BoySam – Treadmills – A heartfelt melody in life’s treadmill
Discover BoySam’s latest single ‘Treadmills’, a heartfelt electronic anthem about life’s struggles. This South Korean artist blends pop sensibilities with deep emotions, creating a unique sound that resonates with listeners worldwide. Experience BoySam’s honest lyrics and captivating melodies as he transforms personal challenges into universal music. Dive into ‘Treadmills’ and find your own rhythm in life’s journey.
Genres: Electronic Pop, Synth Pop, Future Bass
Sounds Like: The Chainsmokers, Alan Walker, Said The Sky
About Song
“Treadmills” is a heartfelt electronic pop single by South Korean artist BoySam, released in 2024. This track marks a significant step in BoySam’s musical journey, blending his electronic roots with a more pop-oriented approach.
The song delves into the universal feeling of running in place while life seems to move forward around you. BoySam crafted “Treadmills” as a honest reflection of his own experiences in the music industry, expressing the bittersweet emotions of celebrating friends’ successes while feeling stuck in one’s own path.
Musically, “Treadmills” showcases BoySam’s evolution as an artist. It features intricate electronic production coupled with more accessible pop elements, creating a sound that’s both deeply personal and widely relatable. The track’s standout moment is its pre-drop hook section, which BoySam cites as his favorite part, both lyrically and rhythmically.
In producing “Treadmills,” BoySam took a unique approach, focusing on capturing raw emotion rather than perfect polish. The track was mixed directly from the bounce session without separate mastering, preserving the authentic feel of the original production.
“Treadmills” isn’t just a song about struggle; it’s a reminder to look back and appreciate one’s own growth. As BoySam puts it, it’s about finding moments of self-encouragement when facing burnout or negative thoughts. Through this track, he invites listeners to reflect on their own journeys and find comfort in shared experiences.
About Artist
BoySam is a South Korean electronic music producer and artist known for his emotive blend of electronic and pop elements. With a career spanning nearly a decade, BoySam has consistently pushed the boundaries of his sound, evolving from his electronic roots to incorporate more pop-oriented sensibilities.
Characterized by his honest approach to songwriting, BoySam isn’t afraid to bare his soul through his music. His tracks often explore personal experiences and universal emotions, creating a strong connection with listeners. This authenticity extends to his production style, where he prioritizes capturing raw emotion over polished perfection.
BoySam’s musical influences are diverse, ranging from electronic heavyweights like Avicii, Porter Robinson, and Zedd to more recent inspirations such as Dabin, Said The Sky, and Fly By Midnight. This eclectic mix of influences contributes to his unique sound, which seamlessly bridges the gap between electronic and pop genres.
As an artist, BoySam values genuine expression over cultivating a particular image. He aims to present his true self through his music, believing that honesty resonates more deeply with listeners than attempts to appear cool or trendy.
Beyond his work as BoySam, he has recently taken on a new role as a recording engineer at a studio in Mapo, Seoul. This move not only broadens his skill set but also provides fresh perspectives that influence his music production.
BoySam’s journey in the music industry hasn’t been without challenges. His single “Treadmills” reflects on feelings of stagnation and self-doubt that many artists face. However, he uses these experiences as fuel for his creativity, turning personal struggles into relatable music.
Artist Interview
Q: Hello BoySam. How have you been lately?
A: Hello! As for recent updates, I’ve moved my studio from Nonhyeon-dong to Hapjeong, and I’m making a fresh start as an engineer at a recording studio located in Mapo.
Q: Since our last interview, what changes or growth have you experienced musically?
A: Musically, I feel like I want to write songs more freely now. Although it’s still electronic-based, as I mentioned in the previous interview, I’m trying to approach it in a more pop-oriented way.
Q: What message do you want to convey through ‘Treadmills’?
A: Actually, ‘Treadmills’ is a song that contains my honest inner feelings. It expresses the emotion of feeling like I’m running in place while having been making music for a long time. It’s a song that sings about the bittersweet feelings of congratulating my friends on their success, but at the same time, I’ve included the thought that we all might have these hardships.
