The Listening Room: Why You Should Be Listening to Julywantsmore
- Korean-London
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
There’s something refreshing about discovering a band before everyone else catches on. The kind of band that still feels personal, like you’ve stumbled across a secret hidden somewhere in Seoul’s underground music scene. That’s exactly how Julywantsmore feels.
During my recent trip to Korea, I had the chance to sit down with the Seoul-based band for a conversation about music, friendship, creativity, and the meaning behind the sound they’re building together.
What stood out immediately wasn’t just their music, but how naturally the band seems to exist. There’s no manufactured image or forced chemistry. Julywantsmore eels like a group of people who genuinely found each other through music and held onto that connection.
As someone who’s a huge fan of The 1975, I found myself instantly drawn to their overall vibe.
There’s something very organic about the way they interact with each other that reminded me of the energy that makes bands feel real rather than curated. They’re incredibly easy to talk to, naturally funny, and clearly close off stage, which translates perfectly into their performances.
The band consists of July, Junghwan, Jangwon, Chanhyung, and Gunho, each bringing their own personality and influences into the project. Even the name itself has a story behind it.
“July” originally started as frontman July’s Instagram username back in middle school before becoming his solo artist name. But as the project evolved into a full band, they wanted something that reflected both their sound and mindset more clearly.
“We write a lot about wanting more for something,” July explained. “So we thought Julywantsmore it us really well.”
That feeling of longing runs through both their music and their philosophy as a band. Their slogan, “Surviving is not enough. Want More,” perfectly captures the emotional pull behind their songs. There’s ambition there, but also vulnerability. A desire to live more fully rather than simply exist.
One of the most interesting things about the group is how organically they came together. Chanhyung, who played a major role in forming the band, spoke about wanting to create music with people he already trusted and cared about.
“I thought if we were gonna start something, it’d be better if it was with people I already knew and are close to,” he said. “The three of us worked on a lot of stuff together, so I wanted to show that to other people.”
Meanwhile, July revealed that part of what pushed him toward starting a band was the changing landscape of music itself.
“AI started advancing in a really scary way,” he said. “So I thought, as a musician, being good at live performances is gonna become a really important skill.”
That mindset makes a lot of sense once you hear their music. Julywantsmore doesn’t sound like a band built for algorithms. Their music feels emotional, raw, and human in a way that’s becoming harder to find.
After the interview, I also had the chance to watch them perform live, and honestly, that’s when everything clicked even more. They’re incredible performers with genuine stage presence the kind that can’t really be taught. Some bands sound good on streaming platforms but lose their spark live. Their energy on stage feels effortless and immersive, and you can tell they genuinely love performing together.
If you’re only going to listen to one song after reading this article, make it “A Gun and a Kid.”
It was one of the songs recommended the most during our interview, with both Junghwan and July choosing it as one of their personal favourites. And honestly, it makes perfect sense why. The song captures everything that makes the band so compelling emotional storytelling, atmosphere, and a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh at the same time.
At the same time, the band doesn’t take themselves too seriously. During the interview, July hilariously explained the inspiration behind their song “Doge!”, which was inspired by losing all of his saved military money investing in Dogecoin.
“I wanted to portray the contrast between reality and fantasy in a funny and comedic way,” he laughed.
That balance between sincerity and humour is part of what makes the group feel so genuine.
Musically, their influences stretch across alternative rock, indie, and modern Korean band sounds. Most of the members mentioned being fans of The 1975, while Jangwon shouted out Knoxx as one of his personal favourites. You can hear traces of those inspirations in their music, but it never feels derivative. Julywantsmore still sound distinctly like themselves.
They’re still early in their journey, which honestly makes now the perfect time to start listening.
Because discovering a band before they become everyone else’s favourite is one of the best feelings in music.
Julywantsmore might just be one of those bands.
Heya
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