Korean-American Sensation Ted Park Embraces Independence Through Music
By. Alicia Zamora
A Conversation with Ted Park
Alicia: We have our first in person interview with special guest Ted Park
Ted Park: Wassup Wassup, thank you for having me
Alicia: Great! Nice to have you here
Alicia: Were going to dive into the first question; your music journey has been quite the eventful one, can you tell me where it all began and what made you go with the music path?
Ted Park: You know I’m from a small town in Wisconsin, Madison a beautiful place though. I ended up moving to South Korea when I was at the end of middle school; unexpectedly because my parents were trying to, you know, create a better life for us. But I didn’t take it so well because it was like a shock; a culture shock.
Ted Park: You know even being Korean; like you know growing up with not a lot of Asian People and honestly at the time I hated it there you know and I started writing like my frustrations through lyrics and then when I came back for highschool, when I went back to the states I was like this is what I’m going to do. It wasn’t because I thought it would become my career per say, it was just writing those lyrics and those thoughts helped me survive that time to be honest.
Ted Park: So from age like 13 or so I knew that this is what I wanted to do
Alicia: Yeah, it was like a spark you had from the start
Ted Park: No yeah, not even just a spark but like it's like my own therapy. You know what I mean?
Alicia: No yeah yeah I get you
Alicia: How did your parents react to you choosing the music path, were they supportive or were they like “Oh what are you doing?”
Ted Park: You know at first *laughs*
Ted Park: I mean you know as you get older, you realize like when you look back at it if your kid is trying to pursue something that is, to be honest almost impossible, and it's not like I'm from a wealthy family where we have connections in music. It just like this is what I want to do. Pretty much it was right before my senior year, my dad called me from Korea and this is you know before having an iPhone and Kakao and all these things. I'm using an AT&T Go phone.
Alicia: wow okay
Ted Park: Like a $20 phone. So I was finally able to talk to him and he's like “So what are your plans, you know you have college next year”. I’m like I have a .8 GPA and I’m dropping out to make music and he flew to America the next day
Alicia: OH WOW
Ted Park: I was like I’m about to get you know.. But what happened was he was like umm you know if you take this artist's path you're going to have a hard-ass life most likely and then I was just telling him you know it’s not even about that and he was like “What if you don’t make it?” “What if you don’t become an artist with fans” and I was like hey if people don’t like my music then I’m going to develop the skills of an engineer, a producer, or a manager and I’m going to find some kid in the future you know.. And then he realized that this wasn’t for me trying to be famous or anything. It’s just because I love music and then he was like “I’ll support you, you know..morally”.
Ted Park: But aye that honestly let me get here though.. So
Alicia: Exactly !!
Ted Park: It’s crazy going from that and you know now when I do, do my rare shows in Korea, cause when I go to Korea, to be honest, it’s more for me to see my family. My whole family is overseas. It’s less about the business. I could care less about the business but of course, I still work in Korea. I love making art and I love meeting the artists there who are my friends.
Ted Park: But when I do shows he comes out (his dad). We turn up you know.. It’s cool
Alicia: ooo okay
Alicia: Then you were signed to h1ghr music that must’ve felt like such an accomplishment, what was the process with that?
Ted Park: So pretty much before I met Jay. I was supposed to sign to a big American record.. I’m not going to disclose.. But ummm pretty much Jay dm’d me on Instagram when he was coming to New York for the Rock Nation stuff for the first time; and I’m in New York and he’s like “Yo, I think your music is fire. We should meet up” and I was like I’m actually going to Korea for the first time for music when your gonna be here.
Ted Park: So my last six days in Korea he had just got to Korea and I pretty much hung out with this guy every day and he took me to h1ghr music’s rehearsal. He took me to AOMG, like we just made some music and we just vibed out. I was like Man this guy “he’s really cool” and you know he pretty much told me “Regardless of the business or whatever” he’s like “I just want to be a part of your journey” so yeah I was rocking with him you know.
Alicia: It just went through
Ted Park: Yeah
Alicia: Now I hear that you're working independently right?
Ted Park: Yeah
Alicia: How is that going for you?
Ted Park: Honestly, it’s very interesting because now I’ve built enough of a fanbase to where I get paid for shows. I get to do cool stuff but then because I’m independent it’s like it all goes back in. It like oh my god.
Ted Park: But to be honest, I think the past three years being independent. I‘ve been kinda just having fun, putting out all kinds of music. No marketing, no rollout. No strategy just ‘This is my song”.
