Jaime Stars, a South Korean-born singer-songwriter and producer, is making a bold comeback after a brief hiatus from the music scene. Known for his early passion for music and his behind-the-scenes work as a ghost producer under the name “Central Hons,” Jaime’s journey has been anything but conventional.

From teaching himself music production as a child to collaborating with emerging artists in California, he has cultivated a unique sound that blends emotional storytelling with innovative production techniques. Now, with his debut single and first full album in the works, Jaime Stars is ready to take center stage.

Your musical journey began at a young age. Can you tell us more about what sparked your passion for music production during your elementary school years?

There is a story behind how I started producing music when I was in elementary school. Back in 2009, I was just an ordinary boy in kindergarten. Sometimes, while lying in bed, my father would play some music for me on a small MP3 player. One day, I heard a song that really caught my attention. The voice was beautiful and clear, and I loved the vibe of the song so much that I kept asking my dad about it. The song was Nothin’ On You by B.o.B, featuring Bruno Mars, which marked Bruno’s first appearance before he released his debut album. That moment introduced me to Bruno Mars, and as a young elementary school student, I started listening to his songs constantly.

From then on, I deeply admired musicians who created music. In 2016, I made up my mind to create my own amazing music, so I taught myself music production and composition. Although I didn’t have access to professional coaching, I kept going through many ups and downs. I’ll never forget the sense of accomplishment I felt when I completed my first simple drum beat. To this day, I am one of Bruno Mars’s most passionate fans, and he remains my idol. Naturally, my musical style and direction have been greatly influenced by his.

You’ve worked as a ghost songwriter and producer under the name “Central Hons.” How did that experience shape your growth as an artist and producer?

In 2017, I had just started middle school. To improve my still-developing production skills, I took on the stage name “Central Hons” and aimed for a broader audience. Around that time, I met a classmate from California who was studying abroad in Korea. He, like me, was deeply passionate about music. He asked me to compose and produce three songs for his debut EP, and I gladly accepted. From that point on, my skills in composition and production steadily improved.

Of course, not every part of the process was easy. There were countless projects that I had to put on hold because I couldn’t come up with lyrics. As I reached the final stages of production, I often struggled with “mastering” and “mixing”—concepts that were still unfamiliar to me—so I wasn’t always able to produce the high-quality results I wanted. Despite these challenges, my work gained some recognition, and I became busy with production requests from other student artists.

Going through these experiences made me feel like I was truly growing as a music artist.

After stepping back from music in 2020 due to burnout, what motivated you to return to the industry, and how has your perspective on music changed since then?

While working as a ghost producer, the terrifying COVID-19 virus broke out at the end of 2019. Due to the pandemic, I couldn’t go outside freely, and the resulting isolation worsened my depression. Eventually, I experienced burnout and spent each day feeling miserable, with no one around whom I could confide my feelings. So, I decided to re-enter the music industry as a way to indirectly express my emotions.

Until that point, my songwriting had often involved creating fictional stories, which felt somewhat artificial-like a rotting orange covered in gold leaf. I was forcing myself to produce positive music. However, over time, I naturally began to prefer a style that expressed my emotions more honestly. In 2021, I finally released the collection of work I had been practicing and developing on Spotify, making my official debut in the music industry.

As someone who was born in South Korea and worked with artists in California, how have your multicultural experiences influenced your music style and creative process?

Growing up in South Korea and collaborating with artists from California has definitely shaped my approach to music in unique ways. Being immersed in Korean culture, I developed an appreciation for precision and attention to detail, which is often emphasized here in music production. But working with artists from California introduced me to a different side of music—one that feels freer and more spontaneous. It taught me to let go of perfection and lean into raw expression.

When I worked with an American artist who was passionate about music, I had the chance to explore genres and sounds I hadn’t been exposed to as much in Korea. This broadened my horizons and encouraged me to experiment with blending genres and creating something more authentic to myself. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I returned to music to express my feelings, I noticed how this blend of cultures allowed me to be more open with my emotions and find a style that felt true to what I was going through.

