‘Solo Debut’ DAY6 Sungjin “‘Adonis Wanna Rouge’ Greed for the masterpiece... My attachment is also big” [Q&A]

DAY6 Sungjin shared his thoughts on his solo debut and revealed his thoughts so far.

Sungjin will be releasing his first full album ‘30’ and the title song ‘Check Pattern’ on the 5th and will be making his debut as a solo artist. He previously debuted as DAY6‘s leader, vocalist, and guitarist in September 2015. He has established himself as a solid central axis of the group’s music, showing off his appealing tone and excellent instrumental skills. Since his debut song ‘Congratulations’, Sungjin has written and composed numerous hit songs such as ‘This Will Be A Page’, ‘Welcome to the Show’, ‘HAPPY’, ‘Melt’, which topped the major music charts this year, diversifying DAY6‘s musical colors.

Sungjin’s first full-length solo album ‘30’ is an album that expresses the story of him turning thirty from the time he turned thirty through a total of 10 tracks. He puts all his sincerity into his music, including the small and delicate appearance behind his powerful voice, the emotions he‘s built up little by little, and the hope that his songs can lighten the burden of someone’s life, even just a little. The title song ‘Check Pattern’ is a song that unravels the complexly entangled emotional lines of life such as encounters, partings, and regrets with the material of a check pattern with repeated connections and conclusions. The piano, guitar, bass, and drum sounds that connect and merge above the melody deliver a deep resonance.

Ahead of the release of his first solo album today (the 5th), Sungjin personally spoke about his new album ‘30’, which is a memoir containing his narrative and emotions and also marks another beginning in his musical journey. Below is a Q&A.

Q. I am curious about how you feel about taking your first step as a solo artist with your first full-length album ‘30’.

A. First, I would like to thank My Day (fandom name: My Day) for waiting for a long time. I‘m finally happy that we’ve become a team where all the members have released solo songs.


Q. Your solo debut album ‘30’ contains 10 stories about your experiences from the time you turned 30 until you turned 30. What was the special reason for organizing the entire album based on the age of 30, and what message did you want to convey?

A. I started working on the songs because I wanted to express the thoughts from my various experiences through songs. I finished all the songs when I was 30, and I named and produced the album to match that point in time. My first solo album ‘30’ is an album that talks about universal emotions and situations that everyone has experienced or has experienced at least once in their lives. I put my heart into it in the hopes that it can provide some comfort to those who listen to it.


Q. What is the biggest difference between when you were in your 20s and now that you‘re in your 30s? Also, what was your thirties like, do you think about your thirties and beyond, and what is your vision for the future musically?

A. When I was in my twenties, I vaguely thought that I would be much more relaxed and better when I turned thirty, so I did my best every day. I think I was more anxious to chase the future that would come someday than the present. From the time I turned thirty, I learned how to accept myself by focusing on the present and spending time reflecting on myself.

As I incorporated the self-care methods I learned in the process into my daily life, I think my attitude toward life has definitely become more relaxed. Even if I go through hardships after my thirties, I think I will be much more stable than I am now because I know how to not wander as long as before. Since music will also be naturally created from life experiences, I expect the areas I can handle to expand and deepen much more than now.
Q. Since your first solo album is packed with a total of 10 full-length songs, you are expected to show off your musical color even more clearly. I am curious about the reason you decided to release your first solo album since your debut as a full-length album and what you think is the biggest appeal of being a ‘solo artist’.

A. I focused entirely on the message I wanted to convey through music without being overly concerned about the number of songs included or the format of the album. I thought that each song I worked on had its own unique story and could convey a different message, so I included them in one album. There is a lot of responsibility from start to finish in the process of making an album, but I think the biggest appeal of being a solo artist is that I have the freedom to reflect and choose my opinions.


Q. You worked with producing group MonoTree’s Lee Joo-hyung and singer-songwriter Jeokjae on the title song ‘Check Pattern’. How was the collaboration process? I am also curious about the points to appreciate about the title song.

A. Lee Joo-hyung and Jeokjae worked together on the title song. As we worked and added ideas together, the song‘s perfection level increased, and it seemed like an opportunity to learn more in many ways. I think the point of appreciation is decided by the listeners. If I were to talk about my personal impressions as a listener, I think it reminded me of a wintery everyday image filled with subtle excitement and warmth.


