It solely takes a second with Kun – the 26-year-old singer-songwriter who rose to fame on China’s Idol Producer – to really feel like long-lost mates.
The boy group member turned singer-songwriter is fast to leap into dialog about his seemingly favourite matter – making music. There’s loads to speak about. His newest single, “Deadman,” was launched a month in the past. The soulful observe’s launch was accompanied by a cinematic music video, which the 26-year-old was deeply concerned in creating.
Recent off a somewhat-surprise efficiency of the music music at 88Rising’s Head within the Clouds pageant final month, Kun sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to speak about making deadman, his love for music and what’s subsequent in his “new journey.”
Are you able to inform me extra about your newest single “Deadman?”
Nicely, I’m very, very glad as a result of this observe was made final 12 months, so it was a 12 months [until the time] when folks might truly hear it. I heard it a thousand instances already, so now folks truly are listening to it and loads of them are stunned. I believe they’d [say], “Oh, I didn’t know Kun’s voice was like this now.” However I used to be simply doing my factor over the previous 12 months. I’d simply hold cooking music within the studio. That’s what I really like. I prefer to give attention to it, and I made loads of demos. However “Deadman” is unquestionably the one I beloved, so I’m very glad. Lastly, I put out this observe. One thing about this observe has the classic sound that I’ve by no means made earlier than, and [there’s] the distinction between the classic and the trendy factor. I believe it’s very attention-grabbing, so I actually needed folks to listen to it.
It does have an nostalgic feeling to it. It feels such as you’ve heard it earlier than, in a great way, not a reptetitve means. Inform me in regards to the course of making songs?
There’s no reference, to be sincere. We have now the guitar participant [and the] piano gamers. I simply inform them, “Hey, let’s do that groove.” I’d simply begin giving a groove, a tempo, we arrange a vibe. I begin [to] freestyle, simply simple. No reference. I’ll inform them, “Hey, I need to do one thing like old style, however not too outdated.” Does that make sense?
I like soulful stuff. I hearken to loads of traditional jazz, soul and R&B. They know what I like. I like Prince. I like Elvis. All of them know that. My mates, we make music collectively, so once I begin free-styling, they only know. They’ll inform me, “That is the road.” We’re simply chilling. We’re simply enjoying.
Do you’ve gotten a favourite a part of releasing this single?
Undoubtedly the music video. There’s loads of loopy tales behind the music video. Take a look at his face, look his face. It’s like, we shot it in Montenegro. It’s a really stunning place. I used to be there for per week, an entire week. I discovered the choreography there, and I discovered combating. I discovered dance. We arrange the rig. It was sort of loopy, and the schedule was very tight. We needed to transfer to completely different areas, and I couldn’t even sleep at night time, so I used to be posting [to my Instagram] story that I used to be simply sitting on the couch like, “I hope this can be good, I hope the whole lot can be fantastic.” My mates had been at all times asking me, “What’s happening? Why are you not sleeping? It’s speculated to be very late proper now, proper?” It wasn’t a straightforward one. Undoubtedly. However I’m very grateful for all of the those who labored on this undertaking. It’s not a straightforward one. It’s sort of like a film shoot.
That’s spectacular, particularly given the size.
I needed to make this character. He’s dying over and over due to the issues he loves, so he’s bleeding on a regular basis, very painful. At all times rocking with the guitar like at the moment is the final day, at the moment’s the top. That is going to be the final music I sing to the world. That’s the path we went for, and that’s the primary line I stated to all people. “Hey, I need to write a music. It sounds silly, however what if I die tomorrow? At this time is the final observe I’m going to play.” That’s how we acquired “Deadman.”
It sounds such as you’re very, very creatively concerned in the whole lot you do. What’s that so vital to you as an artist?
I’m only a inventive man. I prefer to be taught new issues. I prefer to create new stuff, like cool shit, however in my very own means, I don’t need to be anyone [else]. I simply need to be myself, proper? I simply need to sound like myself. I simply need to do my very own factor. I’m the man that’s at all times [improving] myself. I at all times hate the outdated me. It’s like, “Why did I [do] this shit?” [There’s] nothing dangerous about it. I simply need to be higher on a regular basis. You get what I imply? That’s simply my persona, so I similar to to beat myself.
Basically, for you, your solely competitors is your self?
Precisely.
Are you able to inform me a bit about Head within the Clouds and what it was like performing there?
This time I actually simply got here right here to assist. [I wasn’t] enjoying a set. I solely have one new observe out. I need to play the brand new songs. I don’t need to play the outdated songs. We are able to in all probability play [them] subsequent time, like a brand new set, possibly in New York. However this time I used to be largely simply right here to indicate folks the brand new music, what it feels like. I needed to indicate the viewers in America, allow them to hear the brand new observe. And likewise join with my followers. I really like the crowds.
What’s it like performing within the U.S. for you? Do you get pleasure from it? Do you discover it a bit of completely different?
I believe it’s completely different. It’s very cool. It’s my first time [doing a festival]. In China, we have now loads of festivals too, however [I] by no means actually go to [them]. I used to be solely doing [my own] concert events, so that is the primary time. I simply actually did one thing I haven’t carried out earlier than. I’m simply very glad. I’m actually loved it.
We didn’t even have loads of time to arrange [with] rehearsals. I simply went on the stage and tried it. I didn’t even know what mic I used to be going to make use of. I didn’t even know who was going to offer me my in-ears and the whole lot. It’s a comic story. I used to be truly fixing the mic stand once I was singing the excessive notes. Someone didn’t tighten it, so it was simply going up and down. I’m making an attempt to repair it, however I’m additionally singing the excessive notes. It’s sort of loopy, however there’s loads of tales folks don’t know.
Do you need to carry out extra within the U.S.?
We are going to. We are going to. I really feel like we’re simply beginning. Ranging from “Deadman,” the whole lot is simply new. [I’m] beginning a brand new journey, so It’s actually only the start. Head within the Clouds, it’s enjoyable. It’s an excellent begin. It’s serving to loads of Asian artists. That’s one thing I respect. There’s not loads of labels [or] festivals that’s serving to Asian artists. That’s wonderful. That’s one thing very cool.
What’s like to have the ability to carry out at a pageant like that?
It’s an excellent expertise for me. Once I’m singing, the whole lot simply sort of tunes out. I simply give attention to the observe. I simply need to put out the message I need. I simply need to present folks, “Hey, that is the brand new sound.” Up to now, we simply spent an excessive amount of time within the studio. I spent an excessive amount of time in studio. And I do know that my followers [have been] ready for too lengthy. I really feel a bit of sorry. I at all times say that. I really feel sorry generally they don’t see me that a lot. I don’t even put up rather a lot… That’s simply me. I’m not an web man. I’m not a social [media] man. That’s simply not me. I similar to to give attention to my factor. Typically I really feel sorry to my followers, so this time after they requested me to play [the] pageant, they stated, “Are you able to play a set?” I stated possibly subsequent time, however I can present up. I can come to assist. I’d prefer to as a result of I really like Head within the Clouds. I really like the vibe.