[Exclusive Interview] JINHO Talks Crafting Stories and Musical Growth in “LUV 2 MUCH”

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Nearly a decade into his career, JINHO shares the stories, emotions, and vocal artistry behind his latest solo release in an exclusive interview.

For nearly ten years, JINHO has captivated audiences with a rare combination of vocal power, artistry, and sincerity. His commanding voice, heartfelt songwriting, and natural stage presence have solidified his reputation as one of K-pop’s most versatile and respected artists. Over the years, he has proven his ability to adapt and thrive across genres, effortlessly moving from emotional ballads to dynamic performances that showcase his range. Beyond the stage, his thoughtful approach to music—whether writing lyrics, composing, or lending his voice to soundtracks—demonstrates a deep commitment to his craft. With each project, JINHO continues to set himself apart as an artist who blends technical excellence with genuine emotion, inspiring fans and leaving a lasting mark on the industry.

When we last spoke with JINHO about his debut solo mini-album, CHO:RD, released in September 2024, he shared how deeply personal the project was, having written and composed all five tracks himself. That release revealed his unique storytelling voice as a singer-songwriter and gave fans a closer look at the path he was carving as an individual artist. With its vivid imagery, witty lyricism, and warm R&B tones, CHO:RD set the stage for JINHO to expand his artistry even further, leaving listeners eager for what he would create next.

Now, with the release of his KiTproject album LUV 2 MUCH on August 14, 2025, JINHO returns with a new sound and a new chapter in his journey. In this exclusive interview, we discuss how he approached the rock-driven energy of the album, the vocal techniques and emotions he explored, his evolution as a lyricist and performer, and the lessons that continue to shape his artistry nearly a decade into his career.

This interview was conducted in Korean and translated to English. The original questions and answers run under the translations.

HELLOKPOP: Hi JINHO, it’s such a pleasure to connect with you again. Before we dive into the album itself, how would you describe this chapter of your journey as a solo artist?
안녕하세요, 진호님. 다시 만나 뵙게 되어 정말 반갑습니다. 앨범에 대해 본격적으로 이야기하기 전에, 솔로 아티스트로서 이 여정의 한 장을 어떻게 표현하고 싶으신가요?

JINHO: For me, these two songs (in this new release) feel like the epilogue of a novel. They’re connected to the stories I’ll continue to explore in the future, and overall, they carry a lighthearted, easygoing tone.
저에게 이 두 곡은 소설로 비유하면 에필로그 같은 느낌이에요! 앞으로 이어나갈 이야기들과 연관성이 있기도 할거고 기본적으로 가벼운 주제들로 구성돼있습니다!

HKP: Congratulations on releasing LUV 2 MUCH! How would you describe the emotions or stories you wanted to capture with this release?
LUV 2 MUCH 발매 축하드려요! 이번 앨범을 통해 담고 싶었던 감정이나 이야기를 어떻게 표현하시겠어요?

JINHO: I wanted to create a song that really captures the summer vibe. While the story isn’t too heavy, it does explore moments of sadness (like in “Edelweiss”). At the same time, I wanted to weave in a message of overcoming that sadness and bringing a sense of hope.
여름과 어울리는 노래를 써보고 싶었어요 그에 따라 이야기도 크게 무겁진 않은데 우울함에 대한 이야기가 있어요(에델바이스). 제가 그 우울함을 극복하고 희망을 줄 수 있는 이야기도 한 번 담아보고 싶었습니다.

HKP: Since this is your second solo project after ‘CHO:RD,’ how does it differ musically and personally from your solo debut?
이번 솔로 프로젝트는 ‘CHO:RD’ 이후 두 번째인데, 솔로 데뷔 앨범과 음악적으로, 개인적으로 어떤 점이 다릅니까?

JINHO: With ‘LUV 2 MUCH,’ I felt it was largely confined to the broader genres of band and rock. I saw the band sound as the best way to support my story, rather than something that should take center stage. That’s why I think the songs I work on going forward will likely explore a wider range of genres.
이번 LUV 2 MUCH는 밴드, 락이라는 장르를 담아서 저의 메시지를 표현했어요. 다만 앨범을 발매하고 보니 반대로 락이라는 큰 장르에 국한되어있었다고 생각이 들더라고요. 밴드사운드가 제 이야기를 가장 잘 받쳐줄 수 있는 소리일 뿐이지 주가 되어서는 안된다는 생각도했어요. 그래서 앞으로 작업하는 곡들은 조금 더 장르적으로 다양해질거 같다는 생각을 하고 있습니다.

HKP: What inspired the title ’LUV 2 MUCH?’
‘LUV 2 MUCH’라는 제목은 무엇에서 영감을 받았나요?

JINHO: I think I’ve started to understand why films, songs, novels, and all those who’ve left great legacies ultimately focus on love and the present moment. After all, there’s nothing sadder than a day where you don’t love yourself. That’s why I wanted to capture the way we shape ourselves because of love in a gentle way.
영화나 노래, 소설 등 다양한 부분에서 영감을 얻었어요. 그리고 영화, 노래, 소설 뿐 아니라 위대한 업적을 남긴 모든분들이 결국에는 사랑과 오늘을 이야기하는 이유를 조금 알게 된거 같아요. 나를 사랑하지 않는 오늘만큼 슬픈 건 없으니까요. 그래서 사랑하기 때문에 나를 맞추어가는 그 모습을 가볍게 그려보고싶었습니다.

