JIMMY and WEESA of PSYCHIC FEVER
Tariq
Throughout 2026, PSYCHIC FEVER has accelerated its global expansion, embracing fresh challenges on the world stage. Following a breakthrough 2025 that featured their inaugural North American tour and a notable performance at SXSW in Austin, Texas, the group is now channeling that momentum into a highly anticipated album arriving this July.
We caught up with JIMMY and WEESA during their recent visit to London.
You held a fan meeting in London back in July 2025. What stood out to you most about your experience with the local fans?
JIMMY: Our ability to perform in London is largely thanks to the organic growth of “Just Like Dat feat. JP THE WAVY” on social media. It was surreal to hear fans singing along to that track during our debut London show, but what truly energized us was seeing them sing along to our newer releases as well. It proved that their support wasn’t just a fleeting trend; they are genuinely invested in our evolution as artists.
WEESA: The atmosphere in Europe is incredibly electric. The fans brought so much passion—their energy while dancing and singing often surpassed our own! It has deeply influenced our performance style and artistic perspective.
Having toured internationally, have you noticed distinct differences in audience reactions?
WEESA: Absolutely. Musical preferences vary wildly by region. The tracks that trigger the biggest reactions are often dictated by the local sonic landscape; what incites a frenzy in one country might elicit a completely different response in another.
JIMMY: In the U.S., audiences gravitate toward the tracks influenced by late 90s and early 2000s R&B and hip-hop. Meanwhile, in London and across Europe, “Highlights”—our collaboration with REN—gained traction early on. The European audience has a profound appreciation for that electronic-forward sound.
Looking back at your journey to go global, what moment has left the most significant mark on you?
JIMMY: Living in Thailand for two years shortly after our debut was a formative challenge. While it didn’t unfold exactly as envisioned, that period became the vital foundation for all our subsequent international efforts. I’m also proud that we’ve become a gateway for fans to discover the broader LDH family. It’s rewarding to know we’re helping people fall in love with our peers as well.
You manage to convey a cohesive message despite your youth. How do you maintain that focus?
JIMMY: We didn’t start with a rigid, manufactured concept. Instead, our identity crystallized through the direct feedback and connections we built with fans abroad. We were seven individuals on different creative paths, yet our fans told us that our diversity was our greatest strength. Embracing those differences—and realizing they resonated with others—has become the core of our group dynamic.
Let’s talk about your new album, DIFFERENT. How did that creative process come together?
WEESA: For the first time, JIMMY and I contributed to the songwriting process. We built this project from the ground up, with every member involved in the foundational discussions. While synthesizing everyone’s creative input was challenging, it resulted in a record that feels much more comprehensive and personal than our debut.
JIMMY: We’ve experimented with hip-hop, R&B, and electronic textures on our past EPs, and that growth provided the blueprint for DIFFERENT. We’ve finally moved toward a unified concept. It required patience, but we wanted to ensure we crafted something that could truly resonate on a global scale.
Is there a thematic link between the album title and your identities as seven individual members?
WEESA: Precisely. DIFFERENT is our way of asserting that individuality is a strength. There is immense value in being unique. Releasing this message from London—a true melting pot of cultures—felt particularly meaningful to us.
As you look ahead to the next five years, what are your primary ambitions?
JIMMY: I’m aiming for arenas. My goal is to reach the largest audience possible. Regardless of venue size, our dedication remains the same, but to scale our impact, we need to be playing for tens of thousands. I’m sharpening my performance skills every single day to be ready for that level.
On a lighter note, how are you enjoying London’s food scene?
JIMMY: I’ve been living on fish and chips!
WEESA: London is renowned for its quality meat. I’m really hoping we can hit a few more local steakhouses before we leave. The culinary scene here is fantastic.
JIMMY, I’ve heard you’re particularly fond of London.
JIMMY: It’s an incredible city for language learning and fashion. I love exploring the vintage stores around Brick Lane. Even beyond the shopping, I find a kinship with Japan here; there’s a shared, deep-seated respect for heritage and craftsmanship—or at least a similar mentality regarding the evolution of subcultures.
It’s easy to see why creators are so drawn to the UK.
JIMMY: Exactly. There is an authentic “cool” factor here. If I could choose anywhere in the world to live, it would be London.
This interview by Tomoko Moore originally appeared on Billboard Japan.
