Group Monsta X member Kihyun shared his thoughts on returning as a solo singer after 3 years and 9 months.
Monsta X Kihyun will release the full tracks of his mini album 2nd 'BORDERLINE' and the music video for the title track 'So Good' on various music sites at 6 p.m. on the 7th.
The new album 'BORDERLINE' is an album that captures Kihyun's journey of discovering and following his own path rather than a predetermined one. The trailers and concept photos released so far sequentially depicted the process of deciding to embark on the journey, standing at the starting line and then finding a new path, conveying the narrative contained in the album. With a total of seven tracks hinted at through the tracklist, expectations are growing about what kind of music Kihyun will use to complete this story.
The title track 'So Good' features rising guitar sounds and Kihyun's explosive vocals, capturing the moment of deciding to trust one's own senses and choices in a world that constantly demands the right answer. Through this song, Kihyun intends to convey a message that long-standing worries and firmly built experiences lead to conviction and freedom.
Ahead of his solo comeback after about 3 years and 9 months, Kihyun, in an interview with OSEN, said that he had returned from the military, rejoined with the group, released albums and did many tours while preparing a solo album amid the busy schedule, and added that hearing nonfans also listen to his album spurred him on to produce high-quality work.
This album was completed under Kihyun's proactive planning. Kihyun explained that he had been receiving songs since last year and that he set guidelines on the total number of songs and the feel he wanted for each track and delivered them to the A&R team. He added that because the album was created almost entirely by his will, it took a long time, but he is more confident in the quality than any other album; although he felt the pressure to show a better side since the previous album was well received, a good result came out.
Because it has been a while since his last comeback, the mini album is packed with seven songs. Kihyun said that it is true that the number of songs had to be filled for fans who want solo fan meetings or concerts, and he conveyed his goal that he wanted to show variety and could not discard any of the songs, so by his stubbornness it became seven songs, and that he wants to challenge a full-length album next time.
To increase the album's completeness, he boldly tried not only vocal changes but also visual transformations. Kihyun said many people wanted a long-haired look, and although he had never grown his hair that long, he did, and he had almost never had red hair but tried it. He added that while many people may be better-looking than him, he hoped there would not be many who sing exceptionally well, so he focused more on his vocals than on external aspects.
The new release 'BORDERLINE' lies on the extension of the traveler worldview that connects the previous works 'Voyager (VOYAGER)' and 'Youth (YOUTH)'. Kihyun said 'Voyager' was the energetic start of the solo and 'Youth' spoke of the pure emotions of youth, and this album is a stage of maturation. He introduced that this time, by crossing the border through his choice, he does not know what is ahead, but because he believed in his choice and crossed it, the album contains a message of seeking freedom and the peace that comes from it.
Kihyun is determined to firmly stamp his color as a solo artist through this album. Kihyun emphasized that if his journey so far was about defining and gathering his colors, this album is the one that stamps his musical color as a solo artist. (Continued in interview②.)<
[OSEN]