“I perform and broadcast out of a sense of responsibility for the music I create. I believe that as a singer, my professional ethics dictate that I share my music with as many people as possible, rather than for any commercial purpose.”
“In other words, performances are a means for me to showcase my work. It’s also a place to prove whether I still have potential as a singer.”
The reason Jung Joon-il (41), a singer with 17 years of experience, makes music is simple. It started from the curiosity of “What kind of feelings will I evoke in others when I share the music I love and create?”
Jung Joon-il stated, “Except for special projects or OSTs, I try to create and sing my own songs,” and expressed his belief that “just because people like a song doesn’t mean it’s a great or good song. There are hit songs that aren’t good.”
He added, “First and foremost, I want to share music that I think is good. I aim for high quality and strive for a certain level in my musical direction.”
Meeting Jung Joon-il at a café in Seoul, he shared profound insights about music, contrasting his humble appearance.
Listening to music is a consuming act. Especially with the emergence of numerous genres and artists, the music industry has become more competitive. Jung Joon-il emphasized, “As a performer, I feel that the communication channel for delivering music has narrowed compared to before. With K-pop becoming a large industry, there aren’t many performance opportunities for balladeers and singer-songwriters, so I want to be more active.”
Indeed, Jung Joon-il has actively participated in music variety shows such as 'Immortal Songs', 'Park Bo-gum's Cantabile' (both KBS), and 'Masked Singer' (MBC), showcasing his presence. Among these, he proved his skills by achieving 9 consecutive wins on 'Masked Singer', where he competed anonymously using only his voice.
Regarding his participation in 'Masked Singer', he explained, “Personally, I felt there was a hindrance in my singing career for the past 2-3 years. I hadn’t released hit songs with the same public appeal as before, and there were fewer opportunities to appear on broadcasts or media. During those times, I thought my music and I were drifting away from the mainstream,” adding, “I wanted to know how appealing my songs are to the public.”
He wanted to know whether he still had potential as a singer. Ultimately, he became one of the few to achieve the longest reign of 9 consecutive wins alongside Guckkasten's Ha Hyun-woo and Touched's Yoon Min.
Jung Joon-il revealed that he has an unspoken reluctance and difficulty singing in front of others. He explained the reason for holding concerts, saying, “It’s not to show off or to make a profit. It’s simply a presentation of the music I’ve prepared for those who are interested in my music, whether in a small theater or a larger venue.”
This thought may come off as introverted, but in music, he has a clear and firm stance. Jung Joon-il said, “I have many close friends who are musicians. I don’t see Yoon Jong-shin, Yoo Hee-yeol, Lee Seung-hwan, and Lee So-ra often, but we keep in touch. Just not about music,” he said with a smile.
When asked if he has a desire to collaborate with senior artists or sing songs they provide, he replied, “I want to create music that I love on my own. I don’t want to change my music based on someone else's words.” He added, “In the past, I worked on a track for 'Monthly Yoon Jong-shin' with Yoon Jong-shin, who was the producer, and I sang it with acceptance, but I actually had difficulty accepting his direction because it was a bit different from what I pursue,” showing his determination as a vocalist.
However, as can be felt in this part, Jung Joon-il clearly respects producers who take charge of the entire music. He confessed that he was the first vocalist to record 'Reset', the second track of Yoo Hee-yeol's one-man band 'Toy's' 7th regular album. The vocal for the released 'Reset' song was chosen to be sung by Lee Juck.
Regarding this, he shared, “I recorded the song, but Yoo Hee-yeol said he needed to think more about it, and there might be changes in the vocalist. I didn’t mind at all. I had no regrets, and I fully respect the producer's perspective and judgment.”
After holding a concert last October, Jung Joon-il quickly connected with fans again by hosting another concert in February this year. Both performances were held in small theaters, allowing his sticky vocals to deeply resonate with the audience. Unlike the October concert with a band, the February concert was a 'Piano Concert' featuring only pianist Kwon Young-chan, showcasing more delicate music.
Riding this momentum, he expanded the scale and moved to LG Arts Center in Seoul (about 1200 seats) to hold an orchestra concert. Despite the hectic schedule, Jung Joon-il stated, “It’s not difficult. Since it’s very hard to book a performance venue, if the opportunity arises, I want to go anywhere and sing. Honestly, my goal is to perform in larger venues.”
Could it be that someone recognized the true value of Jung Joon-il's music? Actor Park Bo-gum, who first connected with him through 'Park Bo-gum's Cantabile', also attended his orchestra concert, continuing their musical sharing.
He mentioned that he is constantly researching vocally. Reflecting on his past voice, he said, “It felt like I ironed out all the wrinkles and sang.” Currently, he stated, “I believe there is texture in music. I want to become a good singer from the introduction and verse.” In fact, most of the songs he recently released focus listeners from the very beginning with a whisper-like singing style. He explained, “Since my voice isn’t functionally strong in high notes, I tend to immerse myself more in the thickness and texture of the tone.”
As his career as a singer progresses, he seems to have set a direction for the future. Jung Joon-il said, “I plan to trust my music and not be intimidated by the public's reactions or perceptions. I want to lead the stage solely with music rather than performance. I approach it with the mindset of singing at my own pace on my own island,” adding, “Rather than broadening my audience, I hope each person deeply listens to and enjoys my music.”
Additionally, he expressed, “As a heavy listener (a group that listens to music seriously), even if I don’t continue in this industry, I want to be someone who loves music for a long time,” painting a picture of his personal future.
Finally, Jung Joon-il left a response during the interview that was the most philosophical, allowing one to feel the 'person Jung Joon-il' rather than just the singer.
“People are really complex beings. Gaining someone's heart is a complicated and subtle matter. Sharing feelings with those I work with makes me feel increasingly grateful for people. I think I end up self-censoring while being sincere to others. I don’t just say it; I truly want to be a humane person. I want to be someone who genuinely cares for others and live each day with the desire to become a better person through music.”
