ASTRO's Yoon Sanha Embraces Change with New Solo Album 'CHAMELEON'

"I still have so much I want to do. I'm ambitious. I want to send a message that ASTRO is still alive, and if the youngest is this great, imagine how amazing the older members are."

ASTRO's Yoon Sanha, returning as a solo artist, showcases his unwavering passion even in his 10th year since debut.

Yoon Sanha recently held an interview in Gangnam, Seoul, to commemorate the release of his second solo mini-album 'CHAMELEON'.

'CHAMELEON' marks Yoon Sanha's second album as a solo artist, released 11 months after his first. The title track 'EXTRA VIRGIN' is a hybrid pop track that blends country-style chord progressions with a heavy hip-hop rhythm, reflecting Yoon Sanha's confidence in reinterpreting any style with his unique color.

Each track in the album boasts a strong individuality, a defining feature of this release. Yoon Sanha explained, "In my first album 'DUSK', the tracks felt like they were connected. In the second album, each track has a distinct concept."

The album was inspired by 'Sanha Night', a concert held every year on his birthday. Yoon Sanha shared, "A chameleon blends well by changing its color in unfamiliar environments. I also immersed myself in each track's different concept with my interpretation." He added, "In 'Sanha Night', I cover songs by other artists. By thinking about the original artists' emotions, I developed my own vocal color and expression."

While preparing for the new album, Yoon Sanha overcame his fear of songwriting. He confessed, "I was afraid of writing lyrics because I thought I wasn't good at it. But people around me said I improved a lot, which boosted my confidence. This time, I even volunteered to write the fan song lyrics, discovering a new side of myself."

In the title track, Yoon Sanha also transforms into a rapper. He revealed, "It's my first time rapping as a solo artist. I had a rap part during Moonbin & Sanha activities, but this time it's deeper. It was challenging to get the vocalization right during recording." Despite the challenges, he proudly stated, "Once I did it, people said I did well like a chameleon."

Balancing the preparation for the new album and ASTRO's full-group concert, Yoon Sanha managed a hectic schedule. He shared, "I filmed the music video until the day before leaving for a concert in Japan. People said it must have been tough, but I enjoyed it." He added, "I told the members to enjoy the time despite the difficulties. Practicing late at night brought back old memories and good energy. We even had meals together in the practice room after a long time. The concert positively influenced the album preparation."

ASTRO member Cha Eunwoo is set to enlist in the military band on the 28th. Yoon Sanha shared, "I often teased him playfully. Eunwoo hyung going to the military is an opportunity for me. He jokingly says, 'Hurry up and join me, you don't have much time left.'" He added, "The members are all night owls. We often call each other at night for spontaneous meet-ups. It will be hard to do that with Eunwoo hyung, and his absence will be felt."

Cha Eunwoo has been active as an ASTRO member and actor since debut. Yoon Sanha expressed his heartfelt affection, "Hyung has been busy since debut. I hope he can rest without thinking about activities during his military service."

Yoon Sanha, now in his 10th year since debut, recalls ASTRO's recent full-group concert as the most memorable moment. He shared, "We performed the duet song 'FLY' by Jinjin and Moonbin with all six members' voices. Originally, it was just Jinjin and Moonbin's voices, but we divided the parts."

The most challenging time was when he lost his family-like member Moonbin. Yoon Sanha confessed, "It's still very hard. It was the toughest time in my 26 years." He chose to move forward, cherishing Moonbin's memory. He said, "I tried to incorporate the time spent with hyung, his character, and performances into the album. This album is mine, but it's also infused with Moonbin hyung who guided me here."

He added, "I grew a lot during Moonbin & Sanha activities. It was around our 5th year since debut, and performing with hyung made me realize how fun the stage can be. That experience led to my current solo activities."

Yoon Sanha will star in the new KBS 2TV drama 'My Girlfriend is a Gumiho', premiering on the 23rd. The drama depicts the romance between Kim Ji-eun (Arin), who becomes a handsome man overnight, and her devoted boyfriend Park Yoon-jae (Yoon Sanha). It's Yoon Sanha's first lead role on a major network.

Yoon Sanha ambitiously stated, "I want to win the Rookie Award. Ambition should be big. I'm an ambitious man." He added, "Being recognized for acting would mean a lot to me, and it's something I'd praise myself for. I'll work hard in both acting and music."

"The chorus goes 'Extra Virgin Taste'. I found out it means 'top-tier olive'. I want to be a top-tier artist, so I was drawn to this expression."

The agency suggested using 'Iconic' instead of 'Extra Virgin' in the chorus, but Yoon Sanha insisted on 'Extra Virgin'. He explained, "The company thought the olive oil image was too strong. I also thought of olive oil, but I found the word itself cool and solid. So I pushed for it."

The new album includes five tracks of various styles, including the title track, 'AURA', which he wrote and composed, and the fan song 'Love You Like Fools', which he co-wrote, along with 'Bad Mosquito' and '6PM (Nobody's Business)'.

Yoon Sanha's second solo mini-album 'CHAMELEON' will be released on various online music platforms at 6 PM on the 15th.

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr