[Tune In] Roy Kim – Home

Tune In this week features the return of singer songwriter Roy Kim, with his second album Home. Winner of Superstar K, Roy Kim had the seventh biggest single of 2013 with Bom Bom Bom. This autumn he returns with a perfectly themed album, filled with folky, acoustic tracks, all written and composed by Roy himself.

The nine track album, Home, is in the iTunes store, for a bargain £5.99, though if you want to hear it before buying CJE&M have uploaded the entire album to Youtube [featured in the playlist below].

The album’s title track, of the same name, comes from the heart, emotion clear in the vocals. The song is seemingly a soothing haven for all, as Roy is never clearly singing to one in particular, it could even be words for a stranger. His strong vocals are accompanied by strings led by the Grammy winning producer Marc Uselli. Home comes with an equally emotive mv, showing that everyone deserves compassion, and is complete with Sancho, Roy’s dog, his own comforting companion.

Each of the albums tracks comes with strong, emotive vocals from Roy Kim, and soothing musical accompaniment.

Now I Know features the album’s producer Jung Jichan, known for being a music producer on the MBC show I’m A Singer. The albums other guest appearance is on the track Curtain, with accompaniment from Jung Sungha, the well known Korean Youtube guitar sensation. It is Curtain that stands out as the highlight of Home.

Interestingly the Home album may remind you slightly of the styles of American singer songwriter Jason Mraz. When he was in Korea he joined up with Roy Kim and Jung Sungha to perform for Naver Music. The pair are big fans of Mraz.

Curtain may be the highlight of Home, but there isn’t one track that lets the album down. Roy Kim’s talent and style is solid, and consistent, shining from beginning to end.

Roy Kim ends his album with a bonus track called Thank You, the 80 seconds of the track only feature the words ‘Thank You’, the music and lyrics slowly coming to a close on a fitting, quiet note.

Home may be in Korean, but the soothing tones of each track add to the accessibility of the album. You don’t need to know what Roy Kim is singing about to hear his emotion. Home is a beautiful album, and more than worth a listen.