Q. Hello, please introduce yourself to our readers.
A: Hello. This is Naojusung, who debuted in April 2025 with the album [Sayang]. Nice to meet you.
Q. Congratulations on being nominated in the electronic category at the Korean Music Awards. I’m curious about how you felt when you first heard the news of your nomination.
A. First of all, I felt very happy, and I also thought about whether this song could be nominated for electronic music. As I remembered the personal events and emotions that were intertwined while working on the song, as well as the people who worked hard together, I had mixed emotions, and I spent a few days with complicated feelings.
Q. It is impressive that the title of the debut album is [Sayang]. Was there a reason why you decided on the title like this?
A. I accepted the word [Sayang] as a word that is both bright and closest to darkness, a word standing on the boundary where you have to keep darkness near while looking toward a distant light. This album began as I stood on that boundary and started becoming self-conscious about the things I felt and saw.
I felt it was the word that best expressed that boundary. Also, the Korean word behind [Sayang] is now close to a dead word. I think the title felt even more precise because I had a strong desire to completely escape the emotional sphere of influence that led me to make this album.
Q. At the same time, this album as a whole sounds like a piece that was created with great care. In reality, do you tend to hold on to one sound for a long time and think about it?
A. I was very obsessed with each sound itself, and I thought a lot about new points or patterns created by the interaction between sounds, points where the whole thing would fall apart even if it was slightly disturbed, and how to connect it to the entire album.
However, I kept encountering issues that were complicated and difficult to solve on my own, and I was able to realize them by working with aepmah from afmlaboratory, who worked with me on the album. In particular, I think the process of creating and unraveling the subtle lines and layers in ‘Eternal Light’ could never have been done alone.
I experienced moments where the problem and intention of areas I was stuck in were immediately captured, and as a result, I think the album sounded like a work that carefully handled sound.
Q. I would also like to hear about the album introduction (liner notes).
A. The album introduction was written by AFM’s Tweng, who was the studio director for this album. While working on the album, we talked a lot about the emotional points and stories I wanted to express.
He talked a lot about how those stories become sounds and how to conceptualize them and convey them with intent. I also showed you the writing and approach I used while working, and your writing was much more multi-layered than the writing I wrote or the story I told. I remember being happy to receive the letter because I thought the album could be conveyed more clearly.
Q. When you listen to the album from beginning to end, you will receive a spiritual feeling or a sense of your mind being purified a little. I’m also curious about what kind of state change you hoped the listener would experience when creating the album.
A. The last track is ‘Hopeful Misfortune,’ but the emotion of the first track, ‘Dream,’ is at the opposite point. If I were to give ‘Dream’ a different title, I think it could be called ‘Hopeless Misfortune.’
In the album, I wanted to depict a journey where hope and will arise and bloom. I actually received a message saying that they listened to me that way, and I was touched and felt grateful.
Q. In particular, what position do you feel the song ‘Eternal Light’, which was nominated for this year’s KMA, is placed within the album?
A. This is the song in the album that makes you take the biggest leap to reach a certain point. However, it was important that the leap was not overly emotional and that it was not easily rushed.
I felt that if the exquisiteness of the subtle and trivial things in this song were lost, the context of the entire album could be disrupted. In that respect, it is one of the most important songs.
So, every little decision was important when arranging or setting the tone, and I felt that Jim Joni’s bass and guitar filled in the subtleties well, neither too much nor too little.
Q. Does the song ‘Eternal Light’ have a special personal meaning to Naojusung?
A. From the moment I started seriously loving music, there were feelings I wanted to talk about and express someday, and I was able to do that through this album, especially ‘Eternal Light.’
It was such a difficult story for me that I didn’t even dare to try it even after a long time had passed since I decided to pursue music seriously. So ‘Eternal Light’ is like a gift to me.
I think that’s why the news of this nomination felt more complicated than just happy. I am truly grateful to everyone who participated in this song, and I always feel that I have received a great gift.
Q. As Meaningful Stone’s voice was added, I could feel the emotion of the song changing. I’m curious as to why we came together.
A. I really like the fairytale-like and clear point in Meaningful Stone’s voice. I sent all the songs on the album and a letter via email. Not long after I sent the email, I received a reply saying that they would be happy to join me, and I am still very grateful for the stories they told me back then and they give me great strength. I also felt that I had to become a musician with good influence.
Q. What was it like collaborating with Qim Isle and J. Clef, other musicians who participated in ‘Eternal Light’?
A. There were important points in this song where the overall balance of the song depended on whether to add more or less power, and the two of you were really helpful in making that decision. Actually, I received a lot of help not only from this song but also from the entire album.
I have received a lot of help and influence from these two since I just started making music, and I would like to express my gratitude here.
Q. Even when using the word ‘eternity’, there is a feeling of something disappearing somewhere. Was this contradictory point also important in the song?
A. The light in ‘Eternal Light’ may have been an obsession with something that may have already disappeared. I wanted to express the most important thing in the song, the feeling of wanting to believe that it will be there forever even though I know it is gone and will disappear.
Q. The music video for ‘Eternal Light’ was also released. I’m also curious about the director you worked with and what process went into completing the current video.
A. I worked with director Park Yoo-sun. I contacted director Park Yoo-sun because I liked the catchy feel of the characters he portrayed, and I think that charm was captured cutely in this music video.
I provided a short synopsis and reference images, and we had a lot of conversations about what kind of story I wanted to tell. Afterwards, the scenario, development, and details were worked out in a way that allowed the director to freely unfold them.
The character settings were decided through a meeting between directors Hwang Yu-chae, Park Yoo-sun, and myself, who created the music video for ‘Endless Dance.’ I remember being impressed by their professionalism.
Q. How was your first live performance since the album was released? I would also like to hear whether you felt a difference between the music you heard in the studio and the music you encountered on stage.
A. I felt and learned that my condition and emotions when playing and expressing music, the conditions of the concert hall, and all external things come and go in an unrefined, living form.
During the preparation process for the performance, I had a hard time because I wanted to show all the detailed elements contained in the song, but Nancy Boy and Park Ji-woo, who performed with me, really helped me with mental care and technical aspects in those areas. I tend to think too much about unnecessary things, but I learned a lot from my brother about important emotions and attitudes that are needed during performances.
Also, I took it as a mistake that the points where my emotions were shaken were mixed with the music, but my friend who saw the performance said that it actually felt more sincere. For me, who used to accept and create everything in the studio, it was an experience that made me feel music from a completely different perspective.
Q. Was there anything new about yourself as a musician through this album and the nominations?
A. I realized once again that I really love music. I was happy to be able to list my name among the musicians I admired, but I decided not to get caught up in that. I don’t think the way I make music, study, and move forward will change. I want to do music for a long time.
Q. Can you briefly tell us about Naojusung’s future activity plans?
A. I am studying hard and working hard on songs to be released this year.
Q. Lastly, if there is anything you would like to say to those reading this interview, please.
A: Thank you. I’ll give you a lot of good music.
Q. This concludes the interview. thank you.