#[this interview was so long it started to lag LWKAEJGSDLK]

[day6source]

[NEWSEN] 'Letters with Notes' Release Interview

by News Reporter Hwang Hye-jin [1/2/3]

Singer Young K is accompanied by a variety of modifiers. Starting with the vocalist of "I Believe You" (DAY6) band DAY6, the lyricist, composer, bassist, radio DJ, and person Kang Young-hyun. He is a "hexagonal artist" who is not easy on anything, but never treats or throws anything lightly. Young K, who only ended his military career in April, will open the second act of his musical life with his new album "Letters with Notes," which will be released at 6 p.m. on September 4. This album is the first solo full-length album to be released since debuting in the music industry with DAY6 in September 2015, and two years after the first mini album "Eternal" released in September 2021. The album name "Letters with notes" means "letter written in notes" and "letter with notes". As the title suggests, it is a sweet letter that singer-songwriter Young K, who touches the hearts of listeners through his own lyrics and melodies, floats to the world on the threshold of autumn. The album, which begins with "waited" will be followed by the title track "Let it be summer," "Dreamer," "Bungee Jumping," "Natural," "STRANGE," "SOUL (Feat. Choi LB)" (Soul), "playground," "babo," and "what is…" (what is…). Like his previous work, Young K took the lead in writing and composing all 11 tracks. This is his new masterpiece, which has created many "Best Part" by living every day held by him for the past eight years. "nothing but" has its roots in its previous title song, "Guard You" Like the first line of "You're sobbing in my arms," the sad emotion line of the speaker, who can't let go of the ever-disappearing love, harmonized with the classic elements of British sound in the late 1960s and the straight and appealing atmosphere unique to American hard rock ballads in the 1980s. Young-K's new voice, which has become stronger, is expected to give listeners a deep resonance this fall. Until each line of sentence written with all heart and sincerity meets different high and low notes and becomes a sweet letter. I met Young-K, the writer who has been looking forward to "waited" hoping that time will pass faster than anyone else, and asked about his old sincerity, the best now, and new dreams in "Letters with Notes."

Q I’m curious about your thoughts ahead of your comeback after two years.

▲ I am very excited and nervous. It's the same at this moment as I'm doing the interview. (Laughs) I wanted to show a good performance with my first album in a long time. Actually, I think the biggest reason for singers to show their faces is the album. So, I wanted to work faster to let people hear the music and show my face.

Q When did you start preparing for the album in earnest, and what had the biggest influence on drawing up the rough sketch of the album?

▲ It was after I was discharged that I started recording properly. It's difficult to tell you exactly how long the preparation period was because I had already sketched it out in my head and imagined it. I think ‘my current self’ has the biggest influence when I’m working on a song. Since each song on the album contains a different feeling, it would be difficult to say that it contained the genre that I liked at the time. I did my best every moment while working on each song.

Q The album name is ‘Letters with notes’, which means letters written with musical notes. Who is the recipient?

▲ The recipient is the person who listens to these songs. The album name refers to letters with phonetic values, but it also refers to words and letters with phonetic values. As a lyricist, when I write lyrics, I tend to carefully choose the letters that best match the music. Since the song is relatively short, lasting just a few minutes, and has limited syllables, it is important to choose each word. All the things I wrote down with so much effort came together to form ‘Letters with notes.’

Q How satisfied are you with the completed album? Since you have created numerous masterpieces as a member of Day6 and Young K, expectations were high that ‘of course this solo album will be good as well.’

▲ Satisfaction with the album is high. But I don’t think I can say 100%. (Laughs) I think it’s about 95%. While working this time, I felt like I was lacking something. I want to see that as a possibility for development and fill it up. I think it's very fortunate if you are looking forward to my new album. Actually, what I still hope for is ‘an artist whose next move is expected’. I hope that I will continue to be an artist that people look forward to and look forward to. This applies not only to Young K, but also to Day6. If I was waiting and looking forward to it, I wanted to do the best I could, even if I couldn't meet and satisfy everyone. I did my best for every song.

