- 6 weeks ago
TOMORROW X TOGETHER star YEONJUN continues to blaze his own path with his solo career, evolving through his 'NO LABELS' project and growing into a unique sound that’s all his own. The “Ice Cream” artist recently joined Brooke Morrison inside our Los Angeles studios to talk about 'NO LABELS: PART 02,' his transition from TXT to taking center stage, and the inspiration behind his music.
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00:02Hello everybody, what's up? My name is Brooke Morris and we're at the Odyssey Studios here
00:06in LA and we're joined by Yeonjun. Yay. Welcome. Hi. Hi, how's your day going? Good, thank you for
00:13having me. I'm good to be here. I'm so happy you're here. Like, first of all, congrats on
00:18everything that you've been doing. Thank you so much. Such a big deal. I mean, all of your solo
00:22work and of course, TXT for so long, right? So what has that experience been like being a part
00:28of TXT and then becoming a solo artist, what has surprised you most about that transition?
00:34I think when I'm in the group, it feels more comfortable because I have like four more members.
00:41But when I'm doing solo, I have a bit of pressure, but it's also a fun challenge to like perform
00:51alone on the stage. Yeah, it's fun. I'm having fun. Good, I'm glad you're having fun. And speaking
00:58of like, just you as a solo artist, I mean, people have called you a fourth generation
01:02It Boy, the fourth generation It Boy for so long. I mean, do you find any pride in titles
01:09like that? Does that inspire you at all? Or do you not really like those kind of titles?
01:14I really enjoy that title. I really do. And I'm really thankful for that. But at the same
01:22time, I try to be all all generation It Boy, not only four generation It Boy. So I just
01:32like keep pushing myself hard and try to grow more.
01:36Nice. Okay. All the generations, not just fourth. Yes. I love that. I mean, labels, no labels,
01:42whatever. This is your no labels era. And it just feels very personal to you. What does
01:46that title mean to you? I think it's about show who truly I am. And I try to like show
01:59another side of myself and genuine side of myself and try to be more honest and not only showing
02:08like certain image, try to show variety of myself and styles and genres. Yeah. Okay. It's all about
02:18no labels project. Right. Exactly. And speaking of genres, this like funk rock vibe that you have
02:24going on. I feel like that spans a lot of the solo work that you've put out. This is, you
02:28know,
02:28Ice Cream is your latest single. And I think you've been kind of in the middle of that funk rock
02:32vibe with your solo releases as time is going on. Like, what is that about? Like kind of like
02:38funk rock that inspires you so much? What keeps you inspired? Hmm. You know, it's cool.
02:46Yeah. Simply. It's cool. Cool vibe. And not only songs, like there are many artists doing
02:52funk rock, just rock, hip hop, or not only songs, when they perform on the stage, like how they
03:03sing, sing a rock, um, how they perform, how they act. That all, that's all in, that all
03:11inspires me. Everything. Yeah. It's, and it's so cool. And I love funk rock music. It's super
03:17cool. I mean, gum, apparently I'd like, we need to go back to gum a little bit. Like what
03:21a moment for you as well. Loved that song kind of like within the same vein, but do you look
03:26back at yourself during that era and see a new version coming out now? Like how have you grown
03:30since gum? Hmm. My mind grew up, my skills grew up. Right. When I start, when I first
03:39started gum, I was kind of nervous and had, had this pressure on me, but now I get to enjoy
03:47this, all this process. Yeah. Yeah. So I could like finally enjoy it. It's everything. Yeah.
03:53Like kind of like, it's more fun now. Would you say it's more fun? Yeah. It's more fun.
03:57You're just like breathing, getting into ice cream. Love that. I mean, does it ever bother
04:01you when people don't like get the concept or is it just the nature of the job?
04:05Hmm. I think it doesn't really matter. I like how they, uh, understood my, understanding
04:14my song or concepts by their own thoughts. And, uh, I think that's really interesting and fun
04:23points. Yeah. I think with this one too, I've heard that you got to like contribute a little
04:29bit with like writing and producing and everything. Is that true? Like you had a hand in what was
04:33going on when you're writing or recording, do you pull from real life or are you kind of
04:37like getting into a little bit more character play?
04:41Usually, uh, it's from my real, real life, like my own experiences and or imagination.
04:49Hmm. Okay. Like I, I watch, I watch movies a lot. So, um, so for example, long way, long
04:57ride is about my experience experience when I had a hard time while working on this album.
05:02Yeah. And baby, what's up? Uh, is, uh, it was about like, how would I act in front of a
05:13crush?
05:14Okay. I mean, a little bit, yeah, from your own, but also it being inspired by movies is cool.
05:18So I feel like there's probably a little bit of both in that. Yes. When it comes to solo music,
05:23I mean, how has that even changed your approach in being a part of a group as big as TXT?
05:28Hmm. First, when I'm in the group, I try to focus on teamwork,
05:32but when I, when I'm alone, uh, uh, I try to show, uh, more of my colors and, um, different
05:45sides of
05:46myself. Yes. Yeah. So with this project too, were there any songs that might've taken a little bit
05:53longer to figure out or was everything just an instant win for you? It ends real, really fast.
05:59Every songs, but ice cream got a little bit longer than other songs. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But it was all
06:07fast. Oh, okay. What about ice cream was different? Oh, because it's lead track.
06:13Right. Okay. So you got more effort in it. Yeah. You got to focus on it. Yeah. Bigger deal. Uh
06:17-huh. Yeah.
06:17Speaking of like all your solo work too, if nobody's listened to Yeonjun before as a solo artist,
06:22which track it, whether it be on this project or a former solo project, do you think people should
06:27listen to first? Hmm. I'll say ice cream. Okay. It's my recent, um, track. And also if,
06:39if you want to know about my, about me and about my colors these days, I would just recommend ice
06:50cream.
