When singer Lee Seung-chul made his debut with the legendary Korean rock band Boohwal in 1986, he and his group released an LP record.
“Now this is the era of MP3,” Lee said at a press conference celebrating his 30th debut anniversary in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Monday. “It is an honor still to be a part of the culture that produced the globally-recognized K-pop.”
Now entering his third decade as a singer, Lee says he is just now beginning to realize the greater significance of music.
“Until now, I was anxious to show off my songs,” he said. “But now, I’ve found peace within myself. I focus on the pure musical experience, rather than concerning myself with ratings.”
To commemorate his 30th anniversary, Lee will be releasing a DVD containing live performances from his two-day concert that took place at the Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul from July 1-2.
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Singer Lee Seung-chul speaks at a press conference commemorating his 30th debut anniversary in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Monday. (Yonhap) |
Scheduled to be announced on Tuesday, the DVD features Lee behind-the-scenes in recording studios and in pre-concert preparations, as well as some of the musician’s biggest hits, including “My Love,” “Never Ending Story,” “Don’t Say Goodbye,” and more. Over half of the video will be made available on YouTube for the public.
The DVD also reveals that Lee has managed not only to maintain his original fans, but also to attract new ones.
“My fans, who were once in their teens, are now returning to my concerts with their kids and grandkids.” said the 49-year-old. “That’s powerful.”
What has stayed consistent over the years -- in addition to his long-term team of coordinators, sound engineers and dancers -- is his voice, according to Lee, who believes that artists’ sounds should withstand time just like their fingerprints.
“I try to make music that feels good to me,” he said. “My ballad is like fashion. I am still here, but just trying on different clothes.”
The second half of Lee’s anniversary concert tour will take place throughout the country, starting on Oct. 8 in Suwon and closing in Gwangju on Dec. 31.
By Kim Yu-young (
ivykim@heraldcorp.com)
