Inside a couple of seconds of his newest EP, BAEKHYUN gently introduces himself with the phrases “Howdy, World.” The opening tune “Good Morning” radiates a pleasing optimism: “Beneath the brand new sky each day / A present-like as we speak is dazzling.” That constructive, contagious outlook is among the EXO member’s defining traits—and that temper is definitely slightly apt, contemplating it’s 2 am right here in New York after I communicate with him over Zoom from his residence base in Seoul.
His fourth solo mini-album, Howdy World, comes almost 4 years after his final launch, Bambi. There’s a motive for this lengthy hiatus, since instantly succeeding the 2021 launch, BAEKHYUN enlisted in South Korea’s necessary navy service and served almost 20 months. He lept seamlessly again into his music and enterprise endeavors after his discharge—with as a lot dedication as ever. He began his personal firm, IBN100, leaving SM Leisure, and accomplished a formidable sold-out “Lonsdaleite [dot]” Asia tour.
After the artist teased a brand new launch on tour and social media over the past 12 months, BAEKHYUN’s EP serves as each a present and a reintroduction to all of the followers who’ve been patiently ready. “I received’t be taking such lengthy breaks anymore,” he tells StyleCaster. “I’ll preserve creating music for my followers and listeners and displaying lots of totally different sides of myself.”
In Howdy World, BAEKHYUN’s velvety voice guides you thru songs which can be generously infused with traditional R&B sounds—however with tinges of various genres, like Bossa Nova in “Rendes-Vous” and groovy bass-driven synthpop within the lead single, “Pineapple Slice.”
BAEKHYUN’s enriching course of for the album was certainly fruitful, and it makes him crave that candy success much more.
Your final solo album, ‘Bambi’, was launched throughout the pandemic and you then needed to go to navy service. What has modified since then?
I believe the largest change is content material tradition. Engaged on music hasn’t modified that a lot. However now there are extra various kinds of content material I can do than earlier than. Now that I’m selling my new album, it’s good that there are a lot of extra shops to speak with folks from all over the world. I’m blissful to have the ability to join with followers who’ve been ready for me all all over the world.
It’s becoming that your new album is known as Howdy, World The 4th Mini Album. Evidently you’re introducing your self to a broader viewers now. How do you hope to introduce BAEKHYUN as of now?
I believe earlier than, I used to be seen primarily as a vocalist who tries actually laborious and practices loads. After all, I’m going to proceed to follow and attempt to enhance myself, however I additionally wish to present that I’ve lots of expertise now. I wish to be extra relaxed and assured in entrance of the viewers. I additionally wish to problem myself by exploring totally different genres and displaying lots of new sides.
You will have managed to carve out a profession as somebody who’s extremely versatile and might transfer between genres and ideas. How do you suppose you’ve managed to do this and the way does that mirror your efficiency?
I’ve had lots of expertise with numerous genres with EXO, and I introduced that have to my solo actions. Sooner or later, particularly starting with this fourth mini album, I believe there’s much more I can do, and there’s much more I wish to do. There’s the human aspect of Baekhyun and there’s additionally BAEKHYUN on stage. I’m going to make an effort to convey these two BAEKHYUNs collectively. I believe a technique of doing that’s to check out lots of totally different genres which can be based mostly on R&B— like hip hop R&B and different genres that may be derived from R&B. I’m going to maintain making an attempt out totally different ideas and present them by way of my music.
After I first noticed the photographs of Howdy, World The 4th Mini Album, it felt prefer it leaned loads into movie noir and it jogged my memory of Bambi. However within the album description, it mentioned this time you wished to lean into the expression of movie genres equivalent to motion, drama, noir, and romance in your music and ideas. What impressed that call?
The primary idea of this album connects to the message “creativeness turns into actuality.” As an idol, I believe I acquired to expertise lots of totally different characters as I get to be lots of totally different folks by way of totally different ideas. I wished to point out that I can incorporate all these totally different sides and showcase my numerous charms by way of this album.
Quite a lot of accountability is positioned on solo artists in Okay-pop versus the way in which that obligations are shared in teams. What do you get pleasure from most about working solo?
As a solo artist, I might say that I’ve much more flexibility with time. After I’m working as a bunch, the logistics take longer as there are extra folks round. I believe being a solo artist is sort of lonely and it’s much more enjoyable to behave to carry out as a bunch.
Do you may have any recommendation for followers who’re additionally trying to discover confidence in managing lots of obligations or simply looking for themselves?
Lots of people merely say “hope you’re feeling higher about your self,” however I do know these phrases are sometimes not sufficient if you happen to’re feeling actually down. As a vocalist, I didn’t have lots of confidence in myself both. However I took vocal classes and practiced loads, and eventually, I felt extra certain of myself. If there’s any recommendation I can provide as somebody who has expertise with feeling unconfident, it’s that the necessary factor is to take a position time in bettering your talent set in sure areas the place you’re feeling much less assured.
