DAY6's Wonpil Returns with Raw and Unfiltered New Album After Four Years

DAY6's Wonpil is back with a new album that captures his unrefined self. His first mini-album in four years, 'Unpiltered,' showcases a side of Wonpil that fans have never seen before.

Recently, Wonpil held an interview at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul, to commemorate the release of his first solo mini-album 'Unpiltered.'

'Unpiltered' follows his debut solo album 'Pilmography' and marks his return after four years. Wonpil focused on naturally expressing his true self in 'Unpiltered.'

The title track 'Love Ward' delves into the complex emotions within Wonpil, expressed through the theme of 'love.' The title 'Love Ward' was conceived by Wonpil himself. He explained, "We endure a lot in life. It's hard to express ourselves honestly in society. We have to hide our struggles and can't show our pain. I wondered what it would be like to have a space where we could speak freely. While composing the melody and writing the lyrics, the synth sound reminded me of a siren. That's when the phrase 'Love Ward' crossed my mind."

Wonpil also shared the story behind the album's title. Following his first album 'Pilmography,' this album also includes his name 'Pil.' He said, "I debated whether to include 'Pil' again. I used it last time, so should I use it again? If I do, should I include 'Pil' in the third album too? After discussing with the company, we decided on 'Unpiltered.' People might see me as always smiling and without pain, so I wanted to show another side of myself. Everything in this album is me."

Known for his delicate expressions, Wonpil contributed to the credits of all the tracks in the new album, including the title track 'Love Ward.' He shared, "I prepared a lot to show a new side of myself. I'm watching the reactions to the released content. I'm grateful for the positive feedback. I'm curious and nervous about how people will react when they hear the full album. Since mid-January, I've been listening to the track order every night without missing a day. I kept listening, wondering if people would like it. Even now, I feel both fear and excitement."

Wonpil wanted to try various things with this album. He said, "I wanted people to say they never imagined I would bring this kind of music as DAY6 or Wonpil." He added, "I aimed to show unseen sides in concept photos and music videos. In the concept photos, I even tried maximum exposure. While filming the concept film, I cried a lot, even though it was acting. It was my first time crying like that during a shoot, and it was fun."

The concept film for the new album captures a new side of Wonpil that fans haven't seen before. He said, "I'm a person who thinks a lot. I often wonder if I'm doing something wrong, if things would be better if I said something else, or if I did something differently. I often think about these things alone at night. When I cry alone, I hold back the sound. It's become a habit since difficult times. This shoot was an opportunity to release a lot of those feelings. I cried out loud and shouted freely. It was a chance to realize I could do this." He added, "In reality, I still can't do it. It was possible because the stage was set."

Wonpil is still discovering who he is. This thought process is reflected in the album. The third track is titled 'I Became an Adult.' Wonpil explained, "As adults, we have to compromise with reality. We can't do everything we want. We have to shape ourselves through social life and experiences. That's what the song is about."

What does Wonpil think an adult is? He said, "Pretending. Pretending not to be tired, pretending not to be difficult. That's what I think an adult is. As we have more to lose, we gain responsibility. The moment comes when we're afraid of losing." He added, "I don't think I'm an adult yet."

The members reacted positively to the new album and actively shared their opinions. Wonpil said, "After the song was completed, I played it for the members. Sungjin said, 'It's so new. It's really good.' For Sungjin, that's a big compliment. So I thought, 'This is it, okay.' There was a time when I was contemplating the title track. I played the song for Young K, and he said out of the seven songs, this should be the title. Dowoon also said, 'This is it.' Everyone thought the same."

DAY6, the band Wonpil is part of, celebrated their 10th anniversary last year. What will they look like on their 15th or 20th anniversary? When asked about the blueprint for DAY6, Wonpil said, "I've thought about it a lot. As a joke, we said let's perform in wheelchairs with IV drips. It means let's make music together for a long time. I'm looking forward to the 15th and 20th anniversaries. What kind of music will we be making then? I want to make cool music that suits the trends and our age."

Wonpil's first mini-album 'Unpiltered' and the title track 'Love Ward' will be released on the 30th at 6 PM. Along with his solo comeback, he will hold a solo concert 'WONPIL SOLO CONCERT 'Unpiltered'' from May 1st to 3rd, meeting fans for three days.

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