06:51Yeah. Like it's the song right now. It's you as an artist. Yes. I'd love to see it. And on
06:56stage,
06:56you've always been so confident. I think everybody knows that, but off stage, like what is something
07:00that maybe you're trying to improve still? I think everything, everything. Uh, I think I'm a,
07:08I'm kind of perfectionist and I always push myself really hard. So yeah. Vocals, um, dance,
07:19rap, everything. Yeah. I want to get better and better all day, every time. Yes. Okay. I mean,
07:26let's throw it all the way back to when you were a trainee. What would trainee Yeonjun think of today,
07:31Yeonjun? What would he be the most proud of? Everything I have done. And I must be proud of
07:37that I am a member of Tomorrow Back Together. And I'll also be proud of my MOAs. Like they're proud
07:45of me. Yes. Nice. Nice. Love that. We love the MOAs as well. Shout out to all the MOAs out
07:51there.
07:51Shout out to the MOAs. Love that. Is there something about your personality that fans don't usually get
07:55to see, but sometimes you'd love for them to know? I think MOAs, uh, knows everything about me. I don't,
08:06I don't really have secrets. So yeah. Yeah. Okay. They'll, they'll know everything about me.
08:12Do they know your favorite ice cream flavor? Mint chocolate. Mint chocolate. Okay. They know that.
08:17Right, right, right. And vanilla or like, yeah. Okay. I mean, you are always pushing yourself. Yes. You
08:22know, and like trying to get better. But like when it comes to thinking about like slowing down and
08:26celebrating your wins, celebrating your accomplishments, are you able to do that? Are you always somebody
08:30that's kind of thinking about the next goal and pushing yourself? Um, I, I used to push
08:37myself and if it's, if it's, and I always go to for my next goals, go for it for my
08:46next goals.
08:47But now I'm trying to, enjoy this, and, trying to be more chill and, kind of, just
08:58I want to give it a little more time for me.
09:01Because I feel like I'm going to feel like I'm going to get close to the end of my life.
09:09That's awesome.
09:10I mean, you should always be introspective in that way to move forward.
09:14Love to see it, because no one's perfect, and that's totally right.
09:18But when it comes to like, I mean, you do have four other members, you know?
09:22But you do solo work, and you know, they have their own stuff going on as well.
09:25But do they ever get to hear the music before you put it out?
09:28And what does that support mean to you if they do?
09:32Before No Labels Part 2 comes out, they heard my song before, and they all loved it.
09:42And I was really thankful that they're understanding my album, and they understand my album on a deeper level.
09:53And like, each track, they talk about what they like about it.
09:59And I was really thankful, and they are my biggest supporters.
10:02Yeah, oh my gosh, that's awesome.
10:04Shout out to the other TXT guys out there.
10:07But you know, fans know that you are competitive as well.
10:10Like, what's something completely random, maybe, that you just hate to lose at?
10:15I'm definitely a competitive person, and I think I'm only competitive in my work.
10:23But for example, like, if I play games with my members, if I get to lose, and if I get
10:33serious,
10:34I say, let's do it just one more time, one last time, one last time, and it never ends.
10:41Oh, wow, so it's video games.
10:42Yeah, video games, and if I get serious in something.
10:48Yeah.
10:49Oh, that's nice when all fans know.
10:52It's the video games.
10:52They should challenge you.
10:53Yeah.
10:54What's your favorite game?
10:56Nintendo, maybe.
10:57Nintendo, perfect.
10:59That's awesome.
11:00Mario's, I love it.
11:00Amazing.
11:01I mean, so many fans look at you, and they see that confidence, right?
11:04As long, as well as the competitive nature, but you have this confidence that's just so
11:08natural.
11:09Like, seeing you on stage is actually an experience.
11:11I love watching it.
11:12Even, like, your TikTok videos.
11:13Oh.
11:13It's, like, so much fun.
11:14But what do you hope that people understand about confidence that they might not realize
11:18just from watching you perform?
11:20I think it's just practice.
11:23practice, practice, and practice, and never, like, satisfied, and...
11:32If you have a lot of work and practice, I think it's a bit of自信.
11:39To me.
11:40Yeah, yeah, yeah.
11:41They do say, like, confidence is usually, it comes from failure.
11:44Yeah.
11:44Like, when you prove to yourself that you can come back from a failure, you become more confident.
11:49Do you believe that as well?
11:50Failure.
11:56Failure is, actually, it's a chance to get better and better, right?
12:00So, it definitely needs it.
12:03Yeah.
12:03And I agree with that, yeah.
12:05Yeah.
12:05Love that.
12:06And you're doing so much right now.
12:07I mean, you have your solo work.
12:08You have TXT.
12:09You have fashion.
12:11You're doing just so many creative projects out there.
12:14But when people look back at your career, like, years from now, what do you hope that
12:18people remember most about Yeonjun?
12:20Yeah.
12:22Yeah.
12:29Amazing.
12:30Love to hear it.
12:31Well, congratulations on everything again.
12:33Thank you so much.
12:34What is maybe one last thing that you want to say to MOA's?
12:37To MOA's.
12:39Thank you for waiting my No Labels Part 2.
12:46And I was really surprised that when I performed on GMA and Summer Best, they all, like, sing
12:56along.
12:57And they were crazy.
12:59They were so energetic.
13:00And I was really surprised and thankful.
13:03So thank you for coming and have fun with, have fun with me and sing along with me.
13:11And I really, yeah, I really appreciate it.
13:15And it was so much fun for me, too.
13:18And it was, like, the best moment ever.
13:23Awesome.
13:23Well, thank you so much for coming in.
13:25Thank you so much.