Ted Park: Like finishing the song and then uploading it to distribution like the next day and the people who do enjoy my music, I want to feed them. I don’t want to be like to you know.. Secret but for the first time in my whole career, even when I was signed to h1ghr. This is the first time that I’m really about to roll out a full album
Alicia: OO okay
Ted Park: I spent a lot of time on. I feel like it’s learning as you go. I’ve definitely pulled off some crazy things that independent artists don’t usually do. I’ve also lost some big bags because I didn’t know what I was doing *laughs*.
Alicia: no yeah
Ted Park: Trying to represent myself and I don’t have the lingo or there like “this dude is so unprofessional” but from the outside it doesn’t look like you know.. It's crazy I’ve been getting some big press stuff and interviews and these people will pull me to the side and they're like “oh where's your management, your anr” and I’m like bro..
Ted Park: I’m doing this with my friends right now so you know we're learning as we go but it’s rewarding because I feel like when you do get to do this independently, everything that you accomplish or everything that you fail at is like “okay this is me”. This isn’t “I don’t have a label” or a team to blame or being like “you guys didn’t do this' '. It’s like okay this is all me so then I can grow and learn as I go.
Ted Park: Like how can I get better at this so you know it’s been cool
Alicia: yeah.. And then diving into your music
Alicia: Listening to your music I hear a lot of personal stories and can hear the emotions that are put into it. Is music something that helps you mentally?
Ted Park: I’m going to be honest. I told myself this.. That the day that I go to the studio and I’m like “this is not enjoyable”. I’ll quit. Like 100%
Alicia: ooo
Ted Park: Regardless of where I’m at but it’s still the most fun thing for me in my life so you know. To be honest, I feel like music for me.. Well I don’t go out so much these days. I don’t really drink. I don’t really smoke anymore.
Ted Park: I just go fishing, hiking, I go to the gym. I play sports sometimes. I lay low but I have a little portable studio set up that I take everywhere I travel. Like I’ve just been traveling over America right now. Hanging out with childhood friends. Like I was in Iowa three days ago.
Alicia: *laughs*
Ted Park: *laughs* Like I was just doing random stuff you know.
Ted Park: but music for me is my life and I plan on making it until I just don’t want to do it anymore
Alicia: Okay and then going into your release for Home 2.0 with fellow artist pH-1 how was it to collaborate with him?
Ted Park: Fun. I mean it’s been a long time and you know I think both of our music has changed so much and he’s like the certified homebody of Korean hip hop so I felt like it only made sense and you know he’s one of the guys who over the years I was really able to maintain a nice friendship with and he’s a great guy. So I’m super happy that he’s on the song for sure.
Alicia: It was like a year ago right? When you were opening for him for the ‘About Damn Time’ tour.
Ted Park: Yeah literally a year ago.. So crazy
Alicia: Yeah I went to the LA show and you have a really strong stage presence
Ted Park: Appreciate it
Alicia: Seeing how hyped the crowd was.. How did it make you feel to see that there was a whole bunch of people there for you ?
Ted Park: I mean it was cool. At the end of the day going on his tour.. i ‘m super grateful because A) just the opportunity you know and also h1ghr actually reached out about that and it's crazy because when I left the label we didn’t really do like a big announcement.
Ted Park: I’m not really into that kind of stuff.
Alicia: yeah. I didn’t hear anything until you said something
Ted Park: well it’s because I didn’t want my career to be defined by being with them or not with them. I’m grateful that were still cool and I’m grateful that he put me on that stage. That tour allowed me to do my first little run. So that was really cool and that was dope.
Alicia: That’s actually the next question
Alicia: After that you did a solo tour under the name ‘Tedass tour’, how did it make you feel seeing all these people show up to see you perform
Ted Park: *laughs*. I mean it was cool because pretty much I was halfway through his tour when I got the offer for that and I told him “Hey, I’ve never really toured by myself. I don’t really know how this is going to do”. A couple hundred people came out in each city so that was honestly a lot of fun.
Ted Park: You know not really marketing and just posting it on Instagram and seeing who shows up. That was really special honestly. Doing these more intimate rooms it’s a lot of fun. I’m super happy people came out.
Alicia: Touring must have been exhausting at times, what kept you going during that time? Any motivation?
