Gen Neo
Gen Neo (born Liang Genrong on June 18, 1989) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter, record producer, and composer based in Seoul, South Korea.[1][2] A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he initially gained prominence in the K-pop industry as a producer, collaborating with major acts such as Super Junior-M, f(x), GOT7, and ENHYPEN, including contributions to tracks like "Off My Mind" for Super Junior-M and music for K-dramas including Oh My Venus and Sweet Stranger and Me.[3][2] Launching his solo career in 2015 with a focus on R&B, Gen Neo blends contemporary sounds with influences from artists like Wang Leehom and Jay Chou, often exploring themes of love, loss, and self-reflection in English and Mandarin.[4][3] His discography includes notable singles such as "Called It Love," which amassed over 4 million streams on Spotify, and the 2024 EP PUSH&PULL, released in early November to critical acclaim for its emotional depth. In 2025, he released the single "The Show" and announced a new EP.[4][5] Gen Neo has collaborated with artists from SM Entertainment and has been signed to MAPP Entertainment and BAMM Entertainment, and is a member of the composing group Noizebank.[1] In November 2024, he held his debut solo concert, Push&Pull, at Esplanade Annexe Studio in Singapore, marking a homecoming performance with opening acts DJ Dee and lovlaine, and drawing on his over 320,000 Instagram followers for a growing global audience.[4][2]Biography
Early life
Gen Neo, born Liang Genrong, entered the world on June 18, 1989, in Singapore.[6] His early exposure to music was shaped by his family, particularly his parents, who introduced him to a mix of Mandopop and Western pop artists such as Michael Jackson.[7] At the age of three, his parents enrolled him in piano lessons, marking the beginning of his formal music education and fostering a deep interest in composition.[7] His father further influenced this by purchasing Michael Jackson tapes and cassettes, which Neo frequently watched and analyzed during his childhood.[2] During his school years, Neo attended Catholic High School and later Victoria Junior College in Singapore.[2] At these institutions, he developed his musical skills by conducting choirs and experimenting with pop music structures, often questioning what made certain songs appealing.[7] These experiences, combined with inspirations from 1990s and 2000s R&B artists like TLC and Luther Vandross, laid the groundwork for his future career in songwriting and production.[2]Education
Gen Neo, born Liang Genrong on June 18, 1989, in Singapore, began his formal music education at the age of three when his parents enrolled him in piano lessons.[7] This early exposure laid the foundation for his lifelong engagement with music, fostering skills that would later define his career as a producer and performer. For his secondary education, Neo attended Catholic High School, a prominent institution in Singapore known for its emphasis on holistic development.[2] He continued to the pre-university level at Victoria Junior College, where he completed his studies before pursuing higher education abroad.[2] Neo then moved to the United States to enroll at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, a globally renowned institution for contemporary music training.[2] He graduated from Berklee, gaining expertise in music production, songwriting, and performance that equipped him for his subsequent work in the K-pop industry.[8] Following his graduation, Neo relocated to South Korea to apply his education in professional settings, though his formal studies concluded at Berklee.[3]Professional career
Production and early work
Gen Neo began his professional music career after graduating from Berklee College of Music, where he had studied contemporary writing and production, specializing in songwriting and arrangement. In 2012, he relocated to Seoul, South Korea, to pursue opportunities in the K-pop industry, initially collaborating with fellow Berklee alumnus Henry Lau of Super Junior-M. Together with producers Isaac and Neil Nallas, they formed the production team NoizeBank, which quickly gained traction by contributing to high-profile K-pop releases.[7][2] One of NoizeBank's earliest notable credits was the track "Off My Mind" from Super Junior-M's 2011 EP Perfection, co-produced and arranged by Gen Neo alongside Henry Lau, marking his initial entry into composing for established idol groups. The team followed this with "1-4-3 (I Love You)" on Henry Lau's 2013 EP Trap, featuring Amber from f(x), that showcased NoizeBank's blend of electronic and pop elements.