Ok-pop star Secret is by no means one to sit down idle.
The 33-year-old, a member of the enduring boy group SHINee, finds himself performing as a gaggle member, creating as a solo artist, starring in a number of actuality TV reveals and nonetheless discovering time to have moments to himself.
“I believe each individual has their very own 12 identities or one thing,” the singer jokes to The Hollywood Reporter backstage at his music company SM Leisure’s SMTown Dwell L.A. He goes on to elucidate that each individual takes on a unique identification in a unique state of affairs, and that’s how he’s been capable of deal with his many roles as a family identify in Korea.
Beneath, the Ok-pop star will get sincere about rising older within the trade, what sort of music he’s trying to create subsequent and what he’s most enthusiastic about when visiting L.A. this summer season for KCON.
How does it really feel to be again in L.A. after a while? You mentioned, as SHINee, you haven’t been right here in 10 years.
I [completed my] navy service and [there was] additionally [the] pandemic. After that, Taemin went to [his] navy service, so timing was so, so unhealthy for SHINee. However I’ve at all times missed [our] American followers, and naturally, I at all times miss L.A. However you already know what? Two days in the past I felt – I don’t know why – however one thing’s modified so much. I do know it’s [been] like six years, but it surely modified so much. [It’s the] similar, however totally different. At first, I believed, ‘Oh God, I’ve to go to extra.’ Once I noticed the followers with my very own eyes right now, It was heartwarming. [I felt] love, and I felt sorry too, really.
Did you?
Yeah, so much.
Are you hoping to get extra alternatives to come back right here?
Yeah. As solo artist or as SHINee as many as if it’s attainable, I actually need to come. Really, I’m unsure, however I’m within the planning phases for my American tour. I’m unsure [yet], however I need to. As SHINee, I need to come right here typically, too.
Within the final six years, Ok-pop has grow to be more and more extra common within the U.S. There’s simply extra of a requirement for artists to come back carry out right here than there was six to 10 years in the past. Have you ever seen a distinction in that ambiance?
Ok-Pop began [gaining popularity in the U.S.] 15 or 16 years in the past. I believe. I believed it was form of kind of a syndrome or one thing, like anime music. Like a couple of actually devoted followers. I’m a nerd too. I believed it was form of like that form of section. However 5 to 6 years in the past, Ok-pop was common. And, now, what’s Ok-pop and what’s American pop? What does it imply? Individuals dance to [a] Vietnamese music on TikTok… It doesn’t matter [to] this technology. I’m singing in Korean, singing in Japanese, singing in English, it doesn’t matter now. I’m form of glad, really
That should be extra liberating to you as an artist.
Prior to now for those who couldn’t perceive the lyrics, folks didn’t hear, you already know what I imply? However today, [it’s] completely totally different. I believe it modified so much. It will depend on [the] artist’s expression, singing English or singing Korean, it’s liberating. I really feel extra free even now than earlier than as an artist.
How do you are feeling you’ve modified as an artist? You’ve had an extended profession, and also you’re at a really totally different place than while you began. Naturally, you’ve grown into maturity, however I’m questioning if even over the previous couple of years because you have been discharged from the navy, for those who’ve seen a change in the way you carry out?
Let me be sincere, after I was NCT’s age, I didn’t know I may work at this age [33]. I couldn’t think about it, actually. Individuals mentioned that so much. All of the senior artists mentioned it’s not that lengthy [and] lasting [in a] group is admittedly exhausting. I heard these form of issues so much previously, however now I’m 34 [Korean age] and I’m nonetheless doing the identical factor. Once I was an adolescent, I believed after I turned 30 years outdated, I actually thought – what ought to I do for my chapter? However now it’s totally different. That form of technology has modified, and I need to present to my junior artists, you guys can do that too [into your 30s], the identical [way] you probably did earlier than. Numerous good issues occurred to my very own profession that I couldn’t think about. And every little thing occurred after [I was] 30 years outdated. I couldn’t think about critically, and I didn’t plan this. I did what I may do sincerely. That was my job, that [I did] with my coronary heart. I didn’t give up. That’s the purpose. Then I believed, yeah, possibly 10 years later I’ll be doing the identical factor, so now I can plan it. That’s the most important factor that’s modified in my life.
You’re taking part in KCON L.A. this summer season. How are you feeling about that?
I really feel actually good that I made a promise to all my U.S. followers. I really feel like I’m listening to their needs. I really feel actually joyful. I’m coming again actually quickly. It appears like I’m proving one thing to my followers that I advised you, and I’m so excited. Really this time we have been in Mexico [right before], and we got here right here straight from Mexico, so I couldn’t get pleasure from Los Angeles. I couldn’t exit. I couldn’t get pleasure from that a lot, however performing is sufficient for me, really.
With KCON, I’m fairly certain I need to get pleasure from extra. It’s a sooner or later efficiency, so earlier than the efficiency, after the efficiency, I need get pleasure from extra. I need take extra footage. I need to present everybody [my trip].
Pleasure Store was your final launch. It nonetheless very a lot appears like a Key music, but it surely’s somewhat totally different from a few of your previous releases. The place do you are feeling you’re at sonically as a solo artist? Are you at a degree the place you need to attempt new issues?
I believe one of many good issues of Ok-pop, there’s no style. As a human… I’m such a bizarre individual [laughs]. I’m film nerd. In Ok-pop, you may combine every little thing, all of the cultures, all of the genres and all of the movies into one album. I’m not saying I’m that proficient. I’m not saying I’m able to every little thing. However even I don’t know what I need to do subsequent. I believe it will depend on that yr’s entire setting and vibes and tendencies. I can choose some concepts from my previous. Perhaps it’ll occur like that. However this yr, as a human Kibum [his given name], Pleasure Store was form of gentle for me. I need to do one thing stronger. I miss Gasoline a lot, so I’m going to convey that once more on an album in plan this yr.
You mentioned your music is only one a part of you. How do you are feeling you differentiate these elements of your life?
I believe each individual has their very own 12 identities or one thing. Every individual, not even simply celebrities. In case you are a human, while you go to work, if you end up at school, while you meet your finest good friend or while you meet a good friend who you don’t like, it’s such as you grow to be a completely totally different human. You already know what I imply? As an artist, and as a human, it’s the identical. Once I’m in a nasty temper, I could be a unhealthy child. It occurs as a result of I’m a human too. In a roundabout way, possibly you received’t consider this, however I’m form of shy. I could be shy in some unspecified time in the future and exhausting, and troublesome. You’ll be able to’t simply specific one identification. Once I go on a range present, I believe I’m Conan O’Brien. I actually really feel like that – I’m a comic. Once I’m on stage. I’m a pop star. I’m a Michael [Jackson] on stage. I really feel like that. Once I’m in {a magazine}. I really feel like I’m a mannequin. after I’m non-public. It’s virtually the identical in non-public too. It’s like that. There’s no extra, who am I? What sort of artist is Key? I don’t do this. There’s quite a lot of me.