Ted Park: Caffeine
Alicia: Caffeine.. That's insane
Ted Park: A lot of caffeine *laughs*
Alicia: That’s Insane.. nahhhh
Ted Park: *laughs*. It sounds bad right ?
Alicia: haha it does
Ted Park: But I'm being honest though. A lot of caffeine
Alicia: Doesn’t caffeine give you burnout?
Ted Park: nahhh
Alicia: Really?
Ted Park: I’m an addict
Alicia: oh nahhh *laughs*.
Ted Park: *laughs*. Nahhh don’t take it that way
Alicia: no no I get you *laughs*
Ted Park: but you know it is hard to eat well and rest but just the excitement
Alicia: ahh the adrenaline
Ted Park: yeah just adrenaline that never ended for, I pretty much toured for I don’t know how long last year
Alicia: Yeah a long ass time
Ted Park: I think half the year. The whole first half of the year. I’m going to be honest when my tour ended I was like mann. I disappeared for a little bit.
Alicia: When you hit a slump what helps you get out of that ?
Ted Park: You know when this is all you do for your life. You can’t afford to hit a slump
Alicia: like ever ?
Ted Park: no. I'm going to be honest, the slumps that I hit is not with making the music. Making music is really easy for me. Like that's my bread and butter. That's what I like to do. You know it’s even hard for me to pick songs to put out because as long as I’m recording; I probably make like 5 songs a day.
Alicia: Oh damn
Ted Park: I actually just had a discussion with a company and you know I wasn’t gonna sign but there was a big company so I was like shit I wanna hear what you think and I played them like probably 5 or 6 albums worth of music. They were just like *laughs* “when did you make this?”. I was like this year
Alicia: shittt
Ted Park: They were just like you know there's certain artists that have a nice machine behind them and they have a really strong branding and marketing and they could build the suspense and kind of release less but be a little mysterious. They were like for me my best bet is probably just throw it out so even though im putting this album out. I have 3 albums made for this year.
Alicia: Oh shit
Ted Park: Yeah. I’m just gonna put it all out and everything sounds really different.
Alicia: oo okay variety
Ted Park: yeah yeah
Alicia: Okay and then with this new release did you have any difficulties when it came to recording or creating a track in specific ?
Ted Park: Nah because I engineered most of my stuff. So *laughs*
Alicia: ah okay okay
Ted Park: to be honest some of these songs were recorded in like million dollar studios and some of these songs the setup is less than $500 but it’s all about the feeling. I feel like it’s a new day and age where you know music is not conventional anymore.
Ted Park: You don’t have to be in a billion dollar studio and have writers and like all this stuff. I feel like you could just vibe out and I’m not saying everyone has to feel it but I feel like someone out there is going to appreciate it, you know
Alicia: Exactly
Alicia: I see that you have a variety of genres , you don’t stick to just one which is what makes you such a great artist. Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in because of that?
Ted Park: Yeah. I’m going to be honest one of the most difficult things for me was going from living in New York, being in the hood and being Asian and being surrounded by to be honest like no Asian people except for like a few that were also not quote on quote accepted among other Asians at the time.
Ted Park: Then going to Korea for the first time and getting thrown into Khip-hop kinda and being like “Oh I’ve never experienced anything like this” and then I’ll say that when I was with h1ghr. I never felt like I fit in on that label and that’s respectfully. All those artist are so talented and there good friends of mine.
Ted Park: I got a lot of love for them but I think I kind of struggled with trying to fit a niche and make certain types of music and then try different things and I think that I was never per say meant to be a khip-hop artist but I’m super proud of being Korean obviously a Korean-American you know.
Ted Park: I love my culture and I love seeing Korean music shine but I think that I’ve always had a little bit of an identity kind of crisis my whole life not even just musically. But being Asian from Wisconsin and going to New York. Getting signed to h1ghr. Doing that stuff .I feel like for the first time; now as a grown ass adult like damn. I finally feel comfortable in my own skin and what makes me happier than anything is that the music I’m about to put out finally shows it.
Ted Park: I’ll say this. I get really influenced by the people I hang out with. So if I’m with a bunch of people in Korea that want me to make some cleaner kinda music I’ll make it you know. If im in Atlanta with my friends that are listening to like Lil Durk, then I’ll make that.
Alicia: *giggles*
Ted Park: but for the first time I really took a step back. I did some traveling; six cities by myself. This album I think it’s my sound and my voice. It’s really special to me
Alicia: I can’t wait to hear it
Alicia: Then when it comes down to musical inspirations do you have any group or artist that you get inspiration from ?
