G. Nine Is Creating a New Future Classic
His last EP Closure was a surprise success. Now G. Nine is moving quickly to expand his audience — and cement his artistry with “Bad News”.
A few months into the making of his forthcoming EP, G. Nine hit a wall.
The R&B Korean singer-songwriter, who saw his streaming numbers skyrocket in 2023 with the Closure EP, was in a rough patch. He was overdue for surgery on his shoulder, something that he had put off for years. “I knew I had to get it done before it got worse, but I was also worried about how it might affect my music or life. It was a tough spot to be in because, for a while, I was making music but wasn’t really enjoying it. The pressure of the surgery weighed heavily on me,” he said. “and I felt this burden to create something that would blow up quickly and turn me into a big star.
In the meantime, the music he was making wasn’t working out and nothing was sticking. “Usually, I make music in my room where I feel most at ease, but during that time, my room felt like a bit of a prison,” he explained. “I realized I needed a change of scenery to break out of my slump.”
G. Nine was, as he described in a YouTube short, “in search of inspiration”. He rented a small Airbnb in the woods for a week “where I could be alone and clear my mind”. The goal, he said, wasn’t to make music, but to clear his head. “But if inspiration struck, I would work on music. It turned out to be incredibly helpful,” he added. “That time of reflection and solitude really shaped who I am now and the music I’m creating.”
He started to work with new references and influences. Growing up, G. Nine was a fan of hip-hop giants who influenced his earliest work, like “based on a true story” or “mary jane”. They made his music hit harder with the production and his lyrics cut deeper with vulnerability. But they also reminded him that the most important part of making music is to create something you enjoy; regardless of how successful it is.
This year, G. Nine became interested in combining hip hop boombap, a subgenre that originated in American East Coast hip hop communities that combines a kick drum and a snare, with R&B. He looked to musicians like Kali Uchilis, Mac Miller, and Brent Faiyaz and saw artists unafraid of cutting genres up into new soundscapes. “I felt like my music needed a bit of a 'kick' or a 'twist,' and I think this is the direction that’ll bring that fresh energy,” he said.
The result is “Bad News”, the new lead single from G. Nine’s forthcoming EP, released this week. “I think 'Bad News' perfectly captures the vibe and musical style that this EP is heading toward. It has that dreamy R&B feel, but the drums bring a heavier, more hip hop vibe,” he said. “I’d say my music has definitely evolved from what I’ve done in the past, and I’m really excited about it. I knew I wanted to release something with a summer vibe during summer, and 'Bad News' nails that. It’s not an obvious 'summer anthem,' and it’s not tied to any specific season, but it carries that summer energy with the flute in the chorus, along with the piano and drums.”
“Plus,” he added, “it’s a great way to introduce this new era of music to fans.”
There was a lot of music tossed before G. Nine settled on “Bad News”. He spent months working on several demos that he discarded before settling on the jazzy R&B sound of his single. “None of them gave me that 'Oh shit, this is it' feeling, and that’s what I was looking for,” he explained. “The melody came to me instantly, almost like it was just waiting to be found. In fact, the final version uses the exact melody I freestyled the first time I heard the beat—it just felt right.” There was, perhaps, some pressure to live up to from Closure, which had been an unexpected success for G. Nine. After “red flags” went viral and reached over a million streams, G. Nine scrambled to capitalize on a moment that had passed him by twice before. Long before he had officially released his music to Spotify, two singles on SoundCloud blew up. The first time it happened, he was sixteen years old and a song he posted online called “she said” blew up. “I was just an ordinary kid so I watched the view count grow and felt a mix of excitement and bewilderment,” he remembered in our first interview.
But he was prepared when “red flag” found its audience. Yet, still, something else unexpected happened: “eventually”, a collaboration with jazz pop singer Yel, also began to pick up streams. Today it’s close to reaching 1 million streams. “I see you”, a b-side from the EP, has also reached nearly 500,000 streams. G. Nine achieved all of this, too, with no label, no marketing team, and no manager to help him.
