Inside a number of seconds of his newest EP, BAEKHYUN gently introduces himself with the phrases “Good day, World.” The opening music “Good Morning” radiates a pleasing optimism: “Underneath the brand new sky daily / A present-like at the moment is dazzling.” That constructive, contagious outlook is without doubt one of the EXO member’s defining traits—and that temper is definitely relatively apt, contemplating it’s 2 am right here in New York after I converse with him over Zoom from his house base in Seoul.
His fourth solo mini-album, Good day World, comes almost 4 years after his final launch, Bambi. There’s a purpose for this lengthy hiatus, since instantly succeeding the 2021 launch, BAEKHYUN enlisted in South Korea’s obligatory navy service and served almost 20 months. He lept seamlessly again into his music and enterprise endeavors after his discharge—with as a lot dedication as ever. He began his personal firm, IBN100, leaving SM Leisure, and accomplished a formidable sold-out “Lonsdaleite [dot]” Asia tour.
After the artist teased a brand new launch on tour and social media during the last 12 months, BAEKHYUN’s EP serves as each a present and a reintroduction to all of the followers who’ve been patiently ready. “I gained’t be taking such lengthy breaks anymore,” he tells StyleCaster. “I’ll maintain creating music for my followers and listeners and exhibiting a variety of totally different sides of myself.”
In Good day World, BAEKHYUN’s velvety voice guides you thru songs which are generously infused with basic R&B sounds—however with tinges of various genres, like Bossa Nova in “Rendes-Vous” and groovy bass-driven synthpop within the lead single, “Pineapple Slice.”
BAEKHYUN’s enriching course of for the album was certainly fruitful, and it makes him crave that candy success much more.
Your final solo album, ‘Bambi’, was launched in the course of the pandemic and then you definitely needed to go to navy service. What has modified since then?
I believe the most important change is content material tradition. Engaged on music hasn’t modified that a lot. However now there are extra various kinds of content material I can do than earlier than. Now that I’m selling my new album, it’s good that there are lots of extra retailers to speak with folks from around the globe. I’m pleased to have the ability to join with followers who’ve been ready for me all around the globe.
It’s becoming that your new album is named Good day, World The 4th Mini Album. Evidently you’re introducing your self to a broader viewers now. How do you hope to introduce BAEKHYUN as of now?
I believe earlier than, I used to be seen primarily as a vocalist who tries actually exhausting and practices rather a lot. In fact, I’m going to proceed to apply and attempt to enhance myself, however I additionally wish to present that I’ve a variety of expertise now. I wish to be extra relaxed and assured in entrance of the viewers. I additionally wish to problem myself by exploring totally different genres and exhibiting a variety of new sides.
You’ve got managed to carve out a profession as somebody who’s extremely versatile and might transfer between genres and ideas. How do you assume you’ve managed to try this and the way does that mirror your efficiency?
I’ve had a variety of expertise with varied genres with EXO, and I introduced that have to my solo actions. Sooner or later, particularly starting with this fourth mini album, I believe there’s much more I can do, and there’s much more I wish to do. There’s the human aspect of Baekhyun and there’s additionally BAEKHYUN on stage. I’m going to make an effort to convey these two BAEKHYUNs collectively. I believe a method of doing that’s to check out a variety of totally different genres which are based mostly on R&B— like hip hop R&B and different genres that may be derived from R&B. I’m going to maintain making an attempt out totally different ideas and present them by my music.
Once I first noticed the photographs of Good day, World The 4th Mini Album, it felt prefer it leaned rather a lot into movie noir and it jogged my memory of Bambi. However within the album description, it stated this time you needed to lean into the expression of movie genres akin to motion, drama, noir, and romance in your music and ideas. What impressed that call?
The principle idea of this album connects to the message “creativeness turns into actuality.” As an idol, I believe I acquired to expertise a variety of totally different characters as I get to be a variety of totally different folks by totally different ideas. I needed to indicate that I can incorporate all these totally different sides and showcase my various charms by this album.
Plenty of duty is positioned on solo artists in Ok-pop versus the best way that tasks are shared in teams. What do you get pleasure from most about working solo?
As a solo artist, I might say that I’ve much more flexibility with time. Once I’m working as a gaggle, the logistics take longer as there are extra folks round. I believe being a solo artist is kind of lonely and it’s much more enjoyable to behave to carry out as a gaggle.
Do you may have any recommendation for followers who’re additionally trying to discover confidence in managing a variety of tasks or simply looking for themselves?
Lots of people merely say “hope you are feeling higher about your self,” however I do know these phrases are sometimes not sufficient in the event you’re feeling actually down. As a vocalist, I didn’t have a variety of confidence in myself both. However I took vocal classes and practiced rather a lot, and eventually, I felt extra certain of myself. If there’s any recommendation I may give as somebody who has expertise with feeling unconfident, it’s that the vital factor is to speculate time in bettering your ability set in sure areas the place you are feeling much less assured.
