Karn returns to the music scene, revealing a new chapter as ‘WIM.’
WIM, known initially as “Karn,” was formerly a member of the indie Thai pop duo project “HYBS” (Have You Been Shrimp), which was created by two long-lost friends under the JUICEY label.
Four of their singles, “Ride,” “Dancing With My Phone,” “Go Higher,” and “Killer,” were well-liked on TikTok, particularly “Tip Toe,” which were released after their October 2021 debut.
However, in January, following years of success, they decided to call it quits. They announced their official disbandment, but they would be holding an EP release with previously unheard tracks in the coming months and a farewell concert within this year.
In an exclusive interview with POP!, Karn bravely discussed how going solo was challenging but necessary for growth. It took quite some time to decide, which involved extensive exploration and assuring that the “vibe and time is right.”
“Explore something more, and try something new,” the singer said, emphasizing the process of being a soloist.
Furthermore, he revealed that he initially had no intention of pursuing solo endeavors. Still, their desire to disrupt their dynamic as a team was the catalyst for him to embark on a solo career.
“James and I are still on good terms. We just wanted to take a break, live our lives, and try something new,” he clarified.
While breaking out as a soloist through project ‘WIM,’ he doesn’t view it as a reinvention. Instead, he still views himself just like how he is on his days with HYBS.
Story behind ‘WIM’
WIM stands for “Who is Me?,” which he explains as figuring out who you are and your life mission.
An inspiration for the concept of the project is the movie “Rush Hour 3,” where two characters were disputing about who was who. [He is Mi, I am Yu] It may be as weird as it sounds, but this comedic take inspired him in creating his stage name.
Another source of inspiration came from a board game he was playing. He realized that the letters of his name turned out to be W-I-M in Thai, so he took advantage of that idea.
The project’s name has exceptional value for him, connecting to many occurrences in life and epiphanies.
“Since our lives is such a roller coaster and it’s like a WIM sign as well you know… it’s up and down…at the end of the day we might think about the ending of M line is down right? But when you turn it upside down, the sign is gonna begin again on loop, just like life,” he explained.
Creative process and personal favorites
Karn shared that it is not easy to release four debut singles—” Mr. Feel Good,” “All The Way Home,””Magic,” and “Weirdo,” but his unwavering commitment made it all worth it.
According to him, the song “Mr. Feel Good” is about happiness, letting go of all the negative things in life, finding balance in your priorities, striving for positivity, and just feeling good about yourself. He further stated that the song’s visual concept represents the idea that age is irrelevant, showing that you can be “young at heart” as long as you feel good about yourself.
On the other hand, the concept of “All The Way Home” is about taking courage and being strong in facing one’s fear. “The concept is pretty simple; it’s just a dude being friends with a girl, and he had a crush on this girl for a long time ago, but he’s not brave enough to make a move,” he explained.
When asked which track he would recommend for casual and new listeners, he proudly said, “Weirdo,” emphasizing its appeal for all ages, simplicity, and prominence as one of his best-ever tunes.
“One of the magical angles of music is there is no gap between age sometimes, right? or even languages, because music can speak in every way, which is a good thing, and ‘Weirdo’ has a simple tune,” he said.
In addition, he revealed as a preview that one of the songs on his forthcoming album, “One Day I’ll Fly Away,” which has not yet been released, is a personal reflection of his journey from HYBS and is also his recommended song.
The song tackles being patient in life, trusting the process that life could be unfair and slow sometimes, but what matters is you stay true to yourself, a sentiment that Karn deeply resonates with.
“There’s no need to be over-frustrated when you have broken wings. No need to be jealous about those fly and high in the skies. You could just be there, set the truth, and be kind and nice to yourself,” he proudly shared.
‘NOICE’ album
WIM’s first album, entitled “NOICE,” released today, October 2, consists of eight tracks, including his debut singles ‘Mr. Feel Good,’ ‘All The Way Home,’ ‘Magic,’ and ‘Weirdo.’
Get ready to listen to feel-good songs that make you less worried about negativities in life and are applicable to all ages. WIM promises to offer music enjoyers a blend of moods and emotions yet a vibey type of music to jam along, connecting fans on a personal level.