Queer Artist Kristian J On Latest Release ‘Maktub’

Inspired by the Latin sounds of reggaeton and the Arabic expression meaning “fate,” Korean American singer-songwriter Kristian J is proud to present his newest single “Maktub,” a culturally-fused and uplifting track that captures the artist’s personal brand of sexy, smooth, camp, and queer.

Hailing from the Philly suburbs, J has lived in the U.S., South Korea, and Latin America. He produces music inspired by his love of different cultures and creates sounds with a mainstream pop sensibility, but with the heart of an independent musician. Previously known as Joom BaBoom, J has perfected his sound and identity over time, and he hopes to use his artistry to bring awareness and inclusion to those still struggling with their own authenticity.

J took some time to talk more about “Maktub” with OFM, as well as what we can expect from him next.

How excited are you to release “Maktub” out into the world?
I am very excited. I’ve put out a few singles this year, but this song has kind of been on the back burner for a while. I am just excited to share it, have people listen to it, and enjoy it.

Can you tell us more about the single’s concept and inspiration?
I read the title of the track from a book called The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I read the book a long time ago, and the phrase has always just stuck with me. It literally means “it is written” in Arabic, in certain Arabic dialects, but it also means ‘destiny,’ as in everything is written down by God in your life.

I really liked the meaning behind that, and I just made the song with that as a title. The concept is just that, when no matter what’s happening in your life, maybe you’ve made mistakes, maybe things aren’t going as planned, but you can find peace in the fact that this is somehow your story. That it’s meant to unfold this way.

That is the message you hope audiences take away from the track? That everything sort of happens for a reason?
Yeah. Whether or not you may believe in it or not, on kind of an ontological level, you can find peace that this is your story. Whether you are the one telling it, or maybe somebody out there is telling it for you, wait until the end to see what happens.

How has “Maktub” been received by listeners so far?
It is still growing in terms of stats, but people have said good things about it. They like that its radio friendly, and they like the production behind it. I had these guys from Columbia kind of produce this reggaeton track for me. It has an uplifting vibe and people seem to like the lyrics, so hopefully, it has some promise.

Will this track be on an upcoming EP or album?
In the future, yes.

What about an accompanying music video?
I am working on that as well. I am located in Mexico City right now, so I will probably film it somewhere around here. I just need to get some choreography and dancers together.

Do you draw a lot of influence from reggaeton?
Yeah, reggaeton is kind of like what everybody listens to here. You can also call it Latin pop because there are a lot of labels that you can put on it, but I have always really loved the sound. It has kind of become this huge sound internationally, and a lot of K-pop songs are using the same kind of beat. In a way, I am kind of riding the bandwagon, but it’s just what I hear all the time. It’s what I am used to.

Have you always had a passion for singing and songwriting?
Since I was a little kid—I always liked being on stage, even though I was a very shy kid. Being on stage and performing for people gave me this thrill that I didn’t find anywhere else, so it has always been a dream that I had in the back of my head. Now, I am finally taking the chance to pursue it.

How would you describe your musical aesthetic, and what kind of themes do you like to incorporate in your music?
I would call myself a pop/R&B artist in terms of genre. My favorite artist is Lady Gaga, so she has always influenced my music a lot in terms of lyrics and trying to find a catchy chorus. I like to make music that makes people want to dance, but I also end up writing a lot of ballads and sad songs at the same time. I care a lot about my lyrics as well, and I want my lyrics to be something meaningful for people. I don’t always want it to be about love, breakups, and sex. Writing about that isn’t as meaningful to me. So, I like to put a lot of thought into my lyrics.

As a member of the LGBTQ community, you say you intend to use your artistry to bring awareness and inclusion to those still struggling with their own authenticity. Can you talk more about that?
As an artist, you kind of have to ask yourself, what is the purpose of me being an artist aside from just putting out music and writing songs? I have realized over the years; it has taken some time for me to find confidence in who I am and in my own identity in terms of my race, sexuality, and other things. I found that once I was proud of who I was and I was just very open about it, it kind of gave other people comfort and inspiration. That was very meaningful to me.

So, I made it a goal for myself to inspire other people through my own authenticity. I am from the U.S. and used to live in New York, and I ran in certain circles, so I kind of have this one perspective about how far the LGBTQ community has come in terms of representation, but meeting people from other places or other backgrounds, I realized that it’s not always what I think. People have come up to me saying how much I have inspired them and because of where they come from, they can’t be open because their family and friends are not accepting. I want to help change that and make that a part of my mission.

What was your coming out like? Was your family and friends accepting of you?
Personally, I had a very good experience coming out. My parents are not like the typical Tiger parents that a lot of Asian Americans have to deal with, fortunately. However, I do have family in Korea that I have not come out to because I just don’t know how to feel that out yet. I lived in Korea for the past two years; it was my first time living there long term, and it was a very interesting experience because I had to feel everything out all over again. Like, how conservative is this culture, who can I come out to and who should I not come out to, and will my sexuality affect my job.

I had lots of conversations with other people who are also queer, asking if they ever connect with their coworkers, and they were like, “No. That is not something they would do there.” Also, I was just learning about how the community operates, and how it’s kind of slowly tipping into the mainstream these days. It’s very interesting, but the most interesting thing is just me feeling myself close back up a little bit. The culture was affecting me, and I suddenly felt uncomfortable holding a same-sex partner’s hand in public or something. That was just an experience that I recently had.

What are some future goals you would like to achieve as a musical artist?
Get bigger and build my audience. Like I said, I am currently located in Mexico, so I am interested in getting to know more about the music community here, and hopefully, break into some Latin America music industries sometime soon. We will see how long it takes, but for now, I want to just keep making music, make more content, and grow my fanbase.

What does the rest of 2021 look like for you?
I have an EP coming out in October, a separate set of songs that are more in the hip hop/R&B genre. That is currently scheduled for October 15. I have also filmed a few music videos that are going to come out soon, and I am working with some small, I wouldn’t say labels, but networks of musicians. We are planning to put out an album in December. I have a lot coming out, and we’ll see if it sticks or not.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you would like to mention or plug?
I’ll just drop some names: I am working with a small up-and-coming entertainment group based in Korea, and I am going to be a part of their project for December. This album that we’re releasing, and I am working with another label called Pink Dollar Media, and they are a new label focusing on queer artists.

To stay up-to-date and connect with J, follow him on Instagram and Facebook, or visit his official website. “Maktub” and J’s other tracks are available on Spotify, YouTube, and all other digital streaming platforms.

Photos courtesy of Jeff Moon