ELLE Magazine [09/2023]

Q. You have already graced the covers of Japanese, Chinese, and British magazines this year. Today’s meeting with Elle is the first filming of Taeyong as a global ambassador for Loewe. How was it?

TY: I think it contains a different side of me.  Recently, I had a difficult schedule, including shooting a music video. Perhaps because of this, I was able to discover an unexpected side of myself that was a bit weaker than usual. In fact, I’ve even lost a bit of weight (laughs).

Taeyong ㅠㅠ

Q. Do you watch movies and documentaries on your tablet PC on long flights?

TY: I watched the vlog on my personal YouTube channel. I also found out that I’ve seen the documentary series Our Earth four times. Strangely, even if you watch other documentaries, you eventually come back to Our Earth) Season 2 just came out. 

I especially like the scenes with birds and reptiles. The carnivore part is rather bad. When I was young, I sat next to my father and watched National Geographic together, and I think I likes nature documentaries because of that influence. Cute animals often appear in Loewe.Including the famous Elephant Charm. In addition to elephants, sea creatures such as fish are used as motifs, and there are also many natural objects.

I can say it has everything I like! 

Loewe reminds me of luxurious and elegant beauty, but it is attractive that these cute elements exist in opposite ways.

Q: When you attended the Loewe Men’s Show in Paris last June, you presented your first solo album to everyone, including creative director Jonathan A. You might be a little shy.

 TY: I wasn’t shy at all. The album is really ‘mine’. I wanted to convey my love, effort, and time 

Q. Your first solo album, Shalala, which was released last June, contains a total of seven self-composed songs. I think it’s going to be an album where each song tells its own story.  Did any part get resolved after you took it out?

TY: Of course. Looking back, it’s strange that

The songs I wrote recently didn’t make it to the album. I feel that the songs from when I wrote them with a purer heart blend together, and I think the story of the album finishes in that way.  I didn’t mean that at all.  I always thought that I was stuck in the past.

With the release of this album, that part really went away. I feel relieved. 

Q. If you look back on the journey of doing many things alone, including album production, appearing on web entertainment programmes, and promotional activities,

TY:  I have accumulated good experience points.  There were times when I regretted it.  As I always do, I can show myself through SoundCloud or YouTube, but I wondered if it was necessary to go this far.  I think there was also an anticipation in the back of my heart that if I released an album, I might be recognised as an artist.  What is certain is that, thanks to this experience,

I was able to move on to the next one.  I want to do well in my future work and plans.

Q. The title song, Shalala, was quite a neo-choice. It was a really cool song.

TY:  I liked that this song was not typical. There was a little bit of a willingness to take a risk. It’s not a song that’s popular or can accurately express me, but I had confidence in the way I sang this song.

Q. Junior idols pick the ‘Shalala’ stage as a stage that they recently felt cool, and also mention Taeyong as their role model.  What does it mean to hear these words from juniors walking the same path?

TY: They are all artists themselves. Thank you so much for respecting me.

At the beginning of my debut, I think I was more focused on finding’something NCT-like’ while looking at the team than having a role model. The process of finding it wasn’t easy either.

Q: I often watch NCT 127’s ‘Killing Voice’ video.  Among the numerous videos and records of NCT, the video that Taeyong often watch is

 TY: I still don’t feel comfortable seeing myself in the video.  Still, I often look for old NCT music videos.

I hope that more people will watch this video and know that we have been making great music since our debut.  In the past, if we were considered a team that performed difficult performances and made adventurous attempts, now, in our 8th year,

I think the music has become a bit familiar as a genre.

Q. People don’t worry about Taeyong on stage.  How are you?  Are you anxious sometimes?

TY:  I get anxious if I don’t practise enough.  During the NCT 127 encore concert last October, I was not feeling well and could not participate in the rehearsal.

Due to lack of time, I went on stage without even having a run-through rehearsal, but the members did a great job.  It was a performance that left us with better memories as a result of being anxious before going on stage, but trust in each other was born.

Q. As a member who handles difficult performances, was there any difficult choreography for Taeyong?

 TY: It’s not difficult to dance or do any kind of choreography.  I’m confident that i can handle anything.  Still, looking back, the ‘ZOO’ stage during ‘2021 Winter SM Town’

overlapped with the team’s activities, and it was difficult because there was not enough time to prepare and when I appeared as a judge in Street Woman Fighter. Dancing is supposed to be fun, but it hurt to see the dancers having a hard time due to the competition.

I also know that dancing isn’t always enjoyable, so it seemed to overlap with my image at that time.

Q. What are you most confident about?

TY:  patience. I definitely think there is.  It’s hard to start, but if you have to do something, you dig to the end. So the members had a hard time.  It was to the point of saying things like ‘I went home as soon as I finished practicing with Taeyong and it was time to go to school’ (laughs).

Q. Following last year when you visited Gwangju, Daejeon, Daegu, and Busan with the NCT 127 members, you held a fan signing event in the province alone this time.

 TY: The reason is that I had a really good memory of going with the members last year, and I think it’s right for us to visit our fans.  I think it’s a bit lacking in meeting fans only through performances, so we split time apart to communicate through messengers or games.

Q. Creation is an important driving force for Taeyong.  What if one day you run out of ideas or inspiration for something new?

 TY: I’ve actually had that experience a few times.  At that time, try a different genre from the current genre, or change the direction of the song, and make small changes.  Because inspiration itself never goes away.  It’s difficult how to express it. When I show and tell others what I feel, I have to think about whether it can be conveyed in the way I want

Q. It was somewhat unexpected that you agreed with ‘I think I am realistic rather than creative’ in the MBTI test video

TY:  I’m realistic and planned.  Let your imagination run wild.  I think a lot has changed since I was a trainee.  I must have become more constructive, I definitely felt what it means to be able to draw the future only when we face the reality.

Q. How does meeting various worlds through tours affect Taeyong?

TY:  Blessed are you!  It’s a really good experience as an artist to be exposed to the culture of another country.  When I look at the colors, scents, and scenery unique to that country, the range of music I think

broadens. The fear of trying something new disappears.  I also have the ability to empathize with people’s various aspects.  I was a ‘super T’ with poor empathy (laughs). It’s also something that has changed a lot since debut.

Q. Like the expression ‘I met so many good people in my life’ in your solo album, you often talk about how you were able to grow through the people around you.  What side of Taeyong did people open their hearts to?

TY:  It’s a little silly, but I think it’s because you’ve seen

the honest side that can be seen as pure if you’re pure.  Even when I was a trainee, when something was pointed out, I accepted that part and didn’t repeat the same mistake.  I was able to do so because I had the conviction and earnestness that it had to be this way.  .

I was able to come this far thanks to believing in myself

Q. If you could express Taeyong’s condition in words these days

TY: hmm. warm? I’m rather happy these days.  There is warmth in my heart.  In the past, I always worried about tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, but now I think I’ve learned how to enjoy the given day.

I’m trying to let life go a little further..

Q: What are you most confident about?

TY: The thing I am most confident in is perseverance, I think I definitely have that. It’s hard to start, but if you have to do something, you dig to the end.

cr: tyzip
transl:Elsplstrtyong