Interview: Discover New Music With the Click of This kursor
On May 29, 2023, BIXIZ XOUND artist, kursor, released his latest single, “Our Painted Night.” Straying away from the sounds of modern pop music, the song is a beautifully composed ballad that dives into a body of nostalgia. When asked to describe his new single, kursor expressed, "[‘Our Painted Night’] is not in a popular music style [as] I wanted to capture the essence of the music from a time where I truly enjoyed music.” This gives his single its nostalgic feel through electronic piano synth instrumentation and delicately delivered ballad vocals.
Photo Courtesy of BIXIZ XOUND
Throughout the song, kursor demonstrates an impressive vocal ability to sing in a high vocal range. His tone is reminiscent of the voice and music of popular South Korean singer and entertainer Kim Jong Kook, wrapping the listener in an audio blanket of warmth and serenity through his voice.
“I was curious about blending my vocals with a retro sound [as] I have always had a deep appreciation for R&B music of the 90s and early 2000s. It felt like [I was] revisiting those days, and I had a great time working on it.”
With his appreciation for R&B music, kursor finds himself and his songs associated with this genre, with media outlets often referring to him as an ‘R&B singer.’ While he does implement this style into his music quite frequently, in an interview with Arirang Radio earlier this year, kursor described his style as ‘not being 100% R&B.’ Instead, he refers to his sound as ‘kursor’s music.’ “I simply create my own music,” kursor told HALSUG. “It can be R&B or pop with melodies that reflect my thoughts. I mentioned that it’s not strictly 100% R&B music because it can vary depending on the mood or color I want to convey.”
The inspiration for “Our Painted Night” came from a place of solitude for kursor. “Spending time alone always brings something new to me,” he revealed. “I always imagine, whether I am watching a movie or driving. During that [alone] time, the stars floating in the night sky resembled a picture we created together. That’s how the title ‘Our Painted Night’ came to be.” While his ideas come from spending time alone, the music video shows kursor in the company of a female companion, with the visuals indicating the two to be in a romantic relationship. The viewer watches as kursor and his onscreen girlfriend embark on a cute day out together, with the sweet sounds of kursor’s voice blissfully accompanying their activities.
In relation to the title, “Our Painted Night,” art plays an important role in kursor’s real life. Having drawn all of the artwork covers for each of his releases, kursor’s career has seen him combine his desire and passion for both music and art; although, a music career wasn’t always the path kursor thought he would take. “When I was young, I used to draw, and I dreamt of becoming a painter. Back then I didn’t envision myself pursuing music, [but] I developed a stronger passion for music and began to engage in it.” Luckily for K-music lovers, kursor found his musical calling, gifting us with his melodic vocals and comforting melodies. To create his soulful tunes, kursor discussed his song creation process with us. “First, I write lyrics that can become keywords. Then I create chords that fit them, and I add a melody to it. After that, I tend to complete the lyrics by matching the melody.”
With this, kursor looks at his music and overall presence within the industry with a humble approach; “I want to become an artist who comes to mind subtly and constantly, even if I don’t make a strong impression at first.” He also had comfort in mind when choosing his stage name, “...wanting to guide listeners to the specific point in the music where they can relax comfortably” and naming himself after the moveable pointer on a computer screen (a cursor) that guides the consumer to what they want to hear or see.
Photo Courtesy of BIXIZ XOUND
Before making his debut in 2019 as a solo artist under BIXIZ XOUND, kursor was involved in the duos 8LOOP and 2MUCH alongside his BIXIZ XOUND labelmate TE.O. Now a solo artist, kursor takes on the pressures of being an artist by himself, with decision-making and loneliness being some of the biggest differences he has found between being a solo artist and one half of a duo. “I have to make all the decisions myself [now] and bear the burden on my own,” he responded. “I become more cautious, and I often feel lonely.” But while working solo, kursor does continue to work with other artists, delivering great collaboration tracks with other artists under the same music label as him. In 2019, he provided the vocals to PRSNT members, Allzwell, and mOnSteR nO.9’s track, “Gotta Get Back.” And in April 2023, he released his single “Habit” in collaboration with PRSNT’s vocalist and former K-Pop girl group, 4Minute, member JENYER. When asked if there are any other artists whom he would like to collaborate with, kursor said he hasn’t thought much about it but revealed that “if there are people who want to [work] with me, I am always open to that.”
As well as producing his own music, kursor regularly uploads covers onto his YouTube channel. With some of the covers, kursor put his unique spin on the song, giving them a new sound closer to his style. For example, his cover of IVE’s “Love Dive,” to which he added an R&B twist. “It’s really fun when I arrange and cover K-Pop idols’ songs in my style, especially the ones that I can’t release on an album,” he said when discussing his covers.
Photo Courtesy of BIXIZ XOUND
So what’s next for kursor? Fans don’t have too long to wait for new music from kursor as he revealed a new release is on its way. “My new single album, Dream Blossoms, will be released on June 30. Please look forward to it,'' he announced to HALSUG. “We will continue to put forward our best efforts to deliver good music to you, so please anticipate it. Thank you.” So with that in mind, make sure to stay updated with kursor and his music on his social media accounts, YouTube channel, and Spotify, and support him as he continues to make his name known within the Korean music scene.
Have you listened to kursor yet? Let us know what you think of “Our Painted Night,” or any other song or cover by kursor, in the comments below or by sending us a message on Instagram or Twitter.
TO STAY UPDATED ON KURSOR:
INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | YOUTUBE
Artist Facts
Name/Stage Name: kursor
Birthday: October 14
Nationality: South Korea
Zodiac Sign: Libra
MBTI: INFP
Fave Foods: Double Quarter Pound Cheese Burger
Fave Drinks: Redbull
Fave Movies: Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Day or Night?: Night
Song you’re most proud of: Butterfly
Edited by Ethan Horton