K-pop idol BAEKHYUN discusses new mini-album ‘Essence of Reverie’

K-pop Idol BAEKHYUN is known for his out-of-this world vocals. The tenor’s voice, that can shift easily up to falsetto, is considered as one of the strongest in the industry. The soloist and EXO member will be bringing his high-quality crooning to the OVO Wembley Arena in London on 22 July, as part of his first solo world tour, entitled Reverie. Before he headed over the Atlantic Ocean, we got a preview of what was to come at his New York show. The start of his set, that kicked off with tracks such as ’YOUNG’ ‘Ghost’ and ‘Pineapple Slice’ perfectly set up what’s to come for the rest of the show, with plenty of oscillation between insane falsetto high notes and complicated choreographed dance breaks. 

The all-round performer has put together a considered setlist that’s got a clever rhythm to it. There are moments where he is dancing, snake-hipped, in a silk shirt and even silkier vocals to his song ‘Chocolate’ with a flock of dancers and full choreography. In a moment, the backup dancers instantly melt away to leave him on stage alone, with nothing but perfect control on his vocals for songs like ‘Rendez-Vous.’ There is sense that BAEKHYUN is very methodical in the way he makes his music. When he asks the crowd for their favourite songs, he replies apologetically ‘“Some of those songs aren’t ready today, but I’ll have them for next time” but hopes they enjoy the ones he’s put together for them today. He needn’t worry however, as from the second he stepped on stage and hit an impossible high note, BAEKHYUN had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand as he slides from the more sensual tracks, to soulful jazz numbers to more sugary playful sections of the show with tracks such as ‘Betcha’ and ‘Candy.’

There is a definite reciprocity between the K-pop idol and his audience- he has listened to his fan’s feedback about his music, and for his fifth mini-album ‘Essence of Reverie’ he has tinkered and tweaked the record to make sure there is an equilibrium between his fans expectations and the music he feels most connected to. The ‘Reverie’ world tour is no different. He explains he has already adjusted his set list accordingly from the Latin American leg of the tour to make sure the fans are getting what they want from his discography. It’s clear that BAEKHYUN is a perfectionist and finely tunes his music and his setlist to be as perfect as his vocals, so no doubt his London show at Wembley will have a few surprises for his fans. 

You have just performed in NYC on this tour, and next up is London. How do you find performing and exploring both cities? 

When I visit for work or performing, I feel a bit more nervous, because I am determined to put on a good performance and a great show, but when I am here for travel, there is more room for shopping and vacationing. I can stay at the hotel I’m in and take a bit of a break! It’s been a while since I have met my fans in New York and in London, so I’m super excited to reunite with them.

I’m here in NYC and London for the first time for my world tour, so that in itself is different. They’re not cities that I visit regularly, so the fans are always ready to show up with the energy and excitement that they’ve built up. When I’m in New York or the UK, I really enjoy going out and finding things that you can only find in that particular city, which I have done this time as well! 

Do you have a favourite song you like to perform on this tour? 

I started the tour in South America, and realised that fans enjoy ‘Cry For Love’ a lot, however it was not included in the set list this time (for North America) So I had to prepare it as an encore song (for the fans!) Within my current setlist I would definitely say ‘Psycho’ is a favourite, because it’s a song that I don’t perform regularly and it’s a song that my fans don’t really have the opportunity to see in person that often. I’m excited to see how the fans will react each time I perform it. 

How does it feel when the fans connect with a song in an unexpected way?

I got a really refreshing feeling from the song ‘Good Morning.’ In the chorus there is a section where the fans sing along, and that part really surprises me because of how well the fans know the lyrics and vibe out together and have a good time. 

Is there anything in the UK that you haven’t experienced in the UK that you would like to? 

The UK is a place that I haven’t been able to visit that much. So I feel like anything would be refreshing and new, and I would appreciate some recommendations! 

Do you have a favourite British artist? 

I really love Ed Sheeran. After I learned about his history, it made me appreciate him even more. I also just really like that genre of music in general and if I ever get the opportunity to, I would like to pursue that genre of music, and even maybe collaborate with him one day! 

How do you think your music has evolved over the years? 

