[INTERVIEW] Juju B. Goode: From XO Kitty to Debut Album!

Singer and songwriter, Juju B. Goode is here to share some stories with HypnoticAsia readers. The artist introduces a song he feels everyone should listen to as well as the process he goes through. He discusses his upcoming debut album which is set to release this coming October and his single, Mr. Lee.

Also through this interview, Juju B. Goode talks about how his track was used for the XO KITTY soundtrack!

So, now it’s time for you to check out our interview with Juju B. Goode (real name: Juhwan).

Interview with Juju B. Goode

Please introduce yourself to the readers of HypnoticAsia.

Hello, I’m Juhwan, and I create music under the alias, Juju B. Goode. Thrilled to share some stories today!

How and when did you get into music? Influences?

I’ve always sung and played around with instruments since I was little, but it became more serious in middle school when I joined a rock band and started to play guitar and sing. We did a lot of Classic Rock like The Beatles, Chicago, and Eagles at the time.

For our readers who may not know you, which song would you recommend they listen to first?

“Ending Fairy” is one that I’m quite proud of. It’s catchy, got the groove and has the moment near the end that kinda surprises you. It captures the vibe of my upcoming album as well.

What is your process of writing and producing?

Whenever I have a melodic idea, even if it’s super simple and short, I record it on my phone and jot down lyric ideas. When I get to the studio or work on music, I build around the initial idea, just try my best to follow the flow and have fun. You know, overthinking can lead to losing the initial spark, so you gotta be careful, but I try to finish most things I start.

You’ve worked with many artists in the past. Is there a certain artist you’d like to collaborate with in the future?

Not currently. I feel that when it comes to having someone featured or co-producing on my tracks, I prefer a more personal connection. That said, I’d be honored to collaborate with artists I look up to though like The Black Skirts, Toro y Moi, or GD just to name a couple.

On your track, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (originally by Tears for Fears), featured in the Netflix series XO Kitty, what was the remix process like and the story behind having it featured in the series?

Devin from dv/sn reached out to me after listening to my first EP “Future Boy”. He felt that my voice would suit the track well, so he sent me the instrumental and I recorded my vocal track in my NY bedroom and sent it back to him. The EDM style was quite new to me, but that’s what made the collaboration unique and perfect. I’m glad that it resonated with so many listeners. I mean the original song is so iconic already.

If you could only choose one song to sing for the rest of your life, which would it be and why?”

Oooh, what a question.. Given the somewhat tragic scenario, I’d opt for a more hopeful song. The first song that comes to mind is “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers. Despite singing it countless times growing up, I’m not yet tired of it. You can do so many harmonies on that and anyone can sing along-it’s a catchy tune.

You’ll be releasing your debut album next month with the title track “Mr. Lee”. Can you tell us a little more about it? What can we expect to hear?

My debut album is set to launch on October 13th. This album is a fusion of the diverse musical influences I’ve absorbed over the years, from Rock, Disco, House, to Reggae and K-Pop. The album carries the energetic essence of city life, much of which was inspired by my time in NYC. It’s like a  disco party on a late night train to Brooklyn. My new single “Mr. Lee” narrates the tale of a mysterious figure navigating a bustling, stressful city environment and I produced and recorded at my friend’s garage in Hawthorne, CA. Go check it out and get ready for this delicious musical feast I’ve prepared for all of you.