Those who know my musical obsessions know that I’ve a special place in my heart for one Sima Kim. His is a name that may not be as well known as others; however, his style of music is truly something of a marvel. If you’re a sucker for categories, his can best be described as lo-fi elemental electronica. But that does him more of a disservice than anything else. One thing that you’ll find out about the man is that there are no boundaries to what he does musically, and in the past he’d create sounds just for the sake of seeing what he could get away with.
These days, he’s fashioned himself a rapper. That is to say, he chose the genre as his latest toy. It’s fun and games for him, making music. Rap just so happens to be the next piece of his toy menagerie. Sima doesn’t do many, if any interviews. Therefore, people know very little about him. Under the new moniker Amismyk, he released his debut rap album, entitled “Reservoir Cats.” To mark the occasion we sat down for a Skype conversation (for the first time in our couple-year friendship) to talk about his music, his merchandise, and his future.
The Past: Sima Kim
Cy: So first question. In your own words, introduce yourself to our readers!
Sima Kim: I’m Amismyk, a rapper, also known as designer/producer Sima Kim. I eat, sleep, like cats a lot.
C: When did you become interested in music? Do you have a musical family?
SK: From teenage. And no, my family is not musical.
C: What got you started?
SK: After I finished high school, I didn’t know what to do. Also I wanted to leave my hometown, and because of I love music, I thought I might make it.
C: Was there someone or something that inspired you to try music?
SK: No specific one. It was rather natural process. At the same time, I couldn’t find music what I imagined, so I chose to make it by myself.
C: Ah! That’s interesting. What kinds of music were you listening to that made you unsatisfied?
SK: No kind of music. Just I couldn’t find perfect music.
C: So what kind of sounds were you looking for? What sounds inspired you?
SK: let’s say, something new. So I can’t say what sounds inspired me. In that sense, all sounds inspire me.
C: I can definitely hear it in your music! I found your music back in 2014, and–I’m not just saying this because we’re friends–it was really nothing I’d ever heard before! I was so inspired I had to write about you. Music, especially music that pushes my knowledge, inspires me so much. You have classical music training, yes?
SK: Yes, but I quit.
C: I understand. A lot of my friends started with it (mostly piano), then quit. But I can also hear it in your pre-hip hop sound. Do you add your classical history to your music on purpose, or does it just happen naturally?
SK: I would like to say it happens naturally. I studied music to invent perfect music. [At] some point, I realized there is no such thing. But it makes me to be myself and i’m happy with it.
C: That’s most important. And you can just feel your spirit in your music. (I’m not trying to embarrass you with the compliments, it’s how I feel… Haha.)
SK: Thank you.
Cy: I listen to a lot of jazz music, and one artist you remind me of (mostly with experimentation and discipline) is John Coltrane. Not sure if you know him. He was a saxophonist, but his sound was unique. Him and Miles Davis really experimented with music a lot. Especially Miles, I think he was trying to find, like you said, perfect music.
SK: Of course I know him! I used to listen lot of jazz too. Also played bit.
C: Oh wow! I get really excited when people listen to jazz! Did you play piano, or was there other instruments you played?
SK: Yes, I practiced several instrument but mainly piano and guitar.
C: So it makes sense I get that feeling from you. Sort of “Free Jazz”: sound without sound, music without music, you know?
SK: Interesting! I don’t get what is sound without sound, music without music, but I used to listen free jazz and experimental music too. Is it like music without stereotype?
C: Yes, I think. It’s music that sort of doesn’t have to have a definition. People put a definition on what “music” is supposed to be or how sounds are supposed to be. Free jazz sort of took all that and said, “FUCK IT!” So, yes, I’d say your music is “FUCK IT!” music… Haha.
SK: Yes, it is. HaHa!
C: But that phrase, “perfect music,” is interesting to me, though. If you can remember, what was it to you believed that made “perfect music”? Or if you can’t think of that: what is your idea of “perfect music”? I know you said there’s no such thing, but at some point you had a definition for it.
SK: I think, it’s more cultural thing for example K-pop? They try to be perfect or look like perfect. Am I wrong?
C: You are definitely NOT wrong at all… HaHa.
SK: Social atmosphere and education system as well. So I believed that there might be a perfect thing and tried to find a definition of perfection. Maybe there is? But I don’t care anymore.
C: YAS!!! Best music comes when you don’t care about finding perfection. I love that!
SK: And music is my hobby so, why do I?
The Present: Amismyk
C: Do you think you’ll ever do another radio show like you did with Internet Public Radio last year?
SK: It’s called “meowww” now! You can listen every Tuesday 3 PM CST.
C: Okay. That’s good to hear! Okay, so we talked about past and the way you thought of music in the past. Now it’s time for the present! First, I have to ask, what made you start studying graphic design?
SK: To make cute things. When I was young, I wanted to study design, but my family was poor to support me. It costs a lot of money to enter art school in Korea. At the same time, I wasn’t into [the] music game so, it seems a nice choice to study design here.
C: That’s interesting. I know that you were having a hard time with music for a while. Now that we’re here talking, you told me that you were going through a tough time. Did it have to do mostly with the music?
SK: No, I’m working as freelancer translator.
C: Ah! Is it frustrating?
