“I thought I would never sing again after my vocal cord nodules... Now my vocal range has recovered!”
Singer Kim Hyun-sung (47) has returned. “You are my everything, you are my destiny, I can't let you go~.” Just hearing the lyrics brings back the melody of the 2000s hit song ‘Heaven,’ and his beautiful voice and vocals have fully recovered.
After a long period of not being able to sing due to vocal cord nodules (muscle tension dysphonia), Kim Hyun-sung has finally stood before the public with a new song in his unique vocal range. He recently released a new single titled ‘I’m Trying to Love Again.’ This marks his first regular song in about 15 years, excluding compilations or series, since the release of ‘Fading Away’ in 2010.
Kim Hyun-sung expressed, “I feel overwhelmed in many ways. I never thought I would be able to return. I was worried if my voice would recover well, and now it’s hard to believe that the moment has come where I can share it with you. It feels like a second debut.”
The support of composer Jo Young-soo was significant in Kim Hyun-sung's comeback. By joining Nexstar Entertainment, founded by Jo Young-soo, he was able to plan a new album. After seeing Kim Hyun-sung on ‘Singer Gain 2’ in 2021, Jo Young-soo reached out to him, and they signed a formal contract in 2022. Since then, Kim Hyun-sung has been working on his comeback through consistent vocal rehabilitation and training, and he was finally able to enter the recording studio.
Kim Hyun-sung said, “If it weren’t for Brother Young-soo’s help, it would have been difficult to start. At the time of my appearance on ‘Singer Gain 2,’ I was in my mid-40s and working, so the thought of returning wasn’t easy. Nevertheless, when I expressed my worries, fears, and honest feelings about recovering my singing, Brother Young-soo said, ‘I will wait until you recover.’ That was a great source of strength for me. I think I was secretly waiting for someone to say that,” he expressed his gratitude.
Kim Hyun-sung, who put a lot of effort into the album production through many conversations with Jo Young-soo, showed his special affection during the interview.
He mentioned, “The recording period took about three weeks. In fact, the very idea of entering the recording studio was scary for me. It wasn’t easy to be in the studio, the place where my voice is heard best. I was very worried that my weaknesses would be maximized.” However, he added, “Brother Young-soo knew that I was experiencing trauma in the recording studio. He sensed my fear and we did the recording 3-4 times, not just once. The company was very considerate, allowing us to work comfortably over a long period. That was a moment that touched me.”
Kim Hyun-sung stated, “I recorded well in a good environment with good people, but there are still parts I feel regret about. I am trying to accept my shortcomings.”
He recalled the day he first received a song from Jo Young-soo, saying, “While I was on the move, I received a file titled ‘Kim Hyun-sung Super Hit Song’ from Brother Young-soo. When I listened to the music with a trembling heart, I felt that he had put a lot of thought into the song. He aimed for a delicate emotion and captured it well.” This song was completed with Jo Young-soo as the composer and Kim Ina as the lyricist, depicting the pain of love after a breakup.
He was overflowing with confidence and affection for the new song. Kim Hyun-sung described the new song as “perhaps a true classic ballad. Rather than chasing the trends of the current era, it’s a song that I sang without embellishment, holding the emotions of that time.” He added, “With the participation of Jo Young-soo, Kim Ina, and session musicians and engineers from the 2000s, I hope that when people hear this song, they will say, ‘Kim Hyun-sung has returned.’”
During his performance on ‘Singer Gain 2,’ singer Kyuhyun (Super Junior), who was a judge, even shed tears. It was sadness over the difficult times Kim Hyun-sung had gone through due to vocal cord nodules. Kim Hyun-sung said, “I didn’t have a personal relationship with Kyuhyun, but I was grateful for such a reaction on stage. I appreciated his thoughtfulness, and I think thanks to Kyuhyun, my existence was highlighted a bit more.”
In connection with this, Kim Hyun-sung held a listening session upon the release of his new song. He invited listeners including Kyuhyun, Kim Ina, and Yoon Do-hyun to listen to the new song. Kim Hyun-sung shared, “I wanted to let Kyuhyun hear it first when I eventually make a song. Fortunately, he graciously accepted the invitation message, and I remember laughing when he asked, ‘Will it be live?’ after listening to the song.”
Throughout the interview, Kim Hyun-sung could not hide his excitement. He described this comeback as “a miraculous event” and stated, “I absolutely do not want to rush. My focus is on recovering my vocal condition. Even if it’s not 100% recovery, I am trying to regain my unique vocal range that I used to show.”
He continued, “I believe that the innate timbre and vocal range cannot be discarded. I had quite a fear of high notes, but as I practiced, my vocal range recovered first. For now, maintaining this state is the best I can do.”
Having debuted in 1997, Kim Hyun-sung is now approaching his 30th anniversary. Although he has had a hiatus of over 10 years due to vocal cord nodules, his hit song ‘Heaven’ still occupies a corner of his fans' hearts.
Kim Hyun-sung remarked, “In fact, when I appeared on ‘Singer Gain 2,’ I thought I would just sing at a basic level to restore my honor. I considered this moment as my last farewell to those who support me.” He added, “After the appearance, seeing the supportive messages made me resolve not to have complacent thoughts again. I thought I must repay those who supported me. If it weren’t for that support, I wouldn’t have been able to endure until now,” expressing deep gratitude for his fans' love.
In conclusion, Kim Hyun-sung stated, “Even though times have changed, I think the most wonderful thing is to create music that is true to myself, Kim Hyun-sung, rather than doing something special or technical. Within that, I want to broaden the spectrum and present diverse music.”
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
