[TAEMIN] 180821 Allure Korea September 2018
2018. 08. 21
We have so many things to talk about with Taemin, to the extent that we have to tidy/arrange the things we want to talk to him about. Not only as SHINee’s member for the past 10 years but also the influence power and weight he has as a solo artist. Even so, if we were to talk about Taemin, we definitely can’t leave out a smile. We are talking about his innocent smile regardless of whether the camera is on or off. That’s because there’s not even a little change in the Taemin that stood in front of the public for the very first time as of 10 years ago.
Heard that you are into rice noodles nowadays? Could it be that it’s because of rice noodles that you came to Vietnam...
T: Because it being said to be Vietnam that rice noodles were immediately talked about. I have to eat! I have never eaten the local rice noodles. Even though I have performed in Vietnam before, I only ate foods from catering and hotels so I didn’t have a chance but this time was very successful.
Are you talking about the place you went to yesterday? Even though it’s a ‘local restaurant,’ I was a bit worried because it was quite a shabby place but heard that you ate 2 bowls.
T: I think that is the charm of traveling. It’s meaningful too. It was really as delicious as I was expecting.
I saw interesting plank cards held up by fans at the airport. It wrote ‘Oppa, have you checked all your belongings?’ Do you lose your things well?
T: Ah, I have a nickname. It’s called ‘Magic Hand.’ I would either forget things or lost things, and there are many times where I would check in my luggage with my phone in it that’s why fans wrote that knowing about it. It’s cute (laughs).
You didn’t lose anything in this place, right?
T: I didn’t bring much around so as to not lose them. Ah... My phone charger vanished. I had it plucked in but it vanished. I don’t know where it went. There was once I lost my phone, bought a new phone, lost it again and found the old one back. That’s why I am using the old one.
Isn’t it a huge matter if a celebrity loses their phone?
T: That’s right, I set up a pin number too. That’s why I don’t take pictures that much (laughs). If I lost it, it will be a huge matter because there are many weird pictures of my friends.
Are you the kind that likes filming outdoor like today?
T: It’s my work but it doesn’t feel like work. Fresh and free, there’s a need for such an opportunity to get closer with the photographers, the reporters and it’s better to be able to feel more sense of humanity. Even though I would think of wanting to have my own time by finishing it quickly, the quality of the work felt more important now even though it’s work. Work is also part of my life, I think I can find fun in it too. The filming this time is the best quality.
Looking from when you are filming, it’s to the extent that it’s fascinating that you don’t sweat at all.
T: I sweat at places where it can’t be seen. On the back, on the chest, and also on my scalp but I don’t sweat on my arms or my face so it’s not obvious on the outside. Even during concerts, it’s as if it was being directed that only the surroundings of my face are wet. People who know about it said that being a celebrity is a job for me by nature.
SHINee promoted for 6 weeks. You guys finished it not long ago, how do you feel about finishing a stage that was done after much consideration and hard work?
T: I feel relieved and had a thought that the promotion ended well. I think we did it with our time well spent. Because we did it really busily that there was no lingering attachment left. Normally, there would be a sense of pity left, thinking that ‘How good would be it be if we did this too’ and ‘How good would it be if we did variety shows too,’ but all our members worked hard this time so I think we showed a good side of us. It’s good to come here for a pictorial shooting like this after ending it(promotion), not that there’s a division between the promotion period and non-promotion period, it feels like a flow that flows by smoothly.
Releasing a new song every 2 weeks, everything in the new songs is different from its concept to its music video, aren’t they? Why was that kind of method chosen?
T: The contents in the first music video and second music video are linked, when watching them continuously, it will be confusing on what is what. There are the ones that were filmed in the water. The music video, jacket (shoots) were filmed continuously, recordings were done continuously too and because of that, I get confused about what I am doing from time to time. The goal to release a special album was the greatest. Because we are coming out as SHINee after a long time, it held a meaning of showing our strength more than those of our mini album or regular album promotions. We want to keep showing more sides of us. The album was being divided into 3 parts and the members’ opinions were greatly reflected in the decision-making for the title songs.
It was being expressed as ‘episodes,’ weren’t they?
T: Why was it done that way? (Laughs)
Isn’t it the story that SHINee tells, the story that SHINee wants to tell?
T: That’s right. There were respective things to be told in all episodes 1, 2, and 3. For the first one, ‘Good Evening’ was the way others see, the music video story and the album include the way others see SHINee. That was expressed as episode 1 and the second one was the way we see. For the third one, I think it’s the middle of it. The middle of how others see and how we see.
Which episode do you like the most?
T: Episode 1. I also thought that ‘Good Evening’ in episode 1 should be done last. That’s because I wanted to show the best at the last and also to promote with anticipation for it. However, there was a split in opinion with the members (laughs) so ‘Good Evening’ came out as the first. Rather, it’s good to start with an impact too.
I think it’s a SHINee-ish album. Did you give any kind of opinion on the performance part?
