Lucid Fall's New Album 'Elsewhere' Offers Hope Amidst Dark Realities

Singer-songwriter Lucid Fall sings of dark realities and dreams of 'Elsewhere' in his latest album. His 11th studio album, 'Elsewhere,' embodies his desire to spread hope to people around the world.

On November 7, Lucid Fall met with TENASIA at the Antenna headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul, to discuss his new album 'Elsewhere.'

Lucid Fall explained the significance of his long-awaited album, stating, "Although the songs are in Korean, I wanted to create an album that musically connects with people worldwide. That's why I collaborated with international artists."

He shared, "This album tells the story of 'a person who sings about dystopia but looks towards utopia.' Despite living in a dark world, I don't sing with a frown. It portrays the firm will, hope, solidarity, and courage of someone who still smiles while looking towards a distant future."

Regarding the album title 'Elsewhere,' Lucid Fall said, "While it can mean a physical location, its main meaning encompasses another world beyond the mundane world we live in."

He further elaborated on his philosophy, saying, "I believe there are three universes: the first universe is my inner self, the second universe is directly connected to me, and the third universe is indirectly related to me. Nowadays, people's energy is focused on the second universe, but I don't want that. I wanted to create songs that dream brightly with those in the third universe."

Lucid Fall revealed that the track 'Les Misérables Part 3' is about last year's protests against former President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment. He expressed his concerns about the direction the world is heading, stating, "From the U.S. to Ukraine, the world is the same, but our country was dynamic last year. It's a song for citizens resisting all rulers."

He explained, "Originally, 'Les Misérables' referred to unfortunate citizens, but my recent thoughts differ. I see those who violently oppress and rule citizens as the true 'Les Misérables.' My perspective has changed since I wrote Parts 1 and 3 in 2009."

Living in Jeju Island for a long time, Lucid Fall firmly stated he has no plans to reside in Seoul. He shared, "I stayed at Sangsoon's house yesterday. We talked about whether I would consider living in Seoul. There's no particular reason for me to be in Seoul. As a freelance musician, I wanted to choose where I live freely."

He explained his departure from Seoul, saying, "Seoul doesn't provide me with musical inspiration. Jeju does. The biggest thing is being able to be alone. For me, music requires energy to be condensed in the 'universe' of 'me.' Living in Seoul is fun, but I can't accumulate energy in my 'universe.'"

Reflecting on entering his 50s, Lucid Fall shared, "Aging has its pros and cons. For me, the pros outweigh the cons. I've become more mellow. I used to be very sharp and critical of anything that deviated from my standards. I was a bit mean. Now, not much bothers me. I've learned to understand more and see my surroundings better. I don't want to go back to the past."

He added, "The downside is that I sometimes wonder what music I'll make in the future or if I'll ever stop making music. It's a thought I never had before."

Having transitioned from a chemist and researcher to a musician and farmer, he firmly identifies as a 'musician.' Lucid Fall stated, "I am a musician. A former chemist, a former researcher. I'm not a writer. I'm a musician who happened to write a book." He humorously added, "I'm also a farmer, but I'm not sure. Farming is too hard. After my concert in November, I have to go down and harvest, but I've been thinking since last year that even farmers can't predict the future."

'Elsewhere' is an album about the warm sunlight overcoming the shadowy darkness, marking Lucid Fall's first studio album in three years. For this album, talented musicians from around the world, including a Spanish guitarist, a Brazilian producer, and an Argentine jazz trio, came together to contribute.

Lucid Fall's 11th studio album 'Elsewhere' will be released on various music streaming platforms at 6 PM on November 7.

Min-Kyung Lee, TENASIA Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr