[TAEMIN] @Style Magazine with Taemin - Interview Translation (ASEA 2024)

StyleM. You are the most senior among the artists that are attending the <ASEA 2024> (laughs). You must have felt a stronger sense of responsibility since it’s an event with juniors.
T. I am grateful that I am able to receive love for such a long period of time and I intend to present a good stage as how I have been doing. Thank you so much for giving me such a meaningful award. I will work hard to be an artist that can bring better influence and better inspiration in order to pay back the support and love that my fans give me. Thank you!

StyleM. What did you mainly focus on when preparing the stage for an award ceremony like this?
T. I feel very fluttered as these are songs I am presenting at an award ceremony for the first time and I made an effort to prepare it in a way that it will give off a different feeling from the usual stages (laughs).

StyleM. You must have enjoyed being on stage, meeting your fans after a long while.
T. I am happy to have an opportunity to meet my fans personally regardless. I hope to often have more times like this in the future too. Haha.

StyleM. How have you been recently?
T. I am spending my time tidying things up. There are lots of things for me to tidy up at home and in my mind(laughs). Also, I am spending my time doing some exercise and doing various studies too.

StyleM. You had a new start. You must have thought a lot about it and the anticipation must have heightened too.
T. I want to be the unchanging artist Taemin regardless of where I am so I wanted to challenge myself in a new place. I will show an even better side of me in the future.

StyleM. Did your solo concert end well? You must have lots of memorable episodes too.
T. I have quite a number of songs that I performed with me hanging upside down on stage so it was tough when the injury on my neck keeps getting red (laughs). However, as much as it’s a concert that I did after a long time, every moment was memorable and I was really happy.

StyleM. You have gotten lots of reviews on how you were able to show a new Taemin through <Guilty> so how will you review your past promotions yourself?
T. I am grateful that it’s been accepted well as I am always giving much thoughts on showing new side of me every time. I see myself as someone whose future can still be anticipated even more. Haha.

StyleM. You have showed meaningful paths as SHINee and as a solo artist respectively so how will the direction of SHINee’s Taemin, solo artist Taemin be from now on?
T. SHINee’s Taemin will put the point that they are ‘together’ with the members’ opinion combined as the main focus. As a solo artist, it’s a process that Taemin would go with the direction he wants from the various performance to the songs.

StyleM. There’s no change with you as SHINee even if you are doing your solo activities, right. When are the moments when your hyungs’ existence becomes your greatest consolation?
T. When the members are healthy. That’s when they are the greatest consolation to me.

StyleM. What’s the strength of the artist Taemin as a solo artist?
T. A distinctive stage with strong colors. I think we can point out the musicality too(laughs).

StyleM. As a singer that lots of idol juniors picked as their role model, you must have felt a sense of burden whenever you make a comeback. How is it for you?
T. Rather than feeling burdened, I am more thankful and I am really proud that I am able to be a person that someone respects.

StyleM. You are a veteran singer, are you not. We are curious of the mindset you have whenever you prepare for a comeback as well as the driving force that allows Taemin to be a singer for such a long time.
T. My driving force is definitely the people who supports me. When I make a comeback, I will be extremely sensitive and will be on edge but all these comes down to the affection I have for the album and it’s the same when I am preparing for it. This temperament might have allowed me to be a singer for such a long time.

StyleM. If you were to choose a point that you felt change after promoting for so long and a point that didn’t change at all, what would they be?
T. I think the influence KPOP has changed a lot. And what didn’t change at all will be my dream. I still love this job and want to do well.

StyleM. We are curious of how you spend your time when you are not promoting. Things like Taemin’s daily life.
T. Doing cardio on an empty stomach and weights in the evening is my daily routine. And because I really like to eat, I will go around looking for delicious food.

StyleM. If you were to express Taemin’s music in one word, what would it be?
T. Probably, ‘Taemin Emotion’ (laughs)?

StyleM. If there’s a plan for your future promotions, please share.
T. I will be greeting everyone with new stages, performances and albums. And also, more than anything else, I want to go to places where fans have been waiting for me for a long time to meet them.

StyleM. Are there plans in relation to your 16th debut anniversary this year and shall we get you to leave a message for your fans too?
T. Let’s meet at SHINee 16th anniversary concert. Also, thank you for always being there. Love you all.

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