BAEK Z YOUNG
KSTATION TV met with solo singer BAEK Z YOUNG on November 25, who is back in the limelight for a mini album entitled “ORDINARY GRACE”.
Seated with the singer in a special interview, journalists present discover the artist’s new song, “그래 맞아” [That’s right], whose clip is carried by the singer and actress NANA, the shooting taking place in Thailand. We follow a couple having fun in different places, a simple clip highlighting the powerful voice of BAEK Z YOUNG. After the MV is broadcast, the question and answer game begins, focusing on the singer’s impressions during the first listening of the song’s lyrics. She begins by expressing her love for the song, which express beautiful messages reasoning in it. She goes on to say that she was touched by this listening, and is proud today to be able to sing such a beautiful title.
She considers this song as fate, and that it is not by chance that she was offered it. Yet she was not so surprised to receive this title as a gift, but most of all grateful to have been the recipient. She also thinks that this song is not for everyone, and that you need to have confidence in yourself to be able to interpret it. She has, however, received a lot of help around her, either from the producers or from her agency, which allowed her to take the title and make it perfectly fit her personal style today. What strikes the most in the song writing is the presence of KANGTA, famous member of the pioneering group H.O.T. It is therefore an additional responsibility to have to perform such an important and symbolic song.
The album is also supported by four other tracks, constituting an album that delights her, as well as her daughter who was happy listening to the different tracks. She repeatedly thanked everyone around her for preparing this comeback, highlighting the surprisingly easy recording sessions, with the director always expressing his satisfaction and preventing him from rerecording too many times. Once the album was finished, and having listened to it in one go, she found that all the tracks were perfect and did not need to be recorded again. In addition, BAEK Z YOUNG has included a comment section on her album, where she shares her feelings about the making of this mini-album.
« I am really grateful for all the people who have accompanied me to make this comeback » — BAEK Z YOUNG
She is looking for a reason to sing it for each song, to connect it with in her memories or in her everyday life, and writing these comments was a first for her, an opportunity to put on paper what she felt. She considered writing them at length, not being customary in albums to make them, but leaving a trace of the importance of this album seemed necessary to her to perfect it before its release. At the heart of this album, we find the title song “그래 맞아“, but also “Fly“, “단잠“, “숨은 빛” and again the title song with a version “String“.
All songs complete her facet of artist, and during the shooting of the clip was the question of including a happy ending or not for the couple represented on screen. While the artist wanted a happy ending, her husband preferred a sad one. A common agreement was found, that of making the couple break up, before they find themselves as if there again, it was fate.
During the shooting of the drama «SWEET HOME», season 2, with her husband she had the opportunity to dive into the backstage of the filming, the singer having participated in the OST of the drama. It was a very unique experience, considering that the drama is about zombies and that it’s not a universe she is familiar with. Returning to the shooting of the MV of «그래 맞아», to match the concept of the song, it was necessary to have a sparkling and young actress, NANA then imposed herself in her mind, having already met her in the past. She thought of her during one scene in particular, when the two protagonists run over a bridge to meet, with fireworks in the background. She contacted the young woman, preparing a long message explaining why she wanted her in her clip, being ready to adapt her schedule knowing that NANA was busy, but had an answer: ‘OK! Let’s go! “
Once NANA was cast for the clip, it was necessary to find an actor with whom she would have chemistry on screen, and the choice fell on the model CHAE JONGSEOK. Two versions of the clip were shot, a soft one, and one where the two actors are a little more intimate and kiss each other, and it is this version that was chosen. In preparation for this comeback, BAEK Z YOUNG also considered releasing a dynamic album, focused on pop and dance, but when she received the song from KANGTA, her choice was an album of ballads. However, before she reaches 50 (having 48 today) or for that birthday, she would like to release a pop album, before she has no more energy to sing this kind of music.