[7][9] Additionally, Gen Neo co-composed "Beautiful" for Amber Liu's 2015 EP Beautiful, featuring Eric Nam, highlighting experimental R&B influences. Through NoizeBank, he also contributed to GOT7's 2018 album Present: You, co-producing tracks like "WOLO" with Jackson Wang. These early contributions established NoizeBank's reputation for crafting catchy, genre-fusing material tailored to K-pop's fast-paced production demands.[7][9] Gen Neo also played a key role in Henry Lau's solo debut, producing and writing multiple tracks for Lau's 2013 EP Trap, including the title song, which drew from trap and R&B styles to help launch Lau's career outside Super Junior-M. Through NoizeBank, he extended his early work to other acts, such as composing for 4Minute and Gugudan in the mid-2010s, focusing on vocal-driven pop arrangements that emphasized emotional depth. This period solidified Gen Neo's expertise in the competitive K-pop songwriting scene, where he honed his skills in pitching demos and adapting to label specifications before transitioning toward his own solo endeavors in 2015.[10][6]Solo career and breakthroughs
Gen Neo transitioned to a solo career in 2015 while based in South Korea, releasing his debut single "Think About Us" under Mapps Entertainment, marking his shift from behind-the-scenes production to performing.[11][12] This move allowed him to showcase his songwriting and R&B vocals, drawing on his Berklee College of Music training to blend English and Mandarin lyrics in a contemporary style.[13] In 2017, he released his first EP, Dimensions (心领域), which featured tracks exploring emotional depth and established his presence in the Asian music scene.[14][15] Building on this foundation, Gen Neo issued his second EP, AD ASTRA, in 2020, followed by a series of singles that gained traction among R&B listeners.[16] Notable releases included "Stay" in 2023, which amassed over 800,000 YouTube views and highlighted his smooth falsetto in themes of longing, and "Losing Game" in 2023, a reflective track on relational struggles that resonated with fans across platforms.[17] Other singles like "Called It Love," "Relapse," and "Same Mistakes" further solidified his sound, incorporating 2000s R&B influences with modern production.[18] These works, often self-written and produced, helped him cultivate a dedicated following, with collaborations such as "Like California" featuring DeVita expanding his reach.[16] A significant breakthrough came in 2024 with the release of the Push&Pull EP in November, an eight-track project delving into the complexities of love through uptempo, mid-tempo, and ballad formats, blending contemporary R&B with nostalgic elements.[4] The EP's introspective storytelling and bilingual approach underscored his artistic evolution, coinciding with his debut solo concert in Singapore to promote it.[19] That year, Gen Neo received the Wings of Excellence Award from the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore, recognizing his contributions as a songwriter and performer bridging K-pop production experience with independent R&B success.[7]Recent activities (2021–present)
In 2021 and 2022, Gen Neo continued his work as a producer in the K-pop industry while based in Seoul, contributing to songwriting and composition for various artists under BAMM Entertainment.[2] He appeared as a guest performer on the South Korean music program Simply K-Pop CON-TOUR in November 2022, showcasing his R&B style and discussing his production background.[20] From 2023 onward, Gen Neo intensified his focus on his solo career, releasing a series of singles that blended contemporary R&B with pop elements. His first major solo release of the period was "Losing Game" in July 2023, followed by "Stay" in September 2023 and "Same Mistakes" in December 2023, each highlighting his soulful vocals and introspective lyrics.[21] In November 2023, he co-composed and produced the track "Blind" for ENHYPEN's fifth EP Orange Blood, marking a significant contribution to a high-profile K-pop release.[22] In 2024, Gen Neo received the Wings of Excellence Award at the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS) Awards for his songwriting achievements.[7] In November 2024, he held his debut solo concert, Push&Pull, at Esplanade Annexe Studio in Singapore, marking a homecoming performance with opening acts DJ Dee and lovlaine. He released the single "KISS&TELL" and culminated the year with his debut EP Push&Pull on November 8, an eight-track project featuring uptempo tracks like "Called It Love" alongside ballads exploring themes of relationships and emotional tension.[21][23] By 2025, as of November 2025, Gen Neo expanded his solo output with multiple singles, including "Forever This Time" in March, "Learning Slow" in April, "Can't Fool Nobody" in June, "I'll Imagine" featuring Haven and WILD in July, and "The Show" in October, each building on his R&B foundation with dynamic production.[18] Looking ahead, he teased the EP Through Thick & Thin for a January 2026 release, signaling continued evolution in his artistry.[24]Artistry
