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Skylyne Spotlight: Hyejin
- Edward Sun
- Jul 21
- 7 min read
Inside Hyejin’s new era of growing up, taking control, and keeping the last word.
Skylyne Spotlight: Hyejin
Trying to summarize Hyejin in one sentence is impossible, which is honestly the best thing about her. She describes her background as nomadic, as she's never really had a straight answer when people ask where she's from. She knows exactly what it feels like to be the "floater friend" in a group. Her music sits right in the middle of that tension.
Hyejin is a 22-year-old R&B singer-songwriter preparing to enter a new era of her career. After more than a year without releasing music, she recently returned with “Only girl,” followed by “Tears dry” on July 24. Both singles are leading toward her debut full-length album, a project she has spent the past two and a half years creating.
What originally pulled me into her music is how she writes about pain. She writes from a place of hurt, but she never lets it completely drown her. Even when her lyrics get super intimate and vulnerable, there's always a sharp edge just under the surface, whether it’s dark humor, a little cynicism, or just that very human instinct to get the last word in. She lets you see the messy parts, but she never hands over all her power.
I also couldn't stop thinking about how honest she is about growing up alongside her own music. She started releasing songs from a young age and basically spent her entire college experience locked in a studio because she felt pressure to "make it" early.
Looking back now, she sees the hustle, but she also sees the normal life she missed out on. This debut album only clicked when she finally gave herself permission to step back, actually live a little, and figure out whose opinions she cared about.
I’m so glad I got the chance to connect with Hyejin at such an exciting point in her journey. In our conversation, we talked about who she is beyond the music, how her writing has grown alongside her, and what it has been like to take more creative control over this new record.
SKYLYNE: Hi Hyejin! Thank you so much for chatting with us. To start off, would you like to briefly introduce yourself to everyone?
Hyejin: Hello! My name is Hyejin, I’m 22 years old, and I’m an R&B singer-songwriter.
SKYLYNE: You also have a new single coming very soon, which makes this such an exciting time to talk with you. How are you feeling about finally putting new music out again?
Hyejin: I’m feeling super excited and nervous. I haven’t put out music in over a year, and this is one of the first songs I’m releasing that’s part of my first full length record. It’s a small step forward for what’s to come!
SKYLYNE: And before we get further into that new music, I wanted to go back to something from your bio. You said that you “can’t tell people where you’re from” because it’s complicated, which I really relate to. Do you think not having one simple answer to that question has shaped the way you make music?
Hyejin: I think ultimately the reason why I chose music was because of my desire to be understood. I’ve always battled with control, specifically controlling the way that others perceive me. I wanted to control my importance in other people’s lives, instead of being the floater friend that I am. You know, get invited to a big holiday party where people fight but still love each other at the end of the day. But truthfully I could never, I’ve always lived a nomadic life. I think this sentiment carries into the way I write my songs. The older I get, the more comfortable I’ve become with the idea of detaching myself from the outcome. I view myself as the flawed narrator, I’m not what society deems as desirable. I think a lot of people can relate to that feeling. As much as it is lonely at times, it also feels freeing.
SKYLYNE: That desire to be understood comes through in your music, especially since you started releasing songs so young. You’re only 22 now, and you’ve already grown through so many different versions of yourself. Do you ever feel like your music has been growing up alongside you?
Hyejin: Definitely. Do I look back and cringe at everything I’ve ever done between the ages of 17-19? All the time. I can’t tell you the last time I listened to my first project. But looking back, I think the music I was making was appropriate for my age. I was full of angst, and it came from an honest place. I was really driven by my desire to succeed young. It’s honestly quite impressive how dedicated I was. Militaristic even. But with that I do think I passed on the opportunity to be a normal girl in college; be messy, party, go on a bender. I spent most of it in the studio instead of truly experiencing my life. This album took around 2.5 years to fully actualize, mainly because before then, I didn’t know who I was, I hadn’t lived enough. The music I’m making right now is the most authentic representation of who I’ve become, and I’ve really become confident and trusting in my taste and intuition.
SKYLYNE: I think that confidence shows in your lyrics too. They can be really vulnerable, but there’s still this bite and sense of humor underneath them. Is that something that naturally comes out when you write?