Q. Following Young K, Dowoon, and Wonpil, you have now decorated the solo debut finale within the team. Did the three members who released solo songs first give you any advice? Also, what were the reactions of the DAY6 members who listened to this album for the first time?

A. The members told me not to feel burdened and to do whatever I want. First, Wonpil, who listened to it, said he liked ‘Check Pattern’, and Young K said he liked ‘Like a Child in a Fairy Tale’ and ‘I don’t wanna lose‘.



Q. You wrote and composed all the songs included in the new album. Was there a part you focused on while working on the songs? Which song are you most attached to and why?
A. Personally, I like music where the track, melody, and emotion of the lyrics flow in the same direction. That’s why I worked on the songs by focusing on how well these elements blend together and looking for and refining any elements that might scatter emotions. My favorite song is ’I don‘t wanna lose. This was the first song for which I started writing lyrics for this album, so it took a long time to finish the song.


Q. The guide version video for ‘Afraid’, a track from the 6th mini album ‘The Book of Us: The Demon’, has surpassed 7 million views on YouTube. Many people have mentioned Sungjin‘s bold and appealing vocals like that song as one of his charming points. If you could recommend a song from this album where you can hear that tone, what would it be?

A. Thank you for consistently loving the ‘Afraid’ guide version video. Hmm... (worried) Although the ending of the song is different, I think ‘I don’t wanna lose‘ is the song that fits that criteria the best.


Q. ’Wednesday Night‘, which was pre-released at the third fan meeting ’DAY6 3RD FANMEETING ‘I Need My Day’‘, held from June 21st to 23rd, was included in the album. Is there a special reason why you chose to reveal this song before the official release of your new album? Also, during the fan meeting, you said that ’Wednesday Night‘ was a song inspired by the emotions you felt when you were a DJ on KBS CoolFM ’Station Z‘ and the time you shared with your listeners. Is there a song with a special episode or story behind how you came to write a song like this?

A. Since it is an event where we will be together with many MY DAY members, I thought ’Wednesday Night‘, which depicts the time you shared with your fans, was the most suitable song to perform at the fan meeting. The English lyrics for that song were based on my own writing with help from others. ’You Are Not Here‘ is the only song in this album for which I didn‘t do a rough draft of the lyrics, so in the beginning I worried about whether the message I was trying to convey was similar to the ending of the album. By changing the tone and expressions during the revision process, I think I was able to add my own unique color while making it unique. ’I don‘t wanna lose’ took almost two months to finish because of my excessive greed to create a masterpiece(?) of my own. Thanks to that, I was able to finish working on the other songs relatively easily.
Q. You will be holding your first solo concert ‘SUNGJIN SOLO CONCERT〈30〉’ for three days from November 8th to 10th at the Donghae Culture and Arts Center of Kwangwoon University in Seoul. Here are my thoughts on your first solo concert and what to look forward to during the concert.

A. It still doesn’t feel real. There are a lot of things I want to say and I‘m worried because it’s my first solo concert, but I just hope that we can finish the concert safely and that the audience will be satisfied that they came to see it. If DAY6‘s concerts are performances that we create together with the audience, then I think my concerts will be performances where the audience mainly listens to and appreciates my solo music.


Q. You’ve topped the music charts, sold out all of your solo concerts at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul in April and Inspire Arena in Incheon in September, and have a new world tour, so you‘re enjoying huge popularity as DAY6 as you celebrate your 10th debut anniversary. What are your goals as a solo artist?

A. Other than ‘Not to become someone other than DAY6’, I don’t have any specific goals as a solo artist. I just hope that my music can touch the hearts of those who come across many moments in life, when they need sympathy and comfort.


Q. Please say a word to My Day, who have been waiting for your first solo album.

A. Oh my, it took so longㅎㅎㅎㅎ Thank you for waiting so long, and I prepared hard as you (My Day) have waited for me. I hope that even if you forget about it and live your life, you can listen to it whenever you want and it can provide some comfortㅎㅎㅎㅎ Always be healthy and happy!!!!

Jung Hee-yeon, Donga.com Reporter shine2562@donga.com