Han Seung-yoon The 1st Mini Album [Lovender]
The show , aired on JTBC in 2020, captured the hearts of those who had grown tired of conventional audition programs. It was not a show filled solely with trot singers or idol aspirants. Nor was it a high-note competition featuring the typical singing style of applied music majors. It was like a spotlight shining upon musicians who had trained in the shadows for a long time, expressing their musical desires through various genres. Many gained the opportunity to stand before the public once again. After the broadcasts, social media was often flooded with posts supporting the unknown singers people had discovered. Han Seung-yoon was one of them. Although he did not make it into the Top 10, his captivating appearance and distinct voice were weapons sufficient to put an end to his long period of obscurity.
Han Seung-yoon first entered the music industry in 2012 as the vocalist for the band Lunafly. At the time, the band music scene was in a slump after the renaissance of the late 2000s. As the mobile environment became commonplace, an era of information overload arrived. Consequently, cases of talented bands receiving attention actually decreased. Lunafly's only full-length album, released in 2013, contained music that was polished considering the members' ages. It blended various styles relatively well without leaning too heavily toward a specific genre. It was a work deserving of some response, but it failed to gain significant traction. They appeared in the third season in 2015, but that season also ended without becoming a hot topic.
Young musicians who are not affiliated with agencies and do not receive the baptism of professional training and capital sometimes grow while enduring empty periods of time. Han Seung-yoon was the same after the band disbanded. He stood on stage as a soloist and sang in front of cameras via social media. The feeling of not being able to meet more people is an obstacle during this potentially hollow time. However, opportunities sometimes come to those who endure these obstacles. And those who seize these opportunities are only those who are prepared.
Appearing on was a clear opportunity for Han Seung-yoon. The charm and response to the program were also opportunities. But we know how quickly many who shone briefly on audition programs were forgotten once the show ended. Once the wonderland of broadcasting vanished and they stood alone with only their talent and ability, they showed only that they were not prepared to stand on their own feet.
And Han Seung-yoon's first mini-album is a portfolio proving that he is ready to seize and make the most of the opportunity that came his way. In this album containing six songs, Han Seung-yoon effortlessly handles various genres, ranging from 2000s rock to K-pop. He is rocking without losing sensibility, and trendy without being buried by trends. While several producers participated in the lyrics and composition, he maintains the balance and leads the music himself.
The first track and intro, ‘In This Moment,’ evokes the structure of the mid-to-late 20th century, when an album was like a single drama. Within a short time dominated by instrumentation, Han Seung-yoon impactfully signals that this is not a simple collection of tracks, but a story composed of six chapters.
The title track, ‘Lovender,’ is a song reminiscent of 2000s Britpop. The introduction, development, climax, and connection repeatedly cycle through condensation and explosion; Han Seung-yoon connects the seams of each part as smoothly as a seamless t-shirt, gripping the listener through sound alone. He digests the style that was mainstream in the rock scene when he first started music as if it were internalized. The other songs also feature styles that contrast with the tracks before and after them, yet they follow an organic flow.
From ‘Moon Driver,’ which incorporates EDM, to ‘Problem,’ which weaves funky beats into a K-pop sound, and the acoustic-based soft rock ‘Whatever You Want,’ Han Seung-yoon does not strive to claim what he has accumulated over the ten years since his debut; instead, he persuades naturally. That persuasion reaches completion in the final track, ‘How Great Would It Be (Solo Ver.)’. This song was included in Lunafly's debut album and is a track where one can feel the vocal color of a twenty-year-old Han Seung-yoon. While the version released in 2013 was based on a band sound, this version is understated. It seems as though Han Seung-yoon, now at the end of his twenties, is telling his twenty-year-old self that the power of the melody and lyrics can be conveyed without having to force it or exaggerate. And in a silent manner, this proves to the public what he has accumulated over ten years. What he has built through several digital singles, a few broadcasts, quite many performances, and even more social media communication is none other than the balance between what he likes and what he is good at. Han Seung-yoon has absorbed the things he likes into his own, and has more precisely polished the things he is good at. This album is like a clutch hit delivered by a batter stepping up to the plate after a long time. A decisive blow from someone unfamiliar, this is the result of Han Seung-yoon's first at-bat since stepping back into the world through . — Writer Kim (Popular Music Critic)
1. In This Moment
Lyrics by Kang Ji-won
Composed by Kang Ji-won
Arranged by In-woo
As the intro track of Han Seung-yoon's first mini-album, 'In This Moment' is a British rock genre song that expresses the feeling of not being able to believe that he is together with his fans, who have waited for a long time, in this moment. It is a song that signals the start of the album with acoustic guitar sounds and Han Seung-yoon's vocals.
2. Lovender
Lyrics by Gadeul
Composed by Lee Hyun-sang, Han Kyung-soo, Choi Ji-san (ARTMATIC/CLEF), CLEF CREW
Arranged by Lee Hyun-sang, Choi Ji-san (ARTMATIC/CLEF)
‘Lovender’ is a newly coined compound word meaning a person (-er) whose love (Love) has ended (end). It is a dreamy modern rock ballad with a heavy band sound that captures the heart of a man who refuses a breakup, trying to ignore the fact that love has ended. With a harmony of spacious guitar sounds and heavy bass, Han Seung-yoon's sweet yet powerful vocals perfectly express the mood of the song. This track was composed by the producing team ARTMATIC, who have worked with numerous artists including M.C the MAX, Davichi, Huh Gak, Ben, and Weeekly, further enhancing the completeness of this album.
3. Moon Driver
Lyrics by Dr.JO (153/Joombas), Gadeul
Composed by Kang Ji-won, Han Seung-yoon
Arranged by Kang Ji-won
Starting with an aggressive guitar riff typical of alternative rock, 'Moon Driver' is a fusion rock song that blends solid hip-hop drums with a Synth Pop feel that emerges from the chorus. The upbeat drum sound and dreamy analog synth make the listener imagine driving toward the moon with a lover.
4. Problem
Lyrics by Kim Min-ji (Jamfactory), Gadeul
Composed by Jeon Da-woon, Yong-hoon, Kang Ji-won
Arranged by Kang Ji-won, Jeon Da-woon
'Problem' is an addictive song featuring Han Seung-yoon's voice, which sounds as if he is tempting the opposite sex, and interesting lyrics that say, 'Try to solve the problem that is me in your own way.' The electric sound with a reggae rhythm and the American-style dance-rock sound and melody are charming.
5.
Whatever You Want
Lyrics by Han Seung-yoon, Gadeul
Composed by Han Seung-yoon
Arranged by In-woo
'Whatever You Want' is a British rock ballad. The sorrowful melody, lyrical lyrics, and mournful voice are addictive; it is a song written and composed by Han Seung-yoon himself.
6. How Wonderful Would It Be (Solo Ver.)
Lyrics by Kim Eana
Composed by Han Seung-yoon, SAM, Shin Je-min
Arranged by In-woo, Kang Ji-won
A remake of Lunafly's original song 'How Wonderful Would It Be' as a solo version by Han Seung-yoon, this track reinterprets the feel of the original with an acoustic sound based on an Unplugged concept, creating a calm and lyrical atmosphere that allows for more focus on the lyrics and melody.
![Han Seung Yun - 1st mini album [Lovender] 상세 이미지 2](https://cdn.kstarcompany.com/cdn/0f3a5545-3d4b-4b68-9483-c848882663bb?w=1200&f=avif)
