“Listening to EXO-L singing from backstage is like a love letter. It’s like whispering, ‘I want to meet you soon.’ Especially when waiting for encore stages, EXO-L singing is like they’re saying, ‘We don’t want to part from you.’ When I listen to that singing, all I want to do is quickly go onstage.”
Are you the type that gets nervous before going onstage?
Yes. I’m the type to always get nervous. Honestly, my nerves have recently decreased. So I exercise the feeling of “I have to focus” when I go onstage. Shall we say that I worry about breaking the tension? If there’s no tension, I could make a mistake onstage.
On the other hand, there’s the fun of making a mistake at a concert that’s different from a broadcasted stage. Wouldn’t it be okay if you weren’t so nervous?
I myself cannot allow mistakes. It’s difficult for myself to accept mistakes.
It seems that you listen carefully to EXO-L singing onstage and offstage in the waiting room; how does it make you feel?
I think that is a form of communication. EXO-L singing while waiting for our opening stage and encore stage is a way to deliver their feelings to us. “We’re waiting for you,” “We’re this ready to enjoy your performance,” “Come out again,” delivering those feelings, that’s communication. Just like how in communication, both talking and listening are equally important, we work equally as hard at performing good stages and listening to the fans’ hearts.
What do you usually do 5 minutes before a concert?
I always pray. The message of the prayer is always similar: “Please keep the EXO members from getting hurt and allow us to stand onstage until the end. Please give us the strength to go to the end of the concert even when it’s difficult and we’re tired. Please don’t let the members dwell on any small mistakes. Please don’t let the audience or staff members get hurt, and enjoy the concert safely.”
We’re curious about how you practice singing. It won’t do if a vocalist doesn’t practice, but it seems that you’ll damage your throat if you practice too much, seeing as you have a lot of high notes.
If you practice enough, you can sing high notes without it damaging your throat. It’s probably true for a lot of vocalists, but if you force high notes, your throat will get damaged and it will experience changes. I don’t force it when rehearsing before a concert. It’s actually easier that way. If I think I need to, I’ll go back to practicing the day before a concert, but I’ll only lightly warm up my voice on the day of a concert.
Do you worry about being out of tune?
Yes. A lot. I’ve been off-key before. I used to be really sensitive about being out of tune. I lashed out at myself a lot. But now I’m slightly more tolerant of being off-key. I think of it as the charm of singing live.
What was the most memorable thing about preparing for EXO PLANET #3 - The EXO’rDIUM[dot]?
Honestly, it was really hard while preparing for the concert. The members comforted each other when the concert ended, saying, “You’ve gone through a hard time.” That still remains in my chest.
While watching EXO PLANET #3 - The EXO’rDIUM[dot], it could be felt that EXO had a deeper bond than before. Was there a special occasion?
Sehun played a part in EXO recently having a deeper bond. He communicated his real love for the hyungs. When Sehun organizes a get-together, no one misses it. I think Sehun gave the members strength.
EXO picked Chen as the member who invigorates the others when they’re tired. It was said Baekhyun makes the members laugh, Sehun looks after the hyungs, and Chen massages the members’ shoulders.
Yes. I often massage the members’ shoulders. The members are as tired as I am, so when I’m tired, I uselessly massage the other members. Maybe that’s how I’ve touched the members’ hearts?
Which member do you think has grown the most through EXO PLANET #3 - The EXO’rDIUM[dot]?
Sehun. He became more relaxed during ments, when dancing, and every moment onstage. It’s nice to see that he’s more comfortable with interacting with the audience members. He expressed his feelings onstage without hesitation, and has gotten rid of his bashfulness.
Are you ever not confident when onstage?
Of course! There are moments when I lose my confidence. When my condition isn’t the best, I worry about going off-key when singing high notes. Shim Jaewon-hyung alleviates me from that burden. He supports me by saying, “Have confidence.”
When were you grateful to the members while the concert was happening?
The members all have their own conditions on the day of the concert. But regardless of whether their condition is good or not, the members always take care of each other before the concert. We try to make each others’ conditions the best by playing around or laughing and talking with each other. Since we’ve been together for 5 years, we know how to make each others’ moods the best before a concert. Since we know each others’ personalities well. There is an example answer for each individual member.
Please say something to each member after having safely completed EXO PLANET #3 - The EXO’rDIUM[dot].
Xiumin knows me so well. Sometimes he says to me, “What do you know about yourself? I know you better than you know yourself.” Hyung, please look after the person known as Chen as well as you have been doing until now.
Suho, thank you for leading the EXO members to this point for 5 years by yourself. I know I wouldn’t have been able to do it myself, so I acknowledge that you are great.
Baekhyun is someone who has always given strength to not only myself, but all the members too. The other members will agree with me. Baekhyun is the one who saves the mood when things are hard.
Chanyeol is a member who is always a comfortable friend to everyone. For always bearing with me from when we met as EXO members until now, and for being my best friend, thank you.
D.O is a really reliable friend. When it’s tough, I always feel better when D.O says something. So I always lean on him without realizing it.
Kai is a younger brother I want to take good care of. On the outside he looks mature, but his personality is to lean on the other members a lot. Kai, I’ll take good care of you.
I want to say this to Sehun. Sehun, you’re the king of loyalty. You’re the best. I love you a lot.
trans: andie @ fychen ϟ please take out with full credit!
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