Musical style
Gen Neo's musical style is predominantly characterized by contemporary R&B, blending alternative and mainstream elements with a strong emphasis on emotional depth and personal storytelling. His work often explores themes of love, heartbreak, toxicity, and relational complexities through heartfelt lyrics and soulful melodies, creating an intimate and reflective listening experience. This approach draws heavily from 1990s and early 2000s R&B aesthetics, incorporating velvety production with smooth, nostalgic grooves that evoke vulnerability and romance.[2][15][4] Central to his sound are soothing, honeyed vocals delivered with raw emotion and a soulful timbre, often layered over sleek urban beats, midnight synths, and subtle rhythmic pulses that prioritize atmosphere over complexity. In tracks like "Called It Love," which has amassed over 5.2 million streams on Spotify as of November 2025,[25] Neo distills single emotions—such as the turmoil of a toxic relationship—into concise, direct narratives that resonate universally.[13] His self-produced works, including the EP Push&Pull, further exemplify this by merging Mandarin and English lyrics to bridge cultural boundaries, resulting in a "dark sexy R&B" vibe that balances seduction with introspection.[13][2][26] While rooted in R&B/soul, Neo's style occasionally incorporates Mandopop and K-pop production techniques, honed from his collaborations with acts like GOT7 and ENHYPEN, allowing for versatile, genre-fluid expressions that maintain a core focus on melodic richness and emotional authenticity. This evolution reflects his Berklee training and production background, where he prioritizes intuitive creation over rigid genre constraints, as he has noted in describing his process as letting "whatever feels good" guide the music.[13][4][15]Influences
Gen Neo's musical influences are rooted in 90s and 2000s R&B, which he has cited as a foundational element shaping his smooth, velvety sound and production style.[27][13] This era's emphasis on soulful melodies and intricate beats informs his contemporary R&B approach, blending nostalgic elements with modern urban sensibilities.[15] Growing up in Singapore, Neo was exposed to a diverse array of music through his parents, who introduced him to various genres from a young age, sparking his early interest in piano and composition at age three.[15] This multicultural environment also drew him to Mandopop artists such as Jay Chou, Wang Leehom, David Tao, and Khalil Fong, whose fusion of Western pop, R&B, and Chinese elements influenced his bilingual songwriting and genre-blending techniques.[3] Additionally, his time in the K-pop industry exposed him to urban R&B adaptations from American charts, further enriching his production palette.[3] Neo has expressed admiration for influential producers including The Underdogs, The Neptunes, Timbaland, and Malay, whose innovative beats and layered arrangements have guided his own work in crafting polished, atmospheric tracks.[15] Among contemporary artists, he draws inspiration from figures like Drake, Kehlani, H.E.R., SZA, Bryson Tiller, and Syd, appreciating their emotive vocals and introspective lyrics that resonate with his themes of love and self-reflection.[15] These influences collectively enable Neo to create music that bridges classic R&B grooves with current hip-hop and pop sensibilities.[3]Discography
Albums and EPs
Gen Neo has primarily released extended plays (EPs) throughout his career, focusing on contemporary R&B with influences from 1990s and 2000s sounds, rather than full-length studio albums. His debut EP, Dimensions (also known as 心领域 in Chinese), was released on July 31, 2017, by BAMM Entertainment and consists of four tracks exploring themes of love, longing, and introspection through smooth vocals and urban beats.[28] The tracks include "每分每秒" (Every Minute Every Second), "Reverse (后退)" (Reverse), "Missing U" (featuring Tracy), and "陌生朋友" (Distant Friends), blending Mandarin lyrics with English elements to appeal to a bilingual audience.[14] His second EP, Ad Astra, arrived on December 29, 2020, via Earth Entertainment, expanding to six tracks that delve into emotional vulnerability and cosmic metaphors for relationships, marking a maturation in his songwriting.[29] Clocking in at 18 minutes, it features songs like "Ur Type," "Over You," and "No Reason," characterized by layered production, synth elements, and Gen Neo's signature falsetto, which helped it gain traction in Mandopop circles.[30] The EP's title, Latin for "to the stars," reflects an aspirational tone amid personal reflections on loss and resilience.[31] Most recently, Push&Pull, an eight-track EP, was issued independently on November 8, 2024, and is available in limited physical formats including CD and vinyl.[23] This project fuses 2000s-inspired R&B with contemporary pop sensibilities, addressing the push-and-pull dynamics of modern romance through uptempo grooves, mid-tempo confessions, and ballads that highlight Gen Neo's evolving production style.[32] Tracks such as "Tell the Truth" (featuring H33RA and S.A.M.) and "OTNW" exemplify the EP's nostalgic yet forward-looking vibe, contributing to its promotion via a debut solo concert in Singapore shortly after release.[19] As of November 2025, an upcoming EP titled Through Thick & Thin is slated for January 2026, signaling continued output in this format.[17]Singles
