- 9:25 AM
- June 11, 2026
Bingkai Karya – Singaporean musician and producer hongjoin has released his latest single, “Ms. I Thrift Everything”, the fifth single from his upcoming album, ‘CLOCKWORK’. The song conveys a nostalgic feel, recounting the experience of crossing paths with someone captivating.
Enveloped by the warmth of the Y2K era, “Ms. I Thrift Everything” evokes the thrill of first love. Built on a melodious R&B melody and a bright indie beat, the song evokes the nostalgic essence of a teenage dream in the 2000s.
The song also highlights hongjoin’s talent for transforming everyday moments into cinematic narratives that are rich in emotion, both musically and lyrically. With a blend of theatricality and diary-like honesty, hongjoin transforms a fleeting encounter at a thrift store into a romantic world. It’s a coming-of-age song that captures the beautiful illusions and irrational hopes of falling in love with someone you’ll likely never see again.
Scheduled for release on May 29th of this year, ‘CLOCKWORK’ marks hongjoin’s first full-length album, with 12 tracks representing the 12 numbers on a clock. The number of tracks on the album signifies a complete journey through each emotional journey of love and loss. Written and produced by hongjoin himself, the album blends alternative pop, R&B, and indie, demonstrating the genre’s versatility, shaped by hongjoin’s influences from the Asian and American music scenes.
As a rising star among the new wave of artists from Southeast Asia, hongjoin has consistently built momentum, expanding across Southeast Asia and internationally. He has amassed over 10 million streams on Spotify alone, and currently has over 183,000 monthly listeners on the platform. Currently, his primary audience is concentrated in several cities in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines (#2), Taiwan (#3), Indonesia (#4), Singapore (#5), Thailand (#6), Malaysia (#7), and Vietnam (#12).
In 2024, hongjoin received two awards from Spotify: Top Artist of Rising 65 and one of the Top 5 Songs of Rising 65 for “KOMOREBI”. His music has also garnered attention from prominent regional publications such as The Strait Times, Men’s Folio, and SEA Today News. That same year, hongjoin held a sold-out solo concert titled “Everything in Between” at the Esplanade Annexe in Singapore. He has also opened for renowned musicians such as Ricky Montgomery, Charlie Burg, Matt Maltese, Mikayla Geier, PRYVT, grentperez, and many more. These experiences have affirmed his presence in the regional and international music scene.
hongjoin’s upcoming album ‘CLOCKWORK’ is a self-produced work. The work, which reflects a generation shaped by global internet culture and intimate bedroom creativity, positions him as a prominent voice emerging from Singapore’s independent music scene. With “Ms. I Thrift Everything” as the album’s opener, ‘CLOCKWORK’ promises a vibrant and vibrant world. It aims to capture fleeting romances, youthful whimsy, and the emotional turmoil of growing up.
About hongjoin
hongjoin is a 24-year-old Singaporean-born musician currently residing in Brooklyn, New York City. A self-proclaimed DIY (Do It Yourself) musician, hongjoin’s musical journey has established him as a versatile musician capable of adapting his songwriting to a wide variety of genres.
Since being selected as a Spotify RADAR artist in 2023, hongjoin has found his musical direction and created a name for himself as a producer, musician, and performer.
His series of projects, ‘Petrichor’ (2022), ‘F(OOL)’ (2023), and ‘KOMOREBI’ (2024), demonstrate the development of hongjoin’s sound and artistic identity.
He was also named top musician at the Spotify Rising 65 awards for his work, “KOMOREBI”, which reached the Top 5 in 2024. This award has expanded his global footprint, allowing him to secure an album deal with TikTok’s US distribution label, SoundOn.
Heavily tied to his Singaporean roots, hongjoin frequently collaborates with local musicians, including zzzat, Marian Carmel, and RENE. He recently collaborated with viral up-and-coming musician Regina Song on his self-produced indie rock track, “i don’t rly care about u!”, which has since garnered over 1.13 million streams.
With a loyal and growing Gen Z fanbase, hongjoin has established a strong presence in the Southeast Asian and US music scenes. He has performed three solo concerts for his album launch in Singapore and recently embarked on his ‘Borderline’ tour in Singapore and Malaysia. He has also performed at local festivals, including Majulah Fest 2023 and MYBeats Festival 2024. Hongjoin has also opened for renowned musicians and performed solo in New York. A regular performer on the American college scene, he frequently performs on both sides of the American coast, where Asian student organizations often highlight emerging Asian musicians.
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