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| ▲ BM of K-pop group KARD shows in this photo provided by RBW, DSP Media on May 7, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- "Watching Jay (Park) hyung's stage, I made up my mind to walk the path of a singer. It's meaningful for me to work with Jay hyung. I realized that every moment I've been active as a singer until now was for this moment."
For BM (32), a member of the co-ed group KARD, singer Jay Park has always been a role model.
Since appearing on the audition program 'K-pop Star' in 2011 with the goal of becoming a singer, BM has watched Jay Park from the perspective of a fan until now.
Recently, he reached a turning point in his singing career with his first mini-album 'Element'. It was an opportunity for him to work with his idol as he participated in the title track 'Nectar' featuring Jay Park.
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| ▲ BM of K-pop group KARD shows in this photo provided by RBW, DSP Media on May 7, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
In a recent interview at a cafe in Seoul's Gwangjin-gu district, BM expressed, "It feels like a dream come true. Since deciding to release the album, things have been going well in many ways, and I'm grateful for this time."
'Element' is an album containing five songs expressing the most primal curiosity in relationships between men and women. 'Nectar' is an easy-listening song expressing a desire to share sweet love with someone you like.
BM explained, "Most of the album deals with the passionate attraction between men and women. I aimed to create music that is enjoyable to listen to even after some time has passed, rather than conveying a big message. Also, as trends indicate a resurgence of music genres from the 1990s to 2000s such as hip-hop and R&B, I incorporated a lot of that vibe."
In order to finalize 'Nectar', BM enlisted the Grammy-winning mixing engineer and rapper Drake's collaborator as the producer. For BM, Jay Park was the final piece of the puzzle to complete the song. Through proactive efforts such as sending messages on social media, BM was able to achieve his goal.
BM reflected, "There was no response to my messages, but I thought I wouldn't regret asking one more time when we met in person. I was grateful for his participation in both the songwriting and composition, as well as appearing in the music video. We also filmed the 'Nectar Challenge' video together."
He continued, "I felt acknowledged by receiving various advice from hyung, who is also my senior. I tried not to look too excited."
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| ▲ BM of K-pop group KARD shows in this photo provided by RBW, DSP Media on May 7, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
As the overall producer of the album, BM participated in songwriting, composition, and arrangement for all the tracks, considering this project as an opportunity to showcase all his musical abilities. He also participated in mixing and mastering after watching videos on YouTube.
BM explained, "I wanted to test how far my talents could go. Also, from the company's perspective, if I took charge of the song production, we could save production costs, so they readily agreed to release the album."
While he naturally desires success with his first mini-album, BM says that if listeners enjoy it, that's enough for him. The crucial moment came when he witnessed his family going through health issues and realized the importance of gratitude during the recovery process.
"I let go of my desires for money and fame, and strangely, good things started to happen. I realized that the direction I'm looking at now is the right one, so I don't want to be greedy."
However, he still hopes to gain recognition not only domestically but also internationally. BM has gained recognition as an 'adult K-pop' artist among foreign fans, including embarking on a solo tour called 'After The After Party' in the United States in May.
"I think the color that suits younger colleagues is different from the color that suits me in my 30s," he said. "With this album, I want to target fans who enjoy hip-hop and R&B in Korea and make a name for myself."
"I still think the peak of my career is far away. Especially now, I believe the combination of the 'elements' surrounding me is more perfect than ever, so I will work hard to reach the peak."
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| ▲ BM of K-pop group KARD shows in this photo provided by RBW, DSP Media on May 7, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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