My recommendation might pertain to my very own expertise however I want to say that in the event you can determine what you wish to enhance and work towards that purpose, your hidden confidence will naturally rise.
There’s the human aspect of Baekhyun and there’s additionally BAEKHYUN on stage. I’m going to make an effort to convey these two BAEKHYUNs collectively.
Talking about followers, you’ve proven such nice appreciation to EXO-Ls throughout your fan conferences and excursions this 12 months. For somebody who’s been within the business for over a decade, what does cultivating that relationship with followers imply to you proper now?
In some unspecified time in the future, I began to really feel that I may depend on EXO-Ls. Past the connection as a fan and idol, I really feel a real reference to my followers. I can’t even discover the precise phrases to really categorical how I really feel but it surely’s like we’re linked even from distant, even when we don’t see one another daily, even when we’re not close to one another.
I really feel like that is essentially the most elementary type of love, and that this emotion could be very deeply rooted in love. EXO-Ls are treasured to me, they usually give me a lot power and I cherish them a lot. I’ll attempt to be even nearer to EXO-Ls sooner or later. Proper now, it looks like I can depend on them. I don’t know if I ought to depend on them like this. I’m not normally an individual who depends on different folks however to my EXO-Ls, I actually do really feel like I can depend on them.
How has touring affected the best way that you just needed to current this album? You gave a spoiler on Weverse about “Rendez-Vous” and carried out it on the final encore present of your Asia tour, ‘Londsdaleite [dot]’. How did you are feeling concerning the fan response to that and performing it on stage for the primary time?
The rationale why I selected “Rendez-Vous” because the “spoiler music” is as a result of I needed to indicate an upgraded model of myself. I selected a B-side that I felt held some new components that I hadn’t tried earlier than, but additionally one thing that isn’t fully unfamiliar to my followers.
I used to be coming again after such a very long time, so relatively than exhibiting a very new aspect, I believed I might add a bit little bit of freshness. I believed an R&B music with a bossa nova rhythm would really feel a bit extra acquainted. I actually like “Rendez-Vous” and I used to be actually glad that EXO-Ls additionally beloved the music. I felt that although I had a hiatus of three and a half years, EXO-Ls nonetheless beloved what I did and what I needed to indicate them. I felt like I may belief myself extra in doing what I needed to do.
You stated you wish to work with quite a lot of sounds and genres. Whether or not or not it’s one other artist or different genres, what influenced you personally to form this album?
Somewhat than trying to different artists for inspiration, I actually regarded inside myself and thought rather a lot about what I needed to do. I reached again into my previous for inspiration. I considered what sort of R&B music I listened to in highschool, as much as what sort of R&B music that I’m listening to now. On this album, I needed to incorporate music that isn’t so totally different from the previous albums, so it’s nonetheless R&B and may appear a bit bit acquainted. However after this album I would wish to attempt some totally different types. I would wish to do some bit extra elementary R&B, from the late 90s to early 2000s. To wrap up, relatively than different sources of inspiration, I actually regarded into myself and considered what I can do greatest.
How would you describe the story behind making “Pineapple Slice”?
Once I first listened to “Pineapple Slice”, I may instantly see myself performing it on stage. I actually appreciated it. After we had been first recording the music it was my first recording in a very long time, so it was a really unfamiliar surroundings and I really feel like I wanted a bit little bit of time to get used to it. I had been getting vocal classes all through my break, and I obtained suggestions that my voice had modified fairly a bit. I like the bass line within the music as a result of I’ve a mid-range bass voice, and I believe the bass line and my voice have good synergy. Based mostly on the suggestions that my voice has modified, we may proceed with the recording easily.
Are there any expectations on what you hope followers get from Good day, World The 4th Mini Album, or are there any tracks specifically that you just hope followers will actually take note of?
To start with, since I carried out “Rendez-Vous” reside earlier than releasing this album, I believe it might be good for followers to hearken to the recorded model too. Additionally within the music “Chilly Coronary heart” I attempted rapping for the primary time and effectively, I really feel a bit shy about that music as a result of it’s my first try at rapping. It’s not dangerous, however because it’s a brand new experiment for me I’m very curious what followers will take into consideration that music. I like all of the songs on the tracklist and I hope I can carry out them reside for the followers.
Are there any thrilling plans for the longer term? Is there something main in the direction of any plan for the States?
For now, with the current album launch, I can’t ensure about my future schedule. However as I used to be doing the Asia tour, it occurred to me how a lot I needed to do a World Tour. I wish to go around the globe and greet my followers who’ve been ready for me all around the globe. Sometime, I hope to say hiya to all my followers around the globe.