit of NYC. When those two sensibilities collide, the result is a synergy that feels both familiar and fresh — refined but unafraid.”
You’ve said artists like Maxwell and D’Angelo inspire you. What’s one detail from their music you’ve “borrowed” and made your own?
I’MIN: “From D’Angelo, I absorbed the art of groove — the way he bends rhythm into something so fluid yet grounded. That sense of ‘laid-back’ flow has become one of my own strengths as a singer and composer.
“From Maxwell, I took the importance of texture: the subtle details in his vocal delivery and production that make every line feel alive. Those elements shaped how I approach creating my own sound.”
You describe your music as pondering “big existential questions.” What’s one question you find yourself returning to again and again?
I’MIN: “I often return to the search for love and happiness — what they really mean, how they shape the way we see the world, and how fragile they can be. Those questions are deeply personal but also universal, and they’re the lens through which I write and create.”
Your songs often explore the bittersweet side of romance. What makes that tension so inspiring to you?
I’MIN: “Romance is a microcosm of life itself: full of contradictions, struggles, and fleeting moments of beauty. It forces us to build resilience from pain and gratitude from joy. That tension, that constant push and pull, is endlessly inspiring to me because it mirrors the complexity of being human.”
What’s one track of yours you think people should listen to if they’ve never heard I’MIN before?
I’MIN: “Bonafide, from my Unplugged EP. That track feels like a milestone — it reflects how far I’ve come in developing my sound and hints at where I’m heading next.”
Do you see songwriting as a diary, or more of a thought experiment?
I’MIN: “It’s both. Every song I’ve written contains pieces of my personal story and emotions, but also imagined scenarios, questions, and what-ifs. Songwriting is my way of documenting who I am in the moment, while also exploring the possibilities of who I could be.”
If your music had to be played in one setting forever — a late-night drive, a rooftop party, or a bedroom — which one would you choose?
I’MIN: “A late-night drive. There’s nothing like the feeling of the road, the breeze, and the music carrying you forward. That’s when I feel most connected to sound without distraction — just me, the groove, and the moment.”
You get one chance to play a single I’MIN song to a stranger who doesn’t know R&B. Which track do you pick, and why?
I’MIN: “I’d choose Lately from Unplugged. It’s the most musically intricate track I’ve ever made, layered with details that reveal themselves on repeat listens. I’d want that stranger to discover the richness of R&B through the textures, harmonies, and emotional weight of the song.”
Which three emojis describe your vibe right now?
I’MIN: “ Open to interpretation — but that’s the fun of it.”
🕺🥶😤
I’MIN’s music is available on all major streaming platforms. His new EP will release in November 2025.
Listen to I’MIN’s Epidemic Sound discography below, and keep an eye out for the next edition of Behind the Sound.
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