In a world where the value of ‘edge’ is at an all-time premium, Wim takes a different tack. The 29-year-old singer-songwriter from Bangkok, born Karn Kasidej Hongladaromp, used to be one half of Thai double act HYBS. Then, as now, his aura oozed a kind of happiness that seemed almost too good to be true. But oh how true it is—and we should all be thankful for it.
Wim is unashamedly positive about his lot in life and, importantly, more than eager to share those easygoing vibes with those around him. To take a leaf out of the artist’s book, all you have to do is spend a minute in his company. Or just listen to his music, which is an infectious blend of the past and present: soul-soothing R&B fashioned after his greatest inspirations from the 1970s (he is an avid fan of Teddy Pendergrass’s work), and magnetic indie pop that comfortably rubs shoulders with his genre peers (take, for example, Boy Pablo or Nathan Hartono).
Sure, the algorithm might favour someone with a bit more edge—someone who stands out on social media, catching eyes with moody derring-do and ears with music that bucks convention—but that is precisely what makes Wim special. A few seconds into any of his songs, and you can almost envision him addressing you personally: “It’s all about the vibes. Don’t worry. Be happy.” While that sentiment might be met with cynicism by some, the pitchforks should be put down. It’s not that complicated.
Just hit play, sit back and relax. His music is a tight package of slightly swung, syncopated grooves that channel the wholesome sensibilities of funk and fusion, and ultra-clean production focused on the singular purity of solid rhythm guitar work and irresistibly catchy bass lines. Where Wim’s star shines brightest, though, is in his not-so-secret weapon: his voice. The artist is a crooner, through and through. It’s obvious why one of his favourite bands is Earth, Wind & Fire—his vocals channel their spirit (if not their energy) with remarkable sincerity.
Judgment has no place in Wim’s world. In his view, we’re all humans trying to make our way through life. So if you can, ditch the anxiety. You’re in good hands.
Wim’s recent performance at Capitol Theatre, in support of his latest album Honeymood, played out in typical Wim fashion: heartfelt and honest, it was, simply put, a vibe. Ahead of that concert, the musician sat down with Vogue Singapore, where he talked about the inspiration behind his newest record, why good vibes are so important to him, and what it takes to simply enjoy the ride that is life.
Thanks for making Singapore one of the stops on your Honeymood tour! How do you feel being back here?
I always get a warm welcome when I come back to Singapore. It’s a must-visit city for sure.
Can you walk me through the process of producing Honeymood? What does the album mean to you at this point in your creative journey?
We had to come up with a name for the record, and that goes back to Teddy Pendergrass, an OG singer from the ‘70s. In one of his songs, he sings: “Turn off the lights and light a candle; Tonight, I’m in a romantic mood.” That phrase, ‘romantic ‘mood’, is kind of zesty, you know? I wanted this album to be extraordinary, so I turned that into ‘honeymood’.
When we were working on the music in Thailand, some friends flew over from Australia and we just had a great time, so it fit that mood. The idea of ‘honeymood’ doesn’t have to be in terms of a lover—it’s just a vibe.
Speaking of vibes: you’re singing about Mario and Peach, planet-hopping between Mars and Jupiter, even your album art features a convertible flying through the sky with the moon in the background. What was the inspiration for that approach?
I always wanted to make a record that gives you the kind of feeling when you’re on the highway at 3am, driving in a comfortable car and maybe you just won the lottery. When it comes to space, it’s interesting because it can be cliché, but it can also be cool and mysterious.
The kind of music you make is something a lot of people love throughout Southeast Asia. What do you think you bring to the table that you’re most proud of?
I’m just having fun! It was cool looking at the comments under one of our music videos. One of them said: “I could just watch this on mute, I can tell it’s a phenomenal song because everyone in the video is just having so much fun.” When you get all your friends together to have a good time, that’s the whole point. Sometimes, people won’t like how you perform. But people love seeing people having fun with their friends.
Also, when you go into a mall and hear a song being played, what catches your attention aren’t the lyrics—it’s the groove and the vibe. If it’s enough to make you want to look up the song on Shazam or Spotify, that’s special. I’d like to think that’s what I bring to the table.
How has your slice of singing-songwriting evolved over the years, especially in today’s digital reality increasingly dominated by AI?
Humans will always have the upper hand over AI when it comes to feeling. AI can’t do that. They can replicate that, but they can’t own it, or master it. There are so many jobs in this world that can’t be replaced with AI.
This is my perspective, but I don’t see it as a threat. AI is like electricity. If you want to light a bulb, you need the electricity. If you touch it unprotected, it might kill you. So just make sure you’re going to make a wise choice.
Karn has been around for awhile. But your time performing as Wim is relatively recent. How do you feel about going solo? Do you miss the process of collaborating with someone else?
My time with HYBS was such a good experience. It’s made me who I am today. But I feel great now. I get to explore so many things, dig deep into parts of myself. That’s actually why I called my solo project Wim: it stands for ‘Wim is me’. My starting point was wanting to know more about my own story. I guess this is my playground, where I can express all my feelings and just do weird stuff.
What’s one song off of Honeymood that resonates most with you as a musician? What about in your personal life?
When it comes to my personal life and me as Wim, they’re the same dude. It’s always just been Karn. But I guess as a musician, it’s got to be ‘Snacks & Wine’. I love Earth, Wind & Fire so, so much, and it’s hard to find artists that make music like them anymore. I wanted to play their stuff live, but I didn’t want to pay for copyright, so I thought writing my own would be a better idea (laughs).
Personally, I also like this song from my previous record, Noice, called ‘One Day I’ll Fly (Again)’. All of my songs have this feeling of ‘I don’t give a shit, I just want to have fun’. But that song is odd. It was super intense and really personal to me at that moment. The world’s hectic enough, you know? You don’t need to be rushing to depression or anxiety—they’re going to come to you anyway. The last verse goes: “Wanna hear something funny about it? ‘Life is a bitch’, that’s what they say; The tickets paid already; Roller coaster up and down; Might as well, just enjoy the ride.” Yeah, I love that song so much.
That message is powerful—it’s definitely something I wish I could embody more of in my own life.
Dude, you’ve got to do that, otherwise AI is going to take over your job!
What do you hope your audience will take away from listening to Honeymood and seeing you perform live?
I want them to have a great time. I never see them as fans. They’re all my friends. So when people listen to my music, I just want them to be happy. If one of my songs can make someone’s day, bless me, man. So I need to give that energy back.
