Album · Seoyeon Im

New World

Seoyeon Im's debut full-length album — a cinematic portrait of building a new artistic identity in New York.

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About the album

NEW WORLD is Seoyeon Im’s debut full-length album and a deeply personal musical portrait of her life as a Korean musician building a new artistic identity in New York.

The album explores the emotional landscape of leaving behind the familiar and stepping into an unknown world. Its seven tracks move through homesickness, uncertainty, discovery, resilience, freedom, and renewal—reflecting Seoyeon’s experience of finding her voice within New York’s demanding and diverse jazz scene.

Musically, NEW WORLD combines a jazz quartet, string quartet, violin overdubs, cinematic textures, and improvisation. The result is a contemporary jazz sound that retains the warmth and emotional depth of classical strings while embracing the freedom and energy of jazz.

Rather than treating the violin simply as a classical instrument within a jazz setting, Seoyeon uses it as a fully expressive improvisational voice—moving between lyrical melodies, rhythmic passages, layered string textures, and spontaneous interaction with the ensemble.

Tracklist

01
Up in the Air
Released July 4, 2026 · 4:26
Written during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, “Up in the Air” reflects the desire to rise again in a period defined by uncertainty. The piece captures a feeling of suspension, hope, and the determination to begin again.
02
Q Train
Title Track ~ Released July 26, 2026 · 3:57
The Q train became part of Seoyeon's everyday life in New York, carrying her across the Manhattan Bridge and through the city she was learning to call home.
Through the subway window, she often found herself watching strangers, city lights, and the Brooklyn skyline—moments of quiet solitude within an overwhelming city.
“Q Train” transforms that experience into a cinematic jazz composition, combining a traditional jazz quartet with lush string textures and lyrical melodies. The result is a personal portrait of loneliness, resilience, and unexpected comfort in a new city.
03
Kiki in the New World
5:02
A cinematic meeting point between the nostalgic second movement of Dvořák's New World Symphony and an homage to Studio Ghibli's Kiki's Delivery Service.
Like Kiki arriving alone in a new city, Seoyeon found herself building a life and musical identity far from home. The piece reflects homesickness, uncertainty, perseverance, and the courage to keep moving forward.
04
Wind Blossom
4:11
One of Seoyeon's earlier compositions, “Wind Blossom” represents a more innocent version of herself—a young musician filled with optimism, curiosity, and an almost fearless sense of possibility.
The piece revisits that youthful energy as a reminder to remain courageous and open to the world.
05
Rain Drop
3:43
Inspired by six months of weekly jam sessions in Manhattan, “Rain Drop” captures the moment Seoyeon began to embrace the freedom of making mistakes.
Influenced by gypsy jazz and swing, the track celebrates spontaneity, humor, movement, and the simple joy of playing music.
06
Rush G
5:52
A high-energy portrait of Seoyeon's growing familiarity with life in New York.
Surrounded by musicians from around the world and increasingly comfortable on the city's stages, “Rush G” reflects the momentum, intensity, and musical ambition that comes with finding one's place in a new environment.
07
Reincarnation
4:07
“Reincarnation” is a statement of renewal.
The piece reflects the idea of repeatedly shedding old versions of oneself and beginning again—with courage, optimism, and a willingness to step into the unknown.
It serves as a final declaration of the album's central idea — leaving the old world behind and stepping boldly into a New World.