Singer Kang Daniel has emerged as a growing solo artist. The beginning of this journey is his transformation into a composer.
On the afternoon of the 16th, a press conference was held in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of Kang Daniel's sixth mini-album 'Glow to Haze.'
Standing in front of the press, Kang Daniel expressed that he felt very nervous about the album production, stating, "This time, unlike the image I showed as a singing artist, I participated a lot in the production, which feels different."
He continued, "As I infused my musical direction and message into the album, I feel nervous. It’s an album made by organizing the direct words I wanted to express," adding, "Previously, I prepared tracks that had stories related to a theme projected through a single keyword. I tried to naturally incorporate stories filled with my emotions."
Regarding the reason for challenging himself to compose, he said, "This time, unlike the image I showed as a singing artist, I participated a lot in the production, which feels different." He expanded his skill set by participating in both the lyrics and composition of the third track 'Love Game' on the new album. This is his first attempt at composing.
“I had tried composing before, but I felt a lot of stress from it. I felt like I was going crazy, so I avoided it. However, composing is a good means to express the texture of emotions well,” he explained. “As I sang and showed various songs as a solo artist, I started to think about trying to compose myself. There are various expressions that cannot come out in lyrics, which led me to take on this challenge.”
The performance of 'Episode' was completed with the sophisticated choreography of the popular crew Ospicious, combined with the meticulous post-production work of K-pop's representative choreographer Choi Young-jun. Instead of emphasizing individual movements, the focus was on connecting the overall atmosphere with the music. The music video features a mysterious museum backdrop where Kang Daniel appears as a messenger of love, delivering a gentle resonance.
The music video offers a unique visual experience with a fantasy fairy tale-like storytelling. Along with top-class performances, it clearly shows Kang Daniel's musical evolution, marking the moment he opens a new chapter.
Kang Daniel has been actively engaged in world tours across Japan, Asia, and Europe since the beginning of this year. Even amidst this, he has not neglected his work on new music, showcasing his identity as a solo artist. He reflected, "Creating new songs while on tour was not easy. However, I think good tracks came out as I worked during my activities. I feel like my listening ear has broadened as I listened to various music through the tour."
Kang Daniel's new album consists of five tracks, structured like a movie. The first half expresses moments that shine like 'Glow' with a lively sound, while the feeling of a hazy heart is depicted from the middle onward, reminiscent of 'Haze.' Kang Daniel wrote the lyrics for four tracks, including the title song. The deeper tone and message contain a multi-dimensional emotion about love. The atmosphere highlighted by the pink color and the love theme also showcases Kang Daniel's new charm.
Kang Daniel stated, "I am not limiting the feeling of music, including genres. I believe there are no limits to the music I can present. I want to work harder and produce many good works."
He also shared surprising news about his plans for military enlistment in the second half of this year. "I was planning to enlist earlier, but I wanted to leave meaningful activities before going. I plan to show as much as I can leave as a singer. I am also preparing for a follow-up to this album," he expressed with anticipation.
Regarding this album, Kang Daniel rated it 92 out of 100, saying, "I want to receive reactions like 'The song is good, the track is nice.'"
In conclusion, he revealed, "When I think about it, I seem to pursue visible music. I want to create music that can stimulate imagination and can be related to personal experiences rather than a story that flows depending on the speaker," showcasing the aspirations of a rookie composer.
Kang Daniel's new album will be released on various music streaming sites at 6 PM on the same day.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