Q I’m curious about the Day6 members’ reaction to the new song.

▲ Wonpil and Dowoon have not heard the entire song yet. Only Sungjin has listened to all the songs. My hyung told me that he likes the songs and that rhythmic songs go well together.

Jinyoung Park, the CEO producer of Young K's agency JYP Entertainment, said about Young K's first solo album, "He is a friend who truly perfectly embodies what I have always emphasized to my friends who make music, 'Start with the heart and finish with the head.'" Did you receive any advice or praise regarding this album?

▲ I once played the included songs to the producer when the album was not yet complete. At that time, the title song was not released. Even back then, he said, ‘You’re really good at it.’ I can't remember the exact wording, but he praised me. (Laughs) I haven't received any feedback regarding the title song yet. I think the saying, ‘Let’s start with the heart and finish with the head’ makes a lot of sense. I think if you aim for something like a successful melody, the results will come out a little differently. Even if I start with a melody or word or something I like, I don't try to only do what I like from beginning to end. At the organizing stage, I think we need to cool-headedly ask ourselves, ‘Is this really true?’ So, I plan to continue the attitude of starting with the heart and finishing with the head.

Q The title of the documentary produced as part of the comeback promotion is 'HEXAGON: 6 Sides of Young K'. Young K is also living diligently as a 'hexagon artist' who moves across various fields. Looking at artist Young K from a hexagonal perspective, I am curious about what his greatest capabilities are. Conversely, there are also capabilities that I would like to further develop in the future.

▲ It is a great honor to have the title Hexagon, Hexagon Artist, attached to my name. I am so honored, and thanks to that qualifier, I am determined to work harder in the future. However, hexagon artist... is not a title I gave myself. (Laughs) In fact, the more I work in all fields of life, the more I feel that I am lacking in many things. When making music, as a DJ, and as a person. I always try hard to fill those things. Even if I feel inadequate, rather than being discouraged, I think about what areas I can improve in.

Q Among the lyrics of the b-side song ‘let it be summer’, which was pre-released as a single on August 25th, there is a line that says, ‘I hope that the hot summer sunlight inside me never dies.’ What is the hot summer sunlight that singer-songwriter Young K, now in his 9th year since his debut, wants to cherish for the rest of his life?

▲ I had a hot feeling when I wrote that song. I wanted to convey the message that I hope this hot summer will continue. Actually, winter is a beautiful season, and spring and fall are both good. (Laughs) If you look at the period from spring to winter as the beginning and end of life, spring is when you are born, grow, and bloom when you are a child, and winter is when your hair turns white. So, I compared the time we grow up and live in our 20s and 30s to summer. The lyrics contain the idea that I want to keep the burning feeling of youth, no matter what season it comes, and carry it with me for the rest of my life. This is what I thought about when I was working on the 'Youth' series albums ('Shoot Me' and 'Remember Us' released in 2018), but the youth I thought about and defined was not from a certain age to a certain age. . The moment you think your youth is over is the moment it really ends. 'Let it be summer' was also written with the mindset that as long as I think I am youth, I can continue to live as youth.

Q Your first solo concert will last three days. What are the highlights you would like to convey from the performer's perspective?

▲ The biggest highlight of this performance is that all 11 songs from the new album will be performed live. It was also a big task. Because it’s a concert, not a showcase. Unlike a showcase, a concert is a space you come to enjoy. Since this is a concert held before the album is released, the audience will come without knowing the 11 songs, so I wondered how they could enjoy it while not knowing most of the songs. So, after it was decided whether or not to hold a concert, I sang each song as an encore song at the festival with more confidence. (Laughs) We also released the pre-release single 'Let it be summer'. I wanted to tell you about it first so that you can enjoy the concert in a more familiar and familiar way. I think the moment that got the best response during the festival pre-release stage was when I started saying “not yet” after the encore started. I said, “The next song I’m going to play is still~”. I think that was probably the moment when the cheers were the loudest. (Laughs) I think the reaction was the best when we said that we were presenting a song that wasn't yet known to the world.

