TOUCHED's Yoon Min: "I sometimes cry all night, but on stage I ask, 'Are you happy?'… The disconnect was painful" [Interview ②]

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Band TOUCHED reveals the inner stories hidden behind their dazzling stage energy through their first full-length album, "Extreme Night."

TOUCHED (Yoon Min, Kim Seung-bin, John B. Kim, Chae Do-hyun) held an interview to mark the release of their first full-length album, "Extreme Night," at the MPMG headquarters in Changjeon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 20th. As this is their first full-length album since their debut in 2021, the members' concerns and dedication were exceptional.

Kim Seung-bin explained the reason for the delay in releasing the full-length album: "I had always wanted to release a full-length album, but after becoming known through the audition program 'Great Seoul Invasion (GSI),' we did not have enough preparation time. Because we focused on releasing EPs and singles within a tight schedule, the full-length album kept getting postponed."

Yoon Min also stated, "Perhaps because it is our first full-length album, I kept feeling ambitious. We deliberated over the musical direction, and since there are eight tracks, we also considered whether to release it as a full-length album or an EP."

At the center of the album was the members' will to honestly capture their inner selves. Kim Seung-bin said, "Rather than projecting energy outward, we aimed to highlight the sound of the four of us. As we incorporated stories from our inner selves, the lyrics and sound seem to have taken on a dark and melancholic atmosphere."

Yoon Min revealed that this change stemmed from the disconnect between their stage persona and their true selves. He reflected, "TOUCHED's music and performance are perceived as intense energy and charisma, but I also feel loneliness and hardship. On stage, we pump up our energy to show a happy appearance, but when we come down from the stage, the sense of dissonance was significant."

He continued, "It became a repetitive situation where I would cry all night, then go on stage and shout, 'Are you happy? Let's break it,' while pumping up my energy. As a result, I began to think about why I make music," explaining, "I came to realize that everyone lives carrying loneliness and solitude, so we made this album with the intention of creating honest music."

The album title, "Extreme Night," is also closely tied to these concerns. Yoon Min said, "'Extreme Night' refers to a phenomenon where night continues. I believe people live carrying their own 'Extreme Night' in their respective worlds. Even if you live as your daytime self, there is a night within you," adding, "I hope it serves as comfort for those who are in the midst of an 'Extreme Night.'"

TOUCHED plans to consistently share not only their existing energetic image but also their inner anxieties and concerns through this album. Chae Do-hyun said, "We want to continue showing that we experience these emotions."

Yoon Min emphasized that he wants to share the story TOUCHED most wants to tell right now through "Extreme Night." He also revealed his future goals. He stated, "Ultimately, I want to stand on the Super Bowl stage," and "As a near-term goal, I want to keep increasing the scale of our concert venues. Since we performed at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium, I want to perform at Jangchung Gymnasium, and even further, on the stage of the Gymnastics Arena."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original