About Us

Formed in 2013, Hope for Icarus is an acoustic duo of singer-songwriters, with Paul Lim on the cello and Paul Yoon on guitar and vocals. The band’s music takes listeners on a journey of emotion and passion – with melodic tunes resonating with their hope and faith.

Hope of Icarus released its debut EP To Be Found in July 2013 in Seoul, Korea with notable positive responses and sales. Their highly anticipated self-titled full-length album released in June 2014. After a few years of hiatus while Paul Lim moved to Los Angeles and Paul Yoon moved to Houston, they started work again on new music, eventually releasing their Distant Memories EP in July 2020. This EP includes Lily’s Song, which Paul Lim wrote for his wedding.

The band's name is inspired by the Greek mythology character Icarus who sought to escape imprisonment using wings of feathers and wax made by his father. However, Icarus foolishly ignored his father's warning and flew too close to the sun; his wings melted, and he fell to his demise into the sea. HFI’s music seeks to share seeds of hope for the Icarus in all of us.

Paul Yoon graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelors of Music, and Paul Lim graduated from The University of Virginia with a B.A. in Music. Their music influences include Nickel Creek, Michelle Branch, Nirvana, Radiohead, Coldplay, Keane, Bon Iver, The Civil Wars, Gungor and The David Crowder Band. When they’re not writing songs and recording, Paul Lim is busy being a program manager for an entertainment company while Paul Yoon serves as music director for a church.