JOOHONEY Calls For Help Through His “SMOKY” Path in New MV
While it has been almost a year since MONSTA X released music together, it has been two years since JOOHONEY released his last mixtape and fans are delighted to hear new solo music. The mixtape titled Psyche features seven songs with a few surprising features. The title track “SMOKY” is a surprising pick for a title track, however many are pleased with the versatility that JOOHONEY has been able to show.
The Song
The song is not what you might expect from JOOHONEY. Known for his unique flow and biting lyrics, some may have expected a punchy rap track. This is the total opposite. JOOHONEY switches from mello rap verses to emotional crooning in the chorus. The pain in his voice is tangible, as he talks about trying to find himself again and waking up. The chorus is really where it hits you where it hurts. A good portion of the chorus is in English with lines like, “somebody can you help me now, somebody can you hear me now,” where he is calling out to someone for help, to pull him out of the “smoky” place. The lyric, “I’m lost and I wanna be found,” is one many fans will be able to relate to. As many are growing and dealing with things in the new state of the world, it is no wonder why so many of us feel lost, JOOHONEY included. The instrumental of the song is simple, with keyboard, electric guitar, and the beat that mixes some electronic sounds with more traditional drums. The song is one that would definitely fit right in alongside other power ballads as JOOHONEY experiments with this new direction.
The MV
The music video personifies the picture JOOHONEY paints in his lyrics. The video is shot in black and white. He is dressed in a simple all-black outfit and is making his way through a semi-barren landscape. What makes the music video even more interesting is the haze that is placed over the original footage, which really does make everything “smoky.” In the background of some scenes, there are visible clouds of dark smoke. Something to notice is the infrequent direct shots: most of the shots of JOOHONEY are skewed. The one downside to the music video is the flicker of light throughout. It definitely could cause issues for those sensitive to flashing light. The ending of the music video shows JOOHONEY fading into a cloud of haze as he continues to walk through the bare landscape before a title screen appears in bright red letters. Overall, the music video really does reflect the mood of the song and gives off mid-2000s U.S. emo pop vibes.
Final Thoughts
“SMOKY” is a song that really hits home for many. With the current state of the world, it is completely common for people to struggle to find their place and JOOHONEY gave us a little glimpse into his journey through “SMOKY.” The thing that many can take away is that it's okay to call out for help when you need it.
Check out “SMOKY” below