HKP: What aspects of your vocals did you focus on in ‘LUV 2 MUCH’ to capture its rock energy and raw emotions, and did you try any different techniques or styles than usual?
록 음악 특유의 강렬하고 날 것 같은 감정과 에너지를 ‘LUV 2 MUCH’에서 표현하기 위해 보컬적으로 어떤 부분에 집중하셨고, 평소와 다른 기법이나 스타일을 시도한 부분이 있나요?

JINHO: Since the song and its story aren’t too heavy, I ended up singing it a bit funky, almost like teen pop (laughs). I also wanted to create moments where I could have fun with the audience on stage, so both tracks include sing-along sections. (laughs)
내용과 곡이 무겁지 않아서 teen pop처럼 약간 펑키하게 부르게 된 것 같아요 ㅎㅎ. 또 무대에서 관객분들과 함께 즐길 수 있는 순간을 만들고 싶어서 두 곡 모두 떼창 파트를 넣었습니다.ㅎㅎ

HKP: Your voice has always been praised for its warmth and power. How do you continue to train and evolve your vocal style for each new release?
당신의 목소리는 항상 따뜻함과 파워풀함으로 칭찬받아 왔습니다. 새로운 앨범을 낼 때마다 어떻게 보컬 스타일을 끊임없이 훈련하고 발전시키시나요?

JINHO: I always think of it as my responsibility to keep training and to seek out good music that inspires me. And interestingly, the experiences I go through in life naturally find their way into my vocals and into the songs I write.
끊임없이 훈련하고 좋은 음악을 찾아서 자극을 받는게 저의 숙제라고 항상 생각합니다! 그리고 살아가면서 느끼는 것들도 신기하게 저의 보컬이나 작곡 작사에 모두 묻어나는 것 같아요.

HKP: As a singer-songwriter, how do you approach writing lyrics? Do you usually start with personal experiences, or do you enjoy imagining stories outside of your own?
싱어송라이터로서 작사에 어떤 접근을 하시나요? 보통 개인적인 경험에서 시작하시나요, 아니면 본인의 이야기가 아닌 다른 이야기를 상상하는 걸 즐기시나요?

JINHO: Honestly, I enjoy both! When I’m telling my own stories, I usually want to share messages that comfort me—things like encouragement to move forward, to find joy, or to overcome sadness. But when I’m imagining stories, I hope they can unfold like a fairytale or novel, where listeners can really picture the scenes as they hear them.
둘 다 좋아합니다! 제 이야기를 할 때에는 주로 저를 위로해주거나 나아갈 수 있다, 즐거울 수 있다 라던가 이런 행복이나 슬픔을 이겨내는 방법을 이야기하고싶고, 또 상상할 때에는 정말 동화나 소설처럼 들으며 그려지는 모습이 있었으면 좋을거같다고 생각합니다

HKP: Can you share a memorable behind-the-scenes moment from recording “LUV 2 MUCH” that fans might not know about?
팬들이 모를 수도 있는 “LUV 2 MUCH” 녹음 비하인드 스토리를 공유해 주시겠어요?

JINHO: Every time I perform it, I realize that to really capture the excitement, I end up having to push my vocal range to its limits…(laughs). It definitely wasn’t easy.
할 때 마다 느끼는데 신나려면 어쩔 수 없이 꼭 음역이 저의 한계치를 찍어야하더라고요..ㅎㅎ 쉽지 않았습니다

HKP: Many fans view your music as a source of healing and comfort. When fans listen to “LUV 2 MUCH,” what kind of reaction or experience do you hope it creates for them?
많은 팬들이 진호님의 음악을 치유와 위로의 원천으로 보고 있습니다. 팬들이 LUV 2 MUCH를 들을 때, 어떤 반응이나 경험을 하길 바라시나요?

JINHO: Just enjoy it as it is! But if you take a moment to read through the lyrics, I think the song might come across as even cuter (laughs). And on stage, I hope everyone can experience that feeling of becoming one when we all sing along together.
그냥 즐기시면 됩니다! 근데 가사 한 번 읽어보시면 조금 더 귀여운 곡이 될거같아요!ㅎㅎ
그리고 무대에서 같이 떼창할 때 모두가 하나가 되는 경험을 해보시면 좋을거같아요!

HKP: You’ve been active in the industry for nearly a decade. How has your definition of “success” in music changed from your debut until now?
데뷔 이후 거의 10년 가까이 활동해오셨는데, 그동안 음악에서의 ‘성공’이라는 정의가 어떻게 바뀌었나요?

JINHO: When I was younger, I think I used to dream of the kind of success that would make others go ‘wow’ and envy me. But now, I feel like I’m on a long journey in search of success that comes from releasing an album I can truly be satisfied with. (laughs)
어렸을 때는 남이 보았을 때 우와-하는, 부러워하는 성공을 바랐던거같아요 하지만 이제는 내가 정말 만족하는 앨범을 내기 전까지 성공을 찾아가는 긴 여정을 떠날거같습니다 ㅎㅎ

HKP: Looking ahead, what kind of musical stories or concepts do you hope to explore in future solo projects?
앞으로 솔로 프로젝트에서 어떤 음악적 이야기나 콘셉트를 탐구하고 싶으신가요?

JINHO: Right now, I want to write songs that dive even deeper into the stories of my heart. My goal is to create music that truly resonates and lingers in the listener’s mind.
지금은 더욱 더 심도깊은 마음 속 이야기를 써내고싶어요. 들으며 마음이 쓰이는 노래를 쓰는게 목표입니다

HKP: Lastly, please leave a message for fans reading this.
마지막으로, 이 인터뷰를 읽고 있는 팬들에게 한 말씀 부탁드립니다.