INTERVIEW 'Singer-songwridol' no longer feels alone onstage
K-pop solo artist Jeong Se-woon / Courtesy of Starship Entertainment
Despite being a solo artist, singer-songwriter Jeong Se-woon is no longer alone when he is onstage. He now has a special team that he works with — an ensemble of inner personas that he calls Team Jeong Se-woon.
Exuding a bright and relaxed demeanor, the 26-year-old welcomed The Korea Times to the headquarters of his agency, Starship Entertainment, in Gangnam District, southern Seoul for a lively media interview, Wednesday.
Jeong's musical journey began when he was 16, with appearances on multiple survival audition programs, including "K-pop Star Season 3" (2013) and "Produce 101 Season 2" (2017). Narrowly missing the final 11 in "Produce 101" by just one place, he has since then never had the chance to work as part of a team.
Reflecting on his past, Jeong shared that he had once yearned for a sense of belonging.
"I was often treated as an idol among other singer-songwriters and a composer among idols," he said. "I guess people instinctively aspire to have a sense of belonging, so I thought a lot about myself and who I was during my early career."
K-pop solo artist Jeong Se-woon / Courtesy of Starship Entertainment
At one stage in his life, the singer felt out of place, between two different worlds, now Jeong has built his own unique way of working in a team, sort of.
The singer fragments himself into distinct personas, each contributing to various endeavors. Each of the different personas within him plays a specific role such as singing or dancing.
Jeong went on to explain his team of inner personas.
"I essentially act as if I'm part of a group, performing different personas of myself and different roles. The Jeong who sings is distinct from the one who thrives in variety shows and I find solace in this diversity," he said with a chuckle.
Recognizing the potential peculiarity of this approach, he explained, "It's my way of focusing on every moment and giving my best. Achieving the best outcome requires a lot of effort and expecting one person to handle it all is quite a burden. That's why I prefer to think I'm in a team with my multiple personas."
Scenes captured from K-pop solo artist Jeong Se-woon's upcoming track "Quiz" / Courtesy of Starship Entertainment
Debuting shortly after "Produce 101," Jeong has sustained a successful music career, broadening his musical spectrum through constant album releases, contributions to drama soundtracks and collaborations with various artists.
His proficiency in playing multiple instruments, including the guitar, piano and saxophone, and his compositional skills, coupled with his idol persona, have earned him the unique moniker of "singer-songwridol."
With another sincere musical offering, Jeong returns with the new mini-album "Quiz," Thursday, breaking his 20-month absence.
On the mini-album, Jeong presents a total of eight songs, including the eponymous title track, showcasing his distinctive chill style yet heart-warming groove. Collaborating with Sunwoo Jung-a, known for her hits like "Run With Me" (2019) and "Cat" (2018), the song explores the message that "the world is a strange place where we all search for our own identities."
K-pop solo artist Jeong Se-woon / Courtesy of Starship Entertainment
"I attempted various new things during the making of this album," Jeong explained. "Over the years, I've become a lot bolder, trying everything without hesitation."
These attempts include sporting "the shortest hair since my debut" and performing a dance routine "in bell-bottom pants of considerable size."
Jeong expressed his dedication to connecting with fans with this album, highlighting his extended efforts.
"I often engage in activities like weight-lifting, jogging and playing football; I genuinely enjoy working out. But another goal of my workout is to channel all the accumulated kinetic energy into my performances, ensuring no regrets afterward," he noted.
"I believe when performers fully immerse themselves into whatever their endeavors are, they can't help but enjoy it and that pleasure is inevitably conveyed to the audiences. That's what I'm looking for."