What role does music production play in your identity as an artist, and how do you balance songwriting with producing?

When I create my music, I actually do both songwriting and producing. First, I come up with a basic melody, then I start thinking about the lyrics and write them. After that, I dive into the music production phase using a DAW. Since I’m not yet a well-known artist and don’t have a team to work with, I handle every aspect of the process on my own. It’s like being a low-budget film director who has to do the jobs that would normally require an entire crew! So, I’d say my work is pretty evenly split between songwriting and producing since I handle both.

Sometimes it gives me a bit of a headache because I try to manage everything on my own, and it can feel overwhelming. But once I finished a track and listened to the final demo song, a sense of accomplishment touched my heart. If I were to define myself, I’d say I’m a music artist who handles songwriting, lyrics writing, and production all at once.

Your cover of “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” has a distinct vibe. What drew you to this song, and how did you approach making it your own?

At that time, after creating my first cover song, I couldn’t escape the grip of sadness and loneliness. As I went through the busy college life, there was no one around who truly understood me, which made my feelings of loneliness even more intense. Each day felt so lonely. As these emotions persisted, the song Boulevard of Broken Dreams came to mind, and I thought, “Why not express my feelings through a cover of this song?” The mood and lyrics of this song perfectly matched my state at the time. “I walk a lonely road.” It felt just like when my classes ended, and I walked home alone—it resonated deeply with me.

So, I decided to cover this song. The original track has a very intense band-based atmosphere, but I wanted to emphasize the feeling of loneliness and solitude. I re-produced it with a reggae-inspired drum pattern and string-based accompaniment to enhance that emotion. Of course, since I currently live in an apartment and don’t have high-quality recording equipment, there might be some parts where the vocals get slightly distorted, especially in the chorus. Haha, that’s my mixing mistake. I realized that when it comes to mixing and mastering, I’m not quite there yet. It’s better to leave that to an engineer.

You produced the “Dancing With The Stars” remix featuring Bruno Mars and Philip Lawrence. Can you walk us through the creative process behind this remix and what it was like to reimagine such a dynamic track?

As a big fan of Bruno Mars, I enjoyed listening to his unreleased tracks and demo versions. One day, I came across an album that seemed to be a mixtape of his. It was called The Lost Planet, which featured DJ X FACTOR, and I noticed that it included what seemed to be his demo tracks. Eventually, I managed to get my hands on the album through a friend in Japan and listened to the songs over and over. Most of the tracks were fantastic, but the one that really caught my ear was “Dancing With The Star.” I loved the melody and the lyrics, and since the word “Star” appeared in the song, it felt even more relatable to me because it was similar to my artist name.

So, I decided to remix the song. I re-produced the instrumental and reinterpreted it in my own style. It sounded a bit like 80s synth music, with a dreamy atmosphere that I thought suited the track perfectly. When re-producing it, I made sure not to alter the original vibe of the song. This remix ended up being the first track I uploaded to my SoundCloud.

Looking ahead, what can fans expect from Jaime Stars? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re particularly excited about?

Although I’m not yet a well-known artist, I am determined to move forward with my music journey without hesitation. My musical direction has been shaped around expressing my emotions and personal stories through music. Therefore, the upcoming albums may be quite emotional, but they will likely be fantastic. Right now, I’m extremely busy with music projects because I’m preparing my debut single and my first full album! My debut single aims to feature another artist, and I’m also working hard on my first album. I’ve already completed about 80% of the basic work for both the debut single and the full album.

Since I am required to enlist in the military as a South Korean, I expect that both the debut single and the full album will be released sometime in 2027. I would greatly appreciate your support, and if the opportunity arises, I’m considering collaborating with artists for street performances as well.

From the editor…

Jaime Stars story is one of resilience and reinvention. His upcoming projects promise to deliver a fresh perspective, blending his multicultural influences and personal experiences. As he gears up for a highly anticipated debut, the music world eagerly awaits the next chapter in his career. Keep an eye out for this rising star, as his journey is just beginning to unfold.

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