Lee Si Hwan may only be a few years into his career, but his music already carries the depth of someone who has spent a lifetime chasing sound and emotion. Since his nostalgic debut with ‘Sunflower’, the Korean artist has consistently reinvented himself, moving between heartfelt lo-fi atmospheres, hip-hop–driven beats, and deeply introspective storytelling. His first full-length album, ‘Pulv.’, released earlier this year, marks both a return to his roots and a step forward into new creative territory.
We were able to interview him about his inspirations and works, here is what Si-Hwan had to say:
What is your earliest memory of wanting to create music?
I got into music simply because I loved it. I used to cover and sing along to a lot of different artists, and at some point I thought, “I want to make my own music too.” Around high school, I started downloading existing beats, writing lyrics, and even experimenting with making beats myself — that’s really how it all began.
Your earlier releases ‘Sunflower’ and ‘Last Dance’ carry a nostalgic feel, but since then your sound has shifted more toward hip-hop–driven beats. What inspired this change in style?
I feel like my music changes depending on how I’m living at the time. Of course, I’ve always wanted to show different colors in my music, but since the message I want to convey has to sound convincing, I try to choose the sounds that fit best with each moment.
Listen to ‘Sunflower’ and ‘Last Dance’.
How do you think you’ve evolved musically since your debut?
Of course, there are still many things I need to study and work on, but compared to my debut, I think I’ve been improving by raising the overall quality — from the lyrics to the sound.
We couldn’t help but notice that all of your album covers, starting from your debut, look like art pieces. Is there a particular meaning or concept behind them?
Thank you so much for seeing it that way. I’ve always wanted to express not just my music, but also the visuals through my album covers. Since I create all of them myself, I feel the emotions I want to convey come through even more clearly. I think I’ve even imagined what it would look like if all these album covers were stacked up and displayed side by side.
About ‘Pulv.‘
‘Pulv.’ is your first full album since debut. How does it compare to your previous singles?
I think having a full-length album as an artist is a huge source of motivation. It took a lot of time, money, and emotion, but unlike releasing singles, putting it out into the world brought an incredible sense of relief and pride. The process was really tough, especially doing it all alone without a company, but thanks to supportive friends and acquaintances around me, I was able to push through and complete it for release.
In ‘Pulv.’, it feels like you returned to your beginnings, with several tracks echoing the mood of your debut single ‘Sunflower’. Was this intentional, and is there a meaning behind it?
It would be a lie to say there was no intention behind it. To some extent, there was a clear intention — after experimenting with various genres following ‘Sunflower’, I kept thinking that the story I love to tell and can tell best might be this one. By sharing these self-reflective, confessional stories, this kind of atmosphere naturally emerged. I want to show different colors in the future as well, but I feel my true colors are probably closer to the vibe of ‘Sunflower’ or ‘Pulv.’.
In your Melon album description you wrote, “I wish my story is comforting to someone and I hope such comfort reaches you.” This release indeed features calming beats and nature-inspired sounds. Could you walk us through the process of crafting this album from start to finish?
At first, I didn’t have the idea of making a full-length album. I was just working as usual when ‘Morning Glory’ came out, and I loved that track so much that I kept writing other songs. The album wasn’t created with the intention of offering comfort, but many fans sent messages saying they felt comforted by ‘Sunflower’. Seeing that, I wrote in the description that I hoped it could provide comfort. One of the unique features of the album is that most of the tracks include bird sounds. I didn’t produce all the beats myself, but I tried to find beats that fit that atmosphere. I even went to the mountains to record bird sounds myself — to me, listening to birds feels warm and lazy. Within that warmth, I wanted to make a lonely confession: “This is who I am.”
Except for the songs I worked on with my producer brother, arranging the tracks with type beats was challenging, and I faced many limitations when it came to editing the arrangements, which required a lot of thought. During that period, I spent a lot of time alone at home, so all the lyrics were written at home, which could be a little anecdote in itself. The album title changed several times, and some tracks were discarded and rewritten multiple times, with themes and content also evolving along the way — I think that’s how the album was ultimately completed.
‘Lavender’ and ‘Morning Glory’ stood out for their composition. Both tracks include bird sounds but evolve in very different ways, creating a unique listening experience. Was there a reason you placed them consecutively and gave them such contrasting moods?
Well… actually, the answer to this question is somewhat covered in my previous response, but I think the arrangement was instinctive. It wasn’t like I thought, “I should arrange it this way” when I heard the beat — it just naturally came together as I was writing. The reason I placed the two tracks consecutively is that, to me, they fit well when played back-to-back. Both songs are inspired by flowers: ‘Lavender’ from the flower’s symbolic meaning, and ‘Morning Glory’ from the characteristics of the flower itself. The moods may contrast, but both songs are ultimately my story, and the meaning of expressing who I am doesn’t change. I wanted to create differences in mood and production style to keep it interesting and less monotonous.
‘Melatoning’ and ‘When Autumn Falls From Tree’ feature lo-fi beats, bird sounds, and soft instrumentals. What inspired you to create this kind of mix?
Part of it was considering accessibility to a wider audience, and since the beats for these two songs weren’t my own, I felt that the stories I wanted to tell would fit them really well. I’ve always liked that lo-fi vibe, and I think the hope that the music isn’t harsh on the ears is something I feel for every song.
Do you have a personal favorite song from this release? If so, which one and why?
As I’ve mentioned in other interviews, ‘Morning Glory’ is the song I’m most attached to. I think it’s even more special because it was the starting point for creating the album.
Looking into the Future
‘Pulv.’ was released earlier this year. Do you have any upcoming releases planned for the rest of the year?
Well, there’s nothing officially scheduled for release yet. I’ll be appearing soon through collaborations, and I’ve finished recording a single of my own, but there are still parts I’m concerned about, so I’m thinking it over. I’m also preparing an EP, but due to budget constraints, I need to earn some money first, so it might take a little time. I do have a lot of completed tracks, though! I’d really appreciate it if you could wait a little.
What music or artists are you currently listening to?
I try to listen to as many new releases as I can each time. Recently, I’ve been really enjoying Justin Bieber’s album and have been listening to it frequently.
For listeners who are just discovering your music, how would you describe your sound?
Just feel it.
What can fans expect from Lee Si Hwan in the future?
Whatever you expect, it will be even more than that.
Lee Si Hwan continues to carve his own path with music that feels deeply personal yet universally relatable. With ‘Pulv.’, he has proven himself not only as a storyteller but as a creator unafraid to bare his emotions through both sound and visuals. As he looks ahead to future collaborations and new projects, one thing is clear: his music will keep evolving in ways that surprise and comfort listeners alike.
Stay connected with Lee Si Hwan and his journey on Instagram.
