
Exposed Vocals Exclusive: Yeong on Pushing Boundaries, Genre Fusion, and Finding His Sound
In a world where electronic music is constantly evolving, few artists carve out a space as distinct and emotive as Yeong. Born in Seoul, raised in Houston, and now making waves in Los Angeles, he brings a refreshingly introspective approach to the genre. Fusing the glitchy textures of lofi with the fluid rhythms of UK garage and the ethereal atmospheres of Studio Ghibli jazz, Yeong crafts soundscapes that feel both nostalgic and forward-thinking. His music is more than just a collection of beats—it’s a journey through uncertainty, self-discovery, and transformation. Inspired by visionaries like Porter Robinson and Medasin, Yeong’s work is deeply personal, resonating with those searching for a sonic escape that mirrors their own evolving stories.
With the release of his START EP, Yeong has stepped confidently into the spotlight, proving that his artistry is as intentional as it is boundary-pushing. Now, as he refines his craft under EAR and Elton Audio Management, his sound is reaching new levels of depth and cohesion. In this exclusive interview with Exposed Vocals, Yeong opens up about his creative process, the emotions behind his latest single Let Me Be Your, and what’s next for him in 2025. Let’s dive in.
Exposed Vocals: Let Me Be Your has a distinct late-night vibe. What inspired the track, and how did you develop its sonic landscape?
Yeong: I’ve been recently inspired by the UK garage sound that’s been popular, but wanted to reinterpret that into something that made sense for me, as well as incorporate other sounds from artists I’m currently inspired by such as Flume, IMANU, and Daniel Allan. Using this to jumpstart the initial idea, and working with Jaki Nelson for the vocals, the rest of the track came to life easily.
Exposed Vocals: You mention the song being about uncertainty in a relationship. Can you talk more about the emotions that shaped the lyrics and production?
Yeong: I would say it’s less about uncertainty in a relationship and more about the uncertainty in each of us. The uncertainty of who we are right now vs. who we could be. The uncertainty of how our life might unfold, or if we could ever be that grander version of ourselves that we have in the back of our minds. It explores the duality of those sides of ourselves.
Exposed Vocals: Your sound blends UK Garage elements with chill-electronic and glitch aesthetics. How do you approach genre fusion in your music?
Yeong: I usually maintain a playlist of songs that I’m currently inspired by and want to take influence from. And there’s no bias for this playlist haha. It can have a country song, a dubstep track, an Avril Lavigne song – there’s no rules, as long as it resonates with me on some level.
The end result of the music I make is usually a mixture of these tracks filtered through my own taste.
Exposed Vocals: You’ve drawn inspiration from artists like Porter Robinson and Medasin. What aspects of their music have influenced your creative process?
Yeong: These two artists are constantly elevating their artistry and musicianship, and breaking the standards of what’s expected out of them, while still uniquely being themselves.
Porter Robinson started by making heavier bass music, to the beautiful Worlds album, to exploring singing and live music, and to now making a punk-rock/electronic dance album, while still uniquely being him. He’s constantly evolving and is unafraid to push through the boundaries of what people might want out of him.
Same with Medasin. If you listen back to his soundcloud days, he explored every kind of electronic genre, but you could still tell it was him. Now he’s made an ambient album, along with other recent albums, and is constantly pushing himself to get to the next level.
They’re my biggest influences and I hope to one day create that path for myself, as well.
Exposed Vocals: Since joining EAR and Elton Audio Management, how has your approach to music evolved?
Yeong: Having a reliable source, who was able to help other artists reach the next level in their career, and give unbiased feedback and advice has been amazing. Oftentimes we just need that 3rd party, objective source to look at everything and tell us how to efficiently streamline areas that we might’ve missed because we’re too close in the weeds.
We’ve definitely elevated my approach to this artist project and where we can take this career. Thanks Louis!!
Exposed Vocals: You’ve lived in Seoul, Houston, and now Los Angeles. How have these different environments influenced your artistry?
Yeong: I moved from Seoul to Houston when I was 6-years old. I consider Houston my home, but I didn’t find much inspiration and creative drive in that environment.
As for moving to Los Angeles, it definitely elevated my standards of what I thought was possible for me in music, as well as what I thought was possible for myself. Everyone here is chasing their version of the ideal life for themselves, and being surrounded by that energy drives me to work harder every day, so that I can also make my dreams a reality. It’s been a blessing to be a part of this environment.
Exposed Vocals: If you could collaborate with any artist—past or present—who would it be and why?
Yeong: I would say the artist Kučka. She’s a female vocalist/artist that’s featured in a lot of Flume tracks and has such a distinct, unique voice that adds so much to a track. There’s no one else like her.
Exposed Vocals: The electronic music landscape is constantly changing. What excites you most about where the genre is headed?
Yeong: Electronic music is constantly evolving and there’s honestly no extent to which it could be explored, which is so exciting. You can take influence from so many different styles and artists, and reinterpret in so many different ways.
What would a lofi track sound like with modern synths? How could a dubstep song from 2012 be reinterpreted today? How could you take a modern house track and change it to a completely new genre? The possibilities are endless.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have any upcoming projects or collaborations that fans should be looking out for?
Yeong: Yes!
I have more singles coming out where I’ll be elevating my sound from where the START EP left off. I also have some collabs that I’m currently wrapping up with artists from different styles – one being a collaboration with a heavy metal artist.
Exposed Vocals: What’s next for you in 2025? Any live shows, releases, or creative endeavors on the horizon?
Yeong: Along with trying to release a new track every month, I’m planning on putting together events later in the year with other creatives and artists where we can throw a themed live performance/DJ show.
As for my personal life, I’m planning on running a marathon this year, as well as trying to hit a V7 in bouldering.
###
As Yeong continues to refine his sound and push the boundaries of chill-electronic music, his journey is only just beginning. From his early days of quiet self-discovery to his bold leap into the industry, his evolution as an artist is a testament to his dedication, passion, and willingness to embrace change. With each release, he blends genres with precision, weaving together the dreamy textures of lofi, the rhythmic pulse of UK garage, and the immersive storytelling of cinematic soundscapes. As he gears up for an ambitious 2025—packed with new singles, cross-genre collaborations, and innovative live performances—Yeong is proving that his artistry is about more than just music; it’s about creating an emotional experience that resonates deeply with listeners. Whether it’s through introspective melodies or high-energy festival anthems, his work invites audiences to connect, reflect, and escape into the sonic worlds he crafts. As Exposed Vocals wraps up this exclusive interview, one thing is clear: Yeong isn’t just following the trends—he’s setting the stage for the next wave of electronic music.