Akimi
Kpopmap KLICK held our monthly event, “April Hidden Gem Cover Special” which is an event where we invite some of our amazing KLICK members to cover recent releases that were relatively covered less and yet, are great songs that are definitely recommended. To get to know these great K-pop cover singer, we have interviewed each member who has participated in this event!
Meet Akimi, a fashion student, who has a beautiful voice that is accompanied by her acoustic guitar!
What made you start making cover videos?
I’ve always loved singing ever since I was young and grew up performing whenever I could. So, I naturally started making cover videos as a musical outlet. I also started making videos so my relatives in South Korea and Japan could watch.
What do you do besides being an awesome singer?
I am currently a full-time college student studying Fashion! Other than singing and playing the guitar, I also enjoy spending my free time dancing, baking, and embroidering.
Akimi
What was your first-ever cover song?
My first ever cover was Lonely by 2NE1.
What kind of music do you cover besides K-Pop?
Besides K-Pop, I like to cover popular English songs and Japanese songs.
When making cover videos, what’s the most important thing that you do/check?
For me, one of the most important things I check for my cover videos is my pronunciation. Though I am half Korean and half Japanese, I am not completely fluent in either language, so I try to improve through my singing.
Akimi
Who’s your favorite K-Pop artist to cover? And why?
IU is definitely one of my favorite K-Pop artists to cover. Not only is she a great singer and performer but she’s an amazing songwriter. All of her songs hold a lot of meaning, and I enjoy making my own renditions by covering her songs.
Can you briefly tell us what kind of equipment(mic, program, camera, etc.) you use for your cover videos?
For audio, I use a Blue Spark Condenser Microphone to record and GarageBand to edit. To record the videos, I use a Canon T2i with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens. To edit the videos, I use Adobe Premiere Pro.
How long does it take for you to prepare for a cover song and what are the preps you do?
It depends on if I already know the song or not. If I do, it doesn’t take me long to remember the lyrics and guitar chords. If I don’t, it probably takes me an hour or so to figure out the melody, lyrics, and guitar chords. The recording also takes me about an hour including setting up the camera and microphone. Finally, editing the audio and video takes about 5 hours including making the thumbnails and uploading on Youtube.
Akimi
Is there any good tip that you can share to sing well?
I don’t think I’m very qualified to give anyone tips on how to sing well, but if I were to offer any tips, it would be to keep practicing! One way I like to practice efficiently is by recording myself using the audio recorder on my phone. By recording and listening to yourself, it’s easier to understand which parts of the songs you need to improve on.
What is your goal this year?
My goal for this year is to focus more on creating music after I graduate college. I plan to post more videos on my Youtube and Instagram account. I’ve also started to write my own music so I aim to write and record an EP by the end of this year!
Lastly, what does K-Pop mean to you?
For me, K-pop is one way I connect with my Korean roots. Growing up mixed in the States, I felt like I didn’t fit in with any identity. I didn’t feel like I was Korean enough, Japanese enough, or American enough. But when I started listening to Korean pop music in middle school, I felt more connected with my Korean side. I started to understand the language better and learned more about modern culture.
Read More : Meet Our KLICK Specialist | Ashrita Ramamurthy
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