Q: Is there anything new you tried musically in this song?
A: For this song, we didn’t do separate mastering after bouncing from the mix bus. I wanted to capture my honest emotions.
Q: Compared to your previous works, what makes ‘Treadmills’ special?
A: It’s special to me because it’s the most pop-oriented and emotionally honest song I’ve written!
Q: Is there a part of the lyrics in ‘Treadmills’ that you’re particularly attached to? Why?
A: I think I’m most attached to the hook part just before the drop section. Both lyrically and rhythmically, it came out well while I was writing it, which made me feel good.
Q: Besides the musical role models you mentioned before (Avicii, Porter Robinson, Daft Punk, Zedd, David Guetta), are there any new artists who have recently inspired you?
A: Recently, I’ve been enjoying listening to Dabin, Said The Sky, and Fly By Midnight. Of course, they seem to be influencing my music as well.
Q: After surpassing 7,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, what changes have occurred in your musical activities?
A: These days, I’m trying not to be too concerned about the numbers. I do try to share my music with others as much as I’ve worked hard to create it, but that’s about it. I think I’ve given up on the idea that I must write a hit and reach 10,000, 100,000, or a million monthly listeners. I’m just trying to write my own music honestly.
Q: What do you think is the area where you’ve developed the most in your recent music?
A: I think I still have a long way to go. Haha.
Q: Has there been any change in your composition method? Do you still work on the lyrics last?
A: There hasn’t been a change in my composition method, but lately, I’ve been creating libraries of instruments I frequently use to simplify my workflow. Also, while I used to do all my work in Ableton Live, now I switch to Pro Tools for vocal recording sessions.
Q: Are you using any new techniques or tools to create emotional electronic sounds?
A: Actually, this seems to be the most challenging part. I do wonder if I should create new sounds, but I tend to focus more on the music itself rather than the instruments.
Q: Is there anything you’re focusing on more than before when recording vocals?
A: Writing songs and singing in English isn’t easy, to be honest. I always feel my voice could be better, but I don’t try to make it sound cool. After working on a song and playing it for my friends in LA, they often say, “Well, technically this part should be pronounced like this, but it sounds good.” Since then, I’ve stopped trying to correct things 100% in detail. Of course, I’m constantly working on fixing bad habits.
Q: How do you view the importance of collaboration in the work process? Have you had any recent collaboration experiences?
A: I think collaboration is extremely important in making music, but when it comes to my BoySam projects, I do everything myself without relying on others. It’s not because I have an ego or anything, it just happened to be that way. Of course, when I switch to my main job for engineering or song sessions, I always try to collaborate and I always feel that the power of collaboration is truly amazing.
Q: What kind of emotional connection and communication do you want to create with fans through your music?
A: To be honest, communication is a very challenging aspect for me. Even though I’ve been making music for almost 10 years, this part is still really difficult. I just want to consistently create my music and release it to the world. If someone passing by happens to think, “Hey, this song is pretty good,” that would make me really happy. I’m not someone who can pretend or act cool as an artist, so I just want to show my honest self.
Q: Among the books you’ve read or movies you’ve watched recently, is there any work that has given you musical inspiration?
A: I recently watched the movie “Notting Hill” – a bit late, I know – and I really loved the song “She” from it. I remember listening to it repeatedly.
Q: Do you have any special methods for relieving stress or maintaining creativity?
A: To be honest, I feel like my creativity has been running on empty for a while. I just go to the studio, sit in my chair, and start working, thinking that something will come out eventually.
Q: Do you have a special message you’d like to convey to your fans through ‘Treadmills’?
A: As we go through life, there are days when we question our identity and the direction we’re heading. When those thoughts come, I hope you take a moment to look back. If you compare where you started to where you are now, I’m sure you’ll find positive changes and accomplishments. Whenever I experience burnout or negative thoughts, I listen to the music I first made 10 years ago, and I comfort myself thinking, “Ah, I’m actually doing pretty well.” It’s like that…
Listen on Spotify
Follow the Artist:
Follow RouteNote Playlist: K-POP Waves