Indie Music Artist

By Annie Suh —

Introducing Mia Kim, an indie rock-pop artist—who she is, how she got started and her latest project.

Photos: © Collaj Magazine

Blue streaked hair, paint daubed nails, and a refreshing iced green tea soy latte at her grab is what you can expect to see in an encounter with Mia Kim at, say, Starbucks. Creating and being an artist is at the forefront of who she is. Not confined to the title of a musician, Mia can also act—and she does it well. She was, after all, a theater and dance major in college. But not to mistake her energetic personality as her being an extrovert—it’s a big misconception that people have, and she wants to set the record straight: “I’m actually a severe introvert who had to learn how to be outgoing.”

Pennsylvania is where Mia Kim hails from—Philly, to be exact. When asked about one major thing she doesn’t like about LA , it’s a close tie between traffic and the smog: “The traffic I can deal with, but the smog is awful because it makes me want to scrub the sky and I can’t.” Her metaphorical response to the sky as a canvas or surface is a telling fact—a true artist.

Her name may be common, but ask her how she got it. “My mom studied opera and voice and so she named me Mia, which is based on the Italian [word] for ‘mine’”—bringing us to her innate love of music. All that singing she heard when she was in her mother’s womb must’ve had an effect. Mia Kim wrote her first instrumental song on the piano at 7 years of age and her first full song, complete with melody and lyrics, in high school. “The inspiration was a made up story in my mind, which is my usual inspiration when writing songs,” she says.

Mia Kim’s latest album Who is Sukey Rose? is one of those stories in her mind. Sukey Rose is an introspective fictional character that reflects snapshots of Mia, except in an exaggerated and beyond-extreme self who raises questions and issues about life, truth and love.

This is her second album, produced by Jason Martin of Starflyer 59. It carries added sweetness since it is her first fan-funded album for which she raised over $8,000. An impressive feat? I think so. Expect a mix of indie pop rock with varying shapes and textures. Her EP (artists usually release “extended plays” that contain fewer tracks than a full album as a foretaste of what is to come), which is planned to be released in the fall, will be a style that is “indie synth from outer space.” If you can imagine, it sounds like a unique blend of Radiohead and Eisley.

Some of her musical inspirations include Mute Math, Imogen Heap and Death Cab for Cutie, as well as nature. “God’s creation inspires me, especially natural sounds and natural scents of the air.”

A few months ago, Mia Kim was featured alongside singer David Choi on Arirang TV, an international, English-language network from Seoul, Korea. She has also been featured in Audrey Magazine, Performer Magazine, MTV Iggy (a blog about global pop culture, latest trends and new music) and Keyboard Magazine, in which music critic Michael Gallant nicely sums up two of her tracks:

“Oh, Sukey Rose” uses tremolo electric piano, soaring trance-like synths, and driving low-range piano to help tell the title character’s story, while “Safe” rides on energetic surf organ and shimmering Wurlitzer, propelled throughout by Mia’s powerful vocals. Equal parts sugar and edge, pop and rock, Mia’s album poses a question well worth listening to.”

Visit www.SukeyRose.com to listen or buy the artist’s CD. Mia Kim’s music is also available on iTunes.

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