Ted Park: *laughs*. I love Kanye’s music. Like I know he says some things that you know a lot of people may not agree with but when you listen to his albums its like oh my god. I really respect him because a lot of artist play it safe their whole career and I get it. It’s not just music, it's a business. It’s the music industry you know. But that man does not care.
Alicia: he really doesn’t
Ted Park: He just drops whatever and like I said. I don’t co-sign some of the stuff he’s saying you know. But when I listen to his music I’m like wow. You can hear to the finest detail and how much he loves his craft. You know when his album keeps getting pushed back and back like I don’t know the guy so I can’t speak for him but it’s 1000% in my mind that he is fine tuning it till the end.
Ted Park: So, I appreciate any artist who really wants to push the boundary of sound and not care about what’s trending and just put it out. I also love how the features on his album are not announced so you're listening to the song and then all of a sudden a new voice and you're like WOAH who's that?
Alicia: right
Ted Park: I just think he’s a really creative guy that’s all. You know then their artists and songwriters like The Dream. The Dream is one of my favorite writers and artists ever. Honestly, I love a lot of R & B kind of guys. I think a lot of R&B artists make a lot of dope music and then I don’t know theirs just a lot of good music.
Ted Park: I actually recently been diving into old rock. Alternative music. I think that kind of stuff is really cool. I don’t know, it's just so cool. Like if you go on spotify right now and you shuffle it; mannn like every genre, every artist, so goood!
Alicia: Since we're on the topic. What artist would you like to collaborate with in the future ?
Ted Park: I want to collaborate with anyone that is a surprise and I’ll say for my album I have some very random features on there that I think people would be like “oo woah I wasn’t expecting that ''. But it’s a lot of fun linking up with people that I’ve heard and never thought that we would ever have some sort of relationship or friendship. I’ll hit them up or they’ll hit me up and be like “hey I think we would make a cool song together” and then were excited about it and were fans of each other.
Alicia: With your album release event coming in a few days. How do you feel about that?
Ted Park: I mean I’m excited because those tickets are almost gone so that’s a good feeling. I’m happy people are excited to come out. But you know I’ve never unveiled a full album before it comes out. Like this album is not going to come out till May.
Alicia: Oh it’s not coming out till May?
Ted Park: yeah and I just finalized the track list like today.
Alicia: Yeah that’s what I wanted to ask. Are you allowed to tell us how many tracks are on the album?
Ted Park: 15
Alicia: ooo 15
Ted Park: I think like eight of them are features. Some American artists and some Korean. *laughs*. I’m really proud of it and I feel like all the collaborations both fan bases will be very happy about it.
Alicia: Do you plan on having physical CDs for it?
Ted Park: Yeah you know I’ve never really thought about merch and cd’s. Yeah I’m going to do all that this time. I finally got my website set up *laughs*
Alicia: I saw that
Ted Park: *laughs*. I’ve never had a website. Yeah I’m telling you man like theirs things that I’m just like man. My biggest thing is that all I genuinely care about is making music that people can listen to.
Ted Park: The brand and monetizing it like whatever. I’ve done so many free shows and have just pulled up and performed at random places. I meet my fans and link with them like whatever bro. I don’t care like I didn’t even do a meet and greet tier or a vip tier. I just pull up.
Ted Park: It’s love you know
Alicia: Yeah I saw that
Ted Park: But this is the first time where I’m really working hard on the art work and the merch and everything. At least if I’m selling it I want to make it worth buying.
Alicia: right right
Alicia: We have some fan questions for you. We went on Instagram and they wanted to ask you a few questions
Ted Park: fosho fosho
Alicia: One of them is what artist are you currently into these days?
Alicia: you’ve already mention Kanye so I don’t know if you have anyone else
Ted Park: I mean I love Brockhamptons music. I'm sad they split up. But they're incredible. I’ve been into a lot of bands. You know I’ve been going back into older stuff like MCR and My Chemical Romance is crazy. Killers, Greenday, Snow Patrol.
Ted Park: Hip Hop wise I think JID is super talented and you know actually I’ve been listening to a lot of Korean Indie R&B type of guys too that I’ve actually had the chance to collaborate with too. I'm excited fosho.
Alicia: Can’t wait
Alicia: They want to know when you're coming back to the Bay Area.
