NCT Haechan on His Debut Album ‘Taste‘: A Full Interview Recap
NCT’s Haechan recently sat down for an interview with Star News to discuss his first solo album, ‘Taste,’ offering insights into the creative process, song selections, and support from his NCT members.
When asked about the album’s title, Haechan explained that ‘Taste’ organically emerged from the diverse range of genres explored within the project. “It’s an album that encompasses sound, performance, and atmosphere across various genres,” he stated. “That’s why the album name naturally became ‘Taste,’ and I think it is indeed an album with me [reflecting my identity].”
The title track, “crzy,” was a clear choice for Haechan.”When I heard ‘Crzy,’ I thought it was the best song to show my strengths,” he shared. “I was convinced that it would be a good start to greet my solo debut song, and I decided to make it the title track without worrying.”
Regarding the music video for “crzy,” Haechan highlighted the focus on the music and performance itself. he described it as “a troublesome and confident figure,” and praised the combination of singing, choreography, and background visuals, expressing his excitement for its release. He also noted a personal side effect of the shoot: “Rather than a special episode, we shot the music video in a museum, and this chance sparked my interest in painting. (Laughter)”
Haechan also contributed to the songwriting process, specifically with the track “SHOULD BE.” he admitted it was a challenging experience. “‘SHOULD BE’ was a song that was quite tough to write. It took a long time to express the demo naturally in Korean, and I had a lot of concerns about writing lyrics that were well attached to my mouth.” he elaborated on the emotional core of the song, explaining the difficulty in portraying a character moving on from a past relationship, but ultimately found the process “fun and meaningful” as it aligned with his vision.
When asked to choose a standout track aside from the title song, Haechan selected “gray Rain.” He revealed a long-standing connection to the song, stating, ”This song has been memorable for a long time since DEEZ (Des) first told me about it five years ago, and I was lucky to be included in my first album. That’s why it’s one of the songs that are particularly attached to this album.”
Haechan also spoke about the support he received from his NCT members. He recalled some playful teasing about his “mature” approach, but emphasized their encouragement to pursue his artistic vision. Specifically, Tae-yong told him, “You’re all good, so I’m going to do solo activities well.” He expressed gratitude for their support, calling it “a big strength.”
Looking ahead, Haechan’s goal for ‘Taste’ is longevity. “The goal of this album was to make music that fans can listen to for a long time.As long as you have been waiting for a long time, I hope you will continue to listen to it over time.” He plans to showcase his solo artistry through various performances, beginning with music show appearances.
Haechan offered a heartfelt message to fans worldwide. “I think it’s a great blessing to be able to congratulate so many people as I release a solo album. Above all, the ‘Taste’ album was able to come to the world thanks to the fans who supported me and waited.I will love and cherish this album for a long time. Thank you again. It will always be a hard work.”
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