This artist should be the newest edition to your 2020 playlist, and here’s why.

HMLT (pronounced like the Shakespearean tragedy), also known as Corey Wong, is a musician and producer with a soulful discography perfect for decompressing after a long and stressful year.

With timelessness as the primary ethos of his production, HMLT blends electronic sound design with traditional instruments, striving to create something that parents and future generations alike can resonate with. Music that will still be relevant in twenty years.

The producer’s contemporary-classic sound is the foundation for a growing roster of homegrown vocal talent. HMLT is both an artist and art collective, functioning as a gateway to other up-and-coming artists, such as Joyia and Stefani Kimber. Collaboration is at the heart of this producer’s body of work.

“The reason I collaborate is a very simple reason,” HMLT told Purple Glow in an interview, “I don’t sing.” As a producer, collaboration is practical, but the artist elaborated that he draws inspiration from his friends and collaborators, who are often one and the same. “The most important part of collaboration is are you guys cool together, can you guys mesh.”

“Before, I thought collaboration was… ‘slap my name on it,’” the artist said. “You have your vision for a video, or whatever, just put my name on it, and that’s a collaboration.”

He then described how his role as a producer developed through his creative partnership with artist and friend, KEI-LI. “With Kevin, what I realized is that a collaboration is every step of the way from the creation of the music, to the lyrics, but further than that, the concept, to the branding, to the video, to everything.”

This creative partnership culminated in their latest singles Daydreamin and Addiction that dropped last month, with an album titled Drifters on the way.

HMLT described the narrative of this project as a Hero’s Journey. He provides the music to KEI-LI’s lyrical journey of leaving home, meeting and falling in love with his girlfriend, and longing to be back with his mother who had fallen sick.

The lyrics “I don’t wanna leave, but I gotta go” are the crux of the single Daydreamin, encapsulating the tension between yearning for home and knowing your purpose is elsewhere.

The concept of longing and long-distance relationships comes full-circle with their second single Addiction, a love song that the creative duo produced over Zoom.

While HMLT’s sound is timeless, his latest singles echo the current moment. The collective 2020 feeling of distance, melancholy, and appreciation for the people you love.

Daydreamin and Addiction are available now on Spotify and Apple Music, with the full album, Drifters, to drop in 2021.

Follow HMLT @hmltlive on Insta to stay up to date on his latest releases.

HMLT Talks Collaboration and New Music