Apr 21, 2026 7:11pm IST
KANGMIN On His Solo Debut: ‘I Drew Inspiration From G-Dragon and TAEMIN’ (EXCLUSIVE)
KANGMIN (real name: Yoo Kang-min) who is a member of the seven member boy band, Verivery recently made his solo debut with the album, “Free Falling.” The title track, which is of the same name, is a contemporary R&B-pop track. KANGMIN is one of the songwriters for the track that talks about a turbulent relationship between a couple.
Tell us a bit about the song...how did you conceive the same and the thought process behind it?
To be honest, when I first started working on this album, I did not have a specific idea of what musical direction I would be heading in. As I was listening to many songs with the company staff, I got to think more about which songs would fit the album’s theme. And I thought that the mysterious feeling of “Free Falling” would be best in expressing my emotions. The album deals with the anxiety that comes as we move ahead from boyhood to adulthood.
What are the pressures that come with a solo debut?
The biggest worry and pressure came from the thought of whether I could fill the whole stage without my members. But I felt much better after going through practices and album preparation. Also, my members always speak with me and share advice even though we’re not standing on the same stage, so that helped me put down pressure a lot.
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How would you describe yourself as a musician?
I’d like to describe myself as an artist who works on music that allows conversations with the listeners. For this album, too, I was able to share an honest conversation while presenting my inner self and dealing with the somewhat serious topic of ‘anxiousness.’ At the same time, I believe it attracted public interest without diving too deeply into musical complexity.
Who are your biggest musical influences so far?
I always try to learn from other artists’ strengths. As each artist has their own musical style and strength, I want to learn to create my own music. For this album, I drew the inspiration to become an amazing solo artist by watching G-Dragon and TAEMIN!
Have you ever heard Indian music and would you like to collab with any Indian musician?
I think it's common to encounter Indian music through movies and they have very exciting music, so it would be nice to have a chance to collaborate with such a vibe.
Besides music, what are your hobbies?
These days, I read more often. I’m trying to read as much as possible by carrying books during my schedule!
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