Today we’d like to introduce you to James Han.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My expedition as a Hip-Hop recording artist starts in the blue-collar suburbs of Maryland, where I first learned I was strikingly different. I remember being afraid to bring Korean food to school because the smell of kimchi attracted glares and unsolicited questions in the lunchroom. Even at a young age, I knew my story was going to be different than most.
I didn’t have family in the entertainment industry. My parents owned a dry cleaners and most of my relatives were small business owners, pastors, or corporate employees. A golden path to musical stardom was never carved out for me. All I had was a television set: the portal into the beginnings of my intrigue with art and creativity. I used to just stare at the TV and draw every cartoon I saw on the screen, things like Power Rangers and Dragon Ball Z.
In 2010, I debuted a single called “Never Change” with singer/producer Sam Ock, which garnered 1.5 million views on Youtube. Since then I’ve worked with notable Korean musicians such as Higher Music’s pH-1 on “FILA,” rising R&B star, Jeebanoff on “Mama We Made It,” I.M from Monsta X and Brother Su from Starship Ent. on our collaborative track “Madeleine,” and Chai from Antenna Music on “God Be My Witness.”
2017 was a big year because I won the regional and national grand prize for Kollaboration, the largest showcase for Asian talent in America, and it eventually landed me an official performance spot in SXSW 2018.
In my music, I emphasize the art of creating lyrics around the everyday, little things in life. Hoping to bring a fresh perspective on what everyone dismisses as mundane. In this, I want my songs to resonate with others because of its relatability.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It took some time for me to grasp the idea of entrepreneurship and artistry. I focused so much on building up my sound that I neglected to learn the business side of things. This made it difficult to grow my business because I was becoming entitled, lazy, and disillusioned. Fortunately, I had mentors and friends along the way who woke me up and helped me to stay diligent as a professional recording artist.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m what you get if you mix in Amine, Stevie Wonder, and Lauryn Hill together. I love fusing hip-hop with pop, jazz, and R&B-inspired melodies. My music is chill, positive, and lyrical —beats intended for some serious dancing and grooving.
I’m 100% indie and have a great team beside me. I also make (almost) all of my own artwork, music videos, and merchandise. I’m proud to represent people of color and minorities in creative and entrepreneurial spaces. My hope is that my music will give a voice to the marginalized.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up playing lots of basketball, competing in high school chess tournaments, and listening to my father’s disco records.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://uzuhanmusic.com
- Email: info@goldstandardmedia.org
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/uzuhanmusic
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/uzuhanmusic
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/uzuhanmusic
Image Credit:
Portraits by ShotbyCXD. Lifestyle photos by Dannyseoul
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