[Exclusive Interview] RUSUR Talks K-Pop Journey, New Single “I’M BACK,” and More!
Meet RUSUR, an artist whose journey into the world of K-pop is nothing short of inspiring. From covering songs in English to writing music with top industry names, RUSUR has steadily carved out his place in the industry. With his latest comeback, “I’M BACK,” he marks a new chapter in his career. Today, we spoke with RUSUR about his music, his experiences in Korea, and what the future holds!
But first, check out this message he left for you!
Congratulations on your new release! Can you please introduce yourself to the Tokki readers?
RUSUR: Hey, Tokkis, I’m RUSUR! 4 years ago, I started my journey in K-pop, and it’s been such an adventure ever since. In the beginning, I was just a K-pop coverist making English versions of my favourite songs, and through making these covers, I was noticed by names like Giselle from AESPA, Jeon Somi, and even SM themselves! When I wanted to take things further, I decided it was time to start learning Korean to make my own K-pop songs and participate in a new and exciting way.
Fast forward a couple of years, and I went on my first trip to Korea where I wrote a song with Yves (+ other members of LOONA), and I even met Haechan from NCT waiting for an elevator at the SM headquarters! The combination of my trip to Korea paired with learning Korean, gave me the chance to become an actor in my first big role in a K-pop drama called GANGNAM Project. Finally, we’re here today celebrating my first official K-pop comeback and the end of my hiatus!
Photo Cr: Muyang
Can you tell us more about your new single and the meaning behind it?
RUSUR: “I’M BACK” is a celebration of resilience and a mindset where no matter how hard the world tries to push you down, you keep your head up and come back even stronger! I wrote this song with my K-pop producer Young Minnie the first year of my journey and planned this release on my first trip to Korea in 2023, so it feels amazing to finally release this to the world and say “I’m back!”
Transitioning from an award-winning songwriter to a performer, what motivated you to step into the spotlight as RUSUR?
RUSUR: Before I was RUSUR, I performed under the name of Johnny Gr4ves, but a Cadillac problem arose when my first big break as Johnny Gr4ves was for the video game Cyberpunk 2077, and all the songs on that project were in a genre that I wouldn’t perform as an artist. Out of necessity, I needed to separate being an artist and being a songwriter so that I could maintain my freedom in creating music! RUSUR is a very important project to me because it’s the first one where I have full creative control.
With over 18 million collective views on your projects, how do you feel about the reception your music has received globally?
RUSUR: First and foremost, I’m endlessly grateful for how far my music career has taken me, and to consistently receive messages about how a certain song reached someone and inspired them to get creative is so much bigger than me. It’s really interesting to work on projects that many people know about, but at the same time remaining fairly unknown; Personally, I didn’t mind the dichotomy, but over time, it felt like I was hiding away from the spotlight because I didn’t feel worthy of it. It wasn’t until I was in Korea back in 2023 that I accepted my role and started making the necessary moves to become a leader I can be proud of.
You’ve made history as the first Black man in K-pop! What inspired you to pursue a career in the K-pop industry?
RUSUR: I’ve always been a big fan of K-pop for the fact that it’s not just a music genre, it’s an entire experience; K-pop is music videos, choreography, visuals, concepts, and everything in between! For the longest time it was my favourite genre that I never was able to participate in until I made it my mission to break into the world of K-pop. Learning a language, finding a songwriter who could translate my songs to
Korean, seeking out a K-pop producer, and building the right team to create a music video that could stand next to other K-pop MVs was an epic journey, but I did it and documented it all to show you how much is possible when you believe in yourself. The only reason why I feel motivated to work so hard is because I believe the more I can accomplish, the more reasons it gives you to start the pursuit towards your dreams!
Photo Cr: Muyang
Can you share your experience participating in the survival show The Next Star: Supergroup and how it influenced your K-pop journey?
RUSUR: Supergroup was my very first taste of the music industry, and similar to K-pop survival shows, it prepared me with the right tools to face the turbulent journey that awaited me. I experienced what it was like to be in a boyband, trained with incredible choreographers and vocal teachers, and even got to see what it was like to film a music video for the first time… hindsight, I think that’s what sparked my interest of being behind the camera and producing my own projects. Having all of this experience parallel to K-pop, I feel like it gave me a great foundation to build off of and also create more reasons for people to believe in me and where I was going. Being one of the two groups that made it all the way to the finale, I experienced extreme highs really early on in my career, and although it distorted my expectations a bit, I now know what to expect when my moment comes again.
Who are your biggest musical influences, both within and outside the K-pop industry?
RUSUR: In K-Pop, Taemin and Kai standout the most to me; they both are incredible dancers and have a distinct sound that stands above the flurry of new artists and groups that come and go in the industry. Taemin especially has a wonderfully creative eye where it seems that he prioritizes the art of K-pop over the product that it often becomes. Outside of K-pop, I’m inspired by artists that are ever-expanding like Tyler the Creator, Donald Glover, and Pharrell Williams, because I believe a true artist is meant to challenge themselves and expand by any means necessary. Watching these artists go from making music to writing scripts, designing furniture, or even becoming a creative director of a major fashion house, pushes me to see how far I can take my creative mind.
Your role in the BBC show GANGNAM Project introduced you to audiences in the K-drama space. How did you feel when you landed that role, and what was your experience on the show like?
RUSUR: The fact that my journey through K-pop is what provided me with the opportunity to become a professional actor was an incredibly emotional experience; there were many times along the journey when I wondered why I was pushing myself so hard when I couldn’t see the finish line. For me, it wasn’t about the audience, it was about the feeling that I belonged in this space after so many years of consistent effort, and that was what made getting my role as Rook one of the most special moments of my life. The fact that season 2 of GANGNAM Project is ready to release on March 5th makes this chapter of my story all the more exciting!
Looking ahead, are there any specific goals or projects you’re excited about in your career?
RUSUR: Something that I’ve been planning for a while now is creating a platform all about highlighting K-pop creators and creatives alike to give back to those who supported me on my journey of making my dreams a reality. I’ve officially opened my secondary YouTube channel called ROUGIES Club and I’m really excited to get it fully running so I can celebrate awe-inspiring talent! I’ve also been slowly developing a fantasy novel based around my RUSUR character, JUNUR! I’ll be using the novel as the foundation for subsequent shows, artwork, and even video games. There’s so much in store, and I’m excited to continue to demonstrate what my version of freedom looks like!
What message would you like to convey to your fans, especially those who have been inspired by your journey in the music industry?
RUSUR: If you ever wondered how I was able to create such a career starting from scratch it’s because of the power of friendship; even though I built this life independently, I never did it alone. It’s only lonely at the top if you bring yourself, so work with what you have, be patient, and if you keep moving forward, your dreams will meet you in reality. Remember to stay curious, stay creative, and most importantly…
STAY ROUGIE
P.S. Check out my K-pop comeback “I’M BACK” it’s pretty cool B-)
Photo Cr: Muyang
We want to give a special thanks to RUSUR for this opportunity and for interviewing with us!
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