AKMU sings adolescence in new album
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AKMU performs during a mini concert at Seoul Forest in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, May 5. / Courtesy of YG Entertainment
By Kim Jae-heun
Sibling duo Akdong Musicians, also known as AKMU, released their mini album “SPRING Vol. 1” last week after a two year break. The album is the first of a two-part series ― the second part will be released later this year.
The Korean title for the duo’s new album is “Adolescence,” which Lee Chan-hyuk, the songwriter and older brother of Lee Su-hyun, named because the six tracks are about their youth back in Mongolia where the two lived for five years.
The duo named the album’s English title “SPRING” because they compared adolescence to this season of new life, a time when thoughts start to sprout and develop. Adolescence is often understood as a sensitive time for teenagers but AKMU sees it as a period that comes to anybody at anytime regardless of their gender or age.
“When we released our first album Play, we were very young like babies,” said Chan-hyuk during their press conference at YG Entertainment in Mapo-gu, western Seoul, Wednesday. “This year, I legally became an adult and Su-hyun will turn 20 next year. With this album, we wanted to show how we progress (from our childhood to adulthood).
“The songs are not only for those who are going through adolescence but also for those who have gone through it.”
YG Entertainment’s sibling duo Akdong Musician (AKMU) Lee Chan-hyuk, left, and Lee Su-hyun pose for the cover of their album “SPRING Vol. 1.” / Courtesy of YG Entertainment
The songwriter said that he tried to keep the duo’s music young and lively like the songs he produced four years ago when he debuted ― because his fans still expect a fresh and witty style of tunes from AKMU.
“RE-BYE,” and “How People Move,” both included on AKMU’s new album, were produced by Chan-hyuk.
RE-BYE, a jazz pop song, recollects Chan-hyuk’s memories of life in Mongolia where he experienced many new meetings and farewells. He sings of a person’s hope to cease going through frequent separations.
“How People Move” is an upbeat funky number about the artist’s curiosity on people’s behavior in their daily lives.
“Chan-hyuk had a hard time communicating with the members of his family during his puberty, and he often rebelled against our father. Chan-hyuk did not talk until he had all his thoughts organized but our father saw this as disobeying him,” Su-hyun remarked about her older brother when asked about the duo’s experience of adolescence.
AKMU’s album immediately topped the eight real-time online charts upon its release and RE-BYE ranked number one on Gaon’s digital and download charts as of last Thursday. The Gaon Music Chart is Korea’s popular music chart often compared to Billboard in the United States.
The mini album Volume 2 will have music about the struggles adults must face and the duo plans to include a couple of ballads and slow tempo music.
Chan-hyuk also revealed that he will enlist in the army after this year.
“I don’t have any specific plan yet, but when Chan-hyuk goes to the army, I definitely won’t stay home not doing anything. I am learning to write songs so I will debut as either a solo artist or form a group with others,” said Su-hyun.
AKMU rose to stardom in 2012 when they participated in SBS’s reality audition series “K-pop Star 2” and won the competition. The duo was praised for how they worked together during their performance and Yang Hyun-suk, the chief producer of YG Entertainment, described them as “true artists” and signed them to his label.