[EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] THAMA Discusses Music, Name & WOOOF!

Singer and songwriter from South Korea, THAMA, discusses music, the meaning behind his name and more through this exclusive interview.

THAMA is an artist who signed to Amoeba Culture, which is home to hip-hop legends, Dynamic Duo. His real name is Jo Jung Min but goes by the stage name THAMA. He explains the meaning behind his name in the interview below. The artist is a well-known all-rounded producer, singer and songwriter. His first full-length album “DON’T DIE COLORS” was recognized as the Best R&B Album at the 19th Korean Music Awards. Also, received R&B Album Of The Year at the 2022 Korean Hip Hop Awards.

Now, two years after the success of THAMA’s first album, he has unveiled his 2nd full album, entitled “WOOOF!”. The album is now out on all platforms. THAMA has two title tracks for this new album including, “Baby I Know” and “Bump It Up”. Alongside those, there are also 3 B-Side tracks in English. We ask THAMA about this which he replies, “music ultimately has the power to overcome both language and cultural differences”.

Find out all about THAMA and what he has to say about his new album through the exclusive interview.

THAMA INTERVIEW

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in the music industry? Hello, my name is THAMA and I’m a singer-songwriter and producer! 

Since I was young, I enjoyed listening to music and singing, so I often performed on stage. I practiced by posting cover songs on YouTube, and eventually started making and releasing my own songs. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did you choose your stage name “THAMA”? 

It is an abbreviation for These Hands Are Making Arts. The first song I released under my artist name was Fall In Love, and at the time I began my songwriting career with the producer label Devine Channel. 

Who are your musical influences, both within South Korea and internationally? 

I would say Kim Gun Mo, Dynamic Duo, and GSoul in Korea, and D’Angelo, Boyz II Men, Brian Mcknight, and The Beatles internationally. 

The title of your new album, “WOOOF!”, is intriguing. Can you share the conceptual inspiration behind the album and how it ties into the overall themes explored in your music? 

For the concept, I wanted it to be an album that simply shares a very bright and positive vibe with everyone around the world. During the process of making the songs, I was in awe of how the music was turning out so I kept shouting WOOOF! That really stuck around inside my head so I decided to go with it for the album name. 

Are there specific messages or emotions you aimed to convey through the title tracks, “Baby I Know” and “Bump It Up,” and how do they contribute to the album’s narrative? 

With Baby I Know, I wanted to share the happiness and feelings I feel in everyday life, and with Bump It Up, I wanted to share my values and energy as a musician. I wanted to spread positive energy to both musicians and listeners.

Can you share any memories or interesting stories from the process of creating this new album? 

I started listening to Ciscero’s music a few years back and became a fan, so I randomly DM’d him and told him that I wanted to collab with him. He gladly accepted and everything was done online right away. Shout out to Ciscero!! 

Over the two-year gap since your last album, how do you feel you have evolved as an artist, and in what ways is this evolution reflected in “WOOOF!”? 

Rather than focusing on evolving as an artist, I think I found a greater joy in creating synergy with other artists and learning from them. It was such a rewarding experience! 

With the inclusion of English-language tracks, you’re clearly reaching out to an international audience. How do you balance maintaining a connection with your Korean audience while expanding your reach globally? 

Although there may be separation on the surface depending on the language of the lyrics, I believe that music ultimately has the power to overcome both language and cultural differences. I would like to say that that kind of “Soul” brings people together. 

Every album comes with its unique set of challenges. Were there any specific hurdles you faced during the creation of “WOOOF!” and how did you overcome them? 

When I made the songs, I finalized them without facing any difficulties, but it was the process afterward, thinking about how I wanted to package and present my music to my fans, that made it the most challenging part for me. I still contemplate it, but I am very confident in my music! 

Send a message: To any aspiring artist out there, do you have any advice to give them? 

There’s a song called Passion in my album, and I think the message that I want to convey is well-contained in that song haha.

Check out the new music videos for “Baby I Know” and “Bump It Up” by THAMA.