TAEMIN talks to CLASH Magazine, celebrates first solo Inkigayo win for "IDEA:理想"

In a new interview with CLASH Magazine's Tanu I. Raj, K-Pop "Idol of Idols" TAEMIN discussed aiming to become 'the complete artist,' the importance of fashion to his creative expression and more.

• On dance: "I have been dancing all my life... I am always going to be dancing. In the beginning of my career, I was taking it in from what others were telling me. I was trying to master techniques and skills that I learned from other dancers. But now that I am so far into my career, I have my own interpretation of what I have been learning. Instead of trying to copy and do exactly as others tell me, I see the trends, observe what other people are doing and reinterpret it in my own colours."

• On fashion: "Fashion is very important to me as an artist, because as an artist, it's all about the hearing, and providing that experience that enhances people's hearing and sight. With fashion, you express things that you wouldn't be able to do through dance. For example, in my performance, if I want to show a fiery, passionate red performance, I can't show the colour red through dance alone. I have to wear the clothes and to show that kind of vibe through my performance... the clothes are like wearing different characters. When I wear different clothes, I feel confident on stage and it gives me that energy and helps me get into character."

• On artistic bravery: "I was young when I started my solo career... When you're young, you're free to do all these things that you would be able to do at a young age. Also, instead of trying to fit into other people's expectations and the fashion standards that had already been set, I kind of figured out what worked for me. It was part of a self-discovery process, finding that individuality. Rather than trying to come up with a specific style that would work for everybody, it was more about expressing myself and what fits me the best."

• On individuality: "I always want to create not something that's 'trendy', but something that is very personal and unique. I want to bring something new to the floor, and that's where I want to gain respect from as an artist. At the same time, I want to connect to my audience and create that empathy and that special connection. So, that's an ongoing homework for me: I am always trying to figure that out and always thinking about that, that's why you can see two different sides of me through my performances."

TAEMIN also briefly took a moment from celebrating his mother's birthday on Sunday to hop on South Korean livestreaming app V Live and celebrate his first win as a solo artist on SBS music program Inkigayo. His latest single "IDEA:理想" took the prize over GFRIEND's "MAGO" and TWICE's "I Can't Stop Me."

"I was so surprised. It [is] amazing," he said in his native Korean, before proclaiming in English, "Today is TAEMIN's day! Today's Sunday, Sunday is God's day, but today [is] TAEMIN's day too."



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I love one (1) man. Keep streaming "IDEA:理想"!