Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and global rockstar WOODZ unveils two different sides of himself with two-track release I’ll Never Love Again, capturing intense heartbreak and powerful defiance with a vulnerable yet empowering style that transcends sonic boundaries.
Speaking of the message behind both singles, he says, "“I’ll Never Love Again” is built on an alternative rock sound with a folk mood. It starts from a lonely organ and then bursts open with guitars and drums, almost like it’s echoing the way heartbreak feels when it swells inside you. The song is about the cycle of love — how we say we’ll never love again after being hurt, but eventually, we find ourselves opening up once more. That cycle of pain and beauty is something I wanted to capture.
“The second track ,“Smashing Concrete”, is completely different. It’s alternative metal, with my rap and vocals coming together. The song is about breaking through walls in front of you, no matter how thick or impossible they seem. Even if everyone has a different answer, I wanted to show that I’ll just push through. It’s powerful, raw, and carries that sense of release.”
Coming together as two opposite yet connected expressions of who he is right now, the release is steeped in an enduring yet evolving musicality.Making an impressive return after his military discharge, WOODZ reflects on his current sound, “It’s difficult to limit myself to one genre, but if I had to choose, I’d say “alternative”. It’s broad and flexible enough that I can bring in rock, pop, hip-hop, or folk, but still interpret them in my own way.”
Describing his sound as “dynamic, honest, and impactful,” WOODZ explains “Dynamic, because I never want to stay in one place musically. I like to explore different genres and moods, and I want people to feel that variety and movement in my work. Honest, because I only want to release music that truly represents me. And impactful, because I want every song and stage to leave a strong, unforgettable impression.”
Moving from his current artistry to focus on his sonic journey so far, he highlights that attention to detail is something that he has evolved and improved upon. He says, “Before, I was focused on projecting a certain image. After the military, I realized I wanted my music to feel more natural and sincere. These days, I’m very sensitive to the small things — how a track is mixed, the texture of a vocal, even the way it sounds on different speakers. I want to create music that is refined on the outside, but also thoughtful and intentional on the inside, so listeners can sense the effort that went into it. That’s the kind of artistry I want to stand for.”
He adds that he has become more interested in mixing and the technical side of his craft, once again emphasizing his love for details. Despite the amount of attention he pays to minute matters, his inspiration for his songs often comes from small things.
Taking us through his creative process from the beginning to end of a song he says, “For me, it usually begins from something very personal. Walking down the street, a conversation with friends, even just writing down thoughts on my phone. Sometimes I hear a phrase or a feeling that I know I need to turn into music,” he adds, “From there, I’ll sketch out the melody or lyrics. Then I start building the sound piece by piece.”
The most important aspect of his process is making sure he reflects who he really is across each note, adding, “I’d rather rebuild it from scratch than force it. That actually happened with my next album that’s in the works. I stepped back, let go of the first version, and started fresh. It wasn’t easy, but I knew I needed to be honest with myself, because that honesty is what keeps my music alive.”
This honesty that he speaks of makes another appearance as he reflects on the most rewarding and most challenging moments of his career. He says, “The most rewarding part is when something deeply personal connects with someone else. When a fan tells me a song helped them, or when I see people crying or smiling while I sing — it’s humbling. It reminds me that music can carry emotions across worlds,” continuing, “The most challenging part is also being real with myself. Sometimes that means I’ll spend months on something and then throw it away because it doesn’t feel true. It’s painful in the moment, but I’ve learned that if I don’t do that, the music won’t carry the right weight. So even when it’s frustrating, I choose honesty.”
Having spoken at length about present sonic identity, the future of his sound makes its way into our conversation. On experimenting with different genres, he admits, “I think about this a lot. Alternative will always be my base, but I want to go beyond just sound and think cinematically. Music that feels like a movie scene — where visuals and atmosphere become part of the storytelling.”
He adds that he would love to keep blending genres in unexpected ways, saying “That kind of experimenting excites me, because it shows there are no limits.” For WOODZ who re-established his impact with the viral resurgence of his 2023 single “Drowning,” – which soared to No. 1 on major Korean music charts earlier this year – the future is truly limitless.
Looking back fondly at how the song found new life while he was still serving in the military, he says, “I couldn’t fully experience with my fans how much love “Drowning” was receiving at the time because I wasn’t discharged from the military yet, but just hearing that my music was connecting so strongly, even in my absence, felt surreal and humbling.”
Another element of his craft that he enjoys are the festival appearances, saying, “ When I hear the crowd singing louder than me, it almost doesn’t feel real. Those moments are gifts that I’ll never take for granted.A festival stage feels alive in a way nothing else does!”
With some festival appearances in the pipeline he adds that he is looking forward to experiencing the live atmosphere again, reflecting, “A track like “Smashing Concrete” was made for that kind of energy — when you hear the drums and guitars colliding with the voices of thousands of people, it becomes one massive wave. It’s not just about me performing. It’s about me and the audience pushing each other higher until it feels like we’re all inside the same moment.”
This connection between him and his audience seems to be one that drives WOODZ. He explains that he wants people to leave his shows feeling they’ve shared a personal experience with him, adding “ Because for me, it’s not just about singing songs.It’s something emotional, powerful, and perhaps even comforting or healing. If they can carry that feeling back into their lives, then I’ve done my job as an artist.”
Led by a heartfelt intent to connect with anyone who tunes into his music, WOODZ reveals plans for his first full-length album and my next tour in 2026. He says, “I want to meet fans everywhere I can. A bucket list goal for me is to perform on some of the biggest global festival stages, whether that’s Coachella, Lollapalooza, Primavera, or others around the world. My last U.S. tour two years ago was such a meaningful experience, and I want to come back with even stronger performances, hopefully on bigger stages.”
Beyond all the specific dreams and goals, however, WOODZ hopes to continue carving out a deeper, more authentic path for his craft by surprising people with new sides of himself – and with this first release he’s already taken the first, powerful step on his new artistic journey.
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