SK: Not at all, because I wanted to stand by myself even if there is no music.
C: That makes sense. So did you stop making music full-time when you started doing the graphic design?
SK: Nah, it was after “you won’t find punchlines here” EP.
C: What made you take a break from music after “punchlines”?
SK: I assumed if I managed to make nice music, then I could make a living out of it, but it wasn’t. I did experiment with punchlines trilogy to release music without business shits. [The] result was quite bad, and in that sense, I didn’t want to do it as job. For Amismyk, it’s a bit different story. I play rap game for fun.
C: I see. That’s what I was getting to next. The first time I heard you start using hip-hop in your music was “Ur Silhouette.” Have you always been a fan of rap music?
SK: Pretty much. My fav genre is hip-hop and R&B. As you see not only “Ur Silhouette, but also “exchange,” “punchlines,” and so on.
C: Yes! You really started incorporating it a lot! So what is it about hip-hop you like?
SK: What I like, or why I like?
C: Let’s start with why.
SK: It sounds nice That’s it.
C: HaHaHa! What artists do you like most?
SK: Amismyk.
C: Okay then, so what is it about Amismyk that you like so much? I’m asking you as Sima Kim, the fan of Amismyk. So you’ll have to sort of think as if you’re not you… HaHa.
SK: Because I love myself. As if I’m not me… I love Amismyk and Sima Kim.
C: HaHaHa. So since you’re now doing rap, besides Amismyk who do you think is making good hip-hop?
SK: Too many!!! LOL.
C: Name a top 3! You don’t get to not answer, you cheeky punk!
SK: Okay. Then I’m just gonna tell three names what emerge from my brain: Jvcki Wai, Jjang you, DÆMON.
C: I LOVE JJANG YOU SO MUCH!!! So this proves we’re meant to be friends… HaHa.
SK: HaHa. I suppose just I said him because I heard the news from him few days ago, I mean new album. But def he is awesome.
C: I also like Jvcki. She also makes “FUCK IT!” music!
SK: OG OG!
C: So I listened through the demo you sent me. You know what I like about it? It sounds like you’re having a lot of fun with it.
SK: It is. I made the mixtape in summer vacation. Not much things to do besides dish washing. HaHa.
C: HaHaHa! I also am very fond of how you mix your sound with lots of 808 and trap. I honestly think it’s really creative, even if it’s just for fun.
SK: Thank you. Also the mixtape has beats from my friends too.
C: Oh that’s cool! Did they send you beats, or did you record it all together?
SK: They sent me beats. Some are made together online. There is one friend who I lived with, but we didn’t finish any song together [when we lived together], but we made two songs together on online (he appears with two different names on the mixtape).
C: I really like all the diverse sounds I hear. And your voice is so damn mellow… HaHa. Even when you’re being aggressive with the words, your voice is so chill. Think it works well with all the music!
SK: I want to record aggressive rap too, but, sadly my room has thin walls.
C: Aww… I understand. A friend of mine named Big Phony, he recorded his first three or four albums in his bathroom… Haha. Thin walls. But sometimes it means what you come up with can be really unique.
SK: Indeed. Also I don’t need to be loud to be aggressive, so it’s fine.
C: That’s true! You get your point across well… HaHa. Seems like doing it just for fun gives you new ideas or new inspiration. Do you think so?
SK: I’m not looking for new ideas and inspirations. At the same time, studying design and being not a professional musician gave me new possibilities, I guess?
The Future: ???
C: That makes sense. Well now that we’ve talked about the present. To the future. So just for the readers, in your own words, what can people expect from your new project?
SK: T-shirt, goods, and giant Amismyk haribo jelly?
C: HaHaHaHa!
SK: I want to make a plush doll too. Would be comfy!
C: Oh, it would! Lots of merchandise!
SK: Yes, it’s rap game!
C: What do you want people to get out of your new music? Or do you want them to [get something out of it]?
SK: I don’t know. I haven’t thought about that. Please enjoy? Each person has different perspective, so it’s really hard to say.
C: I understand that. Yeah. Makes sense. So then what did you get out of making the album personally?
SK: Fun and money. For previous question, it’d be nice to meet my tribe. Let’s say to meet more people who speak similar lingo?
C: Gotcha! So I think I’ve taken up too much of your time… HaHa. Any last thoughts you want to leave with our readers?
SK: Nah, I don’t have any.
As far as first in-depth conversations go, it certainly was an interesting one. There were moments where I learned so much about who he is, and others where it didn’t seem like I learned anything at all. But that’s the beauty of this man and the music he’s made over the years. He’s crass, but not in an unkind way. In the way that shows he doesn’t take himself (or anything) that serious. His answers are oftentimes short, particularly when talking about his latest musical endeavors. He’s got that type of sense of humor that you either get or you don’t. Humor that’s much like his music, a special brand we’ve gotten to calling “Fuck it!” music.
On his latest musical journey, it’s clearer now than ever that he’s never looking for perfection. He’s looking for whatever makes him Sima Kim (or in this latest reincarnation Amismyk).
Related Links:
Amismyk [icon type=”instagram”] [icon type=”soundcloud”] [icon type=”twitter-square”]
Sima Kim [icon type=”bandcamp”] [icon type=”soundcloud”] [icon type=”tumblr-square”]