[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] McKay, "Music is a powerful tool to bring people up and unite them."

Singer and songwriter, McKay, sits down to answer some questions for an Exclusive Interview with HypnoticAsia!

McKay, mostly known for his tracks “Month of June” and “Angel2me” and his wonderful voice has revealed who some of his closest friends are, who he would like to collaborate with and what his music influences are. The artist even told us all about his journey after debuting, participating in K-POP Star and even talks about some of his collaborations with some fantastic artists.

Check out his awesome interview below.

Interview with McKay

HYPNOTICASIA: How did you get into music?
MCKAY: I first got into music by playing in my church band during my high school years.

HYPNOTICASIA: Which came first, the guitar or the singing?
MCKAY: The guitar came first. But even before that I actually played the drums for 2 years

HYPNOTICASIA: Where do you get your inspiration for music from?
MCKAY: I developed my inspiration from, John Mayer. I attended one of his concerts and it was one of the best performances I have ever seen which made me want to be just like him.

HYPNOTICASIA: Who are some of your music influences?
MCKAY: Some of my influences are, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Brian Mcknight, Robin Thicke.

HYPNOTICASIA: If you were asked to describe your music to somebody, how would you describe it?
MCKAY: I would describe my music as another extension of myself and who I am. The lyrics I write are from real experiences and real emotions. Also the music that I make is correlated with my personality.

HYPNOTICASIA: What was it like auditioning and participating in a show like K-POP Star 2?
MCKAY: Auditioning for K-POP STAR was very nerve wracking. It was my first time ever auditioning for a show like this and also my first time singing my own song in front of others. There were ups and downs and it was sometimes very stressful and tiring, but all in all it was an unforgettable experience.

HYPNOTICASIA: Why did you choose to participate in K-POP Star? Have you always been interested in K-POP?
MCKAY: I honestly was not that into K-pop music when I was younger. The only group I knew was, Big Bang. My mom actually convinced me to audition for the show and I was interested to try it out.

HYPNOTICASIA: On K-POP Star, you auditioned with your own song; why did you choose to audition with your own track?
MCKAY: Well the song I auditioned with was called, “Month of June”, and it was the first song I’ve ever wrote. So, I wanted to see how people would react to my song. The reactions were much better than I imagined and it made me realize that I might actually have chance at doing this.

HYPNOTICASIA: From the three judges, Yang Hyun Suk, Park Jin Young and BoA, who would you say encouraged you the most on the show?
MCKAY: I believe, BoA encouraged me the most in the show. She was the one who formed the, Raccoon Boys, and knew our flaws and strengths. So with that, I believe she was a key role to leading us all the way up to top 5.

HYPNOTICASIA: Who is your favorite K-POP singer and why?
MCKAY: My favorite K-POP singer will have to be, Zico [Block B]. He has set so many trends and is a huge influence to much of the Korean music we hear today. Outside of music he is a big influencer in fashion, as well. I wish that many others including I could strive and have the same amount of passion as him.

HYPNOTICASIA: What are some of your hobbies?
MCKAY: Some of my hobbies are watching TV, playing computer games, restaurant hunting, and fishing.

HYPNOTICASIA: If you could give advice to an up and coming singer or an aspiring artist, what would it be?
MCKAY: An advice I would give to an up and coming singer is to always follow and trust your gut. Whether it’s telling you to go for an opportunity or telling you to back down in a situation. Your gut is usually right. Be patient. Nothing comes in an instant. Be passionate because without passion what are you doing it for? Lastly, be persistent. There are going to be many obstacles in your path to success and only you can break through them. Never give up. Just believe in yourself.

HYPNOTICASIA: If you can collaborate with one person that you haven’t already, who would it be and why?
MCKAY: I would love to collaborate with, IU. She is an amazing artist with an iconic voice many people adore. I believe we can make a hit together.

HYPNOTICASIA: Who is your closest celebrity friend (if any)?
MCKAY: Jae from, “Day6” is my very good friend. We’ve known each other for about 3 years now and have been through thick and thin. We always got each others back.

HYPNOTICASIA: How has your journey been since K-Pop Star and debuting back in 2015?
MCKAY: It’s been an unforgettable journey. It has been an experience that I would never trade for the world and it’s just uphill climbing from here.

HYPNOTICASIA: Do you still keep up with the other Raccoon Boys members?
MCKAY: I do keep in touch with the other, Raccoon Boys. We send each other greetings on the holidays and also plan to visit each other soon.

HYPNOTICASIA: What is your ideal type?
MCKAY: My ideal type would be someone who understands and compromises. Someone who cares and values the small things.

HYPNOTICASIA: You’ve been doing some shows in the U.S., notably Hawaii, how has that been?
MCKAY: It has been a blessing to be able to perform worldwide. Getting to visit new places and seeing fans that sing along to your music is something I cannot put in words. I’m truly blessed and grateful to be able to do this and plan to visit many more countries soon.

HYPNOTICASIA: You recently released a track titled, “Natural” with Jae of Day6 and Producer MAJORCODE, what was it like working with them on the song?
MCKAY: Working on, “Natural” with, Jae and Majorcode was a blast. On the day we made the song, we came in with the mindset of just writing for fun despite if the song goes anywhere or not. I think the song came out well and we plan to do more projects soon.

HYPNOTICASIA: From all the tracks you have ever written, which would you say is your favorite?
MCKAY: Out of all the songs I’ve written I would have to say I like, “Angel2me” the most. I was able to write with the legendary singer/songwriter, “Shin Seung Hun” and also “Jeff Bernat”. It was such an honor to write with those two and I couldn’t have asked for better.

HYPNOTICASIA: What kind of artist do you aspire to be one day?
MCKAY: I aspire to be an artist that could change the world in small ways. Music is a powerful tool to bring people up and unite them. It’s an art everyone can understand. So through music I wish I can impact lives in a positive way even if it’s just one person.

Check out his latest cover of “Dari Mata” by Jaz!