We recently connected with Noah Kim and have shared our conversation below.
Noah, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
My confidence as an artist was shaped throughout a multi-year journey, where I battled with identity-related issues, and finding my true place in the realm of artistry.
In middle school, as the storm of the pandemic slowly died down, my time spent indoors had stunted my growth socially and academically. I emerged into my social environment scared, and awkward, with no grasp on reality. My awkward approach to life was something that hindered me not only socially, but academically as well. My grades and social circle dropped, and I felt alone most of the time at school. This all changed for the better, as I was introduced to a GarageBand elective at school that met during study hall every Friday. This ignited my creative personality, finally giving me a reason to express myself. As I made music and worked on my creative skills in my free time, I felt that I was able to balance my life much more effectively. As I used music as my creative outlet, my confidence in life skyrocketed, as I was able to share my creations with my friends, family, and peers in my social environment. Due to my newfound prowess in music, I was able to not only increase my social circle and forge connections with new people with whom I never thought I would connect. In turn, my social confidence was a driving factor that boosted my academic confidence, where I was able to balance my schedule while making excellent grades as well. This newfound confidence and creative approach to life followed me through my later years and helped me navigate my new home of Atlanta.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My upbringing as an artist was spawned at the young age of 3 years old when I would experiment with an early version of GarageBand on my parent’s iPad. While I have very few memories of that time in my life, I can still vaguely shape myself browsing different melody loops, banging on the virtual drums, and messing around on the program’s piano keyboard, which in turn created a newfound interest in the workings of music. 3 years later, at age 6, my parents introduced me to the cello, which I still play and practice to this day. Learning cello birthed a brand new understanding regarding the intricacies of music, allowing me to channel myself into the raw emotion and beauty the cello has to offer. After 4 years of playing cello, I realized at age 10, that I hadn’t really explored music on my own, and how crucial it could be to help deepen my musical mindset and understanding of music as a whole. I soon diverted my musical attention to contemporary rap, which was a genre of music that always drew my attention, as its musicality was something that pushed boundaries of what music is truly defined by. Some of my favorite artists at the time (and till are), were Playboi Carti (my biggest musical inspiration), Lil Uzi Vert, and Travis Scott. Their ability to push the boundaries of hip-hop by utilizing distortion and synthesizers, accompanied with heavy vocal autotune and unique melodies were something that enthralled me. After a while of getting accustomed to rap, at age 13, I decided to try and make beats through a school garageband elective once a week. After putting my heart, mind, and soul into perfecting this craft, I feel that I have unlocked my creative personality, and pushed my limits of artistry to new planes. Making music is something that not only serves as a pastime, but as something that helped me grow as a person, and find myself through my most vulnerable years of life.
My music centers around hyper-distorted trap beats, with elements of high-pitched synths and brain-crushing 808s. I draw inspiration from artists such as Playboi Carti, Ken Carson, OsamaSon, and many producers such as F1lthy, Legion, Starboy, and Pierre Bourne. I feel that my work always reflects my subconscious attitude towards certain points in my life. For example, when I am swamped with schoolwork during finals week, my music tends to come out as more aggressive and distorted. On the contrary, when I’m on vacation or in a less stressful life situation, I tend to create more calm and ambient music.
For now, my music is more of a self-directed passion serving as an outlet for my creativity and emotions. Although my music focuses on building my creative personality, I love to share my work with others, especially my friends and family. I don’t plan on going professional anytime soon, but I always will keep my music production skills active throughout my entire life.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three most important qualities that I used to approach the world of artistry as a producer were my creativity, open-mindedness, and determination. Creativity allowed me to craft unique sounds and ideas, turning raw inspiration into cohesive works of art. Open-mindedness helped me embrace diverse perspectives (especially the ever-evolving sounds of contemporary rap), collaborate with individuals from different cultures, and explore genres outside my comfort zone, broadening my artistic vision. Determination was my driving force, enabling me to navigate challenges, refine my skills, and stay focused on achieving my goals despite major setbacks in life and music. Together, these qualities shaped my journey and allowed me to grow as an artist.
For those early in their journey, embrace curiosity and expose yourself to a wide array of art forms and styles to cultivate creativity and open-mindedness. Stay consistent in your efforts, as persistence is the foundation for growth and mastering your craft.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
My greatest challenge as a producer is maintaining a creative outlook when making music, especially because music is an ever-evolving art form. Trends and audience preferences within the realm of music are constantly shifting, requiring me to adapt without losing my artistic identity. The pressure to innovate while staying true to my personal style can be both inspiring and overwhelming, as it demands a balance between identity and consistency. Sometimes, it feels like the more I try to keep up with changes, the harder it is to express genuine creativity. To overcome this, I focus on utilizing inspiration from diverse sources, such as different aspects of rap, and how I feel at the time emotionally. I also allow myself the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, and build off of them. Collaboration plays a huge role as well, as working with other artists often brings fresh ideas and perspectives that reignite my creative spark. By staying curious and open, I find ways to keep my music evolving without losing its identity.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queezy.beats/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@queezybeats
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/noah-kim-814403294
Image Credits
Image 1: ExcelDaGoat’s cover for the song “h1ghal3rt”, produced by me
Image 2: My first tape ever, a collab with Malawi-based artist, Dual Wield Smoky
Image 3: My most recent song, a collaboration with ExcelDaGoat, called “pradababy”, with the cover made by VJTorz
Image 4: NewAddict’s song, “THECHROME”, produced by me
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