Filipino-Korean singer-songwriter Joshua Kim, known for his soulful lyrics and captivating acoustic sound, returns with a powerful new single titled “Worth It?”, marking a striking evolution in both his sound and storytelling.
The new track is Joshua’s most emotionally vulnerable release to date—a deeply personal reflection on heartbreak, love lost, and the lingering question that follows: Was it all worth it? Written after the emotional fallout of a failed situationship, “Worth It?” captures the raw pain of letting go and the quiet devastation of broken hope.
“I kept asking myself, ‘How could something that brought me so much happiness now bring me the worst pain of my life?’” Joshua shares. “I wrote ‘Worth It?’ in my head while out on a run—just me, my thoughts, and the memories I was trying to outrun. That’s when it all came flooding in.”
The song departs from the existential themes of his debut EP, “Alone In Melbourne”, which was written during a solo job assignment in Australia and explored isolation, self-discovery, and the search for meaning. While “Alone In Melbourne” chronicled the quarter-life fog that many young people navigate, “Worth It?” zooms in on a specific, cutting moment: the heartbreak that transforms who you are.
“This song is me being vulnerable about heartbreak for the first time,” Joshua says. “It’s less about a quarter-life crisis and more about that one love that shakes your foundation and leaves you wondering if love is even worth it.”
Musically, “Worth It?” reflects a new direction for Joshua. Known early on for his Jason Mraz- and Sara Bareilles-inspired acoustic roots, Joshua has grown into an artist unafraid to experiment. Influenced by emotionally intense songwriters like NIKI, IU, and even Kendrick Lamar, Joshua blends introspective lyrics with lush alt-pop production in collaboration with Brian Sombero and Timothy Abbott.
“I still write my songs sitting at the piano or jotting things down on my Notes app,” Joshua explains. “That’s always been my therapy. But this time, the production took it to another level. Brian and Tim turned something deeply personal into a full pop track that still feels like me.”
In addition to his growing music career, Joshua Kim is a Summa Cum Laude graduate from the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he studied Computer Science. His disciplined, thoughtful approach to both academics and music is reflected in the precision and emotional depth of his songwriting.
Joshua has been steadily building momentum, performing at key events like ToyCon 2024, Fête de la Musique, and Hally Universe at UP, and opening for acoustic icon Paolo Santos. His performances are known for their emotional resonance, drawing audiences in with his candid lyrics and raw delivery.
“This is just the beginning of a new era,” he says. “If you’ve been waiting for me to write about heartbreak, about breaking down and rebuilding—your time has come.”
“Worth It?…is now available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major digital platforms.
