MUSIC
IU "My first desire was a fully-set stationery store doll. I cried and cried when I heard that it was for sale."
On the 19th, IU released an interview video commemorating the release of her 6th mini album through her official YouTube channel, Lee Now. The 13-minute video showed the intersection of IU's professional appearance and comfortable casual attire at the album jacket site. IU also attracted attention by answering the questions honestly, as if she was talking to an old friend.
The interview began with IU reminiscing about her ‘first desire’. IU mentioned a large doll with a full set that was sold at a stationery store that was crowded with customers in her neighborhood when she was young, and she had her eyes on it and wanted to have it someday, but one day she found out that it was sold from head to toe. He then recalled holding on to the mannequin and crying as the store told him to leave. IU said, “I think that was the first thing I wanted to do since I was born.”
IU then said, “‘She decided to live as Mr. Hol’, ‘She decided to live as Mr. Hole.’ In the end, this album started with ‘Mr. “This is an album that started with that sentence, ‘Hole’,” he explained.
IU also spoke candidly about the fact that this album was her ‘first album in her 30s.’ IU said, “I think the 30s is an age that really suits me. I felt a lot of comfort and convenience that I had never felt in my teens or 20s. So I want to stay in my 30s for a long time. “No matter what, I am now in my 30s and talking about things that are definitely different from the messages I used to give in my 20s, so I did it thinking that this itself was a work that would pinpoint a certain turning point for me in my 30s,” he said.
He also talked about the thoughts he had while working and his competitive nature and greed. IU said, “I’ve been thinking a lot about coming up with something I’ve been working on for a long time, and you’re dragging your feet like this? It's been a very long time since something like this happened. In fact, I think it was an album that was mentally difficult while preparing. “I think it was a really good process because it was an album that naturally guided me, so I didn’t feel pressured or distressed or anything like that,” he said. “I didn’t want to let this drag on any longer, even though my body was tired.” I think that in itself was a great competitive spirit. “I pushed myself a little, saying, ‘If you’re having a hard time, it’s been a while,’ and ‘There’s no need to take it easy.’”
In particular, regarding the main keyword of the album, “We put the keyword of victory in all the songs to the point where it is said to be ‘terrible.’ I also included the album name so that no one gets confused. Because these are very honest words to express who I am now. While preparing an album, there are always topics I'm obsessed with, but I don't think I've had anything like that for a while. That's probably why it took so long for the album to come out. But I have always been a person with a competitive spirit. However, as I entered my 30s, I thought it was a time when my competitive spirit was reignited once again,” he said. “I just thought that the feelings I felt in my late 20s were not a process of change, but a feeling of exhaustion and burnout.” I did it again while preparing, and I prepared with the thought, ‘I enjoy winning and winning.’ Every day, I spend every day competing with the plans I made in the past. “We are winning every day,” he said.
In addition, IU shared the starting point and meaning of the double title song 'Shopper'. She said, “If that’s your need, material things are fine, everything is fine. It doesn't necessarily have to be abstract, and it doesn't have to be material. It doesn't matter, as long as it's your desire. “It’s a story about ‘want it confidently,’ but these days, I feel like we live in an age where we have to hide our desires and desires more and more,” he said. We connected and talked.
IU continued, “Those dreams are ultimately desires and desires. The first thought I had when making this song was that I wanted to say it more naturally and create that kind of atmosphere. Now that I think about it, even I feel like that more and more. Make a plan that is feasible and the things I want more of. As I entered my 30s, I began to think, ‘Is there really a need for these things that I refrain from doing even though there are more things I want to achieve?’ I am a very greedy person who has wanted to do many things since I was young. When I talk about my needs and desires, other people ask, ‘Isn’t that dream absurd?’, ‘Do you seem greedy?’ Even if you hear things like that, I wanted to say something like, ‘Let’s desire confidently!’ “I wanted to be more like that myself,” he said.
Lastly, IU also mentioned in detail to fans and listeners the phrase 'She became Mr. Hole' in the title song 'Mr. Hole' and what Mr. Hole's victory will be. The point of saying ‘I will win, I will win’ is the materialistic point of ‘I will succeed more’, ‘I will make more money’, ‘I will become better and more people will envy me’. It was made clear that it was very different from the standard.
IU said, “I acknowledge my limitations anyway,” “I also acknowledge my shabbyness,” and “I acknowledge the impossibility of what I cannot become.” The very fact that I decided to become Mr. Hall. Because when I was young, I thought I would bloom into any flower. However, when I reached my 30s, I decided that I would just live as a seed, but I thought to myself, 'Not everyone is going to become a flower,' and in the end, I will become the flower that blooms beautifully. Time may be denied. I had some thoughts like, ‘Maybe it doesn’t have to bloom like a flower to reach the end,’ or ‘There could be a life that isn’t like that.’ “Then, at this point where I have decided to live as Mr., I have reorganized ‘How to live as a wonderful Mr.’ and this is an album that contains such aspirations,” he said.
He continued, “What does victory really mean to Mr. Hall? What is The Winning that Mr. Lee dreams of? This is an album containing these stories. In the same context as what I mentioned about 'Shopper' earlier, if there is someone who thinks 'I don't think I'll be able to bloom brilliantly' and reduces their needs or desires, this is an album that contains the desire to tell them 'there's no need to do that'. It is also I don't think I'm that kind of flower either, but even if other people say, 'That seems a little weird' or 'I don't think this is good,' I still say things like 'As you, continue your desire' and 'Achieve your own victory.' “This is an album that I made with the utmost sincerity because I wanted to do it for the people I love,” he concluded.
IU's mini album contains a total of 5 songs, including 'Shopper', 'Hole', 'Shh..', 'Love wins all', and 'I'll Be the Audience', and IU led the way as a producer for a long time, paying attention to every detail. I prepared it carefully. In addition, both double title songs were created by the collaboration of her long-time musical partners, composers Lee Jong-hoon and Lee Chae-gyu, who worked together on mega hits such as 'Leon', '23', and 'Bippi'. In addition, IU participated in writing lyrics for all songs, raising expectations for 'IU-style lyrics' that will resonate with listeners. Additionally, track 3 features Hyein from the group NewJeans and Jo Won-seon from Rollercoaster, raising expectations as a special narration is scheduled to be released.
IU's new mini album will be released at 6 PM on this day.
Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr
