One of my favorite things about diving deeper into K-pop is finding artists who quietly create masterpieces outside the mainstream spotlight. This week’s hidden gem is Chanmin, a young singer-songwriter and self-producer who’s been carving his own path since his 2022 debut.
What makes Chanmin stand out is how much of his music he crafts himself, writing, composing, arranging, and even mixing. His debut album THEBLUETAPE was entirely self-produced, and since then he’s released the EP CINEMA (2024) and, just recently, the pre-release single “Parangseong (Sound of Waves)” in July 2025.
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1O1BXOtl5jWeZJIkSwNMBi?si=c1-6I5exSg6twmUI5JYuKQ
“Parangseong” is a great entry point, it feels both gentle and powerful, like a tide slowly pulling you in. His sound is emotive and layered, never flashy but always sincere, and it really highlights how indie-minded artists within K-pop can offer something unique and refreshing.
Despite his artistry, he’s still flying under the radar, around 38k monthly listeners and a few solo concerts under his belt so it feels like the perfect time to share him as a hidden gem before more people catch on.
👉 Have you heard Chanmin’s music before? What do you think of “Parangseong”?
👉 More broadly, who’s another underrated solo artist you’d consider a hidden gem right now?
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