Gen Neo's solo singles discography reflects his transition from early Mandopop-influenced releases to contemporary R&B and pop tracks, often featuring introspective lyrics and smooth vocal delivery. His debut single, "Think About Us," released on April 6, 2015, under MAPPS Entertainment, explored themes of longing in relationships and established his presence in the Asian music scene.[33] This track, performed live at events like Singapore's National Day Parade in 2019, garnered attention for its emotional depth and marked the start of his solo output alongside production work.[34] Following his early releases, Gen Neo's singles in the late 2010s included "Come With Me" (2017) and the collaboration "你會不會" with Wang Feifei (2018), blending pop and R&B elements with bilingual appeal.[35] By 2019–2020, tracks like "Over You" and "Mine" demonstrated a shift toward more personal, English-language ballads, released independently and emphasizing his vocal range.[36][37] In the 2020s, Gen Neo accelerated his singles output, focusing on streaming platforms and collaborations that amplified his global reach. Key releases from 2023 include "Stay," a mid-tempo R&B track about perseverance in love; "Losing Game," noted for its soulful production; and "Called It Love," which fused pop hooks with emotional vulnerability.[13] These were followed in 2024 by "KISS&TELL" with Ethan Low, an upbeat collaboration highlighting playful dynamics; late 2023's "Same Mistakes," and early 2024's "Unless We Try," both underscoring themes of self-reflection.[38] His 2025 singles include "Forever This Time" (March), "Learning Slow" (April), "I'll Imagine" (July, featuring Haven and WILD), "Can't Fool Nobody" (June), and "The Show" (October), continuing this trajectory and blending 2000s R&B nostalgia with modern beats.[18]| Title | Release Year | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| Think About Us | 2015 | Debut single; themes of lost love; released under MAPPS Entertainment.[1] |
| Come With Me | 2017 | Solo R&B track emphasizing invitation and connection.[39] |
| 你會不會 (feat. Wang Feifei) | 2018 | Bilingual pop collaboration; explores relational uncertainty.[35] |
| Over You | 2019 | Ballad on moving on; independent release.[36] |
| Mine (feat. Sam Rui) | 2020 | Introspective single on possession in relationships.[37] |
| Stay | 2023 | Mid-tempo R&B; focuses on relational endurance.[13] |
| Losing Game | 2023 | Soulful track on emotional risks.[13] |
| Called It Love | 2023 | Pop-R&B blend with vulnerable lyrics.[13] |
| Same Mistakes | 2023 | Reflective R&B single.[40] |
| Unless We Try (with Hyperlnk) | 2024 | Upbeat track on taking chances.[41] |
| KISS&TELL (with Ethan Low) | 2024 | Upbeat collaboration; playful narrative.[38] |
| Forever This Time | 2025 | Emotional ballad on fleeting moments.[42] |
| Learning Slow | 2025 | Introspective R&B track.[43] |
| Can't Fool Nobody | 2025 | Mid-tempo reflection on deception.[44] |
| The Show | 2025 | Nostalgic R&B with modern production.[18] |
Collaborations and features
Gen Neo has participated in various collaborations and featured appearances, primarily within the R&B and pop genres, often partnering with artists from the K-pop and Asian independent scenes. These works highlight his versatility as a vocalist and his ability to integrate into diverse musical projects, frequently resulting in bilingual or multilingual tracks that appeal to international audiences. Early in his career, Gen Neo featured on Amber Liu's (f(x)) single "On My Own" in 2016, contributing rap verses and harmonies to the R&B track, which peaked at number 11 on the US World Digital Song Sales chart.[45] That same year, he teamed up with Henry Lau for a cover of David Tao's classic "飞机场的1030" (Airport's 10:30), reinterpreting the ballad with added English elements and layered vocals that emphasized emotional depth. In 2017, Gen Neo released "Missing U" featuring Tracy Wang, a poignant R&B ballad exploring themes of longing, which garnered over 1.7 million views on its official music video.[46] His 2018 collaboration with Fei (former Miss A member) on "Will You Won't You" (你會不會) blended pop-R&B sensibilities, with the duo trading verses in English and Chinese to convey unresolved romance.