By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
While crossover is an attractive genre, it hasn't taken off yet in Korea. There are only a handful of crossover singers in Korea that make it to the mainstream, and they usually only appear at recitals, special events and solo concerts. Newcomer Kai, however, is setting his sights higher. He aims to succeed in the competitive industry of popular music.
``The best thing about crossover is that it has such a large range. This can mean the range of my singing, but also the range of variety. We can combine two different music styles, for instance, rap and classical, and produce something completely original,'' the 28-year-old singer told The Korea Times during an interview last week in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul.
The reason why crossover singers fail to garner fans can be understood with a glance at the television screen. The Korean music industry is infatuated with certain genres of music; currently it's idol music. The industry doesn't allow other genres to squeeze in, and makes it especially difficult for lesser known genres such as crossover.
The road ahead isn't easy for newcomers like Kai.
Luckily enough, Kai was given a rare chance to perform with one of the best sopranos in the world, who is also famous for her wide range of music, Sumi Jo, last month.
``I still watch the videos of me performing with her, and I still can't believe that I actually stood on the same stage with Jo. I can't explain the feeling of having performed with my idol,'' he said.
While singing with Jo was a dream come true, it's been a long, hard struggle for Kai.
He has been singing ever since he was a little boy. His mother, a former music teacher and a big fan of classical music, took him to recitals and concerts of famous sopranos and tenors, and the young Kai started to dream of becoming a successful opera singer himself.
After entering the prestigious Seoul National University in Korea as a vocal music major, it dawned on him that learning centuries-old music and techniques was not what he wanted to do.
``Classical music is beautiful, but I felt a thirst that could not be quenched by learning the music of the past. I wasn't satisfied in simply learning the techniques; I wanted more,'' he said.
``I later realized that my strong point was as a baritone, and if I used my voice to generate easier and more relatable music, this could bring out the best of me.''
So, the young and passionate singer changed direction. He became a crossover singer.
His tutors, including his mother, were not happy with his decision. Kai said it took both time and effort to persuade and convince them that he was not abandoning his past, but pushing it forward.
Indeed, Kai's first single ``Edgewalker'' is nothing like contemporary crossover singers where they tend to sing a K-pop song with the same voice they would sing opera. His main number ``Punishment'' is a beautiful subtle ballad, bringing out his deep, smooth voice.
``It sounds like a waltz without the strong beats, which is a distinctive feature in opera music. I wanted to present a song that was pure and true to the core without pushing my voice to that extent. Being classical was a must, but I wanted the song to relate to people as well,'' he explained.
`` I wanted to bring something that everybody could enjoy and sing along to.''
This was the reason why Kai tried something many crossover singers have not done: create new songs instead of remaking old ones.
His single is comprised of the main track ``Punishment'' and ``You Raise Me Up,'' but his upcoming album will offer original songs by some of the best composers in the industry.
Kim Hyung-suk, the producer behind top singers such as Kim Gun-mo, Sung Si-kyung, Park Jin-young and Shin Seung-hun, is working with Kai on his first album, and the two are expected to add a breath of fresh air.
``I want people in the future to refer to my music as the classical music of the 2000s. Although I am making music based on classical music of the past, I want people to know that there was a young man named Kai who worked on an older form of music but gave it a twist and brought a whole new and different style. That's my dream.''
Kai is preparing a special performance called ``Thank You 4 the Music'' with fellow musicians Kim Hyung-suk, pianist Roh Young-sim and singer Joe Won-sun. The show will be held at Seoul Arts Center, from Dec. 28 to 31. For more information, visit (02) 529-1923.