Do you think it’s important for those in the music industry to engage with change? In your opinion, where do you draw the line between what truly resonates with you and what would resonate with the audience?
It’s a common struggle that all musicians and artists eventually go through. To me, you have to balance a certain commercial appeal, current trends and one’s ego, what you believe in and what you want to pursue, against the flow of the world and how things become “trendy.” I definitely had my struggles with this. I tried to find a middle ground, but in the end, things didn’t turn out as expected. The idea of making mainstream music is not just about trying to create something that will eventually be popular. It’s really hard to know if it will actually strike a connection with the people listening. And it can sometimes feel a bit arrogant to think otherwise.

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And what did you learn from that experience?
I came to the conclusion that, in the end, I just need to focus on what I enjoy. Music is something I started doing because it was fun, and I want to keep doing it in a way that makes me happy and satisfied. Honestly, if I put my best effort into it, I strongly believe people will notice and appreciate it.

What’s a record you made that are deeply proud of?
Every moment I’ve spent working on music feels memorable. In some ways, they feel like my children; I hold a lot of affection for each of them. There’s no way I can choose one [laughs]. But now that you’re forcing me to, I’d say the Show Me The Money project stands out. There’s something about pushing yourself to the extreme. We had limited time and competed with four different teams who were evaluated in real time. It was very intense. In the show, there’s the track Forever by BewhY, which basically consists of three songs merged into one. It went through multiple variations, and it was not exactly mainstream. It could even be seen as complex. But I think it’s such a cool song.

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What if you looked back into it again?
I would wonder if I could make something like that again. But I think it’s the kind of music that could only happen with the emotions and circumstances of that specific time. Also, Jay Park’s Body comes to mind as well. The theme behind the track really came out well, and I’m proud of how it turned out. A lot of people requested music with a vibe similar to Body, but even if I tried to replicate it, I would admit I can’t capture the same energy. If I do, it feels forced, almost like a self-copy. I believe that music that was done then was precious, and it’s hard to recreate that feeling.

How do you construct melodies? Is there a specific method, or does it come naturally to you? 
Every songwriter has their process when it comes to creating melodies. For me, it usually starts with the chords or the backing track, from which I then draw inspiration. The mood changes depending on the chords, and that mood will shape the melody. For example, if it’s a sad song, the melody will match the sad atmosphere. Or, if it’s an upbeat song, the genre will also define the melody. I believe the melody-writing process should adapt depending on the genre and the rhythm. It could be the rhythm that grabs your attention or the mood created by the chord progression itself. To me, it’s really versatile.

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Is there a record that changed your life when you were younger? 
It’s hard to choose just one. But I would say that the position I’m in now, as a producer and songwriter, has been shaped by figures like Pharrell Williams. He has had a huge impact on me. As a performer, he’s amazing. But he has also done so much in producing for other artists, and his versatility really inspired me. I think of Kanye West similarly. They’re the ones I’ve been most influenced by. Albums like In My Mind and College Dropout were huge for me. I listened to a lot of that music in high school and early college years, and I think those years shaped my musical perspective.

If you were to put together an epic group of musicians — either rappers, producers, and/or singers — who would you pick, and why? 
Right now, the first people that come to mind are Code Kunst as the group’s producer, Woo Won-jae as the rapper, and Lee Hi as its singer. I think if I filled it with people from Duover, it would be an absolutely epic group. But, of course, my roots are with AOMG. Back in AOMG’s prime, when artists like Jay Park, Simon D and Loco were all there, it was such a shame we could not put together a compilation album. If we had made that compilation, I think it would have been the most epic group ever.

T-shirt, jeans, cap, all Acne Studios; Shoes, Ferragamo; Bangles, all Buccellati

What would you like people to remember from this conversation?
There’s no bigger message than what I’ve said at the start. I hope everyone takes good care of their health. When you’re sick, you’ll not be able to do anything. Even while you are busy, it’s important to take care of your body. Stay healthy, exercise regularly, and enjoy life. With work and everything else, I think the key is to have fun with it as much as possible. When you go in a direction that is fun, good energy follows, and good energy leads to good results. So take care of your health, live happily, and enjoy life.

Photography Kwak Kigon
Creative Direction & Styling Izwan Abdullah
Interview & Fashion Coordination Manfred Lu
Grooming Park Juyeon
Hair Nam Daeun
On-set Stylists Kim Youngjin, Mauro Locatelli
Production Oh Seoyul | SY Production

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