티스토리 뷰
Q. We did a shoot with Cartier’s Tank Americaine watch and it matched with Taemin’s natural vibe so well that it surprised me. I am aware that you enjoy wearing Tank watch in your daily life too.
TM: Cartier is a brand I personally really like. My wrist is thinner than other person. However, Cartier watches fit me extremely well and stable. Every person has a natural vibe of their own. I tend to wear it often because I think it matches a person like me well and it can be worn regardless of the gender. It’s my first time seeing the Tank Americaine watch through this shoot and even though there’s a slight difference, I like it because I could feel the detailed and soft feeling from it.
Q. In that sense, this very person called Taemin hasn’t changed at all but the artist Taemin on stage and on screen change like a chameleon. It’s might be a little contradicting but what’s a way of you own for you to stay the same while accepting the changes?
TM: It wasn’t easy to show my honest side when at the point of time when I debuted. After a while, I thought that it would be okay to show a more natural side of myself too. Thankfully, my fans showed liking towards that side of me. Thinking that I am someone good who deserves to receive love too makes me feel glad (laughs). It’s probably because I didn’t forcefully put up an image that’s why I am able to stay the same? I put in effort to challenge more new things when I work. Even so, I have a line that I personally would never cross.
Q. You are firm in your standard. How do you balance the gap?
TM: I am holding onto an occupation that I do what I like and I will use that to persuade the general public. People’s empathy is very important. In a way, the line that I mentioned earlier, it’s being created within the area where the general public is able to empathize with. Following that, the chemistry with the staffs you work with is important. I will boldly try out everything and gradually take things out after discussing with the staffs to set a constant tone. It’s important to just try it out first.
Q. 2023 has pass its halfway point and it’s fall already. How do you think you have been doing up till now?
TM: I did self-care diligently this year. For my body and soul, all of them. In the past, I separated my work and my after work life. That thought got overthrown. I decided to enjoy every single moment interestingly. In the end, I got to be comfortable and close to the people I am with everyday. I am livelier than before. I am originally a well known introvert.
Q. You have been busy up till now after SHINee made a comeback as as whole in June. Are you not worn out?
TM: I can say this confidently. I am in my best condition right now. I have been doing an hour of high energy exercise everyday nowadays and interestingly, the choreographies I did in the past got easier. According to how one self-maintain themselves, it’s right to say that you can get as better as you can get regardless of how old you are. Singing while dancing is a high energy exercise itself and there are times when I felt like faint and felt like I would collapse. Running is really a good exercise.
Q. Your solo album comeback is coming soon. Where do those inspirations you are using to prepare come from?
TM: Looking at the artist called Taemin, I thought it’s time to write another chapter. It can be seen as an album to reflect on the past chapters before it’s being covered up. I got lots of inspiration from the book called <L’Erotisme> by Georges Bataille while preparing for this album. There are times when things that we thought we can’t accept will be accepted at a particular moment. There’s that emotion that one would feel when that happens if that person is a human. Earlier, I said that I would try something a little different every time and that kind of emotion fits the theme I am attempting this time. The specifics is still a secret. However, it will be my very own experiment ground. This will be an album where I walk on a tightrope to see how far can I go.
Q. Including the performances you have shown up till now, the results are as good as it gets. You have never disappoint. Looking at that, you should have a nice sense of burden for this solo comeback too. If there’s a big challenge you have, what would it be?
TM: Right. I tried my best to show different sides of me in the albums I have released up till now. It’s like having a mission. I would always immerse myself in the thinking of showing beyond what I created. I will be lying if I say I don’t feel pressured. Among the b-sides in this album, there is a genre of music that I have never done before. That could probably be said as another challenge I am taking on? Rather than showing things that are similar, I have to show something new in order to let people see that ‘Ah Taemin is doing things like things’ and attract the attention of others. With that thought, it’s a little fresh attempt on the music. You will be able to know what song am I talking about when you listen to it yourself.
Q. How do you define the music you want to do and the performance you want to show?
TM: I can say that it’s simply a performance that matches with the generation. It’s important to have your own natural color while being trendy. I work on my performance thinking of it as music. Just like how I look up to Michael Jackson, it would be nice if there’s anyone who will look up to me too. Even though the things I do are primarily for me, I would feel a great sense of achievement and will be happy if others are able to remember Taemin’s performance in this generation and acknowledge it.
Q. How would you define Lee Taemin as a person in one word?
TM: A racehorse that runs like mad while looking forward only. There was someone who expressed it that way in the past and I have it in my memories for a long time. I want to work for a long long time and I don’t want to stop. I think that right now is a very important period of time. It’s a homework to create the musical color for a musician called ‘Taemin’. I want to be healthy and I want to always be a present, a continuous form.
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