T: Yes. There’s a sense of refreshment and it’s colorful too. The greatest opinion I gave was recommending choreographer Koharu. She has worked with me a lot up till now and our hearts match well too, I recommended that person who learned a lot because I have the belief that SHINee’s choreography would come out really well.
As expected what I thought, the choreography was not dull. Koharu said that it would be good if we didn’t dance for this song at first. Like that kind of thing, she is a person that places meanings well and is fresh from her method of approaching. I think I did really well in recommending the performance.
Koharu and Taemin’s collaboration is famous alright. Up till now, I see that it seems like only Taemin can 100% pull off Koharu’s choreography. How was it to match it with the members?
T: That’s right/Yes. Except for me, (they)can’t really do well though? (Laughs) I was joking. It was difficult at first but got familiar with it quickly. We have also danced since our trainee days and we took basic classes too, didn’t we? Normally, it feels like our branches stretch out from there. However, Koharu’s choreography feels like its branches are stretched out from other basics. It feels new and fresh for it to be coming from that person’s very own ‘basic.’ Even though it can’t be seen well from the outside, it was very satisfying in our point of view, there are situations that are self-satisfying and the promotion this time was like that. I was hoping to do promotion because I like it because I want to do it and a satisfying one and it was good because I was able to do it together with my members with no burden.
You are consistently working with choreographer Koharu, aren’t you? Did she say what kind of dancer is Taemin?
T: ‘Dance Cross.’ If to be translated directly, it means ‘killing dancers,’ a saying to be better than a dancer. It’s a compliment for me that makes me happy. I have known her for 2~3 years with ‘Sayonara Hitori’ as our first meeting. It’s fun. It feels like a noona, a friend that I respect. Our hearts match well as we belong in the same age group.
You/You guys have appeared in various kinds of variety shows this time too. Starting with <Radio Star>, reality program <SHINee’s BACK>, <Weekly Idol> etc, it gets more enjoyable/delightful, the more we see SHINee kind of variety. What was fun?
T: Our members are harmonious. Minho hyung is full of fighting spirit, for Key hyung, if we were to describe him using Japanese gag, he would be taking on the role of ‘Retort/impact,’ Onew hyung and I are the ‘blur’ roles. Among the ones I did with my members, it’s <Weekly Idol.> Also, <The Call> was fun too.
<The Call> was a program did with various singers, isn’t it.
T: Seniors treated me humanely that it was good and I saw many good stages too. I met other singers and especially the things I did with BeWhy, UV Yoo Seyoon hyung from the hip-hop scene were good opportunities for me. I was curious about the kind of color that the world would express when it was being put on with this kind of music. I felt that my spectrum got widen after doing <The Call.> To be able to do it even for once is good by itself. It’s a huge difference between 0 and 1, isn’t it? I think my view on music got broaden and it was a program that gave me a good opportunity to develop.
You choosing Bewhy and UV team was unexpected. You said in the broadcast that it was really fun that you want to introduce it to other celebrities too, what was most fun about it?
T: I wanted to work with UV right from the start. I wanted to do it pleasantly and enjoyably. I became friends with Bewhy. Because it was a production done enjoyably and well-matched with everyone, I really liked it. Especially for UV, should I say that it’s really a variety? kind of actions not made to only be funny but also becomes a message musically too. Even the song ‘Johan Bro’ was comically understood as content for students but there are contexts in the lyrics too and the sound quality musically is good. That is really new(fresh) and good.
Just now when we were joking about learning ‘MOVE’ from Taemin in this place together, you said that people can’t do well even if you teach them, didn’t you?
T: That’s right. People keep on turning their waist only. (laughs)
Then the secret to dancing well is? Where exactly needs to be turned? I remembered that I stopped what I was doing to focus on watching ‘MOVE’ when I first watch it. It feels like the theme of ‘Beautiful’ is totally being expressed through the dance with complete self-control without the existence of any kind of boundaries.
T: The secret to ‘MOVE’ is ‘Self-love.’ It’s not about your energy being expressed outwards but on the inside. People are still able to see the energy I have without me purposely having to express them. People showed their energy by expressing them outwards, don’t they. Dancing with condensed energy is as strong as the other cool performances too.
How do you feel when you dance ‘MOVE?’
T: It’s as expected that it’s ‘self-love.’ I think I did my stages with the feeling that my lines are beautiful, elegant, and graceful. When I did it in a certain mood, my thoughts will appear on the outside too. If I focus, people will follow my flow naturally too. If I were to explain it, it would be that kind of feeling.
It’s a performance different from the standard/basics, isn’t it. I think you might have the burden on whether will this be well-accepted by the general public.
T: Last time, I used to worry that it might not have a public appeal but it has changed. I did it because I like it and rather than me doing it when I don’t like it and have people who see it to not like it too, I hope that people will really like it while I do things that I like and am satisfied with. In the future too, I would like to do performances or music that I, myself would feel satisfied with.
What kind of meaning did ‘MOVE’ left for Taemin?