Q What are your goals for this solo album?

▲ ‘Healthy and fun’. I hope I enjoy every moment. I think that way, the people who join us will also be able to enjoy it.

Q: Among the 11 songs, why did you select ‘nothing but’ as the title song?

▲ I didn’t choose it, because (JYP) has a confirmation system. (Laughs) From the beginning of the work until I write all the songs, I write them with love and do my best. I'm the type of person who works while thinking of every song as a title song, so I was actually happy with which song was selected as the title song. When I write every song, I often imagine, ‘What would it be like if I stood on stage with this song?’, ‘What would it be like if a music video was released and I started promoting with this song?’

Q Among the lyrics of the title song, there is a phrase that says, ‘This is all I have.’ What is ‘this’ in Young K’s life?

▲ In that song, it’s love, and if I had to choose just one thing, wouldn’t it be love? The emotion of love is the driving force that keeps me alive and moving. I think it's an emotion that includes all of these things: love for parents, love for fans, and love for music.

Q In the fan song 'Beautiful Feeling' released to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of Day6's debut, the words "The word love is not enough/This beautiful feeling", "Some people say love/But I have more/something more than that" There are lyrics that say “I think/If you know, let me know.” Now can you clearly define what that beautiful feeling is?

▲ Now, it can be defined as love. If this isn't love, what is it? (Laughs) I think the emotions my fans send me and the emotions I feel towards them are not just simple support. It's difficult to express what kind of emotion it is, but I think it would be very difficult not to express it as love.

Q How do you want fans who love this album to listen to it?

▲ I hope My Day will be incorporated into people’s daily lives. I wish I could be your comfort when you need it. It's just me too, but I hope that the music I make and play will provide comfort to My Day people.

Q DAHYUN of TWICE appeared in the music video for the title track. What made you act together.

▲ The music video story line was established first, and then the people at the company said it would be good to have a co-star. I was very, very honored to work with Dahyun because she was recommended to me. I was very grateful to Dahyun for acting so passionately and well on set.

Q When I watch the music video, I can see a more mature atmosphere compared to before enlistment.

▲ During my military service, I exercised a lot and grew in size. When I came back (to society), I heard a lot from people around me that I had gotten a little bigger. I heard a lot of people say that I was too skinny because I lost weight while taking care of my body. Ahead of this comeback, I tried to stay healthy. I guess my time to exercise has decreased. Rather than just deciding that I had to go on a huge, unconditional diet, I thought that I needed to stay healthy. I don't know exactly how many kg I lost since I tend to wear eye makeup. (Laughs)

Q On October 12, 2021, I became a hot topic by becoming the first idol singer to enlist on active duty as a KATUSA soldier. What impact did serving as a KATUSA Soldier have on Young K?

▲ While serving, I met and talked to a variety of people, and I think my scope of thinking broadened thanks to this. One of the things that greatly influenced me was the 2022 Eighth Army Best Warrior Competition (a competition that tests the physical and mental limits of soldiers). I felt the same way while preparing for the competition, and I felt like I was constantly hitting my limits throughout the competition. I did my best with the goal of completing the race, and after completing the race, I am approaching anything in the future with the thought that I can accomplish it with more effort. With the mindset that I will be able to do that in the future.

Q Even though you were an administrative soldier (member of the Korean Military Support Group, 8th U.S. Army in Korea), you volunteered and won.

▲ The only goal I had while serving was to regain my health. It wasn't 'let's build a healthy body', it was 'let's stay healthy'. The idea was to take care of my health again. When I was told that it was a competition where I would undergo various training sessions, I decided to give it a try, even though it might be physically difficult. I was just around 30 at the time. I decided to take on a new challenge in my thirties. Looking back on the time before I enlisted, it wasn't that my health wasn't all that good, but I think I prioritized my (singing) activities more than my health. Because I did my best. (Laughs) Fortunately, I was born with good physical strength, so I think I was able to carry on that well. However, I felt like I didn't put more effort into my health, so I thought I should take better care of myself during my military service.

