JAY isn’t the type to do things half-baked. Back in 2022, he dreamed of becoming proficient enough on the guitar that he could one day perform onstage. From then on he practiced tirelessly to make his dream come true, squeezing sessions into his already packed schedule as he formed calluses on his fingers over and over again. Since his nervous first performance on guitar at 2023 Weverse Con Festival, he’s had the opportunity to play while touring the globe and at awards shows watched by countless people. The guitar has been JAY’s constant companion ever since he set his mind to it — and he shows nothing but confidence when he says it’s going to stay that way for the foreseeable future.
A young JAY discovers the guitar
JAY: The first guitar I learned on when I was a kid was an acoustic. When you first learn to play acoustic, you end up learning a stereotypical list of soft songs — stuff like “Twilight” or “Wind Song” by Japanese guitarist Kotaro Oshio — and it was the same for me. I went to a modern music academy back then, but it was just because my parents told me to give it a shot, so I wasn’t passionate about it like I am now. I played guitar from fifth grade until my second year of middle school, and then I picked it up again around two or three years ago. I’m even more into it lately because I’ve been listening to a lot of rock. An especially big push to get me to learn was how I can feel my stress melt away whenever I hear someone shredding on an electric guitar.
No two guitars are the same
JAY: Classical guitars are great for playing classical pieces, obviously, or softer, calmer songs, while acoustic guitars — since they’re used in a lot of pop music — are more balanced and well-rounded for a wide variety of genres. Electric guitars are something else entirely, though. Just because you’re good at acoustic or classical guitar doesn’t mean you’ll be good at electric. And even guitars of the same type are a little different. If they were all the same, you’d only need one electric, one classical, and one acoustic guitar, right? But because each has its own unique sound, I’ve slowly amassed more and more guitars. (laughs) I’ve got six at the studio alone, and that’s not counting the ones I have elsewhere. Personally, I think guitarists need to pay super close attention to detail. Everything from the wood used to the smallest component can completely change the sound. On top of sound, I also end up buying some guitars based on how they inspire me. They all feel different in your hands and give you a different kind of inspiration. When I first started out, I was focused on their versatility, but now that I’m a little better at playing, I look to buy ones that are more specialized towards certain genres or styles — like a guitar for playing rock, a guitar for playing jazz, and so on.
JAY’s favorite guitar
JAY: My newest guitar, a custom-made one — a Vesper — is my absolute favorite. I personally decided on every last detail, right down to the screws and other specs. Sometimes custom guitars are called signature guitars in Korea, and they tend to be a little quirky and out there. They’re a lot different from regular guitars in terms of design and function. I wanted to design it so people could tell from a distance, “That’s JAY’s guitar!” So I designed my Vesper with ENHYPEN’s vampire theme in mind. Guitars usually have white binding*, but my Vesper has black binding that makes it look like it doesn’t have any at all. Also, the neck of a guitar — the part you hold — comes in all sorts of shapes and thicknesses. Thicker necks tend to produce a vintage sound, but Vespers have a real thin neck, and they still sound vintage. Even the pickups** I added are ones that the brand doesn’t usually carry, but I chose them specifically. That model actually doesn’t come in that color either, so my guitar’s probably the only one of its kind in the entire world. That’s all about the way it looks, but I also drew from everything I learned to date about what feels good and what doesn’t when playing guitar and reflected that in the build.
*Binding: A decorative trim added around the edges of a guitar’s body or neck for added protection.
**Pickup: A device on a musical instrument that converts string vibrations into electrical signals.
JAY’s hideaway
JAY: The studio is basically my comfort place. It’s where I always hang out. I’m basically here anytime I can be. It’s like my nest. Even though the whole group shares the space, the others don’t have too much stuff there. I, on the other hand, have quite a bit there. I’m super into guitar parts and accessories — I think the visual aspect of guitars actually plays a big part in them — so I spend time researching and picking out cool straps and other gear. I’ve got a ton of straps ready to go for different settings, genres, and outfits. I’m running out of space in the studio with all the pedalboards, straps, and guitars I’ve bought, so now I’m debating what to do with the whole place. (laughs)
How guitar has changed JAY
JAY: I think playing guitar has made me a lot more organized. When you do something for fun, you have to carve out some time for it. The guitar becomes really fun after you get beyond a certain point, but I feel like it’s a really high hurdle to clear. The process of getting over it has taught me patience and made me a lot more open — like I found inner peace. I felt like I got over the hurdle around the time of my 2024 MAMA performance. That was the moment I stopped worrying, “What if I mess up?” so much.
Rocking out at 2024 MAMA
JAY: Performing as the band TOENZE and playing the song “Left-Handed” at 2024 MAMA was something else. Not only was ENGENE watching, but so were fans of other groups from all over the world — plus it was my first time performing with other artists. I wanted to be in my school’s band club when I was younger, but since I was training back then, I never had the chance. I always felt I missed something by not having that part of the youth experience with like-minded friends, but this made up for that a bit. I had a great time — it was like being in a school rock band. Even just practicing was super fun. We all love music, so we talked a lot about guitar and music in general while rehearsing for our MAMA show.