The songs’ virality all represents something important: Audiences are connecting to G. Nine because they like him. “I was surprised by how many people connected with my music - thanks in part to TikTok,” he said with a laugh. “What really stood out to me, though, was how much closer I felt to my fans this time around. In the past, I focused more on stream numbers and didn’t think as much about connecting with the fans. But with this EP, I found myself really engaging with them, even if it’s just online. It gave me the chance to get to know my fans better, and that’s been the most interesting part for me.”
“The Closure EP really motivated me to keep going with my music. It gave me a huge boost of gratitude and confidence, seeing how many people enjoyed it,” he continued. “I didn’t want to let them down; I wanted to keep creating and sharing my art with those listeners.”
G. Nine believes Closure was only the beginning for him, a statement that he reiterated over several conversations with me. There is still so much more he wants to say as an artist; so much more he wants to put on paper, particularly from everyday life. “I felt inspired to make something even more unique and fulfilling—something that truly makes me happy and sounds right to me,” he said.
Life itself perhaps gave him the most to write about. “It’s those small moments and emotions that give me inspiration, you know?” he said. “For instance, one of the lines in a song from the EP came from a simple moment—brewing coffee for my girlfriend. The song literally starts with 'I’d brew your coffee in the morning, while I would take an instant.' It’s funny how those little things can turn into inspiration for a song.”
G. Nine is an artist who likes to work with concepts. He is most often inspired to write about life around him, rather than strictly from personal experience. Although he’s happily in a long-term relationship, the Closure EP, for example, dealt with healing from a break-up. “'Bad News' picks up from there, exploring the emotional complexity of new love that comes right after a recent breakup. It’s about unexpectedly being drawn to someone new and the mix of excitement and hesitation that comes with it,” G. Nine explained.
He continued, “The title 'Bad News' reflects this tension—it's like thinking, 'Oh no, I have to go through this all over again,' even though the new person is actually a positive development. So, it’s about navigating the ups and downs of new emotions while still processing the past.”
With “Bad News”, G. Nine is looking to create a new classic. The music is inspired by his newfound love of jazz and classical music, but there is still the distinct “G. Nine sound” thanks to his focus on hip hop.
“I love how both genres have this timeless, enduring quality,” he said of jazz and classical music. “They bring a certain depth and authenticity to music, so I wanted to capture that in my new work.” G. Nine was focused on creating music that sounded genuine, bot in it’s lyricism and in how he recorded it. For this EP, he used real instrumentation to give the record a “live” sound. “It’s like bringing a bit of that 'real music' vibe into the mix,” he said, “which I think adds a nice twist to the sound and makes the music more timeless.”
Still, G. Nine turned to hip-hop to find the poetry and honesty in his lyrics. “In slow ballad R&B, you can definitely write something authentic, but I find it somewhat limiting. With those types of songs, I tend to write more abstract and metaphorical lyrics,” he said. “On the other hand, with faster BPM tracks, I find that I can write more fluently, and it's easier to fully express my emotions. Both styles have their pros and cons, and I believe I've made good use of both in this EP.”
G. Nine has several promotional plans in store for “Bad News”, including a performance video and music video. “I’ve put a lot of effort into the visuals because I believe they’re just as important as the music itself,” he said, “and I’m confident in how they’ll turn out.” There’s a possibility, too, for a tour and shows. “Of course, it all depends on how the EP resonates with people,” he added, “but I’m hopeful they’ll connect with it as much as I do. I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds!”
When he thinks about the sixteen year old kid who stumbled onto viral fame, G. Nine sees a newfound confidence about his musical ability. “What stands out the most is how much clearer my understanding of myself and my music has become. I’ve really honed in on what I’m best at and what kind of music truly makes me happy,” he said. “Finding that clarity has been key for me; it’s allowed me to focus on creating music that I love without getting bogged down by doubts or external pressures.”
The creative process that led to “Bad News” is reflected in this. G. Nine’s growth comes from understanding exactly what kind of artist he wants to be: someone who pulls together a variety of influences to create a new classic. Someone who pushes through obstacles to find what works for him, even if it isn’t for others.
But what he sees most is maturity – and an assurance that his time is coming. “This growth has given me a stronger sense of direction and purpose,” he said. “Now, I’m more confident in embracing what makes me unique and in creating music that reflects that authenticity. My focus is on continuing to develop as an artist while staying true to what brings me joy and satisfaction.”
