"You're keepin' somethin' in your heart, And I can see it ...covered in bruises"—DNYDK’s “Bruises” unveils the raw emotion of hiding pain and the heavy weight of unspoken struggles. The song doesn’t just reveal the scars, it forces a confrontation with the truth we often hide from ourselves.

“Bruises” strikes a universal chord, peeling back layers of emotional pain and unspoken struggles.

Photo Courtesy of DNYDK

Since his debut in 2019 with “LVRSZ 2 LOVER'SIGHT - takearide.,” South Korean R&B singer-songwriter DNYDK has been building a name for himself in the music scene with his soulful and honest approach to songwriting. DNYDK, his stage name, is a combination of his English name, Danny, and the initials of his Korean name, DK.

His latest release, “Bruises,” released on January 9, 2025, is no exception. It is a soul-stirring anthem—a raw, emotional ride that dives deep into self-reflection and vulnerability. With lyrics that hit hard and a poignant monologue that sets the tone, it’s a track for anyone who’s ever felt lost.

This song doesn’t just play in the background—it pulls you in, makes you feel it, and leaves you contemplating long after it ends. If you’ve ever felt like you’re yearning for something more, “Bruises” will feel like a conversation you didn’t know you needed.

Song Introduction (translated):

“[elephant in my room: Bruises]

Some scents vividly hold certain memories.

Most of my love was bitter and imperfect.

Because it was sincere, I hurt and was hurt, and

within that range, I willingly became a bullet shield, with tears of joy.

Even the bullets that passed through me were filled with the affection I received from you.

I put the memories of the places where I was hit, those precious bruises, between the lines of the staff.”

HALSUG spoke with DNYDK on his deeply personal track “Bruises,” which is a part of his upcoming EP. In this candid chat, DNYDK opens up about the inspiration behind the song and the powerful story he’s telling. Drawing from his own experiences in South Korea, where societal pressures weigh heavily, DNYDK sheds light on the often-silent struggles of feeling lost or stuck and the toxic positivity that so many people hide behind.

His music, especially “Bruises,” isn’t just about pain—it’s about embracing the bruises that come with living, growing, and learning. As DNYDK prepares for his upcoming EP, elephant in my room, you get a sense of the raw, unspoken emotions that he’s exploring in his work. If you’ve ever felt disconnected or in search of meaning, this interview, and the music, will speak to you in ways that resonate long after the song fades out.

Q: Please introduce yourself to HALSUG readers.

Hi earthlings! I’m Danny, DNYDK. I am a singer/songwriter based in South Korea, singing out loud about stories of the lost souls. Try my ‘in seoul’ trilogy (hawaii in seoul, Lost in seoul, and Sunset In Seoul) if you wanna check out my artistry.

Q: “Bruises” feels deeply personal and raw. What inspired you to write this song, and how does it reflect your journey?

To become successful is a huge deal. You know, like realistic values, something like mundane values. To get a well-paying job to support family, going on vacation from time to time, good house, a nice car, and so on. And at some point in life, we realize that such things don’t happen to all the people. In this zero-sum game of life, somebody has to fail when others succeed. Discrepancy of expectation (what I would like to call ‘media-washed fantasy’) and reality gives pain to a lot of people, especially in South Korea leading to a lot of suicide cases.

“Bruises” is a story of myself and my people—people who suppress the inner pain by saying, “It’s okay. Everything’s fine.” It becomes a “toxic positivity” when you say it’s fine when it’s not. Sometimes we gotta admit that something’s gone wrong. That’s the new start.

Q: Could you share a moment during the production or writing of “Bruises” that felt especially cathartic or memorable?

I wore a suit and tie to act as a salaryman in the music video. That’s an alternative future that might happen in the near future. I graduated from college and have to find some job to support my music. So technically, it is not just acting. It is having a closer look at myself in the future. In the last scene, the weather was too cold and I was really exhausted by the long-lasting hours of video shoot. That’s how I got to do method acting in that scene. It’s fictional but more real than reality.

