If those remnants were carefully polished, would it be possible to reach a release-ready level?
🌹: I feel like two or three would be usable. But anyone who makes music should understand that in these situations (rather than polishing old songs), rewriting a new song is actually faster. Although I uploaded some songs to SoundCloud, I tried to develop some of them when I first started my solo career, but without success. So I learned my lesson and decided it was better to rewrite new songs.
What exactly do you mean by "failure"?
🌹: Actually, there are a lot of songs that weren't included. My phone is filled with countless songs, all "remnants" of albums released so far. In the past two years and three months, I've written about 55 songs. Those nearly 40 songs that weren't included in *WYLD* are all remnants.
You wrote the lyrics for all 10 songs and composed 9. Was there any key event that led to the style and theme of this album?
#TAEYONG 🌹: I believe K-POP can encompass all genres of music. Personally, I enjoy music from all genres, so I've always wanted to blend different styles. This idea started to take root around a certain time, and it's precisely because of this that I've been able to create works that transcend genres. At the same time, I also believe that all of this is made possible by failure.
“I envy my younger self who knew nothing”
Are you the type who looks forward to getting older? Or would you rather stay the way you are forever?
🌹: Not quite. I want to go back to when I was young.
Why is that? Is it because of your physical condition?
🌹: Actually, my physical condition is at its best right now, but I envy my younger self who knew nothing. The excitement and thrill of experiencing something "for the first time" is irreplaceable, right?
What was the album production period like for Taeyong?
🌹: First of all, it was a very good way to release stress. I even felt that it was thanks to the music production that I was able to successfully complete my military service. Also, there was a lot of time for reflection in the military, which was a process of filtering out what was necessary and unnecessary in my life.
The "404" series is also an indispensable topic in Taeyong's work. Following "404 File Not Found" and "404 Loading," "404 Euphoria" takes us from a wild stance into a slightly detached worldview.
🌹: I'm a little embarrassed… thank you. This "404 series" initially started because I wanted to slightly reveal the critical and questioning side of myself. The reason I want to continue this series is because I have a desire to make the deepest parts of my heart disappear. Sometimes I can control my deepest emotions, and sometimes I can't. I hope to resolve them on my own, so I will continue the 404 series. Initially, I planned to use a different song instead of "404 Euphoria," but that song carried a slightly negative energy. To express the wish for a "promised future," I decided to change it to "404 Euphoria."