Through Countless Confusions and Temptations, MONSTA X's Kihyun Proves His Determination [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

MONSTA X member Kihyun has demonstrated unwavering dedication to his primary career. Amid numerous external interferences and a flood of musical theater offers, he trusted only his own instincts and musical direction, pushing forward with conviction. By rejecting predetermined answers and forging his own path through his new album "BORDERLINE," the 12th-year vocalist Kihyun, now entering his 30s, reveals his solid inner strength.

Recently, Kihyun held a roundtable interview at Starship Entertainment's office in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of his second mini-album "BORDERLINE."

"BORDERLINE" is an album that captures Kihyun's journey of discovering and pursuing his own path rather than following a predetermined one.

The title track "So Good" most concisely reflects Kihyun's current musical direction. It sings of the liberation and freedom found only when, amidst countless externally imposed answers, one ultimately trusts their own instincts and choices.

"We return with quality and messages more confident than ever before. Through this promotion, we will clearly show that 'Kihyun is the kind of artist who makes songs like this.'"

Having moved past the passion and concerns of his 20s, Kihyun, now in his 30s, places a clear "period" on his musical identity and stamps a new "seal" through his third solo album.

Regarding this title track, Kihyun stated, "The vocal difficulty is far higher than my previous two solo albums." He added, "All seven tracks on this album feature powerful, dynamic sounds with strong self-expression. Among this intensity, 'So Good' best showcases my vocal color and represents where I stand right now. It was a challenge for me personally, but I selected it as the title track."

His first encounter with "So Good" felt like fate. Kihyun still vividly recalls the moment he first heard the song in the green room during the U.S. "Jingle Ball" tour last December.

"I was in the tour green room when my manager asked, 'What do you think of this song?' and played 'So Good.' From the moment I heard it, it kept looping in my mind and caught my attention. I became convinced it was the perfect track to realize the slightly husky yet rock-optimized voice I pursue. Although four out of seven tracks were title candidates, causing much deliberation, 'So Good' left the strongest impression from start to finish, so I ultimately chose it as the title."

Then, what does "where I stand right now" mean for Kihyun, a 10th-year debutant who has surpassed his 30s? He explained the album's unique weight by reflecting on his solo filmography.

"My first solo album 'Voyager' was an exciting start as a solo vocalist, allowing me to sing and play freely. My second album 'Youth' was a process of gathering my own musical colors by exploring pure emotions and youth. Now, in my 30s, this third album is the one that finally puts a definitive stamp on all the musical colors I've accumulated."

Kihyun further emphasized, "As my life has matured, so too has my music. I believe I have now reached a stage where I can perfectly showcase 'my own music.'"

Kihyun also revealed the process behind selecting "So Good" as the title track. When asked if he faced pressure to choose a predetermined answer during this album's production, he replied, "Yes, many times. Far too many." He recounted, "From comments like 'This song is great; let's make it the title' to suggestions like 'Maybe we should go with a different color this time,' I received so much advice that I became increasingly confused."

However, the final choice ultimately rested with Kihyun. He shared, "I've always felt that things which don't sit well in my heart and cause discomfort will eventually become mine someday. I didn't expect this feeling to apply to songs too. 'So Good' became the title; in the end, it matched my taste." His tendency to dislike lingering uncertainty—often making a choice even when hesitating between "should I buy it?" or "should I do it?"—also influenced this decision.

The most difficult choice during album production was selecting the title track. Kihyun said, "Choosing the title was extremely hard and challenging. As my thoughts multiplied, the deadline for deciding kept getting pushed back. After thinking for so long, with just one day left before the deadline, I decided on 'So Good.' Now that it's time to decide, perhaps that moment was the hardest. Since I chose 'So Good' as the title, I must bear the responsibility." He highlighted the weight accompanying such a choice.

What kept Kihyun deliberating until the end were four highly distinctive title candidates. He explained that he considered many factors, including seasonal feel, song length, and the appropriate vibe for the current timing.

Kihyun stated, "The primary reason I chose 'So Good' was because it sounded better than the others, but each of the other tracks had strong merits too, so I pondered most deeply which song to release at this timing." He added, "'So Good' initially felt fresher because it started by stripping away elements rather than adding them. I thought its seasonal feel leaned toward autumn, yet its explosive energy would give listeners a refreshing sensation."

He concluded, "Only 'So Good' could align all these elements," expressing his confidence in selecting it as the album's title track.

Kihyun explained why he declined numerous musical theater and acting offers to focus on music. When asked about his desire for serious acting roles, he replied, "Because I'm bad at memorizing lines; I don't think I'd be good at remembering them." He added, "For now, I feel happiest doing music."

He further shared, "Recently, Starship's acting department contacted me suggesting I consider musical theater, but I told them I want to focus on team activities and music promotions." He also mentioned, "I often receive musical offers, but I've politely declined them recently because I want to concentrate on music."

While acting pursuits were set aside, Kihyun demonstrated the immersion of an acting major during the music video shoot. Regarding behind-the-scenes footage, he said, "The director prepared a tear stick for me, and as someone who studied acting, tears came within 10 seconds. The director even asked if something was wrong. I also filmed a crying scene."

Like this, Kihyun's goal while fully focusing on music instead of acting is to become "a singer whose lyrics sound like a story."

Regarding his musical identity, he said, "From the very beginning when I prepared to become a singer, my goal was to be an artist who delivers lyrics effectively." He continued, "During group activities, my parts weren't always the entire song or long segments. Of course, I worked hard for each group track and strived to convey lyrics well, but as a solo artist, I hope to become a singer whose lyrics sound like a story."

Finally, Kihyun clearly stated his aspiration as a vocalist: "As a musical genre, I want to be a singer with a husky voice like Britpop, where my voice stands out most clearly even when background music plays behind me."

"BORDERLINE" was released on the 7th at 6 p.m. through various online music platforms.

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*This content was translated by AI.