Alicia: Anytime soon? When is that happening?
Ted Park: Hopefully soon. I mean my goal is to really put all these projects out and then hopefully a tour at the end of this year. But when I do that the Bay is definitely going to be there.
Alicia: oo okay. Someone asked if they’ll be selling merch at the album release party
Alicia: *laughs*. Are you allowed to say anything ?
Ted Park: *laughs*.
Ted Park: We're working on it. I’ll say this. I’m my own boss so I could say whatever I want.
Alicia: That's right. That's right
Alicia: As you should !
Ted Park: Actually, I’ve had fans tell me how crazy it is. It’s crazy getting to hangout and getting to talk to me and stuff because they’ve never done that. Especially in the Korean industry, that's not a thing.
Alicia: Yeah I saw on your instagram. You went to go give someone merch right?
Ted Park: Yeah we pulled up.
Alicia: I saw that
Ted Park: We felt bad. I think we scared her a little bit
Alicia: That was so dope though. I’ve never seen that before. I was like damn that's so cool.
Alicia: You don’t see people doing that
Ted Park: I just got to my hometown and someone actually got it from my hometown and you know that was a fun merch drop for me because I didn’t post it online.
Ted Park: It was like an email thing but you know I just learned how to properly actually set up an email list. So I found out that most of those people it went to their spam. *laughs*.
Alicia: Oh okay yeah
Ted Park: But to the people that saw it you know they got it. They got it and then yeah I saw Madison, Wisconsin on the order list and I was like oh were pulling up.
Alicia: Yeah, that was so dope. I saw it and was like you don’t see people doing that like ever.
Ted Park: Yeah it’s love. That was hella cool.
Alicia: They also asked how long did this album take you to make
Ted Park: Some songs were made yesterday and some of these songs were made in 2020.
Alicia: oh shit yesterday?
Ted Park: *laughs*. Yeah I’ve been slightly adjusting it for the past year. You know the reason why I announced the album listening party is well I’m doing three more cities; that I’m going to announce. It’s just forcing me to put it out.
Ted Park: fans are literally going to hear these songs. They're not mixed and mastered yet. Some of these vocals are raw like zero autotune or any enhancing. *laughs*.
Alicia: So it’s just everything is right their
Ted Park: yeah
Alicia: oo okay thats dope
Alicia: A big one is Mexico. There asking if you ever plan on coming
Ted Park: I would love too. Like you know when I hear the foreign country kind of stuff it would be a dream. You know I just hope that I’m able to keep growing my fan base so I can create enough of a demand to do a show that people deserve.
Alicia: No yeah exactly
Alicia: The last one is.. Can they expect more events coming soon?
Ted Park: Yeah. I have four cities total for this album listening party. I have a big event in New York with Redbull that were going to announce next month and it’s free
Alicia: Oh shit
Ted Park: But those tickets are gonna go fast so hopefully people come. Then once these projects are out I’m going to start going all over and performing so it should be a lot of fun this year.
Alicia: That’s so dope
Alicia: well that’s all for my questions
Alicia: I want to say thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to interview you
Ted Park: nah it’s love
Alicia: Do you have anything to say or anything else that you want to mention.
Ted Park: I just want to shout out all the fans that support because without anyone listening you know *laughs*. This wouldn’t be my career or my job so I’m super grateful
Ted Park: Nah I appreciate you having me. Like when I read your write up I was like oh it was very sincere and it was like really good.
Alicia: Oh thank you!
Ted Park: That’s why I pulled up to be honest. I don’t really care so much about the optics of stuff like how big the following is of the outlet if they don’t really care about my music.
Ted Park: You know and when I read that. I was really touched. I was like wow this is such great writing.
Alicia: aww thank you so much !
Ted Park: So hopefully, you know this can get you some exposure too
Alicia: That actually means so much to me.
Alicia: Thank you so much
Ted Park: Nah it’s love.
Ted Park: Nah thank you !
Alicia: Yeah the following that an outlet has is like a really big thing now.
Ted Park: I mean what makes a true artist is someone that really loves their craft and spends hours and their whole lives.
Ted Park: Like nothing feels better than reading someone write something about it that is really from the soul.
Ted Park: not just like oh this is dope. Like that’s love too you know but the way you broke it down. I was like damn that literally described the song and the video.
Alicia: Yeah I like going really deep into what the song means so I was like I have to write a review for this.
Ted Park: It’s love. I appreciate it!