Solo Debut 20th Anniversary, Son Hoyoung: "Going Straight Isn't the Only Answer; It's Okay to Take a Detour"

Interview with Son Hoyoung of god

Life lessons in his first new song in five years
At his solo debut, ambition got ahead of him and he lost his own style
Learned to say no after a life spent chasing perfection
Solo concert begins on the 31

Singer Son Hoyoung. Provided by Gemstone E&M.

"Going straight ahead isn't the only answer. You can take a detour or choose another path. It's okay to run away, too."

Singer Son Hoyoung, 46, is speaking to people who have lived through the same era as he has, as he marks the 20th anniversary of his solo debut. His new song, "Go Around," released on October 14, captures the outlook on life he has developed over the past 20 years: rather than trying to meet standards set by others, he wants to find a path that suits him. At a recent interview at the Gemstone E&M headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul, he said, "I wrote lyrics about what I can say at my age now." He added, "In the past, I picked musicians I wanted to emulate and tried to follow them. Now I'm trying to let go of that and focus on myself."

Son Hoyoung debuted in 1999 as a member of the group god and released his first solo studio album, "Yes," in 2006. At the time, he asked himself, "Am I really good enough to release a solo album?" When asked the same question 20 years later, he responded with a joke.

"I'm not ready to release a solo album now, you fool! When are you ever perfectly prepared? Back then, I needed to judge myself more objectively, rather than compare myself with the person I imagined I would be."

After experiencing god's success, Son Hoyoung said he thought his solo career would follow a similar path. But performing alone onstage was different. "In god, I could make up for the 20% that was my responsibility through hard work. As a solo artist, the amount I had to make up through effort was too great," he recalled.

At the time, Son Hoyoung sought out vocal trainer Park Sunjoo and practiced singing for eight hours a day. He increased his practice time to master difficult parts, but his skills did not improve in proportion to his efforts. "I should have prepared music that suited my abilities and style. I think I pushed myself a little too hard," he said. "I sometimes wonder what might have happened if I had spent the time I used trying to sing difficult parts finding more of my own style."

His personality also played a part in how long it took him to release a solo album. This new song is his first in five years, since 2021. "I think 20 years have made me more prone to worry and fear," he said. "As a result, I kept putting off releasing an album without even realizing it. But I thought I absolutely couldn't let the 20th anniversary pass me by."

Singer Son Hoyoung. Photo provided by Gemstone E&M.

Singer Son Ho-young. Photo provided by Gemstone E&M.

"Go Around" is a pop song built on upbeat rock, and Son Hoyoung co-wrote the lyrics. The "noise of the world" in the song refers not only to other people's views but also to the things he tells himself. "There are good sounds in the world, but there's also too much noise. Looking back, I realized I didn't have to pay so much attention to it," he explained. "I'm sensitive, and I tend to hear those comments and take them to heart. It's something I really want to tell myself, too."

That does not mean he has given up perfectionism. "It wasn't until I was around 40 that I realized I'm a sensitive person," he said with a laugh. What has changed is the way he says no. In the past, he would force himself to do things he did not want to do because he worried about what others would think of him. Now, he turns them down if they are not right for him. "I've learned that it's okay to say no. That idea is also distilled into this song," he said.

His standards for music have changed, too. Son Hoyoung is trying to find the music that best suits his voice. "I've realized there aren't many singers with a voice like mine. That's my own strength," he said. "I want to make the comfort and happiness people feel when they listen to my songs my strength." While preparing the new song, he also considered whether its lyrics and music resonated with him when he sang them. "I said I hoped the photos would show me as I am at this age, with wrinkles. From now on, I want to capture the natural side of me," he said.

For Son Hoyoung, the stage remains a place like no other. When preparing for a performance, he personally checks everything from the material of the stage floor to the distance from the audience and the position of the lights. He cannot overlook even minor issues that could affect the experience of two or three audience members. Yet he said those worries disappear once the performance begins. "When I get onstage, I still think I'm 20. During rehearsals, even the smallest mistake bothers me, but once the show starts, even mistakes seem fun and cute," he said with a laugh.

After he leaves the stage, the opposite feeling sets in. He said he can feel listless for as long as two months after a performance ends. Looking for hobbies does little to help, but once the next performance is booked and rehearsals begin, he regains his energy. "There's no time I look forward to more or enjoy more than that moment. When I get onstage, all the stress I've been carrying goes away," he said.

Singer Son Hoyoung. Provided by Gemstone E&M.

On October 31 and November 1, he will hold "HORIZON," a concert marking the 20th anniversary of his solo debut, at KBS Arena in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. It will be his first solo concert in five years. Given the physical demands, he could dance less than before and simply enjoy the show, but he is preparing to dance this time as well. "It's been a long time since my last concert, so I'm aiming high. I might regret it later and cut things back," he said. "But I don't want it to look like an old-fashioned show just because it's my 20th anniversary."

He also plans to continue his activities with god. Asked why the group, which marked its 10,000th day since debut this year, has been able to stay together for so long, he cited the members' consideration for one another and their gratitude to fans. "Even if someone goes a little off track, if someone says, 'We have our fans,' everyone accepts it," he said. "We're looking forward to god's new song just as much as the fans are. We want to release one before our 30th anniversary, even if we have to force ourselves to."

Asked what kind of singer he thought he would be 10 years from now, he replied: "I used to think 10 years was a very long time away, but I don't think it's such a long time anymore. I'm a slow person, you know. I don't think I'll change much. I'll probably just have a few more wrinkles."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.