Wake One

Singer-songwriter Ha Hyun-sang has embarked on a new musical voyage.

On the 6th, Ha Hyun-sang released his second full-length album ‘New Boat’ through various music platforms, demonstrating a more solidified musical horizon.

‘New Boat’ is an album that serves as a signpost as Ha Hyun-sang moves beyond familiar routes into a broader musical sea. He took part directly in the making of all nine included tracks, realizing his own musical grammar in more multifaceted and new ways.

The nine tracks on the album are grounded in a band sound, flexibly fusing diverse genres such as rock, gospel, and pop ballad. They connect organically within a single inevitable flow, boasting a high degree of completion and garnering a strong response from listeners.

The title track ‘Odyssey’ symbolizes Ha Hyun-sang’s identity as he sets out on a new musical journey. Its bright, refreshing melodic narrative is rendered through his singular vocals and a bold, three-dimensional sound, delivering a sense of liberation and leading listeners into a world of new sensations.

The following is a Q&A with Ha Hyun-sang, returning with his second full-length album after about three years.

Q. It has been a while since you returned with a full-length album. Please share your thoughts on releasing the second full-length album ‘New Boat’.

A. I began work in earnest on the second full-length album last October, and I made the album without realizing how time was passing, so it feels as if the year is only now beginning. Because I prepared hard, I am excited to be able to show it to you, and at the same time I also feel a sense of relief.

Q. You must have always had thoughts about a full-length album. Was there a reason or moment that made you decide, ‘I should make a second full-length album’?

A. I thought the attitudes I had while making music were flowing year by year in a better direction. After various processes and with my own zero-point calibration in place, now felt like the time to make the second full-length album.

Q. Both the album and the concert use the title ‘New Boat’. It feels like a title that suits Ha Hyun-sang, who likes the sea. As the word ‘New’ suggests, can it be seen as a title that contains a new beginning?

A. Yes, that is right. While preparing this album, I made many new and interesting attempts. It feels like I finally materialized and showed ideas that had only been in my head.

Q. When you released singles last year, you used the phrase ‘a process of adjusting the zero point’. Do you feel that direction has settled somewhat through this album?

A. Yes. I will have to think further going forward, but this is an album in which I tried to focus on capturing who I am now. This time the process was enjoyable.

Q. While preparing this album, which song was completed the most easily, and which was the most difficult? I am curious what you felt when you finished work on the second full-length album.

A. When I finished, I felt bittersweet most strongly. As something I had been holding onto for over about six months ended, I also felt empty. Among the songs, ‘+++’ was the hardest, and I do not think there was any song that was easy this time. (laughs)

Q. You once said that you ‘felt a really heavy burden’ at the time of the first full-length release. Was the second full-length a little different? Looking back on the first full-length now, what do you think?

A. Looking back on the first full-length, I think, ‘I really tried hard to document myself.’ At the time it was my first, so I wanted to do even better, and that feeling seems to have created pressure on myself. The second album was not entirely without pressure either, but more than that, the joy of working felt much greater.

Q. You held the concert before the album release. The name ‘Archive Live’ feels new; what did you have in mind when planning it? If there were differences from past concerts?

A. I chose that title because I wanted to present my discography so far as a single flow. Performing it live before releasing the recordings brought a new kind of pressure. I think that made me prepare all the more diligently.

Q. Have you ever imagined how fans would react when hearing the new songs for the first time at the Archive Live ‘New Boat’?

A. At first it might feel unfamiliar, and it might take some time to take in. On the other hand, I also think they might embrace it faster than expected. (laughs)

Q. After the second full-length release, is there anything you would like to hear from fans? What feelings do you hope fans will experience through this album?

A. I hope you feel the joys of everyday life and a great sense of liberation. I think those feelings are the most important, so I hope they are conveyed well through this album.

Q. This February marked the eighth anniversary of your debut. You have said that your childhood dream was to be a ‘film director’. If you were to make the past eight years into a single film, can you pick just three scenes you would definitely want to include?

A. I would like to include the moments of working, performances on stage, and my ordinary daily life spent playing ball. I hope it captures scenes that feel like me.

Q. Lastly, please say a word to the fans who will gladly board Ha Hyun-sang’s ‘New Boat’.

A. I am always grateful and I love you. Please follow me closely. (laughs)