Upcoming 100: What inspired you to start creating music, and how did you develop your unique sound?
taein.: I believe that creation is a part of human nature. I've always been attracted to music, and there's no particular reason for me to start creating music. Since I was a child, I loved listening to music, and all my most admired people were musicians. I'm still finding my own sound. Blending R&B and soul with electronic elements is what I am trying to achieve at the moment.
Upcoming 100: Can you describe your songwriting process? How do you come up with lyrics and melodies?
taein.: It’s never the same but I found some patterns in my process recently! I’d like to voice memo some random melodic ideas. They can be hooks or verses or just a bit of lyrics. And when I feel like producing some demos, I browse through all files one by one and try to find the one that sounds good to me. And from then on, production, melodies and lyrics occur naturally and spontaneously on the spot. My drum beat influences the flow of my melodies and the lyrics could change because the melody changes. It feels like an exploration of my mind. In my opinion, inspiration is best when it comes naturally, so I always seek out good inputs. A good book, a clip from a TED talk, good conversation with friends, or a nice little walk are all good options.
Upcoming 100: Which artists have influenced your music the most, and why?
taein.: I'm a huge fan of producer D'Mile, and the album "Painted" by Lucky Daye, is a monumental album that made me fall in love with R&B music. In their interviews, they said they were skeptical about the music industry and seriously considered retiring. I can't help but have a deep respect for them as musicians, making this incredibly inspiring masterpiece together while they were passing through the darkest part in their lives. And personally, I love Liana La Havas so much. There's something special about her voice. Usually, I listen to a very limited style of music. However, her music makes the listeners forget the boundaries of those genres and stuff and makes us focus only on the songs. I really want to be like her as a musician.
Upcoming 100: How do you balance your creative vision with the expectations of your record label or management team?
taein.: I think there are many different ways to create things out there. But if I'm not convinced, I doubt anyone who listens will find my music appealing. So I always try to produce works that I can satisfy myself with and the people's expectations come next. My preference is to find a middle ground where I can melt my color if given a specific request.
Upcoming 100: Tell us about your favorite song you've created so far and the story behind it.
taein.: My favorite song of all the songs I've ever written is "Lie To Me." It's a light trap-based R&B song that talks about the feeling you get when you like someone. You are happy, but you're also feeling lots of bittersweetness. Sometimes your mind doesn't work the way it used to. Spending way more time just worrying and daydreaming about this person's thoughts than thinking about our own good. I've tried to capture that kind of feeling, but not too heavy, in the lyrics and sound.
Upcoming 100: How do you handle criticism and negative feedback about your work?
taein.: I explain it to myself. As your creation is not you, so is their judgement not directed towards you as a person. It's not easy, but I try not to take it personally. And seriously think about whether it's criticism of the critic or true advice.
Upcoming 100: What role does live performance play in your career, and how do you prepare for a show?
taein.: I haven't been on stage. If I could, one day, I'd love to play guitar (with backing tracks) and sing in front of people in a live pub.
Upcoming 100: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what's the most memorable fan interaction you've had?
taein.: I remember seeing a comment on YouTube that someone listened to my song "Over" all week, and it felt so amazing! I'm not that experienced yet. Haha, I'm planning to release a lot of songs in the future, so I'd like to come up with ways to communicate more over time.
Upcoming 100: How do you handle the pressures of the music industry, and what advice would you give to aspiring artists?
taein.: I think this is a concern that everyone in a certain field faces through, not just the music industry. When you get to know about a field deeper and talk to successful people, you learn that you have to pursue steps that will eventually impress yourself, so that you can get out of that pressure and do things you would be proud of.
Upcoming 100: What are your future goals and aspirations as a music artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
taein.: Generally, we tend to think there are only a few musicians that last. Despite this, I believe that life as a musician can continue in some way. So far, I've enjoyed my life with music, and I keep wanting to improve. There are lots of new genres and styles I want to try out. My future goal is to continue happily making music and looking forward to what happens along the way and who I meet. I’m preparing myself to be discipline about.