Q After being discharged from the military, I appeared in various festivals such as ‘Beautiful Mint Life Festival’, ‘Seoul Park Music Festival’, ‘Have a Nice Trip’, and ‘Awesome Stage’. At the 'Seoul Park Music Festival', you also performed a cover performance of 'A Journey' from his solo debut album 'Pilmography' while member Wonpil watched from the audience.

▲ I missed the stage a lot. Due to the coronavirus, we were unable to hold face-to-face concerts not only during military service but also before enlistment. It was really nice to hear and see the fans cheering, laughing and having fun, and it was beautiful. I also gain a lot of energy when I make direct eye contact with fans and listen to their voices. Because I missed that time a lot, I wanted to perform on stage as soon as possible after being discharged from the military, and so many people invited me. That was fortunate. I prepared as best I could and enjoyed it as much as I could. More than anything, I wanted to enjoy myself. I think that I have to have fun in everything, including when I'm working on music and working on the radio, so that we can all enjoy it together. So, I try to enjoy everything as much as possible. Also, Wonpil said he would come at the right time (for vacation), and I sang Wonpil's solo song 'A Journey' there, and I was glad that people seemed to enjoy it.

Q The special stage of KBS 2TV's "Immortal Songs" on Armed Forces Day, which was presented last year, also received hot online attention. What is the memory of the performance of "Time of Our Life" performed in their military uniforms with Wonpil and Dowoon?

▲ I think it would probably be in the top 2 most memorable moments during my military service. We gathered at Dowoon's unit to play together before recording. We met up for practice after being apart for a long time, and we joked around and joked around as if we had been living together all along. And we annoyed each other. Those moments are the most memorable. It wasn't because I was wearing a military uniform and playing the bass, but because it had been a long time since I held the bass, it felt strange and my hands were awkward. So I practiced quickly and hard.

Q It is usually natural for popularity and awareness to decline during military service. Nevertheless, he continues to be highlighted as the sole lyricist of 'Time of Our Life' and 'You Were Beautiful', which unusually climbed the music charts several times, and as a co-composer and sole lyricist for the group High Key's 'Rose Blossom'. You got it. There are times when people get excited unintentionally when things are going well, so how did you feel when you heard the news of the turnaround?

▲ Rather than being excited, I felt much more determined to do better. And I thought about what I should do next. In fact, I think my desire to be active for a long time has become stronger than anything else. ‘I really need to do well. I need to sing well too. I need to write good songs too. To do that, I need to be really healthy. I thought, ‘Let’s take good care of our health.’ When preparing for this album and concert, I tried to take good care of my health and neck.

Q These days, even if you release a new song, there are many cases where it is not widely known or quickly forgotten. As I watch the songs I created, such as 'You Were Beautiful and 'Time of Our Life,' are loved and talked about for a long time and climb up the charts again and again, I wonder what it feels like as a singer.

▲ First of all, thank you for continuing to listen. (Laughs) To borrow Wonpil’s expression, one of the things I thought about and talked about with the Day6 members from the beginning was, ‘I want to make music that doesn’t age.’ I think this plays a big role in the band's music. The organic sound and the structure of the band, which uses instruments such as electric guitar, bass, drums, and keyboard, are similar to those of the past and present, so I think it will not be uncomfortable to listen to as time goes by.

Q If there is a song that you think is good but regrets not being better known, please recommend it.

▲ All unknown songs. (Laughs) Every time I write a song, I try my best to write it with love, so I hope that you will listen to it a lot. In fact, I think there are songs that give off more energy when sung together at a concert hall than when heard on audio. So even if there aren't many people listening right now, wouldn't it be okay if I could continue to sing it at concert halls?

Q What is the source of Young K’s sensitivity? What things bring you inspiration?

