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| ▲ This image of South Korean singer Lee Seung-yoon is provided by Mareumo Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean singer Lee Seung-yoon shared a candid reflection about his music and journey in anticipation of the release of his third full-length album, "Anthems of Defiance," on Thursday.
In his introduction to the album, he wrote, “Cowardly, I sing. I’ll probably hide behind my songs. But this time, I release a slightly more direct album.”
Lee describes himself as someone who often lacks resolve and has many aspirations but little courage to pursue them. With Anthems of Defiance, however, he feels it is finally time to raise his voice. He expressed his desire to seize the fleeting opportunity, boldly encapsulating his album with the proposition, "Let’s go against everything."
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| ▲ This image of South Korean singer Lee Seung-yoon is provided by Mareumo Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
In an interview on October 21, Lee explained, “While I know I cannot defy the flow of time, there is still a desire to leave my unique footprints behind.” He added, “I want to be remembered as the singer who created Anthems of Defiance.”
The album features a total of 15 tracks, including the title track of the same name, "To My Heart That Wants to Be Caught," "Black Trace," and previously released songs like "Waterfall and Fireworks Time." Through this collection, Lee Seung-yoon conveys a desire to stand on the side of the marginalized and give them courage. He explained that the word "defiance" can also mean taking sides, irrespective of right or wrong, and his music aims to be a voice for those unable to speak up for themselves.
“I believe that if you don’t voice your own experiences of life, pain, and joy, no one else will do it with authenticity. Even if it’s not about shouting into a microphone, there are moments when we can find the courage to speak up,” Lee said.
The title track uses a metaphor of "noise" to represent the marginalized, and Lee hopes this album will become a story for those “noises” that often go unheard. “While there are elements that take the lead in the melody of life, there’s far more background noise. I hope this album gives courage to those who are seen as noise,” he explained.
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| ▲ This image of South Korean singer Lee Seung-yoon is provided by Mareumo Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Lee expressed deep satisfaction with the time and effort he invested into this album, saying he feels an immense sense of fulfillment. “In sports, there are teams that achieve five consecutive championships, but there are also teams remembered for a single victory. Rather than wondering if I can top Anthems of Defiance, I’m content with what it represents,” he said.
Since his 2013 debut, Lee’s popularity surged after winning JTBC’s "Sing Again" in 2021. While his busy schedule has led to moments of exhaustion, he continues to find genuine enjoyment on stage. “The fact that I still find real joy on stage is one of my strengths,” he said with a laugh, adding that the energy from the audience reinforces his passion.
With growing gratitude toward his fans, Lee shared that this album is also dedicated to them. “I made this album for those who work tirelessly to keep my name shining. I feel like I owe so much to everyone who supports me.”
As he reflects on his ongoing musical growth, Lee has released three full-length albums in the span of three years. Looking ahead to the future, Lee imagines a time when he may become the subject of "defiance" himself, humorously stating, “In 20 years, I might become the target of defiance. And I hope for that.”
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