Q: The opening monologue in the music video sets a poignant tone. Could you share more about the thought process behind including it?

One of the biggest values in my life is compassion. Like stem cells that differentiate into various types of cells, we all start from the same place but end up on different paths. My musical journey was no exception. Many of my fellow musicians had to give up their dreams due to real-life constraints. I used to think, "They're different from me." But looking back now, I realize that in the end, we were all the same. We were all just lost sheep. It was this realization that allowed me to view myself and others with compassion.

Q: If this song had a scent, what would it smell like and why?

This is such a good question. It would smell like cigarettes, smoke, cold wind, wood and closet.

Q: If you could play “Bruises” for the “lost” people mentioned in the monologue at the start, what would you hope it does for them?

Above all, I hope that anyone who is lost will listen to this song and acknowledge their lostness. We might be sinking into a swamp without even realizing that we're lost.

I also want listeners to know that they're not alone in this; we all naturally lose our way on this journey. I hope this can make them feel less lonely.

Q: The lyric “You try to hide, but I can feel it” feels like an invitation to peel back layers. If you had to peel back one layer of your own emotional world for us, what would it reveal that others don’t normally see?

Definitely insecurities. I’m a person who tries his best to be sincere. Even so, I sometimes hide something behind to act “cool.” I have insecurities about myself behind all those layers. I hate myself. It’s a love hatred. I don’t like how I look, I don’t like how I behave, you know, but, at the same time, I love it.

Q: The line “covered in bruises” feels like a form of emotional evidence, as if those bruises tell a story. If these bruises were not scars of pain but scars of growth, what would they reveal about who you are becoming?

If a stone didn't yearn to roll, it would remain preserved in its original form. But if it desires to roll, it will be scraped, broken, and ground down, eventually transforming into a new shape that reflects its desires and dreams. Bruises are like that to me. They are an inevitable part of me, a result of my yearning. Bruises aren't bad; they heal, they leave marks, and they become a part of who I am. I believe that people who have been hurt and healed develop an exceptional ability to see into the hearts of others. I hope to become such a person.

Q: If you could step inside the song for a moment, what would be the first thing you’d want to do—take a moment of silence, confront something within yourself, or something else entirely?

I smoke cigarettes when I listen to the song. It makes me think of different things whenever I step inside the song. There is something that can not be put into words about this song. Inside my mind, I start the journey.

Q: What’s next for you?

Next is to release the album. “Bruises” is a part of the upcoming EP, elephant in my room. This album is about the things that are reluctant to be discussed, which is clearly problematic. About youth. Hang on and stay tuned.

Q: Any last message for HALSUG readers?

About eternity. We can be eternal by engaging in the moment fully. When that happens we don’t have to care about the hands of the clock and be free from the notion of time. Happy ones don’t check the time.

That’s a wrap on our chat with DNYDK. For all the fans and listeners, keep an ear out—DNYDK’s elephant in my room is on the way, and it’s going to be worth the wait.

Have you listened to “Bruises” yet? Drop your thoughts in the comments or hit us up on Instagram and X.

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Artist Facts:

Name/Stage name: Dongyun Kim (김동윤) / DNYDK

Birthday: January 26, 1999

Nationality: South Korea

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

MBTI: ENFJ

Fave Foods: Japanese curry, Pepperoni pizza, Mint chocolate and Five Guys

Fave Drinks: Like alcohol? Tequila

Fave Movies: Eternal Sunshine; Oldboy, Right Now, Wrong Then

Day or Night?: Night, Beautiful things that are kept on the low happen during the night

First Concert You Attended: There’s a local underground rapper called Jerry.K. That was my first live gig that I’ve ever been to.

Song you’re most proud of: “Lost in seoul.” Can’t make anything like that no more. Music like that kind happens only once in a lifetime

Edited by: Divina Aloisa Tolentino

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