Interviewer: Deena Jasmine (Chikkmagaluru, Karnataka, India)

Editor: Jayati Bhardwaj (Delhi, India)

Stella Jones Is the Secret Hitmaker Behind Pop’s New Sound and K-pop’s Global Glow-Up! From Nashville to Seoul, she’s leaving her mark on the global music scene.

Meet Stella Jones, the multi-talented artist, K-pop songwriter, topliner, and vocal producer who is making waves across the industry. From her emotional debut EP Potential to crafting hits for rising global sensations like TWS, ILLIT, tripleS, UNIS, and more, Stella represents what it means to be a next-gen music creator. In this interview, we dive into Stella’s journey, her creative process, and what it’s like working behind the scenes in both pop and K-pop.

Could you please introduce yourself to our readers? And could you also share a bit about your music journey and how it began?

Hello, I’m Stella Jones. I work as a topliner and vocal producer based in Seoul, South Korea, where I work primarily in the K-pop industry. I majored in songwriting at university, and after graduating, I moved to Korea about six months later with hopes of pursuing music here. It’s been over six years now, and I’ve been working full-time in music ever since.

What was the story behind your debut EP ‘Potential‘, and how did it shape you as an artist?

I’m so amazed you found that! I made Potential back in college, and it was my first try at creating and writing pop music. Up until that point, I had only been writing singer/songwriter music on my guitar, so it was a great learning experience for me.

You’ve worked with rising global sensations like TWS, ILLIT, tripleS, and UNIS. What is it like to collaborate with such diverse and international artists?

I feel incredibly lucky, and it has always been a privilege to work with so many talented groups and artists. That feeling really pushes me to keep writing the best music I can for them. One special moment was getting to meet UNIS at their debut showcase. It was a super cool experience.

As a multi-talented artist, songwriter, topliner, and vocal producer, how do you manage your creative process? Do you have a specific routine or approach to creating a song?

Well, I always make sure to take days off to rest and see friends. This keeps me from getting burned out and helps my mind stay fresh for creating again. I don’t really have a routine when it comes to writing other than always having a coffee before I start. It’s a must!

You’ve created some incredible tracks like “Underwater” and “Don’t Let Me Sleep.” How do you feel about these songs, and could you share the creative process behind them? What emotions or messages were you hoping to convey through your own music?

Both of these songs were written during my college years, early on in my writing journey, when I was still figuring out the kind of music I wanted to create. Looking back, they almost serve as markers of growth and remind me just how far I’ve come as a writer.

You have worked on Karina’s solo song “Up”. What was the process like behind creating a sound that fits Karina’s unique style?

“UP” happened very fast for me. I had a session at HYBE with Slow Rabbit, and after the session, I was told that he had a song with Karina, but her label wanted some edits. I sent some ideas that night and was on the song the next week. I am very thankful for the opportunity to be on that song along with the other writers. It was such a cool project.

What was your vision or inspiration while working on “Midnight Fiction” from ILLIT’s first mini album, Super Real Me?

This track is so special to me. Dyvahh, producer on ILLITs team, actually messaged me the track and asked me to topline it. I then just wrote it alone in my house. The track felt really innocent and dreamy, so I really wanted to portray that in the melody and lyrics. The demo was originally called
Tangerine, but I really love the way it came out in the end.

About “Whatchu Need” from UNIS’s first mini album, We UNIS, what was the creative direction behind that track, and how did you tailor the song to match UNIS’s concept and energy?

I made “Whatchu Need” with my close friend and collaborator Alex Keem. We wrote it at her studio and just had a lot of fun with it. I think we went into it just wanting to write a fresh and fun song, and I think you can hear that in the track. We wrote the song before UNIS was ever a thing, but I’m really happy the team and the girls resonated with the track and made it their own.

You have also worked on TWS’s “Last Festival,” which has a nostalgic and emotional vibe. What was it like, and were there any challenges you faced while working on it?

My experience with this song is a super cool one. I had just landed back in the US and was on my way to a family wedding when my publisher sent me an exciting opportunity—TWS was looking for melodies for their next title song. The deadline was tight, and I had NO gear with me besides my computer and phone. The minute I got home, I spent the next three hours singing melodies into my phone and airdropping them into a session file on my computer. I sent everything to my publisher, and thankfully, the PLEDIS team liked some of the ideas, and they ended up in the song.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career so far, and how did you overcome them?

Umm… Rejection is something I face all the time; it’s just part of the job in this field. I’m not sure it ever truly gets easier, but over time, you learn how to handle it better. At this level, most of the songs being pitched to labels are incredible, so it often comes down to whether a song fits the group and the concept they’re going for at that moment. There’s a lot of luck involved, too. Once I accepted that many of these factors are out of my control, I was able to grow and really enjoy the creative process without all the unnecessary stress.

What do you enjoy the most about being a music vocal producer, songwriter, and topliner?

I love that every day is different. Every day, I work with different writers on different styles of tracks, so it keeps things fun and exciting. The thought of creating a new and exciting song with great people is what keeps me going. It truly never gets old.

Could you give us a sneak peek into your upcoming projects? Is there something that we can look forward to?

I’ve got some really fun releases coming up in early summer from a group I’ve been hoping to land a song with for over a year, to a brand-new debut group. So, lots of new music is on the way, and I hope everyone keeps an eye out. laughs

If you could recommend one of your songs to a new listener, which one would it be and why?

Definitely Midnight Fiction. I feel like that song is me at my core. I definitely left a little bit of me in that song. So, I hope the reader enjoys it whenever they listen to it.

What advice would you give to aspiring songwriters and artists looking to break into the Pop and K-Pop industry?

Co-writing and working with other people are a must! I also think that taking the time to write by yourself is another super important step that no one talks about. Since that is the time when you can further find your voice as a writer, and where you can apply and practice what you’ve learned from others. Especially learning a DAW and being able to record yourself is a must at this level, so the faster you learn that, the better.

The Korean wave is growing rapidly in India, and many fans love listening to K-pop. Would you like to share a message with our Indian K-pop fans?

You guys are amazing!! Thank you so much for listening to our music and enjoying K-pop as a genre. You guys are the reason we are able to keep writing and producing amazing songs for the groups you love. 🙂

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On behalf of the entire team at Hallyuism, we would like to extend and express your precious time and share insights about your journey, Stella. We wish you all the best for your future projects. And lots of love from India!

We hope you all loved reading this interview as much as we loved conducting it. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!