▲ I think it’s effort. There may certainly be some innate ability to write songs, but the first songs I wrote didn't have the same feel as they do now. (Laughs) I wrote a lot and revised it, but sometimes it wasn't accepted. I think the source is a lot of effort.

Q Your outside work is also receiving rave reviews. Following 'Rose Blossom', your name was engraved as a lyricist on the credits of two consecutive High-Key albums, including 'SEOUL' (Seoul), which was released on August 30th. In July, you produced Mnet's 'Queendom Puzzle' semi-final contest song 'PUZZLIN'', and in August, you also wrote the lyrics for Jo Yuri's new song 'Lemon Black Tea'. What do you think about the phenomenon where more and more people are visiting?

▲ I feel so honored when I receive an outsourcing offer not as a singer Young K but as a writer. I would be even more grateful if it were adopted. In fact, receiving external job offers and imagining and writing about new people is itself something that requires change for me. I think there will be progress within those changes, and I think there are some aspects that will result in my music and Day6’s music. If you have the opportunity in the future, please do your best. (Laughs)

Q ‘Rose Blossom’ has climbed the charts and is loved for a long time.

▲ First of all, from the time I wrote the song, it was not written with the intention of it being our (Day6) song. I wrote this song a few years ago when (Hong) Ji-sang, who I continue to work with, asked me, ‘I have a song with this kind of melody. Would you like to try writing the lyrics?’ I understand that at the time the song was written, it was before Hi-Key debuted.

Q From ‘Beautiful Mint’ to KBS Cool FM’s ‘DAY6’s Kiss the Radio’ to the Dongguk University festival at your alma mater, many people shouted “Young K Again” after you were discharged. How does it feel to receive a love call from the same place again?

▲ I was very honored when I received the offer again, both from the radio and the festival. Actually, the reason I thought I should release an album quickly after being discharged from the military was to let people know that ‘I’m back.’ Because if you’re a singer, you have to make a comeback with an album. I wanted to let you know that I worked quickly and came back in great shape.

Q I don’t think it’s easy to lead a radio program every day from 10 PM to 12 AM. Still, why did you decide to become a DJ again?

▲ I thought it was a great blessing to be able to meet listeners every day. You can feel and gain so many things while doing radio. I think my scope of thinking has expanded while hosting a radio show before enlisting. The world I feel now is a bit wider than the world I originally knew and lived in. Of course, I can't live the lives of all the listeners, but as I read their stories and positions with my own eyes and talked about them with my own mouth, I found myself thinking, even just for a moment, about what I would do if I were in this situation. I think I can now look at the world in a more diverse way. For example, a student listener once sent a story saying, ‘It’s Monday tomorrow and I really don’t want to go to school.’ The next story was that of a teacher (who didn’t want to go to school). (Laughs) As a DJ, I see the world from a more diverse perspective. I think we'll see.

Q How have you been able to make songs so well and perform so well in the past eight years? You host the radio every day and don't make a single mistake. Who is the person who helps Young K always do well?

▲ Well... Thank you. (Laughs) First of all, thank you for thinking that way. In fact, in that regard, I feel more comfortable now than before. In fact, I was more nervous at the beginning and middle of my debut. It was actually very difficult to say a single word. Even when doing things like live broadcasts, it was actually very difficult to do it without a script. Rather, as my fans gave me support and belief that no matter what I looked like and that it was okay for me to make mistakes because I was human, I started to think, 'It's okay to not be this nervous,' and I feel like I'm letting go little by little. But actually, even at this moment (of the interview), I am still nervous.

Q Next year, you will be entering your 10th year since your debut. Is there a part of you that made you think, ‘A singer who has been active for a long time will need these virtues?’

▲ I think that if you are a singer, you have to be good at singing, and if you are going to compose, you have to be good at making songs. If you're going to write lyrics, you have to use the words well to match the sound. I've been thinking about the criteria for singing well, but I don't think that just because you're good at producing high notes musically doesn't mean you're good at singing. Isn't it good to sing in a way that resonates with the listeners, not only when you hit a high note but also when you are chanting or whispering? I think the sound, melody, and lyrics are all like that. While working as a DJ, I got to meet many seniors (as guests), and those who have been doing it for a long time not only have excellent musical skills, but they also treat people around them very kindly, even to me, who is meeting them for the first time. I learned a lot from watching those seniors. I promised myself that I should do better to the people around me.

