pH-1 on Pores and skin-Care, Tattoos, and Beginning Charts | Interview

Not too younger, too protecting, not too boring — I’ve misplaced depend of the variety of occasions pH-1 has uttered “too.” The Korean American musician is hazy on the precise phrases to explain many points of his life. He even falls again on the three-lettered emphasis when describing the perfume he spritzed on earlier than our interview, MCM’s Eau de Parfum. “It is not too, too macho,” he decides, “not too robust, like, Abercrombie.”

Regardless of his ambiguity, Harry, as he introduces himself, clearly is aware of precisely who he’s. (Therefore his stage title, pH-1 — a enjoyable fusion of his English and Korean names, Harry Park and Junwon.) From his front room in Seoul, he gave me a glimpse at how he sees himself, his aesthetic, and his work ethic in his personal phrases — a primary for an American journal. 

After all, determining what makes pH-1, nicely, pH-1 on and off stage was a journey for the 31-year-old. Actually, pH-1 is what I confer with as a “patchwork individual.” As an alternative of selecting a single profession path and sticking to it, he is pieced collectively a number of completely different trades, dwelling a number of completely different lives as a school pupil, dancer, app developer, and dental assistant. 

Selecting a Lane 

Lastly realizing his true ambition, pH-1 moved again to Korea to pursue it. (Though he was born in Seoul, pH-1 moved to America when he was a teen.) Over the previous 4 years, pH-1 has been constantly releasing vibrantly catchy music below Jay Park’s label H1GHR MUSIC, which lately turned the brand new residence to JAY B. He is change into referred to as Korea’s king of musical collaborations — whether or not or not he likes it — teaming up with the likes of Junny, Hoody, Chung Ha, Whee In, and Yerin Baek.  

“I am a folks pleaser,” pH-1 admits in probably the most definitive phrases he shares all through our interview. “I can not say no to folks. That is been very unhealthy for me as a result of I mentioned sure to loads of requests that weren’t helpful to me, per se. So I am all the time attempting to repair that downside.” For these identical causes, although, pH-1 felt drawn to turning into an entertainer. 

At first phases of his musical profession, pH-1 says he cycled by way of completely different stylists, make-up artists, and hairstylists as he tried to search out the candy spot for his aesthetic. For “Malibu,” he slipped on an embellished swimsuit and spherical, rimless glasses, whereas “Like Me” flipped between laid-back-yet-sleek avenue fashion, a Canadian tuxedo, and a retro barbershop-inspired getup with a white coat and all. His hair hopped alongside for the experience with varied lengths, hats, and natural-leaning hues. 

Nowadays, pH-1 now is aware of exactly what to ask his magnificence and wardrobe groups for. “I got here to the belief that what suits me greatest as an individual and as a musician is a clear, neat kind of look,” pH-1 remarks, pointing to his outfit now: a striped cream-and-gray linen gown shirt, easy, small silver hoop earrings. “I am not too flamboyant in any approach,” pH-1 continues. “I do not wish to over-exaggerate issues, even in my music.”