[Sportschosun Baek Ji-eun] Singer Ahn Ye-eun is entering a "full-speed-ahead" mode to mark her 10th debut anniversary.
Ahn Ye-eun will release her 5th full-length album, "I Don't Think It's That Bad," at 6 p.m. on the 18th. The album comes about three years and five months after her 4th studio album, "Journey," released in February 2023. It includes 17 tracks in total, including nine new songs she wrote and composed, as well as unreleased and re-recorded tracks.
The title track, "DENY," captures feelings such as frustration and avoidance that people experience throughout life over a powerful guitar riff. Actress Lee Jung-hyun also appears in the music video, adding support and building a tense narrative that feels like watching a thriller film with Ahn Ye-eun.
Ahn Ye-eun will hold her solo concert, "Double Celebration," on the 20th and 21st at the Sungshin Women’s University Unjeong Green Campus Grand Auditorium in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, to celebrate her 10th debut anniversary.
The following is a Q&A with Ahn Ye-eun.
- What does "I Don't Think It's That Bad" mean?
▶ I always think I should be at least 0.000001% better than my previous work. Before preparing this album, I took a five-month break without writing a single song for the first time. That made me realize that resting well leads to better songs. Personally, I was happy because the change felt the most obvious when compared with my earlier work.
- What message do you most want to convey through "I Don't Think It's That Bad"?
▶ When I create songs based on unrealistic stories, my preference for "open tragedy" always tends to come through. So at first, the album carries the meaning of, "Even a story without a happy ending can still be fun, right?" In particular, this album is balanced between unrealistic stories and autobiographical ones. I also wanted to say, "Life is so hard, but maybe it is better than you think." Finally, because of my personality, I am not very good at saying confident things about my work, such as, "I really made something amazing this time!" In that sense, this is my biggest possible way of showing off, as if to say, "This album might not be that bad."
- Since this is your first full-length album in about three years and five months after the 4th studio album, "Journey," you must have thought a lot about it.
▶ It is similar to what I mentioned earlier. I used to feel empty time as anxiety, and I was obsessed with constantly creating something. But while working on this album, I came to understand the importance of resting well, recharging, and then returning to work. I do not know if I will be able to keep doing that, but I will try my best.
- Please also tell us about your solo concert, "Double Celebration."
▶ I thought it would not be easy for my 10th debut anniversary and the release of my 5th full-length album to overlap. It is also not just my 10th anniversary, but the 10th anniversary of the band members and arrangement team who have always stayed by my side. So I felt this performance would be a big celebration. "Double Celebration" will feature the band along with three powerful vocal chorus members. I think audiences will be able to feel even more of that "this is what live music is really about" energy. Through the intermission segment, I hope people can also hear the honest thoughts of the team members who have run alongside me for the past 10 years.
- You have now reached your 10th debut anniversary.
▶ I feel grateful, relieved, and determined to get back up quickly even if a moment of collapse comes. I will keep trying to meet you with fun music, so please continue to show us your love and support.
Baek Ji-eun, silk781220@sportschosun.com
