[KEY] 210924 VOGUE KOREA 2021
2021. 09. 24
VOGUE KOREA
https://www.vogue.co.kr/2021/09/24/키가-가진-열쇠/
The key that ‘Key’ has
The key that ‘Key’ takes out towards the world.
Q. You are into the keyword ‘Retro Space,’ aren’t you?
K: Retro was built in me before it became a mega trend. I have been yearning for that culture and have always wanted to fulfill it in my own way. I am making it happen in the album <BAD LOVE> that will be out at the end of September. A kitsch and refreshing retro space that only Key has!
Q. There’s a universe monster like it was melted from a flour dough in your teaser image. There are elements of <Planet of the Apes>, <2001 Space Odyssey>, <007> series from the 1990s.
K: I wanted to portray the feeling of the SF foreign films that we liked when we were young. Making a universe suit from materials that is obscure, the creatures that destroy earth sloppily in the movies…
Q. How did you collect your materials?
K: I am going to make my physical album cases in the form of the figurine packages that can found at stationary shops. So I looked for old toys and I took inspirations from legendary rock band’s hand drawing for the album cover’s typography. I took reference from classic foreign film posters for the layout.
Q. The graphics for all of the <I Wanna Be>, <Hologram>, <FACE> albums were impressive. Is there a standard you keep to when designing the cover, the booklet and etc.?
K: I took in considerations from the votes done by the professionals or the staffs for my past albums. However, right from the keyword ‘Retro Space’ for <BAD LOVE> itself was started from me, I wanted to put more of my colors as compared to the ones before. The standard that I have when choosing a design is that the CD has to be a kind of memento. I want an album that makes one wants to collect it, makes one happy when they receive it and has a strong seasonal sense rather than it being available to be bought anytime. It’s not a kind of merchandise/goods but how should I say this…
Q. An artwork-like album?
K: Yes. People might buy the art book because they like it but the feeling of being happy is huge when they own it, isn’t it? I hope for my album to be like that too.
Q. What is the common point that can be seen in the 1st full album <FACE> in 2018 up till your single if you were to look back at it. Should we say it’s a drive with ‘Young and Rich’. What’s the biggest frame that Key’s albums want to have?
K: To be honest, it was the easiest to choose the B-side tracks. That’s because I can just put in the song that I like. I do like rock or American pop a lot. Also, it’s hard to find a proper word to explain but… that’s probably me myself and my preference? There were some complications for ‘BAD LOVE’. The votes between the staffs and my opinions were divided. However, I chose to believe in myself more.
Q. Looking at your interview, you said ‘I value the idea of understanding the public. Even though it might not be my preference but there must a reason why it’s on the top tier on the charts’. How do you keep a balance between yourself and the public?
K: It won’t be 100% my preference even when it’s SHINee’s promotion. It’s the same for my solo album too. I will have to consider different sides. However, I feel that I will regret it if I don’t do it the way I want this time. I wasn’t able to show the musical side of me recently as I did more variety programs. I want to make it known that Key is strong in things that are powerful and conceptual. Should I call it as ‘Essential Key’.
Q. What’s the most memorable moment from your album production?
K: It’s really the very first time for me. I cried after finishing the filming for ‘BAD LOVE’s MV. It didn’t happen during my debut MV too. The album this time might have been really intense. There were problems with the time and the budget, the synopsis for the MV didn’t go through as well, and there are difference in the opinions had with the others… There were quite a lot of dramas. It felt strange and complicated once that moment passed after the end of the MV filming.
Q. You don’t usually cry?
K: I cry a lot but I have never cried when I am working on an album.
Q. Has your mental state changed a lot with your comeback just around the corner?
K: I am nervous of course. There isn’t a time when I am not working but I would be even busier before a comeback.
Q. Are you the kind that doesn’t rest on a usual basis too?
K: I am always planning something. I am not planning about a business but I would think endlessly about things like what should I wear on ‘Music Bank,’ what do I do when I am going on a broadcast. It’s my personality.
Q. You can compromise or lean on the people around you when you are busy though, but it seems like you want to be independent.
K: Maybe it’s because I have tried living a life where I am not independent? I know more right now as compared to when I was 18 (the age he was when he debuted as SHINee) so I am able to make better decisions and I have gotten the courage to say ‘No.’ With the change of flow, it has come to a good self marketing generation where I have to show myself more. There are still a lot that I don’t know. I was so shocked when I heard someone saying ‘It seems like Key likes to dance and sing’ during ‘Don’t Call Me’ promotion a few months ago.
Q. You have debuted for more than 13 years.
K: Maybe it’s because I have done lots of variety programs and I have went to the military in between that the public are not familiar with Key who sings. I have gotten to know about my present because of those words.
