LONG FLIGHT
TAEYONG: Was in America for half a day and arrived this morning. There was an important event at Capitol Records which our company signed with. Migos and Quavo said to do our best since we are family now, and I was dazed. It was a great experience to meet many artists.
When you’re busy, you don’t have much time alone. So when having a long flight, it’s a good alone time to think. “Long Flight” contains things that I thought of on the plane. I love eating ice cream for dessert and I love it when the sky turns purple. In the reaction video, someone commented that the lyrics were childish, and I didn’t hate that. I was wondering if I still have a pure side in me.
FIRST SOLO
TAEYONG: There were two songs. It’s called “GTA,” which was released briefly on V LIVE. It was a rap-oriented song that the title came from a game, Grand Theft Auto, to “Grand Theft Artist”. However, ‘Long Flight’ is the song that will be presented through Station, so I choose it. I’ve never sung for an entire song, so I wasn’t confident, but when I sang it in a rhythm like a rap, I felt comfortable. In many ways, it’s a special song.
FOUNTAIN PEN
TAEYONG: I like to write. In the past, I used to carry notes, write down thoughts that came to my mind, and write lyrics. I’ve collected fountain pens. I liked the feeling of rolling softly on the paper. But when I was busy, it was hard to write on the paper and open it again. Now I take notes on my phone. These days, I capture words, poems, and novels written by people. I’m used to holding pictures or images in a moment and leaving that feeling in my head.
PLAYGROUND
TAEYONG: I’ve been working on music with Royal Dive, the producer of “Long Flight.” I don’t want to think too hard about music. We want to work on songs that are not bound by business but rather, playful songs that many people don’t have to sympathize with. There’s no limit to ideas, like in a playground, like a shelter.
NCT127
TAEYONG: We didn’t talk a lot about each other’s work because we were embarrassed, but we got a lot of compliments and support for releasing this song. I feel like the time has come to sort out what’s been happening around me. I want to talk more and organize it with our members. I’m so busy that I’ve got a pile of stories to talk about. I think it’s time to dance and work together to create an opportunity to take it up to the next level.
NEAT AND TIDY
TAEYONG: I was once ‘neat and tidy’ but I could not do it these days. (Laughs) I don’t think I’m ever at home. I guess I should just think of my personality. If you think of cleaning and practice, you have to do it. I think it’s the best thing about me. I start it without fear whether it will work or not. Try it first; I think that’s the first step.
BALLAD
TAEYONG: When I don’t have a schedule, when I’m travelling for other schedule, when I sleep, I’ve been putting earphones in my ear almost all day. I don’t think it’s the time to determine genres. You can make many countless new genres in mixing music with each other. When I get the music I want to try, I listen to the music related to it a lot. So I listen to a lot of ballads recently. I’m focusing on what I haven’t opened my eyes to. I like the OST of Hotel Del Luna.
DESSERT
TAEYONG: Other people can’t eat what I eat. It’s too sweet. I don’t know if you like sweets or if my tongue can’t recognize taste well. (Laughs) It’s a bad habit, but I eat sweets rather than rice. I think this is my energy source now.
FISH
TAEYONG: I watch a lot of videos of fish growing these days. It’s underwater. To make the fish better off by putting in the bushes. I can’t do it myself, but I’m interested in watching the video.
SUMMER
TAEYONG: I was born in summer, so I liked summer, but it’s not good these days. I don’t think it’s the summer I know. (laughs) But before the summer is over, I want to go out to the Han River at night to get some cool air, exercise and sweat with the members, and spend some time chatting and eating something cool.
190820 Harper’s Bazaar September 2019 Issue