Okay-pop star Secret’s by no means one to take a seat idle.
The 33-year-old, a member of the long-lasting boy group SHINee, finds himself performing as a bunch member, creating as a solo artist, starring in a number of actuality TV reveals and nonetheless discovering time to have moments to himself.
“I feel each particular person 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 clarify that each particular person takes on a unique identification in a unique scenario, and that’s how he’s been in a position to sort out his many roles as a family identify in Korea.
Under, the Okay-pop star will get sincere about rising older within the business, what sort of music he’s seeking 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 dangerous 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 loads. I do know it’s [been] like six years, however it modified loads. [It’s the] identical, however completely different. At first, I assumed, ‘Oh God, I’ve to go to extra.’ Once I noticed the followers with my very own eyes immediately, It was heartwarming. [I felt] love, and I felt sorry too, truly.
Did you?
Yeah, loads.
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 doable, I actually wish to come. Really, I’m unsure, however I’m within the planning phases for my American tour. I’m unsure [yet], however I wish to. As SHINee, I wish to come right here usually, too.
Within the final six years, Okay-pop has grow to be more and more extra widespread 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 observed a distinction in that ambiance?
Okay-Pop began [gaining popularity in the U.S.] 15 or 16 years in the past. I feel. I assumed it was type of type of a syndrome or one thing, like anime music. Like a number of actually devoted followers. I’m a nerd too. I assumed it was type of like that type of part. However 5 to 6 years in the past, Okay-pop was widespread. And, now, what’s Okay-pop and what’s American pop? What does it imply? Folks dance to [a] Vietnamese music on TikTok… It doesn’t matter [to] this era. I’m singing in Korean, singing in Japanese, singing in English, it doesn’t matter now. I’m type of glad, truly
That have to be extra liberating to you as an artist.
Previously for those who couldn’t perceive the lyrics, individuals didn’t hear, you already know what I imply? However lately, [it’s] completely completely different. I feel it modified loads. It is determined by [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’re feeling you’ve modified as an artist? You’ve had a protracted profession, and also you’re at a really completely different place than once you began. Naturally, you’ve grown into maturity, however I’m questioning if even over the previous few years because you had been discharged from the navy, for those who’ve observed a change in the way you carry out?
Let me be sincere, after I was NCT’s age, I didn’t know I might work at this age [33]. I couldn’t think about it, actually. Folks mentioned that loads. All of the senior artists mentioned it’s not that lengthy [and] lasting [in a] group is basically exhausting. I heard these type of issues loads previously, however now I’m 34 [Korean age] and I’m nonetheless doing the identical factor. Once I was a youngster, I assumed after I turned 30 years outdated, I actually thought – what ought to I do for my chapter? However now it’s completely different. That type of era has modified, and I wish to present to my junior artists, you guys can do that too [into your 30s], the identical [way] you probably did earlier than. Plenty of good issues occurred to my very own profession that I couldn’t think about. And every thing occurred after [I was] 30 years outdated. I couldn’t think about significantly, and I didn’t plan this. I did what I might do sincerely. That was my job, that [I did] with my coronary heart. I didn’t give up. That’s the purpose. Then I assumed, 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 seems like I’m proving one thing to my followers that I instructed you, and I’m so excited. Really this time we had been in Mexico [right before], and we got here right here straight from Mexico, so I couldn’t take pleasure in Los Angeles. I couldn’t exit. I couldn’t take pleasure in that a lot, however performing is sufficient for me, truly.
With KCON, I’m fairly certain I wish to take pleasure in extra. It’s a sooner or later efficiency, so earlier than the efficiency, after the efficiency, I would like take pleasure in extra. I would like take extra photos. I wish to present everybody [my trip].
Pleasure Store was your final launch. It nonetheless very a lot seems like a Key music, however it’s somewhat completely different from a few of your previous releases. The place do you’re feeling you’re at sonically as a solo artist? Are you at some extent the place you wish to strive new issues?
I feel one of many good issues of Okay-pop, there’s no style. As a human… I’m such a bizarre particular person [laughs]. I’m film nerd. In Okay-pop, you may combine every 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 thing. However even I don’t know what I wish to do subsequent. I feel it is determined by that 12 months’s complete atmosphere and vibes and traits. I can choose some concepts from my previous. Perhaps it’ll occur like that. However this 12 months, as a human Kibum [his given name], Pleasure Store was type of delicate for me. I wish 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 12 months.
You mentioned your music is only one a part of you. How do you’re feeling you differentiate these components of your life?
I feel each particular person has their very own 12 identities or one thing. Every particular person, not even simply celebrities. If you’re a human, once you go to work, if you end up in class, once you meet your greatest buddy or once you meet a buddy who you don’t like, it’s such as you grow to be a completely completely different human. You understand what I imply? As an artist, and as a human, it’s the identical. Once I’m in a foul temper, I could be a dangerous child. It occurs as a result of I’m a human too. Ultimately, possibly you received’t imagine this, however I’m type of shy. I might be shy sooner or later and exhausting, and troublesome. You may’t simply categorical one identification. Once I go on a range present, I feel 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 nearly 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 lots of me.