Introducing Himang
If singer-songwriter Himang Park’s music is not included in your music library you’re missing out. The Beijing raised Korean-Indian Berklee student is one to watch as he builds his ever grown fanbase with each song release. We sat down with Himang to talk about his new single titled “Young”, his passion for music and much more.
E&W: Hi Himang! Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Himang: Hello beautiful people on the internet! my name is Himang. I am half-Korean, half-Indian but I was born and raised in Beijing, China. I am a Pop/R&B singer-songwriter that sings about things I don't have the balls to say in person:)
E&W: When did your passion for music begin?
Himang: There is a traditional ceremony in both Korean and Chinese culture called 돌잡이/抓周. This ritual is performed at a baby's first birthday: group of objects are placed in front of the baby to see which one the baby chooses. Each object symbolizes something different; books symbolizes intelligence, money symbolizes wealth, string symbolizes longevity etc. My music-loving Indian dad put a pair of small bongoes on the table as well though it is not conventional object used in this tradition. And the story is that my mom tried to hand me the money and the books, but i threw it aside and banged on the bongoes. My parents knew that I had a passion for music when I was only a toddler.
E&W: How has your multicultural upbringing inspired your musical style?
Himang: My dad has the musical gene in my family. He is a self-taught hand percussionist, and he used to play in a reggae band in Beijing. Being an appreciator of classical Indian music, he also loves Reggae and African music, anything rhythmic. He used to play Bob Marley for me when I was little and the first song I learned to sing was probably "Get Up, Stand Up". I would definitely say that I am also a very rhythmic musician. I like to put an emphasis on rhythm in my writing and I also love hip hop music.
Of course, watching Bollywood films and following Kpop bands have also added a lot to my artistry. I feel like they have both added an element of drama to my music. I'm not a very dramatic person, but I think I try to save it all to express through my music.
Being exposed to Western culture in school has made a huge impact on my music, as I watched all the Disney/Nickelodeon teen shows such as Camp Rock and Victorious, and American Idol was also a big eye opener for me. I discovered R&B in middle school through the sounds of Mariah, Etta James, Beyonce and the retro-inspired tunes from Ariana's Yours Truly. And I think hearing them really sparked something in my vocal journey.
E&W: Tell us about your new single, what inspired this song and what message do you hope to spread with this release?
Himang: I wrote this song in my senior year of high school. I think the first section that I wrote came out of an argument I had with my dad about something I don't even remember. But I think I just wanted to write about noticing the differences between different generations. I've always been the obedient type that adults love, and to be honest, I quite enjoy the reputation I have from that. But sometimes, it can get frustrating when I can't express what I want, or what I think is right. I think I just needed a space to say things unapologetically, and this song was just that. And I hope it inspires or provides a voice for all the young people out there to also freely express what they feel without feeling restricted or pressured. Not just young people, I want my dad to be able to relate too. Youth isn't an age group to me, its a mindset and an attitude.
E&W: How was it studying at Berklee during the COVID-19 pandemic and how has this impacted your academic and emerging musical career?
Himang: We were kicked out of our dorms in March last year and I was lucky to have a family friend to stay with til the end of the Spring semester. Then I relocated to Korea with my family, and took a remote fall semester here. It was rough. Mostly because of the time difference, daylight savings only made it worse:) My sleeping pattern was so irregular I had digestion problems, I was breaking out, my eyelids formed different folds everyday haha But I also had some amazing opportunities to collaborate virtually with my fellow musicians across the world and we created some incredible works of art. Including my last two singles "Push & Pull" with my friends Sandrina Sitohang and Felita Kezia, and "NNNOW" which I featured on.
E&W: What's next after this release ? Will you be creating music during your army service breaks ?
Himang: I have some stuff that I'm already working on, that I'll have to put on hold while I'm away. Hopefully, I'll be able to check up on them during my breaks. But I don't wanna burn myself out either. I'm excited for my army service, and I do wanna focus on learning more about my country, and how I can contribute to this society:) I'm sure I'll have a lot to say there too that I'll only be able to say through my music. So I'm excited to write new stuff too!
Be sure to check out the music video for Himang’s new single “Young” and stream his music on Spotify and all other music platforms.