JANG HANEUM : Discovering his dreams

Solo artist JANG HANEUM, from the agency ES NATION, is making his comeback with a second album titled “DAYDREAM.”

During a showcase held in Seoul, the young singer, who previously appeared on the show “Boys Planet II”, introduced his new album. He made his debut on April 29, 2023, with the digital single “First Love” and had already hinted at a promising career, especially since he also took part that same year in MNET’s “Vocal Showdown.” This new album has therefore attracted the attention of many journalists, who gathered at the showcase to discover the artist’s latest work.

“DAYDREAM” consists of nine tracks: “Imagine,” “Daydream,” “Kingdom Come,” “Hélas (Why Do We Live),” “Imperfect,” “After the Dream,” “MidsummerNight,”and two title tracks:“Wanna” and “Only 1.” The showcase gave the audience a chance to discover both title tracks, while also learning more about the artist himself, as he shared behind-the-scenes insights into the album’s creation following a short press photo session. “DAYDREAM” focuses on the world of dreams, as well as the reasons that drive us to pursue them. HANEUM opened the showcase by saying he had worked very hard on this comeback and hoped fans would enjoy his long-awaited return.

JANG HANEUM

Without delay, the music video for “Wanna” was revealed, immediately followed by HANEUM’s live performance. Surrounded by dancers on stage, he delivered a dynamic choreography that highlighted the energy of the track. It was also an opportunity to showcase his skills in both dance and rap, as he took on new challenges for this comeback. Notably, every song on the album was written by him, making this project deeply personal. With great enthusiasm, he presented “DAYDREAM” to the audience, each comeback representing the culmination of a long period of hard work. He paid particular attention to his rap delivery, aiming to make it as natural as possible while offering a sharp and impactful choreography.

“I chose the name ‘DAYDREAM’ for the album because it’s also the title of the first song I wrote, which influenced the album’s overall style and theme.”– HANEUM

Dreams clearly play an important role in the singer’s artistic vision, as his previous album, “LUCID DREAM,” was released last year. He revealed that he often reflects on dreams ; why humans dream, and how dreams influence our lives. One of the tracks, “After the Dream,” continues this narrative thread, creating a connection between his projects. Since the release of “LUCID DREAM,” he has taken time to write down every lyric that came to mind, later developing them into full songs. When asked why he chose to pursue a solo career rather than joining a K-pop group, he humbly explained that he wanted to convey personal messages that resonate more deeply with him, rather than performing more general songs mainly centered on love.

JANG HANEUM

When he was younger, many people told him that his dreams were too big and that he would never achieve them. Now that he is living that dream, he hopes to prove through his comforting lyrics that anyone has the right to dream, and that one should not listen to negativity from those who do not believe in them. Remaining modest, he admitted that he considers this project more of a mini-album than a full album, despite its nine tracks, as he feels he still has much to learn before reaching the level he associates with a “true” full-length album.

“‘Only 1’ tells our partner to trust only us and follow us wherever we go.“ – HANEUM

JANG HANEUM

The singer chose to promote two title tracks in order to showcase two distinct sides of his musical identity. He also aimed to be inclusive by incorporating lyrics in English, Japanese, Chinese, and even French. However, the song “After the Dream” is entirely in Korean, expressing a more intimate side of the artist. As for his goal with this comeback, he hopes to receive positive feedback on his work, especially regarding his dynamic dance performances. To highlight his vocals, he performed “Only 1,” a rock ballad with powerful notes. The showcase concluded with HANEUM inviting the audience to share in his present and future dreams.