“Lonely Lover (Prod. Pink Sweat$)” By JUNNY And VEDO Is The Best Of Korean & American R&B

Music has a way of bringing people together, sometimes in unexpected ways. In a swoonworthy R&B track originally produced by R&B legend Pink Sweat$ and performed by rising Korean-Canadian R&B star JUNNY and celebrated American R&B singer-songwriter VEDO, “Lonely Lover” does just that in the most beautiful way possible.

Released in January 2025, “Lonely Lover” features JUNNY’s mellow voice and VEDO’s soulful vocals over funky beats and an addictive chorus melody, transporting the listener to the song’s emotional core of love and loss. Thanks to the synchronized efforts of JUNNY and VEDO, “Lonely Lover” seamlessly blends Korean and American R&B, bringing the two worlds together in unique harmony. The crossover is a surprising but welcome gift to global fans of the genre.

While both are blessed with powerful vocals and stellar songwriting skills, JUNNY and VEDO each carved out their own distinct paths in the music industry.

JUNNY, who grew up in Vancouver, Canada, moved to Seoul, South Korea in 2018, and made his name composing for big names in the K-Pop industry. In 2022, JUNNY embarked on a new chapter in his career as a solo artist, and is quickly becoming one of the most recognizable R&B musicians in Korea.

Hailing from the other side of the globe, VEDO is a multiplatinum-selling American singer and songwriter. With an expansive discography of nine albums under his belt, in addition to countless singles and features, VEDO is undoubtedly one of the leading voices of the new wave of R&B.

The Road To “Lonely Lover”: A Cross-Continental Connection

The paths of two R&B stars from opposite sides of the world finally converged in January 2024.

According to VEDO, the seeds of collaboration were planted by a DM from JUNNY. The two connected instantly over text, and the online conversation eventually led to an in-person meeting in Seoul, South Korea, where VEDO was visiting for a song writing camp at SM Entertainment. “JUNNY reached out and was letting me know that he was a fan of the music, funny because I was a fan of his music as well. We met for the first time in Korea and the rest was history,” recalls VEDO.

In JUNNY’s words, the song itself began as a demo written by Pink Sweat$. Upon listening to the demo for the first time, JUNNY recalls that the “vibe of the song was so unique,” it caught his attention right away. The style of the song fit his personal vision as well, so it was smooth sailing from the start.

And having VEDO on board for the collaboration was the cherry on top for JUNNY, who says the most exciting part of the whole process was “just being able to be on the same record” as VEDO and Pink Sweat$. Both were huge influences on JUNNY when he first started his career in Korea, and he was delighted to be able to work with them through “Lonely Lover”.

Blending Styles, Rewriting Verses: The Making Of A Hit

Plunging into the collaboration process, JUNNY saw potential to show both his and VEDO’s colors more in the verses, while keeping Pink Sweat$’s original hook. He floated the idea of rewriting the verses to VEDO, who was immediately on board. “I thought Pink Sweat$’s version was amazing. I was easily inspired to get really melodic with my verse to match the energy of the song,” VEDO says of the creative decision.

The next step was for JUNNY to add his own touches to the demo by rewriting the second verse and having his team add to the production. He describes how the song then reached perfection with VEDO’s final touches, echoing VEDO’s words on how it all started: “Eventually it landed in VEDO’s hands and he blessed us with his own verse and the rest was history.”

The moment that VEDO rewrote his verse is JUNNY’s favorite part from the entire collaboration process. “I thought ‘He’s such an amazing writer himself, he should definitely rewrite the verse and go in,’” JUNNY explains. And to his astonishment, it took “less than a day” for VEDO to come up with the new verse, “complete with harmonies and all.” As the Korean-Canadian R&B musician puts it, the moment showcased VEDO’s undeniably “crazy talent.”

In turn, VEDO appreciates how the synergy between his and JUNNY’s vocal and musical styles facilitated his writing process: “[Our styles] complement each other very well, which made it easier to do the verse. He left room for me to be creative.” Overall, working with JUNNY was an extremely enjoyable process for VEDO, who has had more than his fair share of collaborations. “The whole process was fun. From the phone calls, concept calls and the way down to the mixing process [...] he (JUNNY) allowed me to be creative in every way,” VEDO effuses. And he adds his appreciation for Pink Sweat$, the original producer: “Shout out to Pink Sweat$ for penning the record alongside JUNNY and I.”

Two Artists, One Sound: The Magic Of Cross-Cultural R&B

Fueled by the electric chemistry between the two artists, “Lonely Lover” seamlessly blends Korean and American R&B. JUNNY’s Canadian upbringing and Korean roots, paired with VEDO’s deep ties to the American R&B scene, create a track that highlights music’s magical power to transcend cultural boundaries.

JUNNY describes his style as being heavily influenced by his Korean roots: “Although I am from Canada, having a Korean background and being out here in Korea shaped my style to be what it is today.” JUNNY’s smooth and soulful Korean R&B style stands out in his verse in “Lonely Lover,” helping the song resonate with listeners from all around the world.

The exchange of culture through music brought VEDO a welcome chance to expand his reach as well. “I was definitely excited to tap into another fanbase. I’ve always [tried] to cater to everyone with my music and doing this has allowed me to reach more people from different walks of life,” says VEDO. “Lonely Lover” opened the door to “learning, stepping out of my comfort zone” for the American R&B singer-songwriter.

Heartstrings & Harmonies: Why “Lonely Lover” Hits So Hard

The key to the global appeal of “Lonely Lover” is how the song plays on themes such as love and longing, heartache and vulnerability, and the desire for connection — all universally recognizable feelings. VEDO speaks to the relatability of the concept, sharing that “I think we all have that one person in life that you encountered that made a major impact on your life. I know many people that I am friends with that share the same experiences.”

JUNNY hopes that the song touches and heals listeners: “We all know what it’s like to love and to lose it, and I think this song is proof that we all go through things in life that we can’t change. We deal with these emotions and live on. I just hope that this song can be at least a bit of help along the way.” And VEDO hopes for the same: “[This] is a heartbreak song, we’ve all experienced heartbreak in some way. I think I want people to know that regardless of what happened in the past it’s ok to move on.”

JUNNY and VEDO’s original version of “Lonely Lover” was later remixed into three different versions: Sped Up, Daycore, and Nightcore. While each remix version puts an interesting spin on the original’s dreamy feel, both VEDO and JUNNY still choose the original as their favorite. JUNNY’s take is that “This song sounds great however you wanna hear it, but the original is my pick.” And VEDO agrees that the original has a special place in his heart, “because that’s the version I connected to.”

The Journey Continues Beyond “Lonely Lover”

Now that the project is over, JUNNY and VEDO are looking to future collaboration opportunities. JUNNY is “always down” for more partnerships with VEDO, and especially looks forward to writing together one day. VEDO is enthusiastic about the idea as well: “Absolutely! JUNNY and I are locked in.”

2025 is off to a strong start for both R&B musicians. JUNNY anticipates a highly productive year ahead: “Lots of music, lots of content and more coming soon for 2025. Hope you are as excited as I am!” And VEDO is expecting a year of growth and expansion: “New Album, New Tour, New Heights. 2025 is the year of elevation.”

BDG Media newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.