Starting point and turning point
JAY: Playing guitar at 2023 Weverse Con Festival was a huge new challenge for me. It was the first time I got up on the kind of big stage I’m used to doing my regular routines on and showing off what’s really a hobby. I couldn’t help but be incredibly nervous. One mistake, and I could’ve been too traumatized to ever try again. My mind went totally blank while I was playing and I just let my hands do their thing. I don’t remember any of it. But somehow I got through it thanks to all the practice I put in. Luckily, I can now say it was a great start. (laughs) That experience gave me the courage to continue performing onstage. Weverse Con marked the beginning, but my turning point was GLAY’s 30th-anniversary concert. Getting to perform with living legends was such an honor. It felt like acknowledgement and validation for my passion towards guitar. It made me feel like all the effort wasn’t in vain and really did amount to something, and it gave me a lot of confidence to pursue it further.
The more you know, the harder it gets
JAY: I’m definitely better now than when I first started, but the more you know, the more aware you are of your shortcomings. It’s not just about playing better — your ear develops too, and things you used to think were good enough start to bother you. Guitar practice really is never-ending. (laughs) I think you can say that about everything, though, not just guitar. No matter how skilled someone is, you only improve by practicing until the day you die. And even with endless practice, I don’t think anyone ever truly “masters” everything. That’s why my approach to practicing is to try out as many things as I possibly can. My calluses are coming off right now and I can feel the new skin underneath. I used to lose my calluses every two weeks or so, but it’s becoming more frequent the more I practice. The new skin underneath is extremely tender, so it really, really hurts to practice. Oh, and I’ve always got short nails on one hand and long on the other, since I pluck the strings with my right hand and play the frets with my left.
JAY’s practice routine
JAY: Even though guitars are a little heavy, you can still carry them around with you, which is a big plus. I think it's important to leave your instrument where you can always see it so that it becomes easier to grab and practice whenever you have some time.
I carry my guitar around with me, but I also leave one anywhere I spend a lot of time, so I can practice even if I didn’t bring one. If I feel frustrated or upset, I usually vent by practicing guitar. When I bend*** a note, it almost feels like I’m screaming — like I’m unleashing my feelings. The main thing I work towards when I’m practicing is not making any mistakes. I feel like even the smallest mistake stands out on guitar. Considering I’m not a professional yet, playing exactly how I practiced without any slip-ups is the most important part for me.
***Bending: Pushing or pulling a string to raise the pitch of the note played.
Sharing the hobby with the group
JAY: Seeing as I play guitar every single day, the other members are totally used to it by now. Even on days off or when I’m at home, I’m always with my guitar. Some of them are even starting to get into it after watching me play. One time, I was playing guitar at night at home, and NI-KI came over and showed me a TikTok or something of someone playing the guitar. He was like, “Could you teach me this?” It was this soothing, mellow song. I worked out the chords by watching the video and showed him how to play it on the spot. I’m pretty sure that was the first time NI-KI ever played guitar, but he played really well. (laughs)
Uniquely JAY content
JAY: Sometimes I post videos of me covering other groups’ songs on guitar, like “Magnetic” or “MAESTRO.” I thought it’d be cool if everyone in ENHYPEN could each show off something a little different in their own way — someone dances, someone else plays guitar. And then ENGENE would have a greater variety of things to watch. I’m actually the one who came up with the idea to cover the SEVENTEEN song “MAESTRO.” When we were all watching challenge videos of it, I thought it’d be cool to try it on guitar, so I asked our staff, “Could you crop just this part and send it to me so I can practice?” Then I figured out the notes and got down to practicing.
An investment in the future
JAY: I think ENGENE’s starting to expect me to play guitar now and then, and knowing that they enjoy it and support me motivates me to keep going. But if all I ever do is practice for performances, I can’t really say I’m practicing in the truest sense, unfortunately. I end up being able to move my hands faster when I keep practicing for performances, but it doesn’t help me improve in any other way, so this year I plan to spend more time focusing purely on practice. I can’t say guitar is 100% of my main thing, but I try to put in as much effort as I can as though it were. I feel like guitar will be a part of me forever. I think of guitar as the thing that I can take my music life even further with, which is part of the reason I started with it in the first place — for the future.
Figure out what your guitar is and go for it
JAY: Once I’m into something, I go all in. And I love that I’ve got something now that feels like it’s a part of me — like it’s in my blood. It’s also become my anchor, helping keep my heart in place. Probably the thing that throws us off most in life is when we lose sense of who we are, but for that, guitar’s given me a clear sense of personal identity. “JAY equals guitar — this is who I am.” Noel Gallagher from Oasis always says he hopes people seeing him in a band makes them want to start their own, and I feel the same way. I want to show people how fun life is when you play guitar! Lastly, I want to say something to everyone reading this interview: Having a passion for something makes you healthier and your life fuller. For me, it’s guitar, but it doesn’t have to be that for everyone. I just hope everyone finds something that truly represents who they are.
