‘12:45’ Etham “Korean fans’ sing-along was best experience… K-pop is well-deserved”

▲ This photo, provided by Universal Music, shows the singer Etham from the UK. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

SEOUL, May 31 (Yonhap) -- In the music market, where new songs are pouring out every day, there is a song that remains on the Korean for 108 weeks, even after being released four years ago.

The song belongs to the singer Etham from the UK, who sang “12:45.”

The song, which begins with the lyrics “It's 12:45 on a Tuesday,” went viral as an emotional ballad song and gained attention when singer Lim Young-woong and Stray Kids Hyunjin released cover videos.

Etham met with Yonhap News Agency at a cafe in Seoul on the 30th, and said, “I usually try to touch the emotional part when I make music, and I think such effort created empathy,” and thanked the Korean fans for showing interest.

Etham, who gained attention from when he was fourteen by uploading song covers on YouTube, has been recognized for his emotional lyrics and appealing tone. The singer is also well-known for gaining recognition from Canadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes.

▲ This photo, provided by Universal Music, shows the singer Etham from the UK. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

The artist who recently visited South Korea for the performance at the “Seoul Jazz Festival 2022,” said, “The sing-along of Korean fans was the best experience in my career.”

"I had a hard time because I couldn't sleep well and wasn't in good condition, but I didn't want to come down from the stage when I heard the singing crowd who filled the concert hall. It was the best moment ever." (laughs)

Unlike what he said about not feeling well, the singer filled the 70-minute stage with songs such as “Control” and “I wish it was me” at the Seoul Jazz Festival held on the afternoon of the 27th.

Etham also prepared a special present for fans on his first visit to Korea.

It was the first time for the singer to perform the track “You’re The Reason” from the EP he is working on. Etham himself said the track was a ‘very special song.’

Etham introduced the song on his social media, “It is a song about how thankful I am that ‘I can only be honest in front of you and share everything with you.’”

Regarding how he revealed the song to his Korean fans, the singer said, “It was a time when I wanted to release a song with an exciting beat, and I thought it would be a good song to unveil first before releasing the mini-album.”

▲ This photo, provided by Universal Music, shows the singer Etham from the UK. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
Etham said K-pop was ‘well deserved’ for global attention.

The artist said, “K-pop has recently gained worldwide attention, and it is well-deserved for such evaluation,” and mentioned K-pop supergroups BTS and Stray Kids.

The singer who also participated in the solo album of Monsta X’s Kihyun, said, “The whole process was fun,” adding, “I’m so grateful that a collaboration song (with K-pop singer Kihyun) will come out to the world.”

Etham shared his musical views by saying, “I think the most important thing is to keep your style of music while creating songs. Above all else, I think focusing on music is the most important thing."

Etham expressed his desire to perform in front of his Korean fans again, saying that it was a shame that his visit to Korea was short.

The singer said, “I’ll have a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” adding, “ I’m going to the U.S. next month to work on the EP, and I want to visit Korea and perform on stage within this year.”

(This article is translated from Korean to English by An Hayeon.)

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