Band DAY6 member Young K returned with his second solo full-length album, moving past the radiant chapter of his 10th debut anniversary to face the honest inner self of the person "Kang Young-hyun."
Young K recently held an interview at a hotel in Jongno District, Seoul, to celebrate the release of his second full album "YOUNGEST" and talked about various aspects of the new album.
DAY6 fulfilled a huge dream last year for their 10th debut anniversary by performing at the main stadium of Goyang Sports Complex and even producing a film.
On his feelings about marking his 10th debut anniversary, he said, "There will be 20th, 30th, 50th anniversaries in the future, but I think the impact that the 10th anniversary gives is different. So I really wanted to celebrate this 10th anniversary grandly without regret. So from the year before, I thought about what events we could do that would take a big place in our lives, and we tried making a film and holding a premiere, and we also stood where we wondered if we could really perform at Goyang concert halls—places we wondered whether it would be possible for us to go. So it felt like we really had a dreamlike year. It's not that we could just say we wanted to stand on those stages or do something, but I sincerely want to thank My Day for making everything possible," he said, expressing gratitude to fans.
Because he poured everything into DAY6 without regrets, leaving no lingering attachment to the band, he was able to face the person "Kang Young-hyun" in this solo album. He said the biggest difference between DAY6 and his solo music is the narrator.
He explained, "One of the things I consider important when working with DAY6 is that it shouldn't matter who the narrator is. I thought it should be okay no matter which member's voice speaks, and since our performances often involve members singing to each other, that became ingrained like a culture. So when audiences sing along to us, for it to make sense to everyone, I thought we had to leave a lot of blanks. So I tended to write so it could fit people of any age or gender, but this time it's more that Young K is the narrator—these are stories Young-hyun writes, stories unique to Young-hyun."
He added, "Musically, if DAY6 was about trying everything that could be realized in a band, Young K has even those constraints removed, so I think the difference is that this music doesn't have to be in a band format at all."
While working on this album, he constantly asked himself, 'What kind of person are you?' and confessed that he discovered his own vulnerability that he had ignored for 16 years.
He said, "I realized I should no longer ignore my vulnerable side. My shortcomings—yes, those are also natural. Those parts have continued to make Young K. I recognized that effort as well, and although I discovered my shortcomings, it became a time to once again acknowledge the effort and growth that led Young K until now."
He went on to talk about the wounds he had received during his activities, saying, "I think this is something everyone feels while working in society, not just in the entertainment industry—there are many situations where you have to smile even if you don't want to. I think that's a point where everyone quietly struggles. Also, when you can't say what you want to say. Not everyone can live saying everything they want to say, right?"
When news of the solo album release broke, DAY6 member Wonpil shouted on stage, "Young K, great album!" offering strong support, and when asked about the team's rest period, Young K shook his head firmly. "Even at this very moment we're doing this interview, other members are split up working on songs," he said, flaunting DAY6's fierce work ethic that remains ongoing despite 10 years of activity.
Finally, when asked whether he is a rock star or a pop star, Young K candidly said, "I think I'm a star. My dream as a trainee was to be a star. I joined JYP because I wanted to become a star. So I thought it would start a bit more glitteringly, but it didn't really, so there was a bit of awkwardness, but it feels like I'm climbing the ladder diligently to become a star."
He also said, "What I recently felt most strongly about becoming a star was standing in Goyang with so many My Day in that moment and thinking, 'Is this possible?' And when I'm walking down the street and my song comes on. And then it's playing in the next store as well," adding, "I'm still climbing. I haven't reached it yet."
[Photo] JYP Entertainment
[OSEN]