Hyejin: As much as I write my music from a place of hurt and vulnerability, I’ve always been drawn to embodying a slightly cynical, humorous persona. I think this is also just a reflection of my personality, I have a bit of a potty mouth, and I don’t enjoy letting my guard down entirely. When I write, I get to channel a version of myself that feels aspirational. Sometimes like a mantra, sometimes like a cry. Ultimately, I want to write from a place that feels empowered, but also deeply human.
SKYLYNE: You mentioned getting to channel another version of yourself through your music, and I feel like artists are now expected to do that online too. The industry can be strange for Gen Z artists like us because everything is tied to content, algorithms, and constantly being visible. How do you feel about that side of being an artist?
Hyejin: I feel weird about algorithms. I hate to be boxed in, optimized, a data point. It’s always weird when it’s time to be strategic. But on the flip side, I also think it’s freeing to be so in control of every aspect. I get to decide the visual identity of a record, share my work at my own pace, and be the boss which is cool.
SKYLYNE: I love that you brought up having control over how you present the music. Do you ever feel pressure to be more “online” than you naturally are, or has social media become another creative space for you?
Hyejin: I’ve always been somewhat of a reclusive person, I believe I got Instagram during my senior year of high school. I’m not shy, but I don’t enjoy advertising the details of my personal life. Which is why I’ve begun to explore adopting an alter-ego persona. I get to be my most confident, empowered self online. Sure, there will always be moments of pain, insecurity, and doubt, but does everyone else have to know that? I think the more I explore this new identity, the more I am able to distance my self-worth from the performance on social media. Thank god I have a life outside of Instagram, and thank god I have people that know me intimately in real life. Now that I have set that boundary, I can finally have fun with sharing what I’m working on.
SKYLYNE: Speaking of what you’re working on, your upcoming single is called “Tears dry.” Thanks for letting me hear it in advance. It sounds like that moment when the sadness has already happened and you’re trying to move forward, even though you’re still carrying some of it. Is that close to where the song comes from, or is there a different story behind it?
Hyejin: I was inspired to write the song after reading Mariah Carey’s personal memoir. The beat really reminded me of her 1997 Butterfly era, which is one of my favorite albums ever. Emotionally, I was really drawn to the feeling of nonchalance as a form of self protection, which feels authentic to how I am in real life. To me, there’s nothing scarier than giving someone who just dumped you the satisfaction of watching you cry, hence the lyric, “my tears dry on their own, can’t let em ever know.” Why the hell would I give you the last laugh?
SKYLYNE: Haha I feel you. I also wanted to ask about NYC because it has been part of your life for so long. Is there one place in the city that still feels especially personal to you?
Hyejin: I actually just recently left NYC after living there for 4 years. My maternal side of the family is from NYC, so I spent many childhood summers exploring the different boroughs. A place I will always feel sentimental about is probably my Grandma’s apartment in Flushing. It was so small and cramped, but the excitement I felt when I got to visit the city with my mom, shopping for dolls at American Girl, walking through Central Park, and running to catch the bus back home in the summer was indescribable. I’ll always miss it.
SKYLYNE: Now that you’re entering a new chapter outside of NYC and getting closer to your debut album, what does this record show about you that your earlier music may have only hinted at?
Hyejin: My debut album is the first where I've taken full creative control. The concept of the record, which I’ll be sharing as I get closer to release, is deeply personal to me, and writing this album was instrumental to my growth as a young woman. Most of my earlier work was written between ages 18-19. I can’t say that I feel disconnected to it, but I’ve changed so much since then. When you’re young, opinions kind of feel like god. I was so open to sharing my work, receiving feedback, advice, criticism, all of it. But there comes a point where you lose yourself to all that outside noise. As much as I enjoyed the process of collaboration in my earlier projects, I’ve also become much more selective in who I align with through this project. Not everybody is your friend, and I’ve learned that the hard way. Sonically, it showcases my taste in a much more holistic way than anything I’ve ever put out.
SKYLYNE: Thank you so much again for taking the time to answer these so thoughtfully. To close things out, here’s your spotlight: what do you have going on right now, and what should people be looking forward to next?
Hyejin: Thank you for having me! I’m putting out a new single, ‘Tears dry’ on July 24th. I’ll be releasing more singles leading up to my debut album coming out this year, so stay tuned <3
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