Chanyeol for EXO-L Japan Vol 21
CHILLING AMONG THE RECORDS ✨
Q : In an interview for Planet #16, you answered "late-night fantasies" to the question "What is yo.ur source of inspiration for your creative activities?" What kind of things inspire you these days?
CHANYEOL : "Recently, I often get inspiration from things that are right in front of me. There are songs on my current album that were inspired by EXO-L and Zzar. In the past, I used to get irritated when I was driving in traffic, but now I think I have more peace of mind, and the other day when I was stuck in traffic, I opened the window with a calm feeling. Then I saw a train passing by. The sight and the sound of the train brought me a melody. I don't know if it's because I've become more relaxed or sensitive, but I feel like I can now see things that I couldn't see before. In the past, I wanted to strongly assert myself through music, but now I try to express what I feel honestly. I guess my military service has changed me after all (laughs). Before my military service, I felt pressured to show something quickly, but now I have the peace of mind to do what I want whenever I want, so I think my ideas are more free"
Q : Tell us the story behind the production of your first solo album "Black Out"
🍒 : "Before recording the title song "Black Out," I was really worried about the character and feelings of the protagonist. It's a story about a person who is hurt, so I wanted to express myself more exhausted and darker, but I felt like I was wearing clothes that didn't suit me… I'm basically a cheerful person, so it was quite difficult to express this song. I'm not 100% satisfied, but I'm very grateful that the reviews from those around me were not bad because I worked hard and thought about it a lot. A TMI from the "Black Out" music video shoot: when we were shooting on an open-top double-decker bus in Hong Kong, I secretly regretted having my bangs down. The wind was so strong that I kept thinking that I should have slicked my hair back. But when I saw it on the screen, it looked fine (laughs). Everyone, from now on, when you watch the "Black Out" MV, please watch it while thinking that Chanyeol is only thinking about his bangs (laughs).
Q : Please tell us what you are preparing in particular for the live tour in Japan and what you are looking forward to [*this interview was in early November 2024]
🍒 : "Actually, last night I had a dream that I messed up on stage during the Japan tour (laughs). The song started playing at the wrong time, and I was in a state of panic… But there is a saying that what will actually happen is the opposite of the dream, so I think it must be a good dream. That's how much I've been thinking about the Japan tour! This tour is my first solo live performance, so I can't stop being excited. I'm also preparing Japanese songs, so I hope everyone will enjoy them. Oh, and we're talking about releasing a Japanese album next year, and I'm planning to debut one of the songs from that album on this tour, so I've been practicing hard! The guitar part of that song is extremely difficult, and I'm worried about whether I can play it properly at the live performance, so I'm practicing several hours every day!
Translation by nlnl. Photo © sailorsehun
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