Until my fourth mini-album I kind of pursued the music that I wanted to do. However, for my fifth mimi-album, Essence of Reverie, it was more based on all the information and feedback I have had from my previous solo albums on what the fans and the public want from me. So this album was a mix of half and half what I feel fans and music listeners want, and what I want to pursue as an artist.

What have you found your fans enjoyed that you have put into this latest album? 

I feel like what fans like from my music are songs that are more boyish or have more of a youthful energy to them. An example of this would be ‘Candy’. For myself, however- I prefer music that’s a little more weighted that can show off my vocal skills a little more, such as the track ‘Bambi.’ So preparing for my fifth mini album “Essence of Reverie’ was kind of difficult to find a middle ground and balance out both needs and wants, however my fans are close to my heart and most important so I did lean in a bit more to what they would want. It was a really exciting process and journey figuring out what the best of both worlds would be. 

Do you have a particular song in your discography that you have a special connection with and why? 

Out of everything I have released so far, my title tracks are very close to my heart. However. One I would pick having a special connection to on this album would be ‘Late Night Calls.’ Preparing for my fifth mini-album, this was my first time giving a go at songwriting and lyric writing, and my first piece of work was ‘Late Night Calls.’ I really wanted to translate how I felt about my fans and the memories I have with them, into the lyrics, so that’s why it feels closer to my heart. The song is about being on the phone with a loved one, and trying to give that person a sense of stability and happiness and I really feel that relates and reflects a lot with the connection that I have with my fans. 

I noticed there was a lot of supernatural themes in your music videos for ‘Essence of Reverie.’ Can you talk about themes and visuals for the record? 

This album reflects on the contrasts and reality of a dream. It also reconnects back to the BAEKHYUN that my fans want to see and the BAEKHYUN that I reflect on myself as, as an artist. So the whole album wraps around the concept of standing in-between these realities and dimensions, and hence the title ‘Essence of Reverie’ was created. Because I was trying to reflect on the theme of being between reality and dreams, my music videos and visual concepts reflect on supernatural powers and themes to go along with the overarching theme. 

I noticed there was also a theme of food and drink. How do these link to other topics explore in the mini-album? 

‘Late Night Calls’ was the first song I worked on, for the album, and I worked with an artist called Colde for this album. When we were discussing this album and coming up with themes together, I naturally started gravitating towards talking about my fans, the rapport we have and the love and affection I have for my fans, into my album. Naturally the key word was ‘love’ and the overarching theme of love came up. Love can sometimes be bitter, and sometimes it’s sweet. This theme of love can be reflected into different foods, so a lot of different foods come up in the album and my songs, but it all traces back to me talking about  love. 

Do you have a favourite food, or a favourite place you like to eat? 

My favourite food is Dak-Bokkeum-tang, which translates to spicy chicken stew. I really like Korean cuisine. Nothing beats my mother’s Dak-Bokkeum-tang.

You’re known for having one of the strongest vocalists in K-pop – do you have a song to perform that really showcases your voice to the fullest? 

Out of songs from ‘Essence of Reverie’ I would definitely pick ‘Elevator.’ It’s definitely a difficult track to perform live,  especially whilst doing all the choreography too. The choreography is also pretty dense, so I had to practice it a lot to make a good performance out of it, and also overall the staging and performances are something that I put a lot of effort into.

When you are travelling and feel homesick and lonely, what do you do to combat that? 

I don’t really experience mellow or lonely [feelings] that often. I have always been really present in the moment and thinking about what’s next, so my mind is always really occupied.  I don’t think I have experienced that  too much this tour.. 

Have you go anything you’re particularly excited for on the rest of the world tour? 

It’s my first world tour as a solo artist, and a lot of my fans have been waiting, so, at first, I really wanted to focus on promising them that I will be back and making sure that I feel like it won’t be their last opportunity to see me perform there. On tour, I have been receiving so much warmth and encouragement from my fans, so my new goal is to figure out how to connect and communicate with my global fans who are far away from me. I hope by the end of the tour I’ll be able to come up with a solution or a new way to make it happen (and connect with them.) 

BAEKHYUN’s ‘Reverie’ world tour hits London’s OVO Arena Wembley on 22 July.