2seon: “My Cold Passion was About to Burn Again”

2seon digs deep, sharing the stories behind his most emotional songs, the sign that caused a major mindset change, and much more.

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “2seon is ___” or “2seon’s music is ___”?

“2seon is a boy who wants to be an icon of passion and challenges,” because I do music but don't have any professional training. I have a passion for my dream, I'm challenging [myself to reach] my dream, and I will continue to do so. “2seon’s music is four seasons.” My music is not limited to one genre, and I hate making songs with similar moods, so I try to make the atmospheres of [my] music diverse, as varied as people’s emotions.

Do you remember when you first decided to pursue a music career? 

Yes, I remember exactly. I have really liked music since I was young. I [have] always listened to music when studying, exercising, or sleeping. I was a boy who liked to sing and rap along to my favorite songs. However, my family objected to my dream of becoming a singer. When I was sixteen years old, I was very shocked to hear the music of The Quiett and Dok2, and I was fascinated by the charm of hip-hop.

What career would you be pursuing if you were not a musician? What are your interests besides music?

Perhaps if I hadn’t done music, I would have done math-related work. Actually, I went to engineering school. I have encountered algorithmic and philosophical parts [of] the study of math, and it is the second most [interesting subject] that I [have learned] in my life. 

Where do you find the inspiration for your songs?

I am very curious, so I have a habit of looking up related materials through the internet when I don’t know [something]. I work on songs by reflecting [on] the unfamiliar but positive emotions I feel when I get to know new things in my daily life. 

Please describe the single “Do You Remember”!

"Do You Remember" is a folk song that I was inspired to work on after watching a Japanese drama called My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday. It is a song that directly and honestly captures one's affection for the other through the theme of unfulfilled love. It is a song [with] a simple and easy-to-learn chorus, a dreamy interlude, and a clear storyline. I think it's a good song to listen to [on] a calm night or on public transportation.

Please share some information about each of these songs: “A DRIVE,” “Glowing Night,” and “I Just Wanna Be With You.”

All three songs are my personal favorites. Thank you for letting me introduce them! 

First, let me explain the background of "Glowing Night.” I had a really hard time from 2019 to the middle of 2021. I was in [a] deep depression, and I couldn't do anything and didn't leave the house [over] twenty times a year. I think I was mentally exhausted. I suffered from deep depression in 2019, so I don't remember how I spent the year, and I made a lot of efforts to change little by little [starting in] 2020. I focused on making [the] music that I [had] neglected. At that time, there was no story I wanted to include in the music, so I monitored a lot of other artists' music and listened [for what I] could relate to. When I heard DEAN’s song “D (Half Moon)," I wondered, "How can I express this atmosphere?" While I was sketching, the melody of "Glowing Night" came out in less than thirty minutes, and [I] finished the other parts in about two hours. At first, I planned to go with an R&B vibe, but the music sounded better when I changed [it] to a dance hip-hop song. 

I remember making a demo of the song and searching Instagram for a choreographer to dance with, and I found one who could make a dance suitable for the song. I [have been] interested in video production since I was young, so I directed [the music video]. Inspired by the movie Inception, it was directed based on the theme of dreams.

When I was working on "A DRIVE," I think it was when I found a little more stability mentally, and my cold passion was about to burn again. I thought a lot about moving forward without keeping the past pain and trauma in mind. One day, I was on my way to meet a colleague for work, and I caught a signal [while] waiting. I noticed the shadow of the car in front of me on the ground was stopped on top of the "Gangnam Station" mark. When the light turned blue, the car moved away from the point of land marked "Gangnam Station" and headed for its destination. I thought, "Shouldn't I think of the pain and trauma as a point, and pass through that point?" Like, stop the car at the red light, but start the car again at the blue light. For a while, my life stopped because I met a red light, and now that the blue light is on, I decided to run again. So this song has a message of leaving. 

When I made this song, I was very interested in directing and filming techniques. While watching many movies and dramas, I realized that if there is a storyline in the video as well as the song, I [can] convey my message more clearly to the fans. I wanted to film a music video in a drama format, so I posted a message asking for someone to collaborate with in the [film] community. Since the production cost was lacking, there were many disappointing parts, but it [created] a lot of new experiences [for me with its] location, filming, and directing. More people love this music than I thought, so I am very grateful for this song.

"I Just Wanna Be With You" is a song that I worked on for a long time. I'm a person who has a lingering attachment to first love. At that time, I was mentally exhausted, so I thought of the woman I loved the most [and] wrote what I wanted to say to her. If you listen to my voice, you can hear that my daily life at that time collapsed and my condition [was] very bad.

Who would you love to collaborate with in the future?

There are so many artists. Among the artists that come to mind now: DPR LIVE, G-DRAGON, CL, B.I, The Quiett, Dok2, and overseas singers including Ava Max, Troye Sivan, Daft Punk… Wow, there are so many! 

What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

[I am] going to release an EP, Compass, containing about ten songs, in late May or early June this year. It includes previously-released songs and many new songs. It's an album with hip-hop, pop, and funk songs. [I’ve] been preparing a lot since last November and [am] still working on it, so please give [it] a lot of attention [when it comes out]. I also plan to release another album in the second half of this year. 

I thought it would be appropriate to communicate positive energy while dancing, rather than just singing, on stage. Therefore, [I] will collaborate with artists who do choreography to create pop and dance-based music that feels different from K-pop idol dancing. 

By the time Compass is released, I think I will establish my own brand, called “2S.” [When my] music is organized, I'm going to make my own accessories. 

If I am influential [enough] one day to help someone, I want to create a cultural foundation in middle age to provide education and opportunities to many young people. 

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about your music?

I'm just grateful that you're interested in my music. [I] will become an artist who makes good music that can deliver positive energy to listeners. I hope you have a happy day, everyone! 

Check out 2seon’s music here, and keep up with him on YouTube and Instagram!

Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity. Photo credit: Instagram.