 |
| ▲ Korean singer-songwriter Lee Seung-yoon poses for photos at the media showcase for his third and latest full-length album "Yeokseong" held in Seoul on July 3, 2024. (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, July 3 (Yonhap) -- "What I wanted to do was create 'long-form' content. Just like Martin Scorsese's and Christopher Nolan's films hold significance even when Marvel movies are released, doing long-form in an era of short-form itself holds meaning."
Singer-songwriter Lee Seung-yoon expressed his determination during a showcase for his pre-release album 'Yeokseong,' a part of his third full-length album, held in Seodaemun-gu on the 3rd.
"I wanted to showcase my true self musically amidst the struggle between knowing my limits and external forces defining them," Lee shared, discussing his perseverance in releasing full-length albums in an era dominated by mini-albums and digital singles.
 |
| ▲ Korean singer-songwriter Lee Seung-yoon poses for photos at the media showcase for his third and latest full-length album "Yeokseong" held in Seoul on July 3, 2024. (Yonhap) |
'Yeokseong' features eight tracks, including live-performance favorites like 'Waterfall,' 'Firework Time,' and 'Black Strings,' ahead of the full release of his third album later this year. Lee defies the trend of 'easy listening' with intense rock band music, featuring the six-minute-long 'Waterfall' as the title track—equivalent to three typical short-form songs.
"This album is about defying the inevitable. The pre-release album contains eight tracks related to this theme," he explained.
One of the double title tracks, 'Waterfall,' begins with raw guitar howling and grand drum sounds, merging orchestral and band music to create an overwhelming sound reminiscent of a waterfall. Lee performed 'Waterfall' live with a band, delivering a refreshing vocal and instrumental performance that felt like a cleanse during the rainy season.
With lyrics like "Turn it over, I regret being born / Turn it over, I’ll reject the flow / Turn it over, overturn the waterfall," Lee radiated the energy of youth defying inertia and fate. The other title track, 'Firework Time,' with its addictive chorus and lively sound, evokes the finale of a summer festival.
The album also includes 'Black Strings,' notable for its unique lyrics about holding a black string, the pop-punk style 'Sold Out' with its refreshing and intense guitar riff, 'Return Match,' a dynamic reinterpretation of 1990s British rock reminiscent of sports highlights, and 'Canon,' recorded with an orchestra in Prague blending with electric guitar.
Lee described the themes of his songs: "'Waterfall' is about defying inertia, 'Firework Time' defies darkness, 'Sold Out' defies the system, and 'Return Match' defies outcomes."
 |
| ▲ Korean singer-songwriter Lee Seung-yoon performs at the media showcase for his third and latest full-length album "Yeokseong" held in Seoul on July 3, 2024. (Yonhap) |
Since winning JTBC's competition show 'Sing Again' in 2021, Lee Seung-yoon has gained widespread recognition with his extensive and varied music. His second full-length album, 'The Residence of Dreams,' released in January last year, received critical acclaim. He held successful tour concerts across Korea and internationally in Taiwan and Japan.
Reflecting on his journey post-'Sing Again,' Lee remarked, "I've become known as an 'audition program winner.' While band music is gaining attention, I'm still an artist working hard on my music alone. I hope band music continues to gain more recognition and becomes even bigger."
Lee plans to release his third full-length album and hold solo concerts in Seoul, Jeonju, and Busan later this year. He teased about the upcoming album, "It will showcase how a musician either burns out or turns into a small spark. The fact that someone like me exists is not meaningless. I believe it signifies musical growth."
"I'm captivated by the concept of a full-length album, and releasing three albums in about three years shows that it has significance. It marks a point of growth musically," Lee concluded.
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
