Electronic Producer Kevin Sihwan on AI, Exposing His Emotions, and Precluding Future Regrets

Electro-house/future house producer Kevin Sihwan, aka Hyeseong Park, recently released his latest track, “Tomorrowland,” inspired by the sights and sounds of the massive music festival in Belgium. Sihwan explains:

“The beginning of the song is mysterious and gives a fantastic feeling, but I wanted to add dance elements from the build-up with energy leads to show that it’s a dance song eventually. It’s an old song, but ‘Adrenaline,’ the instrumental track of Zedd, also influenced it.”

Originally from Seoul, South Korea, he has been playing piano since he was seven years old. Later, he established his bona fides in Seoul’s K-pop and Japanese City Pop scene. Since then, his sound has shifted toward electronic dance music.

An in-demand producer, Sihwan has more than 30 release credits in the U.S. and has been a supporting DJ for notable acts such as Nicky Romero, Cheat Codes, Lucas & Steve, Firebeatz, Ookay, Dannic, and Ricky Retro. Sihwan joins us to discuss the addictive elements of his sound and why, even though he worked in the AI industry for a while, he doesn’t use AI in his creative process.

Hello Kevin, thanks for taking the time for this interview. Can you please tell us a little bit more about yourself?

Kevin Sihwan: “Of course! This is Kevin Sihwan who is a curly hair spectator, a bass and future house DJ originally from South Korea. I usually produce Bass House and Future House for fun in my bedroom and this hobby recently made my job. My dream in the future is to become a universe traveller and a president of any country by doing this job. To achieve it, I came to the U.S. when I was 20 years old and trying to become a top Korean DJ first now and it is in progress.”

Congratulations on the release of your new track “Tomorrowland.” We love the big room vibes and think it’s great. Can definitely imagine it being played out at the festival. What specifically about that event inspired you?

“I think it can be considered big room vibes somewhat to some ears but I made it as future house style (laughs). But who cares what genre this is? I loved and still love going to festivals and always wanted to get good memories from there. Even though I’ve never been to the home of Tomorrowland, that vibe is so different from other festivals like Saga, Ultra, etc. It looks so fairy-tale and fantasy and that is one of my favourites.”

Kevin Sihwan, photo courtesy of Kevin Sihwan

Tell us more about your style of production/music. Stylistically, are you looking to establish yourself in a specific sound/genre? 

“My plan is to keep making my own signature sounds but once I get some signatures of it, people will also love the other genre that I’m going to make I believe. But for now, I think trusting what I love is and continuously doing it is the most important. My loved style always has to be addictive, easy, and memorable with punching kicks straight to listeners’ hearts.”

AI and technology have become a reliable tool for creatives around the world. Can you shed some light on your technical process? Do you implement AI or special techniques? 

“I don’t honestly use AI at all even though I used to work in the AI industry after ChatGPT came out. I know a lot of AI music-producing platforms just came out such as Suno Ai, and Loudly.com and they sound excellent and are somewhat human-made.

“However, I can save time and finish making tracks much faster just using my idea and drawing some melodies right away in DAW. It’s going to be somewhat weird and regretful once I become 80 and look back at my young self, using AI to create music. I will probably doubt if I was doing right. I know it helps create melodies but I’m kind of afraid of getting some plagiarism and I will not forgive myself doing it.”

Kevin Sihwan ‘Tomorrowland’ album artwork

Asian artists/creatives are thriving all over the world right now. We hear Steve Aoki is someone you draw inspiration from. Why is that?

“Well, the first musician that I got inspired a lot was Avicii when I started my music career but the one musician who I think is living a real and healthy life is Steve Aoki, I think. He doesn’t care what other people think and does whatever he wants. As he wants to go to the universe, he is planning to do it, As he wants to raise his beard, he keeps raising it. These become a big brand for him I believe. I want to live a life that I do not regret when I become 80 years old. But I do not want to be the one idol who has to follow the full schedule made by the idol manufacturing company.”

Tell us more about what your Korean heritage means to you.

“The values of respect, hard work, and filial piety, which are the centers of Korean culture, have shaped my worldview and my approach to life. This is a personal opinion, but there’s a part where they keep going crazy when they get into something, and so do I.”

Did you always want to become a music producer? If not, what would you be doing with your life now? 

“This is a very interesting question, but I’ve never thought about it. But I believe I will still be working as something related to music even if I don’t work as a music producer. I love music and I love performing so something related to performance should be another of my go-to jobs.”

What are some challenges you face as an independent artist in the modern music industry?

“I think revealing myself is always tough, but I know that time will solve this problem. Nowadays there are good algorithms in each music streaming platform for indie music artists so once artists know some trials and errors and keep doing something, I believe everyone can overcome and become successful artists when they have their own strategies and keep doing it.”

How do you see the electronic music scene changing in the next decade, if at all?

“As the shorts and reels (short videos) in social media are getting hotter, the shorter but simpler and addictive melody music is going to be in top demand, I think. So regardless of genre, simple, short, and addictive melodies are going to be the best marketing-wise. But when it comes to what genre is going to be more popular in the next generation, I think it is going to be Tech House as they are the closest to the characteristics above.”

Share a quote that you love/live by.

“Think like when you are 80 now and minimize regrets when you become 80.”

Kevin Sihwan, photo courtesy of Kevin Sihwan