Bhavana Agarwal: Seo In Guk started his career as a singer in 2009 when he released his first EP (Extended Play), Calling. In 2012, he achieved his first acting breakthrough with his Reply 1997. Dashing between his acting and singing, Seo In Guk has carved a niche for himself over the last 13 years, with his soft vocals and ability to portray nuanced characters on screen. Known for
Recently, in 2022, the actor/musician returned to making music after a hiatus, releasing LOVE&LOVE followed by Fallen. The song features Seo In Guk as a man dealing with a breakup and tells an emotional story of heartbreak and rising from it. In an exclusive chat with IndiaToday.in, we asked Seo In Guk about the single, the process of making the music, and what’s close to him between his acting and music. I also asked him about his visit to India.
Excerpt from chat below
Do you think you’re at the height of your career now that you’ve dabbled in music and acting?
I still lack a lot. I want to show you a better side with good music and good acting. Therefore, I would like to continue to do my best.
Fallen is heartbreakingly beautiful. Where did you get your inspiration from?
Rather than looking for song inspiration, I looked to the mood of the song. The combustion process can be represented in many ways. Some are fading and some are colorful. It is possible. That’s how I feel when I talk about breaking up.
From LOVE&LOVE and Fallen you see that you have transcended from one stage of love to another. Which song is closest to you?
Both “Love&Love” and “Fallen” are love songs that express the beginning and end of love. Which song is the closest? Well, it’s Christmas now, right? So, lately I’ve been listening to Christmas mood songs and making similar songs. This is a slightly different answer, but that’s how I usually do it.
During that time, I was away from music for nearly five years…
During the hiatus, I was preparing without thinking about releasing an album or OST. I just wanted people to know about me and our music through my work. A lot of people listened to the album and enjoyed it, so I think we have to find a lot of good music and good albums for those who like it more. With that in mind, we will continue our activities in 2022.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWLI IfIw7m8
Do you know that you have a lot of fans in India and people love your music?
To be honest, I didn’t know that. First of all, as I learned from this interview, it was strange that so many people liked it, and I really wanted to go to India.
You collaborated with Ravi on Love&Love. Do you have any plans to collaborate with more artists in the future?
I want to collaborate with more artists and present a variety of music. Recently, there is a Korean singer named Chancellor. She really met hyung and talked a lot, so she wants to do it again. I want to interact with more overseas artists and make good music.
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Do you think your love of music and deep taste in music helps you bring out the subtlety of your performances on screen?
I like the close relationship[between them]. When it comes to music, the feeling and meaning of the lyrics are important, right? It should evoke empathy. It should be a song that anyone who listens to it can feel, “This is my experience, my story.” When acting, these methods help emulate emotions.
Fallen’s music videos depict the strong emotions of someone moving forward. What is your process for eliciting strong emotions in your music videos?
Due to the nature of music videos, emotions must be expressed in a short time of 3 minutes, so there are many dramatic expressions. I can sympathize with them by thinking, “I’ve been there.” Even if you play it casually like a drama, there are more expressions in music videos.
What’s interesting about your music video is that you can trace old pop vibes in contemporary R&B. Do you tend to use older pop music?
Personally, I like old pop music. Talking about “youth” in a certain vibe is not just about old pop. So I just rewrote “Youth” to give it an old pop music vibe. I love old pop songs.
In acting and music, what comes closest to you? I know it’s hard to answer, but…
In fact, it’s hard for me to choose. Speaking of acting, you can play different characters and meet your fans. But music is a little closer to me. Speaking of music, the moment you open your eyes, you may hear music even if you are not listening. That’s why music is more familiar to me, and acting is a little more difficult. I find it difficult to choose between the two.
In acting, have you ever played a role that is close to Seo In Guk?
I don’t know, actually. But people close to me always say that I look like Yoon Yoon Jae in “Answer 1997”. So, it’s fun when it’s fun, but it’s also a serious personality. In that sense, you could say that Seo In Guk resembles Yoon Yoon Jae.
What is your to-do list for 2023?
I have a concert scheduled in February. I want to come back in 2023 with more stories and music. An album takes time to prepare and you need luck. However, since I want to get closer to music than that, I am preparing light lines like ‘Seo In Guk’s mixtape’.
Are you planning to visit India in the near future?
As we wrap up this year, I wanted to make more plans to meet overseas fans. So if I have the chance, I really want to go to India and meet my fans.
You’re going to make me a promise, right?
We promise it now.
