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Indie rock musician Meaningful Stone (née Kim Jimin) recently finished a tour of Asia and played a showcase in Mexico. But she's hoping that she will play more concerts around the world, including shows in the United States. "As long as I get the visa," she said, laughing from her home in Seoul. Currently promoting her latest album, "Angel drop (Live)," the singer-songwriter – who also has an acting credit in the film "Because I Hate Korea" – keeps fans updated on her music and travels on her Instagram (@meaningful_stone). This interview was conducted in Korean and translated into English.

Q: Because you're Korean, do foreigners automatically assume you are a K-pop idol instead of an indie artist?

A: [Laughs] That’s a fun question. I think that kind of stereotype naturally comes with being a Korean musician. As K-pop has become more globally popular, K-indie has also started gaining attention. We’re even seeing more cases where the idol industry reaches out to collaborate with the indie scene first. Just as there are amazing people everywhere in the world, I think if you look at Korea with genuine interest, you’ll naturally get to know many more musicians.

Q: Did you get to be a tourist during your recent work trip to Mexico?

A: Yes, actually. Outside of work, I spent more time sightseeing and hanging out with Mexican musicians. The most memorable place I visited was a small town called Tepoztlán.

Q: You were also in Los Angeles, right?

A: Yes, I had some tea time with a musician named Jay Som. It was a short visit, so we didn’t have enough time to start a new project. But after returning to Korea, we continued discussing potential future collaboration. Since I’ve never worked with an artist outside of Korea before, it feels exciting to be setting something fun in motion.

Q: What do you remember about your first professional gig?

A: I think I was a bit shocked to realize that the fans who came to see me actually exist beyond the internet. The letters they brought were so much longer and warmer than the comments on YouTube. [Laughs] Above all, I felt that being on stage is truly my calling.

Q: Have you written or worked on any songs while you were on the road?

A: Rather than actively working on songs, I mostly jotted down lyrics whenever I had a moment. After returning home, I would add melodies to those notes and complete the songs. Music stays with me as a memory. I’ve been visiting Thailand often recently. The music I heard there seems to have become the kind of sound I want to resemble the most. Traveling has always been a major source of inspiration for me, so these days I’m trying to change my work environment and test what feels the most fun and fresh for myself.

Q: Do you have free time built into your tours?

A: When I went on the Tokyo tour, I happened to get a message from a well-known photographer and ended up doing a photo shoot. They’ve photographed musicians I really like, so I was looking forward to it a lot. And in Ochanomizu, the famous instrument district, I bought a Fender Jazzmaster I’d been wanting.

Q: What is your bucket-list venue that you have yet to perform in?

A: I’d love to perform on channels I really admire, like KEXP and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert. I also want to play at various festivals such as Primavera Sound [in Barcelona], Glastonbury [in Somerset, England] and Fuji Rock [in Japan].

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: It’s Thailand. Thailand is huge, but I personally love Chiang Mai, Pai and the southern islands. Thailand is, how should I put it, a place where sacredness and partying coexist. And since I love both, it’s a place I really need.

Q: How do you separate work from vacation trips?

A: That’s why these days I’m using an old flip phone instead of a smartphone. My replies have gotten a lot slower, but distancing myself from social media and email has definitely cleared my mind and made life feel more vivid. I used to feel stuck in the mindset that I had to work even while having fun, but lately I’ve been making a real effort to separate the two.

Q: What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?

A: Life is a series of travels! It wouldn’t be any fun if everything went exactly as planned. The scenes you stumble upon when you get lost sometimes are what make life feel like a movie. As long as you’re ready to be surprised, life becomes its own beautiful travel story, even though living like that can be difficult. [Laughs]

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: It’s a temple. Korea has many beautiful temples hidden in the mountains. The ones in places like Jirisan and Gangneung are especially like that.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: Chiang Mai, Hong Kong, L.A., Kyoto, Gurye [South Korea].

Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A: Hawaii! I’ve heard the nature there is unbelievably beautiful.

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A: Medicine, an eye mask, earplugs and my journal.

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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)

©2025 Jae-Ha Kim. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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