Sechs Kies' new album after 18 years proves success
Sechskies members, from left, Eun Ji-won, Lee Jai-jin, Kang Sung-hoon, Kim Jae-duck and Jang Su-won pose before the press conference at CGV Cheongdam Cinecity in Gangnam, Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of YG Entertainment
By Kim Jae-heun
Five-member K-pop act Sechs Kies released their fifth album “Another Light,” Thursday, topping three online music charts here and iTunes’ Album Chart in four countries _ Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines.
It is the band’s first studio album after 18 years since their last album “Blue Note” was released in May 2000. Sechs Kies disbanded abruptly then, announcing that they wanted to leave when their popularity was at its peak and pursue an ordinary life. It was only three years since they debuted under the management of DSP Entertainment.
However, the Sechs Kies returned to the stage through popular TV show “Infinite Challenge” last April, which invited idol groups of the 1990s to make an episode reminiscing old K-pop groups. After witnessing their ongoing popularity with some 5,000 fans gathered to watch their “guerilla” concert for the TV show, the band decided to come back under the management of YG Entertainment, without rapper Ko Ji-yong.
Sechs Kies released three digital singles after returning last year.
“After we reunited, we have released three digital singles like ‘Be Well,’ ‘Sad Song’ and ‘Three Words,’ which we think we kind of rushed through,” said Jang Su-won during the press conference for the new album at CGV Cheongdam Cinecity in Gangnam, Seoul. “For our fifth studio album, we took time with producers and Yang Hyun-suk to bring out the best songs that suit our style.
Another member, Kang Sung-hoon, agreed that if their previous singles were like trailers, the new studio album would be meaningful in that the band wants to restart with the fans.
“We did not intend this, but somehow we have released our fifth album on our 20th anniversary of debut. The album is special to us,” said Kang.
The biggest concern for the group was to satisfy both their old fans and new fans who could have different tastes in music. The old fans of Sechs Kies in the ’90s expect songs like their mega hits “Com ‘Back” and “Couple,” whereas the new fans formed through watching the variety show like Sechs Kies music with their more trendy style.
“To pursue both our old and new fans, we met almost all the producers in YG. But there weren’t many producers who understand the music style we pursued in the ’90s,” said member Eun Ji-won. “The chief producer Hyun-suk was one of the very few people there who we performed together back in the old days and he gave us much advice. Yang also recommended that we to pick “Something Special” as the double title song because we were most comfortable recording the song.”
YG Entertainment’s boy band Winner also participated in Sechs Kies’ new album. Eun said he learned how different young musicians make songs _ which is much simpler with cords but more rhythmical and sophisticated in detail.
“Through this project, we got to know WINNER better and it did not take a long time for us to make an agreement with music style. They grew up listening to our songs and they knew how to mix them with new trendy melodies and rhythm,” Eun said.