Today December 1st, 2017, the King is back at the Seoul Dragon City with his new album “My Life 愛”.
It has been 15 years now since RAIN has debuted and this new opus comes 3 years after his last album.
In this new album, RAIN wishes to express with his music, strong feelings he had been experiencing through his life. Pieces in which RAIN has put all his heart and gratitude towards his fans who were there for him.
That is what RAIN came to present before the entire press. A conference hosted by MC Dingdong leading RAIN to explain the secrets of this album. The singer admits this album will turn the world of music upside down by hypnotizing the public.
At first RAIN collaborated with C-LUV, an R & B producer who worked with him on various titles such as “널 붙잡을 노래“. C-LUV also participated in the composition of “다시“, “Baby Baby” and “Sunshine“.
The title of this new album is “My Life 愛“, and the main song, “깡 (Gang)“, is composed by a production team called Magic Mansion. They put a lot of effort into creating a hip-hop song for RAIN.
RAIN then talks about his participation in < The Unit > :
The reason why I decided to do <The Unit> is because I sympathized with the stories of the participants. Although I’ve been contacted several times, I refused other audition contest programs because I felt that I did not deserve to be a judge. However, the meaning of this program reminded me of my young “me”. It’s basically a repechage. Those who have tasted failure, those who are impatient to go on stage but have not had the chance yet, etc. I, myself, failed at 18 different auditions and producer JYP gave me a chance at the end. Like him, I thought I could pass on my expertise or my skills. I am really proud of the participants. I still think I have to do a lot more to make them blossom.
Let’s go back to the album:
<오늘 헤어져 (Today, we break up) feat. Hyun-ah Jo of URBAN ZAKAPA>
Hyun-ah Jo of URBAN ZAKAPA wrote the song and the lyrics. I was a long time fan of URBAN ZAKAPA. The lyrics speak of couples’ separation and I exercised myself for a long time not to harm the reputation of Hyun-ah as a singer.
<다시(Again)>
It’s about a guy who asks to start anew his relationship.
<Sunshine>
While reggae is usually played in the Summer, I tried reggae in the Winter. The participants in <The Unit> inspired me a lot. Although they have not achieved a stable career yet, they start to attract attention and they look very happy, their eyes shine, which reminds me of the sun.
<Gang>
I really wanted to try something new, something I had not done before. I tried new styles of rap and dance. I learned to rap thanks to a rapper. I added a doll-tumbling movement in the choreography. I wore a wrestler mask. I wanted to compose a song that could gain popularity in clubs. And also, I wanted to quench the thirst of my fans who have long wanted to see one of my performances.
RAIN then answers to the question of the journalists, present in number.
1. Does your fame for great performance give you a lot of pressure?
I always feel under pressure to follow celebrity. Therefore, I always try hard to perfect my music, so it takes a lot of time and effort. However, I feel much more comfortable with my situation and I start to like music much better. Whereas, in the years of my 20s, I was very absorbed and focused on goals and I had a lot of ambition to succeed.
2. How do you feel about having a daughter?
It seems like the second chapter of my life has begun. I feel happy, I have something that I love more than myself. It’s absolutely an indescribable feeling. Also, I feel indebted to my fans and all the people who have watched me and supported me. I could not start a family and have a stable life with them. Therefore, I really want to raise my child to be someone who can contribute to society and make positive changes for others.
3. Why did you decide to do something new? You could have taken a safer way, doing what you did.
I do not think there is a safety net in the music industry. New and very strange kinds of music become successful, while some songs that seem very nice are falling behind. Also, since I started 15 years ago, I wanted to challenge myself and I wanted to impress the audience as a person who always tries to try new things. As a result, I’ve included songs that are lighter and less powerful except for the title track.
4. As a challenge, you’ve chosen hip-hop, a new genre you’ve never done before. Why did you choose it?
I have always loved hip-hop music. Since I was a teenager, I went clubbing and became friends with DJs. As a result, hip-hop music has grown in me. Because I know a lot of DJs, I could work with underground DJs in the Hongdae area.
5. How was it like to participate in <The Unit>?
You could see aspects of me that you had never seen before. Because the principal is <The Unit>, as a supporter, I tried to highlight the participants. During these episodes, you could see that I was really tough with the competitors of <The Unit>, as a mentor, because I wanted them to realize how important each step is, because it’s kind of a promise with the public.
6. What does the word “dance” mean to you?
“Dance” seems to me like a practice and an incessant creation. Although I am constantly evolving, I hope to become a role model for future generations, as Uhm Jong Hwa and JYP have been for me.
RAIN appeared very smiling and very fulfilled between his private life and his professional life, the singer proves that the two can live together if we give ourselves the means to get there
Journalist/Photographer: Sung Moonhyun
Source: KSTATION TV
