14-year-old j.knife surprises Korean indie fans with folk-pop album 'Familiar Sounds'
By Jon Dunbar
When most Koreans are 14 years old, or 15 Korean age, they’re studying hard in preparation for high school, and already readying themselves for the college entrance exam that will decide their entire futures. Jennifer Kim may not be much different, but she also somehow makes the time to record dreamy lo-fi acoustic songs under the name j.knife.
“I am a quiet and introspective person, but on the inside I am screaming and wanting to talk about myself and my desires,” she told The Korea Times. “I definitely do not consider myself a typical Korean teenager, not only because I have a different lifestyle, but different values and ways of thinking. I often find it challenging to relate to my friends living in Korea or any other typical teenagers.”
Now she attends an American international school in China where her family relocated for her dad’s career. Her parents support her musical endeavors, even if she suspects they don’t enjoy her songs.
“My parents don’t bother me a lot about how I spend my time after school,” she said. “So I have to manage my time wisely, and if I happen to stay up to 1 a.m. making music, it really doesn’t get me in trouble or anything because that’s how I choose to live the day.”
Her name comes from an English class a few years ago, where her American teacher gave her the nickname. Even though it has no real meaning, she says it reminds her of those days.
“I don’t have go to hagwon anymore,” she said. “However, it doesn’t mean I have a lot of free time here in China. I study at an IB school and there is a ton of homework I have to do every night. The difference between living here and in Korea is I am the one who’s responsible for the consequences.”
Her music already holds up regardless of her young age, and she hopes to continue down this path into adulthood.
“I wish to introduce new sounds to Korean music,” she said. “I don’t want to make anything that already exists on the chart. For that reason I don’t think I will ever try to get signed to the big labels in Korea. Frankly, joining a K-pop idol group would be a nightmare.”
Visit
to hear or purchase her debut album “Familiar Sounds” released Dec. 7, as well as her recording of the Christmas carol “Little Drummer Boy” released Dec. 11.
The writer often contributes to The Korea Times.