YouTube star keeps it real with his music

By Han Sang-hee

Staff reporter

Becoming famous online is not news anymore. Many attract fans by singing, dancing or even talking online, but few get to find their true selves and become rooted through the experience. It's what you do after the hype and popularity have settled that really counts.

Actually, the hype is still ongoing for singer/songwriter and YouTube star David Choi, with his second album scheduled to be released soon in Korea and also a concert already under his belt, but he still feels ``weird'' about being called an artist.

For the 24-year-old, it's always been about music over stardom and he intends to keep it that way.

``I'm more of a songwriter and producer. I always wanted to be behind the scenes and do music, something I'm passionate about,'' he told The Korea Times during an interview last week at the concert venue Welcomm Theater in Jangchung-dong, Seoul.

Choi didn't dream of becoming a singer since he was a young boy, nor did he know that he had what it took to become a star. When he heard someone in his 10th grade history class play a self-written electronica song, he thought he could do, too, and this was the start of his musical journey.

``I went home, got my keyboard and composed my first piece. It sounded like a Korean drama (soundtrack),'' he said.

``I just felt like I could do it. I had ideas in my head. I can't really explain…I just did it,'' he added laughing.

After composing his first piece, Choi continued with several more and the time came when he wanted to test himself: see if his music was really something he could develop into something substantial. He entered several competitions and won most of them, including the John Lennon Songwriting Contest for Teens and the David Bowie Mash-Up Contest in 2004.

Then his big break came when he got a two-year stint at Warner Chappell Music as the youngest songwriter and producer. His contract required him to write 10 songs each year, but the hardworking and passionate Choi came up with 100.

Although he was doing what he loved most, all the work burnt him out and he started looking for an alternative creative outlet, which turned out to be YouTube.

``I wrote a song called `YouTube, Love Song' and they featured (it) on the front page. Within a week it had a million viewers and I got tons of emails and comments,'' Choi said.

He posted the song, which received over 2.5 million views, for fun, not knowing anything would happen.

``It was one of my social experiments,'' he said.

From there, the YouTube journey embarked, with him posting videos of him singing, performing and traveling. Choi is currently the 10th most subscribed musician on YouTube and the 69th most subscribed overall. Over 300,000 subscribe to his channel (www.youtube.com/davidchoimusic), which is more than Beyonce, Usher or Madonna.

It was a bit surprising to find out that he is actually very shy and not particularly excited about standing on stage as his videos seem to indicate. Some old videos show Choi singing with his guitar with a rather grim expression ―``it's a bit strange to smile in front of the screen alone,'' he explained― but his more recent ones show him wearing masks, dancing to the tune, playing his instruments and just having fun.

His online experience has expanded to Facebook and Twitter, with fans continually posting comments and photos about his music. Even now, fans are uploading photos of themselves with his latest album on Twitter, with Choi retweeting in gratitude.

Choi is not working with any music label, and this was deliberate: he doesn't believe inking a contract would mean definite success.

``If I was with a label, I would have to write songs that are crafted toward everybody. I want to do what I feel is true and inspire people, change the way they think and make them feel better,'' he said.

For the time being, luckily for his fans, Choi will stick to his music.

``When I write a song to me it's like there is that moment right there: the emotion that I was feeling at the time. (It's like) a status update for Twitter or cyworld,'' he said.

For the many shy, yet talented aspiring artists waiting to be discovered, Choi had a bit of advice that offered a smart way to face reality.

``Start off making YouTube videos, but wear a mask,'' he said, seriously.

``Nobody will know who you are, but they will know your voice. See how the audience reacts. If they like your voice, great, if they don't, then maybe (singing) is not for you. Test yourself.''

Choi will perform at the Welcomm Theater from May 20 to 22. Tickets cost from 35,000 to 40,000 won. For more information, visit www.welcommtheater.com.