My recommendation might pertain to my very own expertise however I want to say that if you happen to can work out what you wish to enhance and work towards that objective, your hidden confidence will naturally rise.
There’s the human aspect of Baekhyun and there’s additionally BAEKHYUN on stage. I’m going to make an effort to convey these two BAEKHYUNs collectively.
Talking about followers, you’ve proven such nice appreciation to EXO-Ls throughout your fan conferences and excursions this 12 months. For somebody who’s been within the business for over a decade, what does cultivating that relationship with followers imply to you proper now?
Sooner or later, I began to really feel that I might depend on EXO-Ls. Past the connection as a fan and idol, I really feel a real reference to my followers. I can’t even discover the suitable phrases to really specific how I really feel however it’s like we’re linked even from far-off, even when we don’t see one another each day, even when we’re not close to one another.
I really feel like that is probably the most elementary type of love, and that this emotion may be very deeply rooted in love. EXO-Ls are valuable to me, and so they give me a lot vitality and I cherish them a lot. I’ll attempt to be even nearer to EXO-Ls sooner or later. Proper now, it appears like I can depend on them. I don’t know if I ought to depend on them like this. I’m not often an individual who depends on different folks however to my EXO-Ls, I actually do really feel like I can depend on them.
How has touring affected the way in which that you just wished to current this album? You gave a spoiler on Weverse about “Rendez-Vous” and carried out it on the final encore present of your Asia tour, ‘Londsdaleite [dot]’. How did you’re feeling concerning the fan response to that and performing it on stage for the primary time?
The explanation why I selected “Rendez-Vous” because the “spoiler tune” is as a result of I wished to point out an upgraded model of myself. I selected a B-side that I felt held some new components that I hadn’t tried earlier than, but additionally one thing that isn’t fully unfamiliar to my followers.
I used to be coming again after such a very long time, so slightly than displaying a very new aspect, I assumed I might add just a little little bit of freshness. I assumed an R&B tune with a bossa nova rhythm would really feel a bit extra acquainted. I actually like “Rendez-Vous” and I used to be actually glad that EXO-Ls additionally cherished the tune. I felt that regardless that I had a hiatus of three and a half years, EXO-Ls nonetheless cherished what I did and what I wished to point out them. I felt like I might belief myself extra in doing what I wished to do.
You mentioned you wish to work with a wide range of sounds and genres. Whether or not or not it’s one other artist or different genres, what influenced you personally to form this album?
Somewhat than trying to different artists for inspiration, I actually seemed inside myself and thought loads about what I wished to do. I reached again into my previous for inspiration. I considered what sort of R&B music I listened to in highschool, as much as what sort of R&B music that I’m listening to now. On this album, I wished to incorporate music that isn’t so totally different from the previous albums, so it’s nonetheless R&B and might sound just a little bit acquainted. However after this album I would wish to attempt some totally different kinds. I would wish to perform a little bit extra elementary R&B, from the late 90s to early 2000s. To wrap up, slightly than different sources of inspiration, I actually seemed into myself and considered what I can do finest.
How would you describe the story behind making “Pineapple Slice”?
After I first listened to “Pineapple Slice”, I might instantly see myself performing it on stage. I actually appreciated it. Once we have been first recording the tune it was my first recording in a very long time, so it was a really unfamiliar setting and I really feel like I wanted just a little little bit of time to get used to it. I had been getting vocal classes all through my break, and I obtained suggestions that my voice had modified fairly a bit. I really like the bass line within the tune as a result of I’ve a mid-range bass voice, and I believe the bass line and my voice have good synergy. Primarily based on the suggestions that my voice has modified, we might proceed with the recording easily.
Are there any expectations on what you hope followers get from Howdy, World The 4th Mini Album, or are there any tracks specifically that you just hope followers will actually take note of?
To begin with, since I carried out “Rendez-Vous” dwell earlier than releasing this album, I believe it will be good for followers to hearken to the recorded model too. Additionally within the tune “Chilly Coronary heart” I attempted rapping for the primary time and nicely, I really feel a bit shy about that tune as a result of it’s my first try at rapping. It’s not dangerous, however because it’s a brand new experiment for me I’m very curious what followers will take into consideration that tune. I really like all of the songs on the tracklist and I hope I can carry out them dwell for the followers.
Are there any thrilling plans for the longer term? Is there something main in the direction of any plan for the States?
For now, with the latest album launch, I can’t make sure about my future schedule. However as I used to be doing the Asia tour, it occurred to me how a lot I wished to do a World Tour. I wish to go all over the world and greet my followers who’ve been ready for me all all over the world. Sometime, I hope to say whats up to all my followers all over the world.
