The group La Poem (LA POEM) has returned with a new album that will showcase the essence of crossover.
La Poem released their third mini album Alive on the 20th and announced a welcome return to the music scene after 1 year and 9 months.
Alive is an album that contains the choice and determination to not stop amid change and to make this moment a "time that proves being alive." From that determination it depicts the narrative from the moment of running beyond rules to the promise finally reached together with someone.
The title track Meant to Be is a song that uses delicate language to express the heart of facing great trials and misfortune in life head-on rather than avoiding them. Kim Eana, a leading hitmaker in the music industry, wrote the lyrics, and Lucky Clover, who has worked on popular drama OSTs such as King the Land and Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, participated in composing to raise the song's completeness.
In addition, the album includes five diverse tracks that showcase La Poem's evolved capabilities: the title-track 'Alive' written by MBC announcer and lyricist Kim Suji, the Spanish-language song Este amor produced by local Spanish staff, 'An old promise' with lyrics by Shin Jaepyeong of Peppertones, and 'I will live' written and composed by singer-songwriter Ahn Ye-eun.
Meant to Be received a hot response, ranking number one on Bugs' real-time chart on the day the song was released. In addition, Alive ranked 2nd, An old promise 3rd, I will live 4th, and Este amor 5th, with all tracks appearing side by side on Bugs' real-time chart, successfully lining up the chart and proving their strength in digital music.
Through the new album that shows the 'present' itself encountered at the end of the time they've passed, La Poem has further solidified its identity as a crossover group. Having swept various charts upon their comeback and announced a successful return, they introduced the new record directly through a Q&A.
The following is a Q&A about La Poem's third mini album Alive.
Q. How do you feel about returning with the new album Alive after 1 year and 9 months?
A. (Yu Chaehoon) Fans have waited a long time, and I'm so excited and happy to greet them with this new album. I want to say thank you to those who waited. As this is a comeback after 1 year and 9 months, we prepared the album diligently. I hope many people listen to La Poem's music.
A. (Choi Seonghun) This is an album we prepared slowly but diligently over a long time. Because there was waiting, I think we honestly captured how far La Poem has come and where we are passing through. Above all, I'm very excited to be able to present new music after such a long time. So rather than calling it a "comeback," it feels like we are once again taking out and showing our present!
A. (Jung Minseong) Since so many people waited for a long time, this album feels even more special to us. All of our worries and growth are contained in this album. Please look forward to it!
Q. Please introduce the title track Meant to Be. What kind of song is it?
A. (Yu Chaehoon) Meant to Be is a song that expresses the will to move forward proudly amid a life that keeps changing as we live this moment. Lucky Clover composed the music and lyricist Kim Eana participated in writing the lyrics. Until now we had only worked with Lucky Clover on OSTs, but this was our first time collaborating on an album; we communicated very well and matched musically, so the work was enjoyable throughout. I first met lyricist Kim Eana as a judge on Phantom Singer 3, and since then every time I met her on radio and other places she was always so supportive, leaving many good memories. I was very happy and honored to work with a respected lyricist.
Q. As a crossover group, how did you think about balancing classical elements and commercial appeal in Alive?
A. (Choi Seonghun) Rather than worrying about balance, we actually worried more about color. It was more important whether La Poem's charm and color were fully contained within it than the genre. By focusing on what music only La Poem can do, I think La Poem's unique crossover music, in which classical depth and popular emotional lines naturally blend, was completed.
A. (Jung Minseong) La Poem's roots are classical, but I think music simply has to be liked. We worked so that anyone would say, 'La Poem's new song is really good.'
Q. Skilled musicians including lyricist Kim Eana participated in the album. When you first heard the lineup, what part did the members expect most, and are there any memorable episodes from the album preparation process?
A. (Yu Chaehoon) All the participants are representatives in their fields, so I was thankful just for their participation.
A. (Choi Seonghun) When I first heard the lineup, I expected the album to have really diverse colors. Each person has a distinct personality, so I was most curious how La Poem would digest that music. Even after finishing a recording once, we re-recorded and added recordings amid various schedules. We even reworked songs while giving up Christmas holidays, and working with an artist whose native language is Spanish was very impressive. Throughout that process, matching the color of La Poem as thought by the artists with the color we imagined and finally organizing it into one "La Poem-like color" — all that time is memorable.
A. (Jung Minseong) I felt that truly avengers had gathered. Everyone has a distinctive and clear color, so I thought they would suit La Poem, which also has distinct individual colors, and it was a very thankful project.
Q. Like the album title Alive, when do you feel La Poem is most "alive"?
A. (Yu Chaehoon) I think I feel like 'ah, I'm really living this moment' in every moment I sing on stage. The moments when we communicate with the audience and can deliver our music far feel like the brightest moments.
A. (Choi Seonghun) Sometimes I get nervous or feel my stamina drop, but when I hear the fans' cheers on stage and sing together, all those thoughts disappear. That's when I feel most alive!
A. (Jung Minseong) It may be a clichéd answer, but I feel alive when I communicate with fans on stage.
Q. If you had to pick the song on Alive that is most La Poem-like, what would it be and why?
A. (Yu Chaehoon) I don't think I can pick just one. I think each song shows different charms that La Poem can express. Personally I like rock music, so when I sing Alive I feel a stress-relieving sensation!
A. (Choi Seonghun) That's a really difficult question. All five songs contain different faces of La Poem, so rather than one song, I think all five songs best show the current La Poem. I think you'll also find it hard to choose. Please listen to all five songs!
Q. Through Alive, what charm of La Poem do you want to show, and what reactions would you like to hear?
A. (Yu Chaehoon) I want to show that although our vocals are based on classical training, we are a team that can handle truly diverse styles of songs. I hope every track feels like a title track and becomes music people pick and listen to according to their tastes.
A. (Choi Seonghun) Music that is new but not unfamiliar, deep but not burdensome. I hope this album's genre will be called 'La Poem.' I want it to be an album that makes people immediately think, 'This is La Poem' when they hear it.
A. (Jung Minseong) I want people to say, 'These guys are geniuses who really work hard.' I want to give the impression that we are a team that keeps growing and moving forward.
Q. You will hold the La Poem Symphony concerts in Busan on Feb. 7 and 8. What are the points fans should look forward to?
A. (Yu Chaehoon) It's the encore performance of the La Poem Symphony concert held in Seoul last November, and I'm looking forward to presenting new songs live with an orchestra. It's especially meaningful to perform in Busan after a long time. Please look forward to La Poem's fantastic harmony resonating in Busan Concert Hall!
Q. Any words for the fans who have been waiting for La Poem's new music?
A. (Yu Chaehoon) Since you've waited a long time, I feel sorry for returning late. This is an album made with careful consideration, so please listen to it a lot and enjoy it. Thank you.
A. (Choi Seonghun) Thank you very much for waiting so long. I really prepared diligently to repay the support you've always given with music that is a little closer to that support. I will work even harder going forward.
A. (Jung Minseong) Thank you sincerely for loving us unchanged for a long time. Because of you, we were able to try harder. Please listen to Alive, get healed, and enjoy it. We are always grateful and we love you!
La Poem continues active promotions with the title track Meant to Be from their third mini album Alive.
[Photo] Provided by DramaHouse Studio.
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