T: I am going to change my style of dancing. It’s right to challenge a new feel. I think ‘MOVE’ became that turning point. ‘Sayonara Hitori’ also showed people the emotions I have that I move with on the inside. ‘MOVE’ was more extreme. If ‘Goodbye’ had huge energy, this has more condensed energy that is smaller but deeper/thicker.
Is there no member that caught on the ‘MOVE’ disease
T: ‘MOVE’ disease. That was so interesting/fun that I went around talking about it here and there. Haha! My members followed the dance a lot as a joke. Except for Key hyung, the rest followed it comically. Key hyung only watched and laughed. Key hyung is a little more mature. He doesn’t fool around a lot.
The more you promote, not only on your dance but the importance of your vocal increases and is becoming more mature. What kind of greed do you have on your vocals?
T: The thing that felt like a huge homework to me on vocals is that it’s really hard. I think it’s not only important to sing well but to also make your own tone, your own color more distinct. Even though I look like I have more greed in dance, I hope I can fill it up as much as I can on my vocals too. Even though I am a performer for being called a performer, music is something expressed together with my body as well as my voice and its melody anyway.
What do you pay attention to when you receive songs nowadays?
T: I am trying to try various different tones nowadays. I am about to start working on my album soon and I have told my company about my thoughts of wanting to try a variety of tones. I may be inexperienced(in them) but I think that I will be able to develop more. I think this is the period of time that I am taking on challenges and growing while trying out new things nowadays.
I heard about Taemin having a solo concert in Japan. What kind of concert is it?
T: I am doing it more than 20 times. It’s really a lot, right. Even though there are many Japanese that like KPOP, people who don’t know about it, know totally nothing about it. I want to be a singer that even the common Japanese in Japan will know. BoA noona opened up that kind of market. BoA noona became a singer of the general public that anyone you ask who is just passing by will know. I want to become like that too that’s why I am preparing.
A solo concert is a stage you have to fill it up all by yourself, isn’t it? You must have needed lots of preparation. Physically and structurally.
T: There was a time that I performed 5 times a week. After the concert, I would wash up at the concert venue and get on the bus to move(to another place). I would reach at dawn, sleep for a while at the hotel and did rehearsals at dawn, and perform and wash up and get on the car like that for a Japan tour and it's physically tough that is making me feel worried. Even after using all sorts of methods, it’s still tiring. I ate amino acids, vitamins, energy drinks, ginseng, terrapin, and ate kongjindan, and ate everything that is good for the body. Even though it’s going to be tiring, it’s an opportunity for me to grow a lot. I get physically stronger after the end of the concert and gain more expert eases and know-hows about concert/performance too.
What could be seen of Taemin if we go to that concert?
T: There are a lot of people who get drained out when they watch my concert. The level of concentration is said to be high too. You get drained out if you watch a movie or do something for a long time with full concentration, right. I was being told a lot of those. They said they feel weird after watching the concert.
What do you want to do other than the concert?
T: Excluding concert preparation, it’s studying English. I was learning through Youtube before taking a break currently but I want to start on it again this time. I thought that I should learn English to a certain extent to be ready to be able to speak when I am in a different market as I will be doing a world tour and a solo tour too.
Taemin was like a shy maknae during his early debut days but his easygoing and smiley side left a great impression.
T: My personality really changed a lot. I think I changed bit by bit naturally but my introverted personality appears sometimes too. Should I say that I changed towards being an extrovert? I think it’s kinda like that. I think I got influenced by my members a lot.
Are you happy with your current personality?
T: Yes. I am just going to watch as it flows. I feel at ease because I am not being conscious of it.
No matter how it’s being heard, you seem like a workaholic. Do you dislike resting?
T: When I work, I want to rest, and when I rest and I want to work. I feel uneasy when I rest a whole day after working for a long time. It could be true that I am a workaholic, I am the happiest from the moment we start preparing for a concert till the end of the concert. I like to feel a sense of fulfillment and think about the dance or the performance I like and to practice and perform with people that I am close with. I feel really happy to be able to communicate and sympathize with other people on the things I felt while performing. I don’t feel lonely. I feel a sense of happiness from these.
It’s an enjoyment that comes with addiction.
T: You can say that it’s a sense of fulfillment too. How you see it, I could be the protagonist that is receiving the spotlight on stage, right. Even so, when I heard that the directing this time is good, I will feel happy too even though I am not in charge of directing.
What do you do when you have no schedules?
T: I play games or drink with my friends when I have no schedule. I have more time to talk/to converse/for conversation nowadays. There are times I watch movies alone too I will just be doing something.
What did you buy recently?
T: Weighting scale and protein. What else did I buy? I bought a portable speaker. It’s a small one at around 100,000 won. I am using it really well at home.
You have talked about traveling in your spare time in this place, are you the kind that enjoys adventures?
T: (I prefer) Nature over the city. I like something that is enjoyable in the eyes. Because I can’t do it so well that’s why I am starving(in the eyes). I should enjoy when I can enjoy. I can just be in my room but I feel that I might regret it if I don’t go out. It’s the same for the local rice noodles. I am thinking of rice noodles. Are we eating rice noodles too later?