Feature: just Min Decodes “Cruel”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your "Cruel" and the story it tells?
“Cruel” was written about how the aftermath of a relationship can hurt just as much, if not more, than the initial heartbreak. During the songwriting process, I felt a unique depth and ‘rawness’ to the lyrics and I knew that the vocals had to sound similarly delicate to the story being told. I’m really proud of the combination of great musicality and storytelling behind this track, and the sad nostalgia that it creates.
Can you talk about the recording and production process for this song?
“Cruel” was made from start to finish in less than 2 weeks; I recorded it in my bedroom and it’s the second release I’ve fully mixed. Being the sole songwriter on the track while simultaneously playing a heavy role throughout the production helped me create the authentic and tender tone that the vocals and track have as a whole. Considering the fact that I started producing and mixing about a year ago, “Cruel” is a standout track that definitely reflects my overall progress in music production over the last few months.
How does this song fit into your overall artistic vision and what can listeners expect from you in the future?
“Cruel” is the second single from my upcoming debut EP and it’s a song I’ve been super excited to release. Part of my artistic vision has always been to have a high quality catalogue of music with no constraints to genre and mood. “Cruel” is my first ever indie folk release and I’m definitely looking to explore that genre further in the future. It’s a track that vividly paints the picture of a past relationship of mine and it ironically gives me some poetic closure for that chapter of my life.
In terms of the future, I’ll be releasing a single or two more before releasing my upcoming debut EP in 2025. I obviously can’t comment on specifics but the project as a whole is by far the best music I’ve made and I’m really excited to release it once everything is finished. I’m handling most of the production myself so there’s no release date yet because I don’t want to make false promises or go against my word. High quality music will always speak for itself at the end of the day.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I was raised quite musically by my mum, who is incredibly musically talented herself, but I started singing around 5 years ago after I quit violin following 9 years playing in an orchestra. While I was learning how to sing from the internet and YouTube, I was doing the same to teach myself how to play ukulele and guitar, and eventually I started making my own music 2 years ago.
My overall experience and knowledge in music is a healthy mix of being self-taught vs having a more ‘traditional’ music education, and it’s worked really well for me. My traditional music background has taught me how to perform and the importance of maintaining a high standard and discipline for music, while anything related to creativity or making music has been entirely self-taught. I’ve definitely progressed incredibly quickly in the last two years just by consistently creating and pushing my boundaries as a creative and musician.
At the same time, I feel like I’m just at the beginning of my career and I’m still learning so much more about music production every day; I have a long way to go before I reach my full potential as an artist and a producer.
What is your songwriting process like? How do you usually start crafting a new song?
I usually start with some sort of a melodic idea, whether it’s vocals or chords on an instrument like my guitar. Sometimes, I’ll also start with the lyrics before the music if I’ve written down an impromptu idea or if I’m trying to recreate a very specific feeling or memory through a song. Being able to produce and play multiple instruments allows me to start an idea in so many different ways. I’ve also noticed that when I’m producing something for myself, it takes my songwriting to the next level and helps me create music out of my comfort zone, while still making songs I genuinely love.