How to Be an Independent Musician with Yeohee Kim

How to Be an Independent Musician with Yeohee Kim

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Introduction

This episode features Yeohee Kim—known artistically as machìna—a Korean artist based in Tokyo and Berlin. We cover her journey from K-pop to independent artistry, the creative mindset needed to sustain a career in music, the role of solitude in creativity, her approach to music-making, the financial realities of the industry and what it takes to be a thriving independent musician today.

Biography

Yeohee Kim, known artistically as machìna, is a Korean musician, composer and performer based in Tokyo and Berlin. Her music is a fusion of personal introspection and collective energy, best experienced in the immersive setting of a nightclub dance floor. With a background that spans from K-pop training to experimental electronic improvisation, she blends jazz-inspired modular synthesis with commanding precise vocals.

"Mood, action, deadline."

Her career has taken her from performing at MUTEK Montreal and Berghain’s Halle stage to being part of Richie Hawtin’s From Our Minds tour, playing her newly developed live techno set. Her independently released series Action gained traction in 2023 with tracks featured in campaigns for Miu Miu and Nike. Her ability to bridge music and fashion has led to collaborations with Prada, Red Bull Music and Vans among others.

    Photo: Kentaro Oshio

      • Introduction [00:00:00]
      • On Art Direction Workshop [00:01:03]
      • Episode Introduction [00:02:08]
      • From K-pop to Independence [00:03:43]
      • The Role of Solitude and Perspective [00:14:34]
      • Mood as a Creative Foundation [00:17:33]
      • Where You Are Shapes Who You Are [00:23:30]
      • Short Episode Break [00:30:40]
      • The Work Routines of an Independent Music Artist [00:31:24]
      • Making a Living in the Music Industry [00:44:52]
      • Navigating the Highs and Lows [00:52:09]
      • How to Be a Better Creative [01:03:58]
      • Episode Outro [01:04:59]

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