Conversations with Haeun You

Today we’d like to introduce you to Haeun You.

Hi Haeun, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started playing the piano when I was five years old. I learned it at a small music school in town and started out with classical music. Later, in teenager, I went to see my sister’s recital(she plays drums), my first experience with live contemporary music concert, I got really impressed. I saw the interaction of the band members, the various rhythms, and the freedom. I started playing contemporary music(jazz, pop, R&B, funk, and etc.) After that, I did a lot of shows in Korea and also when I was studying at Berklee.

Playing on the stage comes to me so natural and I found myself so happy on the stage, so I decided to go further. In fact, I graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2021 and have been building my career in the music industry ever since.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve been really blessed on this road because it’s been very smooth and lucky for me. Of course, when I started to get into this music industry, I had to dig in a lot.

I didn’t grow up in the U.S., meaning I have no friends group growing together doing music from young, having a good bonded relationship. So, my goal was letting as many as people know my exist. I reached out to so many people including those who I only know the names.

I did so many gigs, paid or no-paid, small or big, close location too far location, just to meet more people and play with more musicians.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m mainly working as a pianist/keyboardist, but also working as a music producer, music director and media composer.

I just finished the tour with Grammy-winning Artist Billboard ranked no.1 artist, Steve Lacy “Give You The World” world tour. Currently, on tour with Sabrina Carpenter’s “Emails, I can’t send” world tour.

I have performed ‘Distant World: Music from Final Fantasy concert’ at the Boston Symphony Hall with the conductor Arnie Roth (GRAMMY Award winner) alongside the original composer of Final Fantasy, Yoko Shimomura (composed video games; Final Fantasy, Super Mario, etc.). Some other of her key credits including a performance with Sabrina Carpenter (American Singer-songwriter, and actress) at The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS), performing on Berklee Commencement Concert for Honoree Celine Dion and Pharrell Williams, and performing on Ally Brooke (from Fifth Harmony, Camila Cabello and Normani are in) shows. She was also on a tour with UMI (American Singer-songwriter best known for her 2018 song Remember Me, which has over 116 million streams on Spotify): Forest in the City tour (sold-out shows in the United States). Also, she was privileged enough to be a Music producer for Thuy (Vibrant Vietnamese-American artist over 150 million streams worldwide) and the song Haeun produced got ranked on MTV Asia’s Top 10.

What does success mean to you?
I would define success as happiness in life. If I am happy with doing what I love and what I’m good at it, that’s a blessing and that’s the success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hyou29.wixsite.com/haeunyoumusic
• Instagram: @hani_haeun

Image Credits
Sandra Myself Susanne