TAEMIN on His Historic Coachella Debut and Why Second-Gen K-Pop Is the ‘Generation of Dreams Coming True’
How did you feel the performance went? I saw you rated yourself a 5/10.
I wasn’t able to fully rehearse because I didn’t have time. There were some technical defects with the lighting — with “Parasite,” for example, it wasn’t the performance I had pictured, so I felt regretful. That’s why I gave it a 5, and I want to try to get as close to a 10 as possible. Since I’m less nervous this weekend, I think I will do better.
What would you change about “Parasite” for next weekend?
The performance features projections of philosophical words and quotes that I felt inspired by. But because the audience couldn’t see them, I wasn’t able to get the full message across. The words come down while there is also thunder, lightning and rain effects. I wanted the words to portray hatred coming down and lifting back up at the end of the song, but I am sad that people weren’t able to see that.
Who were the quotes from?
I don’t know the names very well. [To his team] Can I check my phone?
It doesn’t say who the speaker is, but there are things like “capitalism makes people into props” and “we are in jail performing freedom.” “The moment we stop thinking, evil slowly begins to grow,” and “people are born free, but wherever we go, we are still in shackles.”
Why is that a message you wanted to convey?
It’s different depending on the culture, but in Korea, it’s hard for singers and idols to speak their truth. Everything needs to be packaged and delivered carefully — that’s how to avoid misunderstandings and misinterpretations. I thought that using these quotes would be a more approachable way to portray my thoughts. So I borrowed the words.
What do you hope your legacy as an artist will be?
Whether it’s an artist like David Bowie or with fashion, art is something you experience with all five senses. I want to be someone who’s mentioned when people think about art. Even when they taste something, I want people to think about me — to say this, this feeling, is like Taemin. I want to be that kind of sensational and iconic artist while I’m alive.
Source: Billboard ✨ Full Interview → HERE
snowghoul
kianamaiart
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
gracieabrams
