Jul 21, 2026 2:30pm IST
Yeonjun on Shedding Labels, ‘TXT’s Parenting Diary’ and Fears of Over-Dancing: ‘Want to be Completely Confident and Fearless’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Yeonjun, the 26-year-old South Korean singer from the band TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), is a force of nature. His induction into the K-Pop scene in 2019 came with accolades like multiple best new artist wins, top-rated music chart debuts and millions of views that have since set the benchmark for other boy group launches.
In September 2024, he debuted as a solo artist with “GGUM,” a digital single that went viral thanks to his dynamic choreography and marketing that tapped into ongoing trends. He followed it up with “NO LABELS,” a two-part project that explores his life as a K-Pop star, the varied experiences that accompany it, and his emotions as a twenty-something.
Sharing how he aimed to make a successful debut with “PART 01”, the singer exclusively tells Variety India he wishes to go one step further and expand to music that invites entertainment with the new album.
What was your vision behind your two solo albums?
‘NO LABELS’ is a project where I strip off all the labels and show my most authentic self. If ‘NO LABELS: PART 01’ was all about explaining who I am, ‘NO LABELS: PART 02’ is about the different sides of myself on a deeper level as a solo artist. It became a more reflective project because I realized I’d been unconsciously putting myself into a certain box. I wanted to step outside of that and show a new side of myself.
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You worked alongside producers like Slow Rabbit and Supreme Boi for this album, who’ve had a winning track record. What were the conversations in the studio like?
It took some time to write the lyrics, but the recording happened pretty fast and smoothly. When I pick songs as a solo artist, I can focus entirely on my own choices, so it definitely lets me show more of my own color than when I’m working on a group album. We kept asking ourselves how we could make each song feel more like me, and I think those discussions really shaped the album.
This album comes after the group’s contract renewals with BigHit Music. What has changed for you as an artist in terms of having a say in the creative, economic and decision-making aspects of its creation process?
I don’t think there was much difference after the contract renewal. The trust we’ve built over the years made me feel more comfortable expressing my ideas throughout this album. From the overall creative direction to the smallest details, we communicated closely, so I was able to bring my vision into the project.
‘Fxxking Star’ touches on themes of stardom. What does being a ‘star’ mean to you? Given the increasing focus on artist-fan relationships, what do you think about parasocial relationships and their impact on artists?
'Fxxking Star' is a track about the kind of star I hope to become. On stage, I want to be someone who’s completely confident and fearless. As someone who receives so much love, I’m incredibly grateful for the bond we have with our fans. Whenever I miss MOA (Moments of Alwaysness), I just turn on a live stream or send them a message to share a slice of my daily life. Reading all their comments and supportive messages about the album motivates me to work even harder and create something worthy of their love.
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'TXT's Parenting Diary’ is hugely popular. What are you learning from this experience about yourself and fellow members? If you were to send a message to Yoojun, what would you say?
I realized I love babies more than I thought, and I also found out that Soobin is surprisingly great with kids. If I could send a message to Yoojun 10 years from now, I would say, “Yoojun, I love you so much, and I hope you are always happy and healthy. Let’s go get something delicious someday — it’s all on me! Love ya!”
Dance challenges are right up your alley, and many fear over-dancing, for which you have often been praised. What is your approach going into covers, especially to tracks of girl groups like ‘Iconic By Mistake’?
A few years ago in the US, I saw male dancers put their own spin on girl-group choreography, and it completely changed the way I looked at covers. Whenever I do one now, I try to respect what makes the original performance special while bringing my own interpretation to it.
Following LE SSERAFIM’s collaboration with Guru Randhawa, there’s a lot of hope among fans for more K-Pop X Indian musician crossovers. What are your thoughts?
I’m always open to new collaborations. Whenever I work with global artists, I get to experience new genres and styles, so it really broadens my musical spectrum. So if I get to collaborate with an Indian artist, I would be excited to see how it turns out.
What’s your message for your Indian MOA?
To our Indian MOA, I would like to say, thank you so much for always sending me love from afar. I thought about you a lot while preparing this album, so I hope you enjoy it. I can’t wait for the day we finally get to meet in India.
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