Multi-hyphenate artist KUN—the acclaimed singer, visionary producer, and influential fashion icon—has unveiled his deeply soulful new single, “Jasmine,” available now across all major streaming platforms. This release serves as a bold and confident continuation of his artistic evolution as a globally renowned performer, immersing listeners in a rich, retro-soundscape defined by a hypnotic rhythm section that pulses with undeniable, funk-inflected swagger.
The production is both lushly cinematic and strikingly intimate, masterfully crafting a smoky, late-night atmosphere that feels equally vulnerable and seductive, signaling KUN’s assured step into a more emotionally resonant era of his artistry, one that reveals a performer in full command of both his powerful voice and his expansive creative vision.
In a recent statement describing the song’s genesis, KUN expressed, “Chasing a figment of love, you realize even illusions have the power to transform you. The melody came to me right after I heard the beat and I instantly felt this groove… That was the starting point, and everything just evolved really quickly from there. It’s a very different process from ‘Deadman,’ which started with a concept first.”
This new release follows on the heels of his critically acclaimed May single, “Deadman,” an earlier step in KUN’s ongoing sonic transformation that infused retro soul with sharp, modern polish; a track he premiered live during the epic grand finale of this year’s Head In The Clouds Festival. Since its release, the “Deadman” music video has captivated nearly 2 million views on YouTube, while the song itself received TME Golden Single status within its first four days on Tencent Music Entertainment and soared to number one on eight separate QQ Music charts, cementing its widespread acclaim.
This musical momentum was powerfully matched by a landmark live milestone when KUN took the stage at the legendary Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles on August 2nd for a sold-out headlining performance—his first-ever show on the West Coast, which sold out in mere minutes. The milestone event was far more than a concert; it was a profound celebration of artistry, connection, and gratitude, where the intimate venue pulsed with electrifying energy as KUN delivered fan-favorite hits, surprise arrangements, and exclusive previews of unreleased tracks set to drop later this year.
Fans, some of whom traveled from across the country and overseas, sang along to every word in an evening that also doubled as a birthday celebration, complete with emotional fan tributes and a surprise on-stage cake, serving as both a love letter to his supporters and a powerful testament that his journey is only just beginning. Next, KUN is set to command the stage in Singapore at the BUBBLING & BOILING Music and Arts Festival on September 14th, followed by a performance at Head In The Clouds New York on September 20th at Under the K Bridge.
First rising to international fame as the lead vocalist of the hit Chinese group Nine Percent, KUN has since definitively emerged as a defining voice in global pop, renowned for his expressive vocals and sharp production sensibilities that have earned him acclaim not only as a performer but as a skilled songwriter and producer. His standout tracks, including the record-smashing “Wait Wait Wait” (directed by Grammy-winner Dave Meyers), “Rebirth” (a collaboration with top DJ KSHMR), and “Afterglow,” have garnered prestigious accolades like the Tencent Music Chart Golden Single and the Billboard Global No. 1s China Representative title.
With a rapidly growing international fanbase, over $25 million in music revenue, and a creative vision that constantly evolves—evident from headlining 13 major concerts across seven countries and self-directing the groundbreaking KUN 2023 ART LAB LIVE—KUN is solidifying his place as one of the most exciting and influential artists on the world stage, a status further affirmed by his roles as a Forbes China Celebrity 100 honoree, a member of BOF’s Fashion Power 10, and a passionate philanthropist with his Kui Plan Charity Fund.
The Pop Blog general news and updates, mostly from press releases and conferences.