[47] Subsequent projects include his feature on Casper True's "BODY" in 2020, an upbeat track produced by Gen Neo himself, focusing on fleeting relationships with trap-influenced beats.[48] Also in 2020, he co-led "MINE" with Sam Rui, a smooth R&B single emphasizing possession and desire, released as part of his growing solo discography.[49] More recent efforts demonstrate Gen Neo's continued evolution. In 2025, he featured Haven and WILD on "I'll Imagine," a mid-tempo R&B track with atmospheric production evoking nostalgia and introspection.[50] In 2024, he collaborated with H33RA and S.A.M on "Tell The Truth," an energetic pop-R&B single that breaks from traditional structures to explore vulnerability in relationships.[51]| Title | Year | Artists | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On My Own | 2016 | Amber Liu feat. Gen Neo | R&B single; peaked at #11 US World | [45] |
| 飞机场的1030 | 2016 | Henry Lau & Gen Neo | Cover of David Tao's ballad | |
| Missing U | 2017 | Gen Neo feat. Tracy Wang | Emotional R&B ballad | [46] |
| Will You Won't You (你會不會) | 2018 | Fei & Gen Neo | Bilingual pop-R&B duet | [47] |
| BODY | 2020 | Casper True feat. Gen Neo | Trap-R&B track; self-produced | [48] |
| MINE | 2020 | Gen Neo feat. Sam Rui | R&B single on desire | [49] |
| Tell The Truth | 2024 | Gen Neo, H33RA & S.A.M | Energetic pop-R&B collaboration | [51] |
| I'll Imagine | 2025 | Gen Neo feat. Haven & WILD | Nostalgic mid-tempo R&B | [50] |
Other contributions
Production credits
Gen Neo established his reputation in the K-pop industry as a producer and composer shortly after moving to Seoul, initially collaborating as part of the production team Noize Bank with Canadian artist Henry Lau and producers Isaac Han and Neil Nallas. This team focused on crafting R&B-influenced tracks for major idols, blending smooth melodies with emotional depth. His production work emphasizes vocal showcases and genre fusion, often incorporating jazz, soul, and pop elements.[7][38] Early credits include co-production on Henry Lau's "1-4-3 (I Love You)" featuring Amber Liu from the 2013 EP Trap, an upbeat track that peaked at number 35 on the Gaon Digital Chart and highlighted Lau's multilingual appeal. For f(x), Neo contributed to the music and arrangement of "Goodbye Summer" from the 2013 album Pink Tape, featuring EXO's D.O.; the acoustic-driven ballad underscored the group's experimental sound. In 2016, he handled music, arrangement, and lyrics for 4Minute's "No Love" on the EP Act. 7, co-writing with members Hyuna and Ji-yoon to explore themes of emotional vulnerability, allowing member Gayoon's vocals to shine.[9] Neo expanded his portfolio in the late 2010s with productions for boy groups and soloists. For GOT7, he co-produced "I Love It" from the 2018 album Present: YOU & Me, collaborating on music, arrangement, and lyrics with member Jackson Wang; the R&B track conveyed an empowering message of self-love. In the same year, he produced for Gugudan on their single album Act. 3 Chococo Factory, including composition for "Snowball," a bold and charismatic song that captured the group's confident image. His work extended to Super Junior-M and soloist Eric Nam, contributing songwriting that integrated neo-soul influences into K-pop frameworks.[9][47][38] More recent productions demonstrate Neo's versatility across generations of idols. He composed and produced tracks for SHINee's Jonghyun, ENHYPEN (e.g., contributions to 2020 debut album Border: Day One), ICHILLIN', and Super Junior's Donghae & Eunhyuk subunit, often focusing on introspective ballads and dynamic group performances. For Henry Lau's 2019 digital single "Untitled, Love Song," Neo co-produced the track, a jazzy R&B piece that exemplified his signature smooth production style. Additional credits include work for 4Minute, Roy Wang, and Emily Mei, where he prioritized conceptual depth over commercial trends. These contributions have solidified his role as a bridge between Singaporean artistry and global K-pop production.[6][9]| Year | Artist | Song/Album | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Henry feat. Amber Liu | "1-4-3 (I Love You)" (Trap) | Co-producer | Upbeat multilingual track; peaked at #35 on Gaon Chart.[9] |
| 2013 | f(x) feat. D.O. | "Goodbye Summer" (Pink Tape) | Music & arrangement | Acoustic ballad; co-composed with Amber.[9] |
| 2016 | 4Minute | "No Love" (Act. 7) | Music, arrangement, lyrics | Co-written with Hyuna & Ji-yoon; vocal-focused.[9] |
| 2017 | Gugudan | "Snowball" (Act. 3 Chococo Factory) | Composer | Bold, charismatic lead track.[47] |
| 2018 | GOT7 | "I Love It" (Present: YOU & Me) | Producer, music, arrangement, lyrics | Co-worked with Jackson Wang; empowering R&B.[9] |
| 2019 | Henry | "Untitled, Love Song" (digital single) | Co-producer | Jazzy R&B serenade.[9] |