Q. You said that ‘I get inspiration from anywhere’. Among them, you have a great interest in arts.
K: The moment I gain interest in something that’s related to arts, I will go over to look at it without any biases. I will go there personally whether if it’s ballet, musical, gallery or whatever it is. It’s the same if it’s wine, bar or restaurants. I will experience those foods, colors, music and etc. and understand that ‘these are what people are looking for a lot’ and get ideas from them too.
Q. The scene that gives you inspiration recently is?
K: I rewatched director Stanley Kubrick’s <2001 Space Odessesy> while preparing for this album. A real genius! Even though the Gwacheon at National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s installation art has no relation to the universe, it gave me inspiration when I was imagining Mars in this album.
Q. You would go ‘I want to create those kind of things too’ when you see cool creations in this world, right?
K: I though that ‘There is nothing new below this sky’ for a long while. There might be repetitions but will there be something amazing that will come like a hit on the back of my head. Then where do I get inspirations from? It’s not right now. Also, before the level of completion can be pointed out, what’s important is who would start it first. Mona Lisa can be draw similarly again with the modern technique. However, the original piece itself is what’s great. The generation of ‘I want to draw like Mona Lisa, I want to be like Michael Jackson’ has ended. I will need to reinvent it by putting a drop of my soul in it.
Q. Speaking of which, the expression of ‘rest period’ is such an old saying for singers. Even without an album release, it has became important for them to constantly go on broadcasts and continuously appear on Youtube or SNS.
K: In the initial stage of a promotion, we won’t get a rest from music shows for 1~2 years. This will be done simultaneously with overseas activities. There are lots of incredible things such as Instagram, Shorts, Youtube, Tiktok, Facebook and etc. As this is a generation where quick exposure is a must, you will feel like it’s a long hiatus if you rest just a little. Even though I am not a celebrity that does Youtube, I do appear on others’ channel often. There are lots of works brought in by this kind of self marketing. I am in the midst of studying as well.
Q. It’s a generation where one would show their own preference and bring in fame and works.
K: In the past when there’s a matter that is being talked about on a broadcast, it will have to go one round before it reaches the public. Right now, it only takes a few pictures for people to know what I like. It took a very long time for people to know the fact that Key likes clothes. There was no Instagram at that point of time.
Q. Key seems to be able to get used to it even if the world changes again right now.
K: I think I would probably be something even if I did not become a celebrity. A Youtuber?
Q. You will probably get 1 million subscribers.
K: Even though I say that I study about the generation’s flow, I think I am just inclined to liking things like this.
Q. Key said that “In order to become ‘someone who shows oneself’ you will need to have a time alone at home”.
K: I would go out the moment I have time in the past. Whether if it’s me going out to buy clothes or going to the dermatology or meeting my friends. Right now, I like the time when I tidy my house and look after of my dogs. I would call it as ‘A lonely enjoyment’. It’s nice to have friends over at my house but after 1~2 hours, I will start wondering ‘When are they leaving?’. Haha.
Q. When did you change?
K: It’s when I started living alone so since 4~5 years ago? Recently, I can just be lying down the whole day. I would think about things like ‘I am okay, right. I can just do this?’ while lying down.
Q. You would talk to yourself like as if you are talking to another when you are alone right?
K: I do tend to do that. When there is something that feels ambiguous, I would say this to myself “Do you want to do this? Do you not want to do this? Decide. If you are going to do this because it’s famous then don’t do it, if you are feeling forced to do so then don’t do it’” and rush myself for an answer. Even though it’s still a little awkward for me to ask myself, I am going to try to continue doing it.
Q. You have lots of interest for the environment too, right?
K: I am shocked by the current situation. It’s hard for me to completely not use plastic as I am someone who is active a lot outdoors but I try my best to distance myself from it. I have uploaded a picture of me going to Almang Market (A shop that pursue zero waste) on my Instagram too. I believe that someone who sees that will receive good influence from it. I am planning something related to the environment too but I am being careful as I am not innocent.
Q. You said that ‘I want to be someone who is influential’.’
K: I want to be a celebrity that would bring good influence to others with my character. I would like for that to be something that would go over the limit regardless of which area is that in.
Q. If there’s a taxi like the one in the movie <Midnight in Paris> where you can go back into a specific era?
K: It would be nice to go places where I have never been before but I will choose the present, right now. I think that my boldness and courage decrease as I age. The more information I take in, the courage I have decrease as well.
Q. You heard such words a lot around you, don’t you? “Your happiness is the highest around me”
K: Even though I have never heard about that but I have heard someone saying “I am envious of your gift to be able to say that you like it when you like it and to say no when you want to say no”. Haha.
