After runs with Wanna One (2017-2019) and CIX (2019-2024), Bae Jin-young, 25, is stepping out on his own with his first solo album ― finally quenching an eight-year hunger for the stage.
Meeting with reporters in Seoul ahead of the release, Bae said going solo has been “a long time coming,” a way to stop bottling up his creative urges and do the music he’s been itching to make.
His first mini album, "STILL YOUNG," arrived Oct. 14 and marks a bold visual pivot and a fresh sonic lane beyond what fans have heard from him before. The five-track set, led by the single "Round&Round," packs hard-earned polish, steady fire, and youthful bravado.
The title cut is an alt-hip-hop track tailored to his love of hip-hop and high-energy sounds. “I wanted something that makes you ride the rhythm the second you hear it,” he says, adding, “This album is about showing what Bae Jin-young can do.”
Bae pegs his satisfaction at about “70 to 80 percent.” “I wanted to do so much ― I’m admittedly greedy ― but this is the version I’m most proud of yet,” he says.
He took the reins throughout the creative process, steering away from the predictable in favor of impact. He even weighed in on details like the safety-pin headpiece on the cover art, signaling deep involvement from top to bottom.
As for fans noting the concept feels different from his past work, he’s unfazed: “I just want to do what I want ― and I’ll make my case onstage.” Still, he adds with a laugh, “If there’s an outfit the fans really hate, I can compromise.”
On balancing artistry and mainstream appeal, Bae says, “It’s the best when what I love lines up with what the public loves. When it doesn’t, maybe one release is for me, the next is for them ― we’ll find the sweet spot through a little give-and-take.”
Preparing for solo activities also meant working on the person behind the music. A self-described homebody who used to be shy around people, he recalls, “I felt bad making others do the heavy lifting socially, so I’d just stay in. That’s not me anymore.”
Bae cites Michael Jackson as a role model and hopes to become the kind of artist who’s “a genre unto himself.” “Even on my days off, I’m watching performances. Building stages is fun for me. The grind ― getting tired in practice ― that’s important. That hunger for the stage is my engine,” he says.
Looking ahead, he’s eyeing outdoor events like the Waterbomb festival and splashy variety staples such as "Running Man." Festivals like Coachella ― and even a dome tour ― are on his wish list, too. As for his upcoming fan concert, he promises less polish and more connection: “It’ll be all about interacting and breathing with the fans.”
Photo: AURA Entertainment
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)