Welcome back to Fan Chant, a weekly column for K-pop fans, stans, and newbies alike. This week, soloist KANGDANIEL chats through his newest EP, ACT. As always, if you enjoy what you’re reading, feel free to subscribe to my companion newsletter to get Fan Chant delivered right to your inbox each week!
In the music-making process, KANGDANIEL has always leaned into his ability to balance pop catchiness with R&B energy. His new EP, ACT, builds on that reputation; over the course of five tracks, he welcomes the listener into an immersive musical landscape.
When chatting with Consequence in March of 2023, KANGDANIEL described his creative process as one that includes him visualizing a protagonist for each song. If, in the past, he’s ventured into more fantastical territory, the narrator of ACT feels more modern, and maybe a bit more melodramatic. There’s a theatrical quality to “Electric Shock,” while closer “9 Lives” was designed to be a bigger finale than what’s found on some of his other projects.
Watch the music video for “Electric Shock” below, and read on for his breakdown of each track on the EP.
“Losing Myself”:
I wanted to open my album with “Losing Myself” from the very beginning. I remember being overwhelmed by the captivating guitar riff and the driving sound of fast-paced drums and bass when I first listened to the demo. I think this track expresses the identity of producer NØLL very well, especially in the way the song unfolds and how the instruments are layered. I’m just truly grateful to have the opportunity to work with him.
“Get Loose”:
“Gt Loose” was the last track I worked on for ACT. This song came from a plan to maintain the energy of the first track while smoothly connecting to the following songs. I believe the blend of an upbeat yet smooth beat, along with the vocal chops throughout the song, are the ear-catching points of the song.
“Electric Shock”:
I remember the first recording session for “Electric Shock” at the studio. Through the first take, I gained a better understanding of my vocal tone, which led me to continuous re-recordings. I think this track helped me realize a part of an energy in my voice that I didn’t know I had until then. I was immediately drawn to the flowing sounds of the piano and strings of the song and put a lot of time into bringing out the potential it had. The whole process was truly a special moment.
“Come Back to Me”:
This may sound a bit ambiguous, but I believed “Come Back to Me” needed a female artist whose vocal feels like a warm cup of coffee in the cold wind. In that moment, CHUNG HA came straight to my mind. I reached out to her, and despite her busy schedule during that time, she agreed to collaborate and responded quickly. The song turned out even better than I expected, and I feel honored to have been able to work on a great track together.
“9 Lives”:
All the tracks have an EDM flavor in them, and we intended to create a cohesive sound throughout the album. With “9 Lives,” I aimed for a more exciting conclusion compared to the last tracks of my previous albums. I wanted to close the album with a sound and message that feels hopeful, positive, or light, but not overly so, and I’m proud of how it turned out.
Tour Alert: aespa Returning to North America
aespa, photo courtesy of SM Entertainment
It’s been a while since aespa hit the US, and they recently rolled out a fresh batch of tour dates that have them touching down in Seattle in January. See the full list of tour dates here and learn how to secure tickets.
Song Rec of the Week:
It’s fall, which means that my brain is firmly planted here.