Collectif STARDUST
A strong launch of the new artist collective STARDUST composed of Korean artists and a French producer.
Friday October 25th we (the KSTATION TV team) were able to discover the launch of a collective of artists like no other, artists who came straight from the land of the morning calm, YOUNG ILL and NNING present that day and BLUEMOON who could not come to France because of his studies and a French producer SONIKEM. SONIKEM is the founder of the collective, with YOUNG ILL, he wanted to create something not yet seen and above all create a beautiful mix between two cultures and different styles of music, a musical bridge in other words, between Korea and France.
It all started with SONIKEM and YOUNG ILL who during the covid met thanks to a site connecting producers and artists from all over the world. SONIKEM sent a first sound to YOUNG ILL who the next day had already sent his composition since the latter was so inspired and really appreciated the sound that he was very productive. For several days they had this kind of exchange and the songs that came out of it pleased both of them enormously and that’s how the STARDUST project began to germinate in SONIKEM’s head.
SONIKEM is a rapper, producer, composer and DJ who has worked with many artists and created groups, if “we can say“, mixed between France and Japan or France and China. The latter is very established in Japan and he really wanted to build something in Korea.
He does not let himself be influenced by only one type of music on the contrary he likes to take his inspiration from various places whether it is jazz, classical, hiphop, rap etc. We can feel it when we listen to the songs of his new album like those created for STARDUST there are various reminders of different musical styles. He says it himself that when he composes a music it can happen to him to ask musician friends, saxophonist, pianist or other to play the notes in order to better feel the music he wants to create.
YOUNG ILL is a rapper, talented songwriter, he is the leader of the group and the one who composed the most songs and mixtapes in the group. The young man is very passionate about what he does, it is felt and he shows it when he talks about his songs, why he wrote this or that song, what he wanted to convey, like the song “Déjà vu” whose video clip was released on October 30, he wanted to show what you feel when you are in love, this feeling of being a “teenager” and not worrying about anything else. The latter has composed and written songs in collaboration with several different artists whether musically, or of different nationalities, which shows us his musical openness and especially his talent to adapt to all kinds of styles.
NNING is a Korean singer and songwriter with a golden voice and very talented who manages to adapt her voice whether it is in relation to more hiphop or more pop styles. We can feel everything she wants to convey as a message thanks to her melodious and captivating voice. The young woman wrote several songs for STARDUST, all different showing her vocal capacity and all her talent as a composer. The young lady, for the event, wore a Hanbok, traditional Korean outfit, in order to share with us all the attachment she has for her country and show us another part of Korean culture.
Throughout the interview we could see a good-natured atmosphere and a real little family that the trio of artists forms and this is also felt in the songs. We see that even with the language barrier, there is no real barrier musically speaking and especially in order to create strong links between people and the whole concept of STARDUST as SONIKEM has repeated to us a lot. Indeed, even if he is the producer, as he says, they are like a family and he is always listening to the artists of the label in order to best create the universe to which STARDUST belongs.
The songs that were presented to us are, “Cypher”, with a more rap and rnb rhythm where we can hear YOUNG ILL, BLUEMOON and SONIKEM, there is also a young woman but they are still in talks to know if she will be part of the group or not. Then we were able to hear “Go” in collaboration with Sean Kingston, YOUNG ILL and NNING, a music mixing pop and hiphop very catchy where their three voices blend wonderfully. Then we were able to appreciate 2 songs by YOUNG ILL, including “Déjà vu” and several by NNING including “Hush”, “I don’t know“.
Our reporter’s words: “I really liked the atmosphere within the group as well as the songs and their universes. NNING’s voice totally captivated me and above all I really liked the universe and the talent of YOUNG ILL which is totally the kind of music that I like to listen to. It’s a group and artists that I will follow as much for their talent as for their personality and their kindness. We were really very well received by everyone and it was very good-natured, without any hassle, it’s as if we were invited to a friend’s house.“
Journalist: Charlène
Translator: Shawn
Photos: Stardust, Laura
Source: Stardust, KSTATION TV
