Independent Artist & Musician ,"Sunim Koria" Electrifying Audiences With His Futuristic World Sound!

Sunim Koria (b. 1984 in Rugby, Warwickshire UK) is a composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Lutterworth, South Leicestershire (UK). His album Ecstasy and the Apple Tree is a collection of eight stimulating and introspective songs, written and produced from 2005 – 2021, and put together with the help of fifteen friends who also happen to be great musicians. His influences are ,

Who is Sunim and what is your musical journey?

I was born in Rugby, Warwickshire UK, and eventually moved a few miles north to Lutterworth, Leicestershire in 2016. My parents forced me to take piano lessons from a very young age, and the rest is history! I don’t think they were quite prepared for how obsessed I’d become about music. I started writing my own material when I was about 12 and then continued to study composition to degree level. I also spend a great deal of time playing bass for musical theatre shows.

Prior to your success what did you see as a major drawback of being a new artist?

Probably self-limiting beliefs! It’s easy to let anxiety and fear of rejection or the fear of people not liking your music consume you. It took me a while to build my confidence and to trust my instincts when it came to creating my own stuff.

Do you sing?

I don’t really consider myself a singer, but – on a good day – I can reach the 2nd E below middle-C right up to the 2nd E above middle-C.

What do people say about your musical style?

People tend to think my style is very eclectic – probably due to the huge range of influences I draw inspiration from. I’ve never really been overly drawn to certain styles and genres; I just like anything I consider to be “good” music, and I feel that’s really helped me in terms of creating music with a lot of depth and interest.

What major & independent artist do you admire as far as their musical style?

My favorite independent artist has to be the production powerhouse that is Kaidi Tatham. He has been a huge influence on my most recent release. I have closely studied his music for 15 years now, and I still have no idea of how he comes up with his stuff – it’s always so unique and unpredictable, yet so groovy and accessible.

Established artist influences are ,

Brian Wilson, Charles Stepney, Enya, George Michael, J Dilla, Jamiroquai, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Kaidi Tatham, King Tubby, Massive Attack, Patrice Rushen, Pet Shop Boys, Pharrell Williams, Phil Spector, Prince, Quincy Jones, Roxette, Scritti Politti, Silhouette Brown, Tricky, UB40

As an independent artist, what are some of the challenges you face?

The biggest challenge in this day and age as an independent artist is cutting through all the noise. Independent music-making is now ubiquitous, and there are so many people doing exactly the same thing and trying to get heard. The key I suppose it to never stop pushing your material.

How would you describe your music to those who have never heard it before?

Think of the Beach Boys meeting Quincy Jones backstage of a Jamiroquai concert, and George Gershwin just happens to be there smoking a cigar!

Who are your musical influences?

I have so many! Brian Wilson, Quincy Jones, and Scritti Politti are among my greatest influences. You can definitely hear a lot of Prince in my music, too. However, the list ranges all the way from Tricky to Enya to Iron Maiden and Stravinsky, with absolutely everything else in between.

How do you prepare yourself mentally for public opinion (either positive or negative) when you’re preparing for a new song release?

I simply just remind myself that not everyone is going to like what I produce and put out – that is a fact of life! The more open you are to other people’s opinions, the better, and I find that you are more respected as an artist that way. And it’s one of the best feelings in the world when even just one person goes out of their way to tell you how much they love your music – I live for that!

advice would you give to new artists entering the changing industry?

Enjoy it! Every single step of the way. It’s all about the journey; not the destination! Opportunities are everywhere, and they can all be yours if stay open, humble and remain true to yourself.

What other talent do you have that your fans may not know about you?

There’s nothing else aside from music which I’m exceptionally talented at, but I have recently taken up indoor rowing, which I really enjoy, and in the past year I have rowed a full marathon, a 50km ultramarathon, and over 30 half marathons.

How many singles/albums do you have out presently and what is your favorite album/song to date?

I have a handful of music out at the moment which I have slowly been releasing over the course of the past fifteen years, ranging from big-band jazz, chamber music (like string quartet works), and good old-fashioned pop. My favorite by far, however, is my recent album – Ecstasy and the Apple Tree.

Tell me about your latest album/ song and what was your inspiration behind it? Is it out now and where can people buy it?

I released my album Ecstasy and the Apple Tree in June and it was greatly inspired by the music I heard coming out of the London underground scene around the mid-2000s – primarily the broken beat and neo-soul styles. This album can be streamed and purchased on my Bandcamp page, as well as all major online stores such as Spotify, iTunes, and Amazon.

What advice would you like to give to upcoming artists?

It’s cheesy, but always believe in yourself and never give up! There will always be countless people out there who will absolutely love the music you produce.

ALBUM: Ecstasy and the Apple Tree STYLE: Acid Jazz, electronica, funk, fusion, quiet storm, R&B, soul, synth-pop, trip-hop CONTACT: sunim_koria@hotmail.com +44 (0)7825 561447