After serving in the army, TAEYONG comes back stronger with a new album and confirms NCT is still on top. He talks about preparing for the album bit by bit, changing his image and staying true to himself.
TAEYONG stands on a busy corner in Gwanghwamun Square, his icy hair slicked back, looking like an extraterrestrial being that was precipitously beamed down on the streets of Seoul.would seem to suggest — of course, it’s the product of meticulous planning.
Yet they do wonders to illustrate how the homecoming feels. Say goodbye to monotonous and pedestrian concepts; one of K- Isaiah Rashad on Choosing Radical Acceptance With New Album 'It's Been Awful': 'S--t Happens to Everybody'It’s been a long time in the making. Rather than enforcing a strict two-year break from his primary job, serving in the military band gave TAEYONG even more time to think about music; during leaves, he squirreled himself away to write song lyrics.
Upon discharging last December, the now-30-year-old immediately set out to show that the effort paid off, to prove that he had leveled up his skills from previous EPsover Zoom.
“During the time I stopped all music promotions, I reflected on what the problems were and what I was better at these days. As a trainee, I dreamt of the artist I hoped to be someday. ” He pauses.
“I think I’m closer to that dream now than ever before. ” The comeback lands at just the right time, too. As NCT celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2026, the sprawling boy band, once conceived as having ever-expanding membership, looks to have officially hit its ceiling in that regard. This April,’s superstar dancer TEN parted ways with SM Entertainment.
Suggest this to TAEYONG and he demurs, but those fingerprints — abrasive textures, swerving beats, odd one-liners that stop you in your tracks — are all over his latest project.offers a peek at the inner workings of TAEYONG’s weird and wonderful brain. Even on songs that are generally what they say on the tin , delightful quirks abound. He drops bars about bug scientists; his flow often pinballs off in directions impossible to predict.
As a prelude to this new and improved era, he also fittingly kicked things off in March with the rap-heavyThough the credits are thinner than ever, TAEYONG is quick to give his collaborators their flowers. Since self-production has become K-pop’s most marketable buzzword, there tends to be some tricky sleight of hand surrounding the extent of idols’ creative inputso it comes as a welcome change of pace to hear him shout out a music video director or buddies he’s made music alongside since his SoundCloud days by name.
While I was in the military, I prepared for the album bit by bit. The plans for after the military were still up in the air, but I like making music, so I kept making songs. The title track, “WYLD,” was made right before discharge, around last December, in a final push to make something. Fortunately, it was selected by the company and became the title for the album.
In the military, we use live sessions. So my understanding of instruments increased a lot. I’m not sure how those experiences helped in my music-making process… But I had a lot of time to organize my personal thoughts about music, and I think that was really helpful. The original concept was “animal.
” After being discharged from the military and entering my thirties, I had the thought to change my image. Something more manly, more adult, more sexy, was what I had in mind. In the album teasers, you’re muzzled and trapped in various kinds of cages. What inspired those visuals?
After the two of us worked together for the “SHALALA” and “501” music videos, I think that directorhad a much deeper understanding of me. He put a lot of thought into what would suit me best and didn’t hold back. In the military, I was essentially trapped for almost two years. The thirst and desperation I felt during that time are reflected in .
I wanted to shatter my old self and emerge as a new artist, a new me. SM gives me a lot of opportunities and trusts me. So, for me, writing my own music has become the expectation. I think the company thinks that, since it’s TAEYONG’s story, it’s only right to use TAEYONG’s lyrics.that you enjoy incorporating brand names into your songwriting, but SM advised against that.
What other feedback did the company staff give you? There was a lot of feedback and many changes. In the song “Hot,” there’s a part where I do a sort of hip-hop homage. Originally, they wanted that whole part cut, but I made my case and got to keep it in.
Honestly, my producer friend Squar and I made this song just for fun. The company rejected it at first, saying it’s too difficult to absorb, that there are too many beat changes. But after seeing the reaction it got during the concert, it was undeniable. I think this song was a moment where I got more recognition from the company.
All Koreans likely know about Fabre since elementary school because there’s this picture book written about him. was like a sort of euphoria. On all three projects, you’ve worked with a core group of producers: PixelWave, Royal Dive, Zayson. How influential has it been to collaborate with the same people? I’ve known them for a long time.
When I first started making music, I knew nothing. It’s not easy to work with someone like that for six, seven years. But we also got closer as people, and started sharing our dreams and problems.
The company has suggested different producers and collaborators, but the reason I choose to work with this team is that, rather than someone who is good at producing beats, I think music is meant to be made with people who know me well, who I can share my emotions with. ] They grew with me. Back then, even they weren’t as good as they are now.
We used to chastise each other, saying we have to make things like this, we have to do it like this. Maybe it’s because they also weren’t perfect that we became close. It was so hard. The instrumental demo wasn’t one that used an ordinary rhythm.
There was a lot to learn and for me to improve on, whether it was the method of production or vocalization.in the studio about whether that song needed a more traditional chorus so that its structure would be recognizable to K-pop fans. You ultimately decided against it, but did you feel that tension while makingI just do what I want, what I feel drawn to make. Making music is where I feel happiest and most at peace.
If I were constrained in any way, I think I would lose a lot of the desire to make music at all. So we make whatever we want to make at that moment, spontaneously. Even if it’s nonsense whistles or a chanted melody, we make music in a variety of ways. Yes, even recently, I keep having nightmares.
I think I only have nightmares these days. There was one where I had a piece of glass stuck in my foot. But in Korea, we say, “Dreams are the opposite of reality. ” Oh, interesting.
The dream you talked about was of fans saying your performance wasn’t good, so I’m sure the opposite will likewise pan out in reality. NCT’s Doyoung for his debut solo album, he said you gave him a lot of support in the run-up to its release. Did he return the favor this time? He actually contacted me yesterday.
Even in the military, he keeps in touch. Yesterday, he said that he’ll repost the album when it comes out, asking me if I know how valuable that is . I told him I was grateful. [The members haven’t been able to listen to all the songs, but everyone is rooting for me.
They do things like send snacks while I’m filming the music video, which makes me feel supported. In the lyrics of “I’m a Dancing Cactus,” there’s a reference to NCT U’s groundbreaking debut single, “The 7th Sense. ” Was it top of mind for you because of its recent 10th anniversary?
“The 7th Sense” is a song that’s meaningful to every member of NCT. In the 10 years since, I don’t think there’s been another song like it — the song is such a symbolic one. That’s why, for “I’m a Dancing Cactus,” I wanted to shout it out. I see you as one of the biggest champions of NCT and its “neo” sound.
Since there have been so many changes with the group recently, what do you envision for the future of NCT? I’m thankful that you think of me that way. I don’t think I am, but I am grateful. I think NCT Wish will become one of the key parts of NCT — they work so hard, and I get inspired when I see them perform.
As a senior, leader, and older brother, my focus is to lead the team well. Doing that, I believe what’s to come will be cooler, more neo, and more of the music and performance that is unique to us.
TAEYONG NCT Military Music Album
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