Story & Lesson Highlights with Yaeseul “Srisley” Kim of Seoul

Yaeseul “Srisley” Kim shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Yaeseul, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What battle are you avoiding?
I’m avoiding the battle between creative freedom and practical survival. As an artist, I constantly want to create without limits, but at the same time I have to manage projects, funding, and institutional frameworks. Finding balance between art and structure is something I’m still learning.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Yaeseul Kim, also known as Srisley, a jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader blending Afro-Latin rhythms with cinematic orchestral textures. After graduating from Berklee College of Music with dual majors in Performance and Film Scoring, I returned to Korea, where I currently teach at a university while continuing my international projects.

My music explores the connection between rhythm and philosophy. Through recent works like Zarathustra and The Übermensch, inspired by Nietzsche’s ideas, I try to express transformation, intensity, and the search for meaning through sound.

I’ve performed at festivals such as Boston Calling and the Detroit Jazz Festival, and collaborated with Grammy-winning artists including Paquito D’Rivera and Mark Walker. Right now, I’m working to build a bridge between Korean and Latin-American music cultures through performance and education — so that music can become a universal language that transcends borders.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
It was at the Boston Calling Music Festival last May, when I performed my original piece Zarathustra for the very first time, before it was even released.
I’ve been interested in philosophy since I was young, and that performance felt like the moment I could finally express it through music.

Just as Nietzsche created the persona “Zarathustra” to share his philosophy and values, I created my own Zarathustra and poured everything into it.
The audience gave the most powerful response that night, and I truly felt powerful, not in an egoistic way, but in the sense that my ideas, emotions, and years of work had finally connected with people.

You can now listen to Zarathustra on all major platforms!

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
When I decided to leave Korea to study at Berklee, I had to give up a lot: comfort, familiarity, and the life I had already built. It wasn’t easy to start over in a new country where I had no guarantees. I often questioned myself, wondering if I had made the right choice.

But that period of uncertainty taught me things that success never could. I learned how to be patient, how to rebuild from zero, and how to believe in my own direction even when nothing felt stable. It showed me that real strength doesn’t come from achievement, but from staying true to yourself through change. Looking back, it was one of the hardest yet most valuable decisions I’ve ever made, and it shaped the artist and person I am today.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the music industry is that visibility equals value. Many artists feel pressured to chase trends, but real art takes time. I’ve learned that depth and honesty last longer than algorithms or short-lived attention.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will remember that I was an artist who searched for meaning through both music and life. My work has always been about connecting emotion and intellect, turning questions about existence into sound. I also hope to be remembered as a Korean musician who loved Latin music from the other side of the world, and who tried to build a bridge between cultures through rhythm and empathy. For me, legacy is not about fame or perfection. It’s about leaving traces of honesty, courage, and connection in the hearts of others.

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