Taeyang Revelations for ELLE Korea: 'I Wasn't Inspired Enough To Make Another Album 3 Years Ago'

During the shoot with Elle, Taeyang sat down in order to chat about his life and his music.

Taeyang: I ended up preparing this album for a long time. I wasn’t inspired enough to make another album after my solo album 3 years ago.

ELLE: You mean your last album, ?

Taeyang: Yes. I had a very difficult time during the making of that album, and maybe because of that, I thought I would not do it again until I could really enjoy it or really wanted the next one. I didn’t even think about making an album at all. That’s why it took so long. I just travelled and met artists and producers l like and worked with them without particular intent. It wasn’t for my album, it was more like – I was just happy to be working with them. And as I completed one song, two songs, I was able to build an overall concept for my album.

It's a lot of hardwork that goes into making an album, and to hear him talk about his hardships despite being as talented as he is, is quite endearing. He also went on to discuss which of his albums was more loyal to his ideals.

ELLE: Do you think your last album is not fully your own then?

Taeyang: It was what I did, so it has to be mine. It’s just that I started to think about what people would like and whether it would be musically recognized – I hate myself for making music dependent upon other people’s thoughts.

Taeyang: I put various kinds of songs in my album. Typically I used to create an overall concept and tried to improve the quality of whole album, but this time I tried various genres of songs, and put them in the album. So I don’t think you will get bored listening to them.

There were also discussions concerning his past collaborations. This involved Teddy and how he was involved in the writing process of his album. Included in the interview were his thought son his process of writing an album, how he makes it all come together.

Taeyang: My albums seem to be delayed a lot.

ELLE: Why?

Taeyang: If I have to say why, I think I’m too stubborn. My world seems to become too strong. Especially during this album’s production, if there was something I wanted to put in my music, my urge to get it exact kept getting stronger. So if other people disagreed with my opinion and tried to put a different color into my songs, it took a really long time before I could accept it. Making my album as I want doesn’t mean that it becomes a good one. I knew that, but it took so much time for me to accept it. Actually, I don’t have any sense about music trends. Maybe it’s because the music I like is mostly dark and gloomy. I listened to my members who know me the best, and producers who have known me since I was young. I guess, right now, I need someone who can guide me in the right direction.

Also, since this is a solo album that Taeyang speaks so openly and passionately about, he was asked about the differences between being a solo act and being in a band.

ELLE: Is there a kind of satisfaction during your solo activity that you can’t get during group activity?

Taeyang: Before, I wanted to do solo activity because I could show the things I wanted to. And when I came back to BigBang, I felt less satisfaction, yes. But I like working as BigBang more now. I learned something significant from the past 2 years, when the members were involved in various kinds of issues. I am happiest when I am with the members, and BigBang is what made me who I am today. With them, I laugh the most, and I feel like I can achieve things. Whether it’s BigBang activities or solo activities, I’m ultimately doing the music I love, so I just hope to be happy during those moments.

ELLE: The words ‘maturity’ and ‘change’ come to mind.

Taeyang: I know what is important to me now, and, in that sense, I feel I clearly have become more mature and changed. Before, I was so young that I always thought in a self-centered way. I also victimized myself, because I thought I was working harder than other members. Actually they were trying their best too, but I was too young to realize that. The last 3 years, I’ve come to realize a lot of those things.

There were also some comments made about his love life and how he stated a while ago that he had never been in any sort of romantic relationship.

ELLE: In a past interview, you said you have never had a romantic relationship, and it was quite an issue. That question has followed you all the time since then.

Taeyang: I didn’t want to talk about it again. And I was very conscious of that image. So at that time, in my naïveté, I thought I really shouldn’t get into a romantic relationship. I don’t have a lot of interest in relationships now either. It doesn’t mean I’ve never dated anyone. It’s just… I haven’t loved anyone deeply enough to consider it a relationship.

ELLE: Any specific reason?

Taeyang: I think I’ve mentioned this once before, that I had a first love. It was really intense for me, and I find I can’t open my heart to someone if my feelings are not as powerful as they were then. I know I’m expecting too much.

ELLE: How do you feel when people keep asking these kinds of questions?

Taeyang: Like I’m being swept away? I have my own standards and my own situation, but people make broad interpretations based on the one answer.

And to finish off the interview, Taeyang was asked about his views on the future.

ELLE: You must still have something you want to achieve.

Taeyang: My dream still is to be a singer. I still have so much music I want to do. I want to be someone who is free in this world called ‘Music’. I don’t want to achieve my dream. I just want to pursue my dream until I die.

ELLE: That’s a long-term dream. What is your immediate goal now?

Taeyang: For now, I hope many people can get good inspiration with the album. And I hope I can continue to make music. Of course I will. But, right now, when I’m in my best condition, I want to fully concentrate on creating something, without bothering with other things.

ELLE: I think you really are a single-minded person.

Taeyang: I’m telling you, I am really joyful! (laugh)

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