Media

Concept of this artbook?

I think, from singer’s perspective to life perspective, the book will be describing passions connotatively in all different dimensions.

I learned the guitar in church and played piano as well. But I couldn’t keep that up since I played, so that’s a little pity. There are things that I feel I should have kept up with. But little by little, I am doing it now. Well, I’ll try it again!

There’ve been many pictures that I like to keep, like mood pictures, but it’s quite different this time. It will be really different of me toward fans this time. So it will be really exciting, and I hope the fans would enjoy this.

I have it whenever I’d feel like having coffee, when staff around me have coffee or someone’s drinking. I think I drink coffee pretty often. One cup a day? I rarely drink it at home. I like tea at home.

I love honey tea at home. I only drink tea at home and prefer cold ones outside. Soda like Pepsi. I love soda a lot. Definitely cold drinks outside.

Any part time job you want to do?

Working in Everland or Lotte World. Practicing dancing and singing with other part timers looks really cool, and I thought I would like to join them a lot. I want to try it once.

I like going to the gym and doing more anaerobic movements. I do workout really hard when I do, but when I have a tight schedule, I am not good at multitasking. So I haven’t done any workout lately, but I am going to the gym from tomorrow on (laughs).

Well, I am not sure. In fact, it’s like a daily routine. I just practice ’cause I have to. I don’t have any thoughts on that. I am trying to do my best.

How do you feel about the shooting in your practice area?

I’ve done video works, but this is the first time for photo shooting so I feel quite different. It’s nicer than I thought in the picture, so I think I am quite happy.

Well… comfortable. Familiar surroundings, good environment.

I was a b-boy before, so I carried a plastic board. I used to tape the black acrylic board with friends. It’s been a really long time. It’s a shooting setup, but it seems like 7-8 years ago. It’s really exciting to dance and busk even though it’s a setting. I had so much fun.

What’s special about busking?

I can do charity performances with people I don’t know. So it’s like I love it when people who are passing by or who are curious or want to enjoy, gather together and enjoy together and give us applauds. I love the atmosphere. It’s not like I have to show off my cool move. I did my best because I loved the atmosphere.

If you prepare busking now as Kang Daniel, where and how would you do it?

I would do it at Han River, casually with MR. It doesn’t have to be really good audio equipment. No need to have good mics. It’s more meaningful that I breathe with other people face-to-face. I’d focus more on the relaxed feel, as the busking is relaxing anyway.

Well, there are ups and downs in our lives as always. Ups and downs. If I have to write a dramatic story in this book and even only with photos without a letter to explain the story in the book, how should I explain? What scenes should I include? I was curious as well. But this is like a clean curve painted in the book, so I am satisfied. What I felt during the shooting in Itaewon was it’s been a long time since I looked up at the sky. It’s not for taking beautiful pictures of the sky. It was so beautiful just to look up at the sky. It would be great to look even closer as well, so it’s like that work has come out really well and I hope everyone enjoys it.

Any memorable place?

I have to say the rooftop in Itaewon. It’s the most memorable place. It was a bit scary when I went down.

Which place would you pick for the usual Daniel Kang?

Usual me… That would be the one with graffiti where I go to Han River? I used to go to such a place often. Like the alley entrance? There wasn’t such graffiti, but it feels comfortable. I like hip places as well. I think it’s like me, suitable for the usual me.

I think I get it from movies a lot. Well, mostly from movies, even ideas for my albums. Movies and games that I encountered. Media, that special source. I tend to keep it in mind for those special sources. I just like remembering things. I am good at remembering a lot of things about almost everything in life, so it comes up whenever needed. I can’t explain it well, though.

Do you have interest in writing music and lyrics?

I like writing lyrics originally, and I can also write songs a little bit. But honestly, I think the good one is good. So I’d like to sing if there is a good song even though it’s not mine. If I can write a song that I am satisfied with even when I hear it, I would like to release my song one day.

What kind of music are you interested in these days?

I think I hear more pop and R&B. It feels good with weather these days, and I think I like cool music.

I am trying to relax more. Like I’d rather not think anything at all? It’s a bit different on the stage, but I am trying to empty my head when I am shooting an MV or photo shooting.

Any routine before going on a stage?

Watching YouTube a lot (laughs).

What color would you say describes your stage?

Honestly, it’s all a different color for each song, and it’s called the Color Project in that I am working on an album project. If I categorize, there are many colors as well. A color? I am not sure. I think it’s like being a chameleon on the stage.

There’s been a lot this year. With COVID-19, I think everyone is trying hard to live their lives. So I also think that I have to work hard, and I think I feel supported silently by each other? I thought of that.

Wasn’t it scary on the roof? It was high.

It was unbelievable that it looks like as if I was in front of the church. And it wasn’t that scary because the mountains there are so big and look puffy. It was great, and the sun wasn’t that hot luckily. I could open my eyes while shooting.

It’s definitely different from the location firstly, and the concept of the artbook was that I was sitting among the audience, getting early to the stage to see how I would look on it. It came out different, my facial expression and so forth. I hope that it contains those feelings well.

What kind of stage do you want to create for concerts?

Well, very minimal talk. I would like to sing many different songs. At the concert, I really want to compete with music. Also, I want to show a performance that shows the characteristic of each song that will make you feel happy in terms of visuals.

I think it feels very fresh, different from other photo book or album cover. It’s more focused on the messages and story. That’s why perhaps people would feel more different when they see this containing my works.

Any message that you want to deliver via this artbook?

I felt this time that this artbook’s story itself has pictured each step that goes to dreams like a movie, scene by scene. There were parts of the past me that I couldn’t remember, and that’s something that I can relate to. So in that sense, I feel like I realized that. Myself going towards to my dreams and passions? I think it includes such scenes.

Any comment to DANITY?

This is my first artbook for my fans, and I feel a little bit shy. Anyway, I really worked hard on this with a lot of fun, and I hope that you guys can get new energy from looking at this.