20 Questions With Kihyun: On ‘Youth’ Solo Album, Collaborating With Monsta X Members & More

While this year has marked multiple professional milestones for Kihyun, the Monsta X singer is taking a moment to meditate on his past and share a message to those finding their way.

With his debut solo effort Voyager from March, Kihyun blazed a new musical trail and embraced belt-heavy rock music that perfectly suited the vocalist’s impressive range. His latest collection, Youth, continues the rocky theme while incorporating uplifting and comforting themes inside. The title track looks back on the K-pop star coming of age in Seoul but speaks to universal messages of remembering the freedom of one’s childhood and coming to peace with one’s journey. Meanwhile, other Youth songs like the romantic, acoustic-leaning “‘Cause of You,” the biting breakup track “Where Is This Love,” and “Stardust,” with its dreamy, synth-rock production, all paint vivid pictures of innocent curiosity and looking to deeper connection.

More from Billboard

• Diddy Celebrates Turning Another Year Older By Singing 'Happy Birthday' to Himself

• Anitta Says Her 'Savage x Fenty Vol. 4' Fashion Show Performance Will Be 'Very Sexy'

• Camila Cabello Is Celebrating the Holidays Early With 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' Cover

Even though it’s Kihyun’s name behind Youth, he enlisted help from his Monsta X bandmates too: Hyungwon co-wrote and produced two tracks on the album, and rapper-singer Joohoney delivered some surprise ad-libs at the end. After celebrating their seven-year anniversary together earlier this year in May, Youth also shows how Monsta X continue to collaborate both creatively and in ways that will excite their dedicated fanbase known affectionately as Monbebe.

Kihyun breaks down his latest step as a soloist, collaborating with his MX mates, and more about the music that’s made him with Billboard.

1. Where are you in the world right now and can you describe the setting?

I’m deep underground in the Starship [Entertainment] practice room!

2. Both your new album and single are titled “Youth.” Can you explain the significance of this and its meaning?

“Youth” is the overall concept and message I wanted to convey in this album. Youth can be a time when people feel like they are constantly moving forward with no specific destination and no chance to look back. It can also be a period full of uncertainty. Through this album, I wanted to give comfort to people who are currently feeling this way.

3. You shared in a previous interview that you had envisioned your second album possibly incorporating jazz, but this album still features a strong rock sound. Did you purposely want to stay in the rock sound?

I actually asked Hyungwon for jazz songs, but he gave me rock and ballad songs instead. Unfortunately, this album doesn’t include any jazz but maybe next time. I almost didn’t include rock in this album as well, but I ended up including rock-style songs this time again.

4. Going off the album title Youth, what’s your favorite memory from your childhood?

My favorite memory from childhood is when I just sang without thinking too much. Now that I am a singer by profession and I share my story in front of many people, I have more to consider when singing. Singing is still fun now, but back when I was younger, I could just purely enjoy it without any worries.

5. What’s your favorite song from the album?

“Youth” has to be my favorite song because I think the lyrics may hold the most importance to me personally out of all of my solo songs and even Monsta X’s songs. It has a strong message that I resonate with.

6. You wrote the lyrics for “‘Cause of You.” Tell us about this process in writing this song.

The lyrics for ‘’Cause of You’ were actually supposed to be in my solo debut album, but I ended up using them in this album instead!

7. Joohoney makes a surprise appearance at the end of “‘Cause of You”! How did that happen and why did you want to keep it as a surprise?

I was recording “Cause of You” in the studio and Joohoney came to visit because he was in the area. I asked him if he wanted to record an ad-lib for the track and he gladly accepted. I thought it would be a fun addition and thought Monbebe would really enjoy his surprise appearance.

8. What’s the first album or piece of music you bought for yourself, and what was the medium?

I bought SG Wannabe’s first album as a physical CD!

9. The album has really compelling artwork, including photos of you on a playground, in an apartment—is this representative of your youth?

They don’t represent my personal youth, but are a representation of the general theme of youth. The different album films and music videos show contrasting scenes about youth so I hope you’ll see the connection when watching them.

10. How did your hometown city shape who you are?

I grew up in a city outside of Seoul. It was full of parks, trees, grass and forests, so it was an ideal place to run around and play when I was younger. I love Seoul too, but spending my youth surrounded by nature was really great.

11. Hyungwon wrote and composed on “Bad Liar” and “Where Is This Love.” What’s the story behind this song? Did you guys collaborate directly? How did these songs end up on your album?

Hyungwon gave me “Where Is This Love” and I immediately loved the concept of the track. We didn’t make many revisions to it and kept it almost identical to the original version. “Bad Liar” is a genre I really love, but I asked Hyungwon to change the beat and some sounds here and there. We started working on it back in August and I’m so thankful that he worked hard to adjust all the parts for me.

12. What was the first concert you saw?

G-Dragon’s solo concert! It was so shocking and fun.

13. What was the biggest lesson you learned from releasing your first solo album, Voyager, that influenced how you approached this new album?

I learned that having the members by my side makes things much easier. Although there are pros and cons to everything, I’m reminded of their absence often. Another lesson I learned is that making one’s solo debut is definitely not easy and takes much work.

14. “Where Is This Love” is entirely in English Can you share more of the story behind this song?

When Hyungwon first brought this song up, he explained where he got the inspiration for this song and, more specifically, about the scenes from the movie Closer. So hearing the full story before going into the recording booth greatly helped me to vividly imagine the song in my head and get in the zone. Also, I didn’t pronounce the English lyrics clearly on purpose: I wanted to give off that weak, powerless vibe through the way I sang the lyrics so I remember that I deliberately slurred my words from the very first verse.

15. Do you have a go-to karaoke song?

Actually, it’s been quite some time since I went to karaoke. Ever since I debuted and started singing as a job, I rarely go to karaoke anymore.

16. What’s at the top of your professional bucket list?

Holding a solo concert! It won’t be easy, but it’s definitely at the top of my bucket list.

17. This year marked Monsta X’s seven-year anniversary and the year you debuted as a soloist. What is something you’d like to highlight to fans that you hadn’t shown as KIHYUN until this year?

You said it well! This year marks Monsta X’s seventh anniversary while being the year of my solo debut, but I don’t think I’ve shown enough of my vocal skills so I still have lots to prove.

18. What’s one thing even Monsta X’s most devoted fans don’t know about you?

I really do want to tell you something but the thing is, Monbebe knows pretty much everything there is to know about me, so it’s hard to give an interesting answer. If I have to say, I bet they didn’t know that my gaming skills have improved a lot!

19. What’s your message to fans who have been supporting Monsta X and Kihyun—and waiting for your new solo album to arrive?

Monbebe has asked me a lot about when my second solo album is coming out or if it’s ever going to be released—and here I am back with my first mini-album EP! I hope you are enjoying it. I don’t mean to ask you to listen to it a lot, but I hope you can catch what I intended for each track in this album.

20. What else do you want to share at this time?

To Billboard readers, I am back with my second album as a solo artist. I hope my music can make you think, “Wow, KIHYUN is capable of this much as a soloist! He’s so good at this kind of music!” Please give lots of love to my mini album Youth and also Monsta X!

Click here to read the full article.