« I would define the songs of this mini-album as comforting» —BAEK Z YOUNG
The most important thing for her is not to sing as many songs as possible, but to perform songs that will please her for longer, and can bring warmth and comfort to her fans. Among her favourite songs today, she cites another OST for the drama “IN THE EYE OF A KILLER”. Although a lot of time has passed since her last album, five years ago, she highlights the covid crisis that slowed down the music industry, as well as the other artists of her agency TRI-US ENTERTAINMENT who also had comebacks to prepare. She preferred to leave them the place to release an album before her, time to find the central theme of her next album, which was articulated around the song offered by KANGTA.
Time passes quickly for her, and the artist did not realize the years passing by. When you think about it, it was a shock when she celebrated her 10 years of marriage last year. Despite her five-year break, she was satisfied with all the songs and albums she had released before “ORDINARY GRACE“. She had hesitated between two songs title for this comeback, but chose the one that had more meaning in her eyes. Singing is more a passion than a job for her, but she knows that writing lyrics isn’t necessarily the easiest thing to do and that it’s necessary to be surrounded by a good team to help her with tasks she can’t accomplish.
The title “Fly” spoke particularly to her in this sense, as the lyrics of the song directly echoed a person she knows. She also does not consider herself difficult, because she doesn’t go into the head with subtleties, and is just grateful to be supported. When making a new comeback, she advises to find a balance between impatience and disinterest. Indeed, if we do not care enough about the songs that we will receive they may not please us, but if we are too impatient we risk being disappointed. Clearing your head of too much parasitic thoughts is the way to make the most of future performed songs in order to have fun.
There was a time when she felt a lot of frustration preparing for a comeback, but the conclusion she made is that there will be no big impact on her image and career if an album doesn’t suit her completely. Before reaching this conclusion, she went through several stages and now approaches everything in a positive way. It is not necessary to know everything in advance to be well prepared.
« Even if some people will think that the songs are sad at first listen, it is not the background of the album which is as previously said comforting» —BAEK Z YOUNG
BAEK Z YOUNG thinks of all the people today who pass auditions, and the behind-the-scenes system to become a singer. She, who did not have to go through such an important system, feels happy but at the same time embarrassed by the efforts of young people today. In addition, she considers storytelling to be an important part of the industry, each album being a continuity of the previous one. However, she doesn’t think she can ever get into auditions or singing contests in shows, nor even create a story between the comebacks, because it would mean too much work and pressure for her. Her albums focuses on albums with unique stories, or similar themes, so that everyone can listen to each other individually. It is not through her story that she will touch the hearts of fans, but through her voice and sensitivity while singing.
She also received messages from her family telling her that the title song was good, but that the other songs on the album were just as good, if not more touching, and so it’s important to listen to each track. Receiving the advice of her daughter is important, she who today stands out in drawing and dancing according to her mother. Looking back, the first time BAEK Z YOUNG wondered if she knew how to sing was when she was in middle school, but it took almost the day before her debut to admit that yes, she did, and with talent on top of that. The artist made her debut in 1999, and is still grateful for people who trusted her to make her debut.
At the time, many international artists were oriented around pop, with the singer citing JENNIFER LOPEZ and MICHAEL JACKSON as an example, and that making her debut with a ballad album had caused her a lot of stress at the prospect of failing to make a place in the industry. So she didn’t like her debut, having brought some concerns to her, but recognizes that her early years were necessary for her to become the artist she is now. She also doesn’t think that if she had to start again today, she would be better off then because she is a different person now.
In conclusion, she says that nothing would be possible without her family, which is the most precious thing in her eyes. Everything she does is for her family members, and for her fans, she promises to do concerts next year, possibly considering a tour abroad. Rather than becoming a great artist, she prefers to remain a beloved one. This is how this round of interview session ends, the singer having shared a large part of herself during an hour.
Our reporter’s words: “Taking part in interview rounds is always a unique experience that seems to put the artists at ease enough to talk to us with open hearts.”
Journalist: Pillet Anaïs
Photos: TRI-US ENTERTAINMENT
Source: KSTATION TV
