2Seon Unpacks His New Album

2Seon details the making of Compass, why that album title suits his story, and what he learned while making the album!

What three words or phrases best describe your new album?

“Reflection,” “challenge,” [and] “record.”

How is your new album similar to your previous releases, and how is it different? 

I think the overall atmosphere of the songs in the album is similar [to previous releases], but I wrote the lyrics [more] honestly [this time]. Also, since it's an album that I worked on for more than a year, not for a short period of time, it contains [more] aspects of me. 

Do you see this album as more of an ending to a chapter of your musical career or a new beginning, and why? 

I think this album is my new start. It takes a lot of effort while preparing for a single or EP, but I think the effort it takes to prepare a full-length album should be [even more] extensive and detailed. I wanted to give up for a while, but I wanted to show my best to the fans who listen to my music, so I did my best until the end. It's an album that made my inner self more mature. 

What album cover art choices did you consider, and how did you make your final decision? 

I imagined a color of a very clear, deep sea or aurora. At first, I tried to [put] yellow letters on [an] emerald background, but it felt a little lighter than [what would suit] the composition, so I used light green and mint colors to harmonize! 

Is the tracklist order random, or does it have a specific purpose? 

Except for track one, “My Level,” there is a story composition, [from] “immaturity,” to “self-awareness of immaturity,” to “observation,” to “growth,” to “reflection.” 

Do you plan to release any songs in the future that were cut from the final version of this album? 

I don't have any plans yet! I'm thinking about releasing a rearranged version [of the album] after a long time. 

Please summarize the thought process behind Compass.

Overall, it captures my honest feelings about the events I've been through. It captures all the issues in my life from the second half of 2021 to the present, including when I was hurt by [other] people, when I was hurt by myself, and when I missed someone. I [still] feel like I'm going through growing pains internally. There were times when I gave up on many things for my dream. At one point, I became very tired and wandered. I didn't know where to go. The answer, [I realized] after much thought, was to look back on the path I've taken so far. Looking back on the past, I could find out the cause of my current problems and know the direction forward. I think of Compass as a record left behind to solve future problems. 

Please share some interesting facts about this album’s music videos!

There are two official music videos, "My Level" and "You & You.” The music video for [“My Level”] was inspired by fashion films and [was supposed to have] a cool look, but it's a bit comical to me! 

"You & You" is the first dance music I've tried! It's made up of dreamy and mysterious resolutions, and I wanted to express this atmosphere more in the video, so I created the choreography. I practiced after a long break from dancing, and there were a lot of funny scenes, so I think I became a comedian who made the dancers laugh during practice. 

Why did you choose the specific songs that you did for music videos? 

I had a hard time [when] there were a lot of people around me trying to interfere and undermine me, and I wanted to visually capture my current self. 

What would be your reaction to seeing people sing covers of your new songs?

First of all, I think my music might be hard to sing [fully] live, so I'd like to give a round of applause to the person who [covers] it. I think [I would] suggest a musical exchange. I want to find the intersections of each other's emotions and make it into a song. 

How did making this album change you as a musician? Did it help you grow in any specific ways? 

From the time I set a theme and composed a song [for that theme], I discovered and improved [on] my shortcomings by doing processes I had never done before [with] recording and writing lyrics. While planning and participating in all the processes related to album production, I felt grateful to know that there are so many people around me who help. I [learned] how much time and effort many senior and fellow artists put into releasing full-length albums. I want to develop what I felt through this album process and make a better album [in the future]. 

Finish this sentence: “Ultimately, I will consider this album release to be a success if  ____.” 

“... the people who listen to my music enjoy it.”

Check out Compass here!

Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity. Photos courtesy of 2Seon.