K-Interview: Chris Meyer (Songwriter, Producer, Singer, and Multi-Instrumentalist)

Interviewer: Deena Jasmine (Chikkmagaluru, Karnataka, India)

Editor: Pooja Vishwanathan (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India)

Turning beats into bridges, Chris Meyer is making waves in the world of K-pop.

From Sweden to the heart of the K-pop world, Chris Meyer has become a driving creative force behind some of the genre’s biggest acts.  

A multiplatinum songwriter, producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, Chris has worked with artists like NCT DREAM, SHINee, THE BOYZ, TREASURE, VERIVERY, CNBLUE,  and Girls’ Generation. With sharp detail and creativity, Chris has helped shape many K-pop sounds into something global and dynamic, adding his signature touch to each track.  

In this interview, we talk about his creative process, his journey across cultures, and what it takes to make music that truly connects with people around the world.  

How did your journey with music begin, and what first made you fall in love with creating it?  

Actually, I started pretty late—I picked up the guitar at 14. I remember never really being interested in learning other people’s songs; I just wanted to create my own from the beginning. I wrote sooo many songs, and honestly, they were probably all bad—but my motto is that you have to dare to write some shit songs before you can make the good ones.  

You’ve worked with amazing artists like SHINee, NCT DREAM, SUPER JUNIOR,  THE BOYZ, TREASURE, VERIVERY, and Girls’ Generation. How did you first get involved in the K-pop scene, and what drew you into that world creatively?  

A friend of mine invited me to work on some songs for the Asian market, and I immediately loved how different it was from the current global trends. The songs had more sections and more variation, which gave me the opportunity to experiment with sounds and ideas—something that definitely helped shape the way I create today.  

You write, produce, sing, and play instruments. Which role feels most natural to you, and which one has challenged you the most? 

The creative part—writing and producing—is definitely where I feel most comfortable.  Even after all these years, I honestly never run out of ideas and still feel like I could write three songs a day. The most challenging part so far has been releasing music as an artist under my own name. It’s scary but equally rewarding, and the response so far has been really encouraging.  

K-pop song structures can be more experimental or dynamic than Western pop.  What stood out to you when you started working in that space? And how did you adjust your style to fit that format?

I loved it from the start. At the time I got into K-pop, hip-hop was dominating the Western charts. But personally, I’ve always loved melodic music with more musically challenging arrangements, so K-pop was a great fit, and I honestly didn’t have to adjust that much. I’ve always tried to write and produce what I like, rather than focusing too much on current trends.  

You co-wrote and recorded the Korean backing vocals for CRAVITY’s “Straight Up  To Heaven.” When working on your parts specifically, what kind of vibe or feeling were you aiming to bring out in the track to complement CRAVITY’s style?  

We co-wrote “Straight Up To Heaven” in Seoul last year, and it was immediately one of my favorites from that trip. I remember we wanted to create a chorus that felt emotional and was still super simple and easy to remember. To keep the balance, we then made the verses more groovy and rhythmic—and I think CRAVITY did an amazing job singing the final version.  

Also, if you listen closely, you can hear me singing “A-Ah” between the chorus lines. My tiny moment of fame, haha.  

Hitting multiplatinum is a big moment. But for you, what mattered most about it?  Was it something behind the scenes, like the journey getting there or the people you shared it with?  

I remember my first platinum award. I had just started working with the Asian music market when I got a call from my publisher saying our latest release with the Japanese boy band ARASHI had gone platinum. It was a big moment for me—and a huge motivation to keep creating more songs. That little slice of success also gave me the confidence to trust my gut when it came to song ideas and creative choices.  

Your latest solo track, “White Converse,” feels like a soundtrack to a late-night drive. It’s emotional, open, and a little cinematic. What sparked that song, and what kind of mood or moment were you trying to create?  

I have a serious addiction to songs that have that dreamy and cinematic vibe, almost like a nostalgic film scene. For White Converse, I wanted to capture the feeling of how the right person can make you feel like you’re forever seventeen, like going back in time to all your favorite memories.  

You’ve probably had a lot of different studio moments and sessions over the years.  Is there one working memory, maybe unexpected, funny, or emotional, that really stuck with you?  

Oh yeah, tons of moments. One of them is when we were writing Taxi for JO YURI. We wanted a finger whistle for the intro, but neither of us actually knew how to do it, so we spent two hours watching YouTube tutorials trying to learn. I even have it on video —  definitely one of those “what the hell are we doing?” studio moments.  

Was there a tough moment in your life or career that really shaped you? How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from going through it?

When I was 16, I hurt my hand and couldn’t play guitar for almost two years. I obviously hated it at the time, but it also led me to start singing—which ended up sparking my interest in songwriting and storytelling. Looking back, it was one of those setbacks that quietly changed the direction of everything.  

If you could talk to your younger self at the very beginning of your music journey,  what would you tell him?

Work on your network as much as your songs. Without connections, even amazing songs will never see the light of day. 

Is there anything you’ve been wanting to try, maybe a new musical direction or even something outside of music?

Right now, my solo project is that thing. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,  and I’m super excited to finally share my own sound and stories with the world. Somehow,  I feel the same curious, exciting energy about this as I did when I first started making music for other artists.  

My new single “White Converse.” It’s the perfect road trip song!  

Could you give us a little hint about what you’re working on next? What should fans be looking forward to? 

I just got back from a summer road trip, and honestly, my guitar hasn’t had a break since.  I’m in this phase where all I want to do is write dreamy songs you can drive to—windows down, volume up. If all goes according to plan, you might have something new to play on your autumn drives. On the K-pop side, we just wrapped an exciting track for an SM  Entertainment artist, so there’s plenty for fans to look forward to on both fronts.  

The Korean wave is growing rapidly in India, and K-pop has an incredibly passionate fanbase here. Is there anything you’d like to share with Indian fans who truly love and support the music? 

Working behind the scenes in the songwriter industry, I get to hear sooo many amazing song demos that I’m sure eventually will be on the charts. If you’re a K-pop fan, there’s so much amazing music coming your way! Thank you for listening to and supporting your favorite songs and artists!  

Once again, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your precious time and for sharing insights about your journey. Thank you so much. On behalf of the entire team at  Hallyuism, we wish you all the best for your future 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 below!