Singer-songwriter eaJ on the importance of not staying silent
The Korean American opens up about speaking out on Gaza, mental health and being a source of support for fans
eaJ, born Jae Park, is a Korean American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles.
Zuma Zuhal
Words by Samantha Lui
Singer eaJ isn’t one to hide what’s on his mind.
From sharing his journey with mental health, to voicing his support for people in Gaza, the 33-year-old Korean American understands the risks of speaking out as a musician with a social media following of more than two million.
But to him, staying silent was never an option. “The fact that people know about (Gaza) and choose to stay silent tells me, subconsciously, they think that these people are lesser than them,” eaJ tells JoySauce. “Because I’m a human being, and because I believe in equality, and I believe that every human has a right to exist, and no child deserves to die, I think it is our moral duty as a human being to speak out on this.”
eaJ has never been afraid to use his platform to speak for what he believes in.
Zuma Zuhal
eaJ, born Jae Park, is a former member of the South Korean rock band DAY6, but is now based in his hometown of Los Angeles as a solo artist. Many have come to know him for creating cathartic and deeply personal indie-rock tunes. But for the past year, he’s also garnered attention for using his platform to voice his support for the people of Gaza.
The singer frequently shares links and videos on social media and went viral after he was seen chanting “Free Palestine” during a performance at the Prambanan Jazz Festival in Indonesia in July. In September, he called out the music industry’s silence on Gaza during an interview with AJ+. When we connect over Zoom in early October, it is days before a ceasefire deal is agreed upon between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. But since then, eaJ has continued to voice his support for the people of Gaza on social media, including their right to statehood.
During our conversation, eaJ says he’s particularly disappointed in major pop acts like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé for their silence on the issue. “They hold the power to sway an election. But they can’t say one word that would have millions of people that follow them, maybe change their perspective and possibly save a nation of people?” he says. “You’re doing it for your job, and you’re being safe with your career so you’re not being political. What are you going to do with all that money when you die? How much of it do you need? You have more than enough.”
What makes eaJ’s outspokenness particularly rare is the fact that he was once in the K-pop industry—in which speaking out on political issues has long been seen as taboo for artists under large agencies. But there’s freedom in being an independent artist, giving him the space to be outspoken on issues that matter to him.
eaJ departed from DAY6 in December 2021 and ended his contract with JYP Entertainment due to personal reasons, which he has since attributed to his struggles with mental health and self acceptance. “I think I've always had panic disorder since I was younger. I was just never able to diagnose it, but it strongly started coming on when the stress got to a level where it was just really hard for me to function,” he says. “I think my exit and departure (from DAY6)—I mean, it was planned—just wasn’t as smooth as I wanted it to be.”
His 2024 EP when the rain stopped following me unpacks some of his complex feelings about leaving the South Korean music industry, but also reflects upon finding closure after that period in his life, and gaining resilience amidst pain and hardship. “I know I come from the Korean space. I don’t renounce it. I had great times there, and a lot of great memories,” he says. “I had some very beautiful moments with some amazing fans. I’ll never forget that. That’ll always be a part of me.”
These days, eaJ says he is feeling “a lot better” when it comes to his mental health, and wants to be someone his fans can turn to for support. These feelings are reflected in his latest single “put it on me.”
According to eaJ, “put it on me” is inspired by an Indonesian fan named Tasya, whom he met while performing in July at the Prambanan Jazz Festival. “She’s a fan that’s been following me for quite a while but was never able to see me live because of physical limitations,” he explains. “She’s in a wheelchair and she’s also mute. So it’s really kind of hard to travel for her.”
As luck would have it, the stars aligned for the two to meet in person. After that meeting, eaJ received a message from Tasya’s mother saying their meeting was one of the few times she’s seen Tasya so happy. The music video for “put it on me” features a clip of eaJ greeting Tasya with a hug.
“I’m very thankful to her, and that’s opened up a lot of things that I’ve been pushing down. And it’s helped me process a lot too,” eaJ says. “I feel like it’s really hard to accept love from others when you hate yourself, and it’s definitely helping me get to a place where it gets easier to do that.”
These days, eaJ finds performing and being on stage a form of escapism, something that allows him to connect with others through music. He also finds strength through his Christian faith, which also pushes him to speak out on what he believes in. This is why he has been so compelled to speak out on the situation in Gaza, and the millions who have been displaced through the conflict, lost loved ones and had their homes destroyed. “Now that Gaza and Palestine are headlines everywhere, if we stood silent, I believe that it’s not only complicit, it’s immoral,” he says. “I’m a firm believer that any human being that sees what’s happening right now in Gaza knows what’s right and what’s wrong and they’ll make their decisions (after) that.”
Published on October 16, 2025