Music and life share an inexplicable connection. Ask a musician what evokes them essentially the most, and they’re prone to reply it’s their life expertise and recollections. Being a Ok-pop idol comes with its justifiable share of challenges and expertise. It’s actually a exceptional feat when a person inches towards making their dream come true whereas a number of contemporaries are ready to showcase their expertise.
Right now, we’ll share a glimpse of 1 such Ok-pop idol who has managed to interrupt the obstacles and mark his house within the Ok-pop business. The artist is none apart from the Swiss-born singer Jay Chang. Jay Chang not too long ago made a comeback along with his second mini-album, Neighbourhood. This four-track mini-album boasts a surprising presentation of music genres and lyrics that showcase Jay Chang’s versatility and development as an artist. Neighbourhood was launched on November 22, 2024, together with a music video for the title monitor LaSalle Ave.
Other than being a gifted soloist, Jay Chang can be part of Ok-pop teams like BDU and OnePact. He debuted in 2019 and has continued to evolve his expertise on each fronts. On this unique dialog, the 23-year-old versatile single talks concerning the inspiration for his newest album, nostalgia about his hometown, and discovering his coloration as a soloist.
Congrats on the discharge of your second mini-album Neighbourhood! What was your expertise like composing and writing the lyrics for this?
Jay Chang: Opposite to my debut album Late Night time, I used to be in a position to be much more hands-on and much more concerned within the songs and writing for Neighbourhood. So, I might say the inspiration was positively my childhood. For my debut album, I went slightly bit into my childhood, however I actually went in full-time this time. I might say the entire album is about being nostalgic and remembering the place you got here from. Though as adults we have now stresses and issues that we didn’t have earlier than, however remembering our roots might help us calm our senses a bit. That’s the message that I wished to relay via this album, and I feel the entire songs did a superb job of conveying that relaying that message.
Presently, you’re energetic in South Korea. What do you miss essentially the most about your private home again within the US?
Jay Chang: I might say what I miss essentially the most about. My house within the U. S. is unquestionably the quietness, the tranquility that, um, got here with dwelling in a small city. Clearly, dwelling in a metropolis now could be much more adventurous. I might say simply having the simplicity of small-town life is one thing that I miss once in a while.
Trying again to your debut mini-album Late Night time, what change have you ever seen in your self as an artist? What would you say led to the change in your tone and sentiment for Neighbourhood?
Jay Chang: I might say from my debut EP, it was a really new factor for me being my first debut and being very beginner as an artist. It’s solely been one 12 months, however I really feel like there have been a number of issues which have occurred which have helped me develop not solely as an artist but additionally as an individual. This Neighborhood album was an opportunity for me to introspect myself and see how far I’ve come, not solely as an artist, but additionally as an individual as properly.
The title monitor LaSalle Ave boasts of inspiration from Silk Sonic’s music. Which artists would you say are your function fashions or inspirations?
Jay Chang: I might say as a vocalist, some nice singers which have influenced me if we’re speaking from the Western world, are Bruno Mars, Sam Smith, John Legend. Quite a lot of nice vocalists from again house have influenced me. Additionally, a number of singers from South Korea as properly, reminiscent of Kim Jae Hwan, Crush, Taeyang, Park Hyo Shin have had an enormous affect on shaping me as a vocalist.
You’re part of Ok-pop teams BDU and OnePact, and likewise a soloist. How would you describe your expertise in every format? How totally different or how related is it?
Jay Chang: The similarities come from having the ability to specific a sure coloration on the stage, however the variations begin with these colours. As a soloist, I get to place the highlight on my particular person charms as an artist. As a bunch member, I get to point out my synergy with people who find themselves additionally dreaming the identical dream as me, getting to point out an image on stage that you just wouldn’t usually see from simply seeing me alone.
As an artist, what change did you discover in your self via the years since your debut?
Jay Chang: I might say my musicality as an artist and the spectrum has gotten wider. Earlier than debut and across the time of debut, there have been a number of totally different guidelines that I had once I was writing music or once I was simply in a inventive course of. However seeing music via not solely via not as a bunch member and likewise music as an entire, I might say since final 12 months, I’ve turn out to be extra open-minded about my strategy to music. Pushing the sting and considering outdoors of the field has been an enormous half in my writing course of now, and I’m rising.
Do you discover any style that’s difficult for you? Is there something new that you just wish to experiment with?
Jay Chang: For this album, I might say all 4 songs have a really, very totally different sound. I might say in all probability the toughest style for me for the time being, but additionally essentially the most intriguing for me lately might be the soul style as a result of it requires an quantity of really feel and one thing that may’t actually be discovered. It has to come back out naturally. I actually need to sort of experiment slightly bit extra with soul and make music that the listener cannot solely expertise and take heed to, but additionally really feel as properly.
While you’re not making music, how do you loosen up? How do you unwind normally?
Jay Chang: Exterior of music, I’ve two very shut buddies – video video games and basketball. I spend most of my time with them when I’m not making music!
How would you describe your music to anyone who’s listening to you for the primary time?
Jay Chang: I might describe my music as one thing that you could really feel or take into consideration. I feel that’s a great way to place it.
We’ve seen you on the stage, carry out dwell and produce up the power. While you’re not on the stage, how are you normally round your loved ones and buddies?
Jay Chang: Nicely, once I’m on my own and with my household I’m very low-key, very quiet and I maintain to myself so much. That’s positively fairly totally different from, what you see on stage. With a number of my buddies, I’m the identical method, however then there are a number of buddies that convey out a number of power for me and maintain me engaged. I might say that with me, it’s both you’re getting a number of power otherwise you’re getting none. So, no, there’s no center floor. There’s no in-between.
What has been your largest takeaway from this 12 months? What expertise up to now 12 months would you say has been memorable for you?
Jay Chang: If I had been to pick one factor that was a defining second for me this 12 months, it could in all probability be the world tour that we went on as BDU in the summertime. It was my first ever world tour. So attending to expertise a number of totally different nations and cultures was a number of enjoyable for me and getting to satisfy followers from many various nations was a extremely good expertise. I might like to do it once more and hopefully go to a number of nations that I haven’t visited already.
What are you able to inform us about your plans for 2025? What do you will have in retailer?
Jay Chang: Nicely, for this album, we positively need to promote so much, um, abroad. So hopefully there are a number of followers that stay up for that. However after that, there’s no slowing down, we have now acquired to maintain transferring, acquired to maintain doing higher till we attain our targets. So 2025 goes to be one other busy 12 months for me. And I hope everyone seems to be trying ahead to that.
Please depart us a message to your Daylight [fandom name] in India and overseas.
Jay Chang: I need to say to Daylight all around the globe – Thanks a lot for giving me your time and your ears! I hope to maintain placing out music that touches your coronary heart and your thoughts, and I hope you retain looking for my future actions. Love you, guys! And to Sunlights in India, I might like to see you someday quickly.
Have you ever heard Jay Chang earlier than? Which tune of his are your favourites?
For extra such unique interviews, keep tuned to Koimoi.
Should Learn: SEVENTEEN: Enjoyable Information About The Ok-Pop Sensation, Subunits, Self-Producing Legacy, & International Philanthropy
Observe Us: Fb | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Google Information