There are two sides to Ok-pop star Kang Daniel. One second the 27-year-old shall be commanding an viewers as he works the stage, performing his newest single “Electrical Shock,” and the subsequent he’s in a comfortable sweater, seemingly a bit extra reserved throughout a Saturday afternoon Zoom from Seoul with The Hollywood Reporter.
Kang has had a while to determine what works finest for him, as he’s been working within the business for the reason that age of 20. In 2017, he received his begin after successful the second season of Korean music competitors present Produce 101, incomes him a spot within the present’s non permanent boy group Wanna One. After a profitable run with the group for a 12 months and a half, the singer determined to launch his solo profession. His followers, collectively identified now as FLOWD, have been with the performer since day one.
Since then, Kang has had a number of critically acclaimed albums in Korea. He’s additionally acted, making his onscreen debut within the 2022 mini-series Rookie Cops, Disney+’s first Korean authentic collection. The Ok-pop star additionally hosted the wildly standard Korean dance competitors collection Avenue Lady Fighter and its equally standard spinoffs Avenue Dance Ladies Fighter and Avenue Man Fighter.
Now, the singer is again with a brand new EP, Act, having signed with a brand new administration firm, Creative Spherical Alliance, identified merely as ARA. He joined the company after shuttering his self-founded company Konnect Leisure on account of embezzlement by a significant shareholder.
The singer says it “wasn’t really easy” for him to maneuver on from his earlier firm, however releasing his newest album has nearly felt like he was “restarting” and persevering with his job as an artist once more.
Beneath, Kang opens up concerning the course of of creating his fifth solo album, what an ideal free day appears like for him and what’s subsequent for his music and appearing careers.
What was your expertise like making Act? How did you are feeling going by way of selling the album?
Being a solo artist, I all the time must act for my music movies. This time I performed two roles. It was sort of a brand new expertise for me as nicely. It was a extremely good time taking pictures my music video.
Have you ever had a favourite a part of the album launch, whether or not it’s taking pictures the music video, performing or the rest?
The music video. I imply, that is my job. The music video is a part of my job, however I really feel prefer it’s one thing model new this time.
Do you are feeling that your personal private journey as an artist and as an individual on the earth influences your music?
Often, after I watch films or drama [series], I take into consideration music too, although I’m attempting to not do my job every time I’ve time to calm down at dwelling. That’s my passion — watching films and drama collection — and it makes me think about lots. Typically it’s actually useful to me, that creativeness [it] brings to my work. I may say that this sort of influences my music.
How do you recharge? What do you love to do in your free time?
There’s plenty of methods to recharge. Some individuals exercise or watch films however, for me, simply staying in my dwelling… I imply house is the whole lot to me. I’ve received cats in my dwelling. I’ve received my laptop in my dwelling. I’ve received TVs in my dwelling. Yeah, simply staying at dwelling.
How are your cats? They’re very cute cats.
They’re actually cute. They’re all the time cute. They’re excellent.
Do you’ve gotten any hopes to behave once more sooner or later? Was that one thing you loved and need to attempt once more?
Perhaps. If I get the possibility, I’d like to. Once I was taking pictures [Rookie Cops] for the primary time, I’d really feel actually nervous. However now I really feel comfy. I can do extra stuff.
How do you need to be seen as a performer at this level in your profession? Clearly, since you’re so younger, it’s humorous to say, however you’ve had an extended profession already. How would you like individuals to see you? Is it totally different than it was?
Thanks. [Laughs]. Thanks for saying that. I like to be myself on stage and in performances, however for me, slightly than being somebody’s finest singer of their reminiscence, I need to be a singer of their playlist. That [they] take heed to my music typically. That’s a part of my aim.
If you happen to may say one thing to your followers at this second in time, what that may be?
To my FLOWD. Sadly, I had no alternative and I had a scenario that sadly we modified the fandom identify. Even earlier than and even now, I admire all my followers. I wish to say thanks to your help on a regular basis. I used to be in a position to launch this album all due to you, and I’m going to turn out to be a cool particular person in order that the route that I selected doesn’t deviate out of your creativeness on a regular basis.