Q I understand that if you add the 11 songs included in this solo album, the number of self-composed songs will approach 170 (based on registration with the Korea Music Copyright Association). It's not important to simply write a lot of songs, but it's also proof that you've worked hard and been faithful to your job. I wonder how you feel when you see the ever-increasing number of copyrights. Separately, I’m curious about what copyright-earning songs are.

▲ Actually, my father manages my income... (laughs) I can only infer which song has the most royalties, but I don't know for sure. First of all, if you think about our songs, it's great that there are so many songs that we can sing, and that we can choose and sing them in a variety of ways at performances. If you think back to the past, when there weren't many songs, there were times when we would fill it with cover songs when thinking about the set list for a performance. I like that I have a lot of options now, and when it comes to cover songs, I can do them whenever I want.

Q About a month before enlistment, when you appeared as a guest on NOW's 'Music to You' hosted by Sang Yoon, you asked, "You have released a lot of music over a really long period of time. Do you still enjoy making music?" I remember that.  Does 9 year singer Young K still enjoy making music?

▲ I think I’m much happier now than a few years ago. One of the reasons I asked my senior that question was because there was a time when I wasn't happy. At that time, I kept asking myself the question, ‘Is music a career I will pursue for the rest of my life?’ As I worked, I gradually stopped asking such questions. Also, My Day people continued to give me a lot of faith. As they gave me the belief that ‘I am a person who can continue to sing like this’ and ‘I can continue to go on stage’, I also felt the need to continue. I think it's a case that becomes more enjoyable as I do it. During my military service, I think I became more aware of ‘Ah, I miss singing.’ When I came back, I was busy working and it was fun.

Q If you look back on a time when you didn’t enjoy music, why do you think that was?

▲ I think it was because I thought my life as a singer might not be long. I think there were doubts like, ‘Can I do that well?’ and ‘Do I have the ability to survive for a long time?’ Now, those doubts have disappeared a bit, but I still feel like I have many shortcomings. I plan to fill it well in the future.

Q Many music fans say that they were comforted after listening to Day6’s songs. How do you hope the music Young K makes reaches the people who listen to it?

▲ I hope it provides comfort to those who need comfort, and I hope it provides excitement to those who need excitement. I hope I can provide laughter to those who need it. I think there are many different emotions you can feel even when listening to one song. I think it would be nice if you could feel it somehow.

Q Is there a difference in the way you work on Day6 music and solo music?

▲ When it comes to Day6, the members have their own colors and unique characteristics that only they can bring out, so we often work in a way that can bring out those. So, I think I started worrying about what kind of color I could express when I was working on my solo song. For a long time, I thought my vocals had nothing special. ‘Then what strengths do I have and what colors can I show?’ I thought a lot when working on my last (solo) album and also when working on this album. While working, I felt that I could create more diverse colors. I think we could have expressed that more in this album.

Q After discharge from the military and the release of this album, the second act of singer Young K has begun. How do you want to fill the countless pages of Act 2 going forward? Day6's 'military period' (military + gap period) will end with Wonpil's discharge in November, and I am curious about the full group's activity plans.

▲ I’m also very excited about Day6’s future. I'm really looking forward to what kind of music we'll make and how much fun we'll have on stage. In some ways, we have grown compared to the past. Through this album, I have shown the 'best I can do now' that I can show over time, and I am also looking forward to seeing what kind of color I can create by gathering the members and each individual's best. Wonpil is serving faithfully and is in good health.

#young k #day6 #day6 even of day #kang younghyun #brian kang #album: letters with notes #young k: interviews #[this interview was so long it started to lag LWKAEJGSDLK] #[anyways please enjoy!!]