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| Kai of K-pop boy band EXO poses during an online press conference, Tuesday. Courtesy of SM Entertainment |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Coincidentally, Kai of K-pop titan EXO unleashed his second solo EP "Peaches" on Nov. 30, exactly one year after making his solo debut with his self-titled album. But the SM Entertainment star revealed that he did not intend to make Nov. 30 such a special day, saying it just took a while for him to work on new music as he endeavored to lift its quality and come up with something unexpected.
"Although it was my second time to put out a solo EP, I was far from being carefree," Kai, 27, said during an online press conference that took place a few hours before the release of "Peaches."
"I was running out of time because I also had to prepare for my solo concert scheduled for next month. In my mind, I had a bunch of things that I wanted to show in the new EP, but in the end, I had to compromise (my time) without compromising my plan to show something fresh and different with Peaches."
Fronted by the title track, "Peaches" is a six-track album with anthems of various genres ranging from R&B to indie-pop.
"The lead track is an R&B tune with a dreamy mood," Kai explained. "Through the lyrics, it likens the romantic moments of love to peaches… As part of the choreography, I pick some peaches and put them inside a basket. The music video also features a giant peach tree in a mystic place, which would remind people of a utopian fairyland."
The singer added that he attempted to fuse Eastern and Western moods. As he said, for his music video, Kai sometimes puts on a "gat" ― a Korean traditional hat ― and other times, he dons Western-style outfits to show the stark contrast while creating an "unexpected harmony."
"I wanted to bring my bubbliness to the forefront," he said with a shy smile. "I thought I looked quite weighty in my previous release, so I wanted to look different this time."
Among the tracks included in the mini-album, "Vanilla," is one of Kai's favorite pieces.
"It is an indie-pop song that compares the feelings of love to vanilla flavor," he said. "Although people around me said it sounded a bit knotty, I still decided to include it in my EP because I was really fond of its inexplicable sounds and moods."
By the end of the session, Kai, who took part in every aspect of the EP-making process, said, "People can easily feel pleasure when they eat sweet fruits like peaches. So I hope I can also feel true happiness with the release of my mini-album."
After releasing "Peaches," the singer is set to hold his first solo concert, "Beyond LIVE #Cinema ― KAI: KLoor," on Dec. 12.
