'Solo Debut' Im Si-wan, "After Bleaching, I Get Surprised Reactions Wherever I Go"

Im Si-wan, who made his solo debut, shared his thoughts on releasing his first solo album.

Im Si-wan released his first solo album 'The Reason' on the 5th. The title track 'The Reason' is a medium-tempo pop song with a sweet message that all my reasons are you, combined with dynamic instrumental arrangements that evoke a scene from a romantic movie. Additionally, this album includes a total of 5 songs that reflect Im Si-wan's musical tastes, including the title track, 'Dear My Love', 'Two Of Us', 'Where I Need To Be', and 'Pieces'.

Below is the Q&A with Im Si-wan to celebrate the release of his first mini-album 'The Reason', provided by SM Entertainment.

Q. This is your first solo album since debuting in 2010. How do you feel about making your solo debut?

I have experience singing alone for an OST, and I thought it would be similar to the music activities I've done so far. But as the release of my first solo album approached, excitement started to build up.

Q. Since this is your first solo album, you must have put a lot of thought into it. What aspects did you focus on while preparing this album?

I believe one of the biggest reasons for the album's existence is the stage, so I tried to keep envisioning the stage while working on it. I remember thinking about whether 'Can this song be sung together?' and 'Will the fans enjoy listening to it at the concert?' as key points during preparation.

Q. This album is heavily infused with your musical tastes. What specific musical preferences did you want to include?

I tried to bring in various experiences I had on stage. Personally, I like static songs. I also think that performance on stage is important, so I found a suitable middle ground, and I believe these are comfortable songs to listen to.

Q. What was the reason for selecting 'The Reason' as the title track?

As I emphasized earlier, the most important element was the stage. I wanted to choose a song that would allow me to interact most enjoyably with the fans, who have been a source of strength for a long time, and 'The Reason' was the song that met that criterion.

Q. You challenged various changes, including bleaching your hair while preparing for this album. What was the most memorable reaction?

After bleaching, I received a lot of surprised reactions wherever I went. Questions like 'What happened?' and 'Was there a change in your mindset?' poured in, so I was busy explaining that it was all for the album preparation. (haha)

Q. Among the songs in this album, excluding the title track, which one would you pick as your favorite? What is the reason?

I think all the songs included in the album are ones that won't get boring to listen to for a long time, so my 'favorite song' might change depending on my mood and feelings each day. Right now, I'm in the mood to listen to 'Where I Need To Be'. I recommend it as a good song to calmly reflect on myself.

Q. If you have any goals or plans for your activities as a solo artist, please share.

I hope to share a lot of time with the fans through this album and show activities that create good memories together.

Q. Please say a word to the fans around the world who have been waiting for your solo debut.

Although I still have a lot to improve, the time I spent interacting with the fans has been truly precious, so I prepared with the intention of wanting to be together for a long time in the future. I hope we can all enjoy and share happy moments together.