ONEW Talks About 'DICE' Album, Love Like a Game of Win or Lose - Six Sides of Dice Like Five Members of SHINee and Shawol

Kapanlagi.com - ONEW SHINee has just made a comeback with his second solo album titled DICE with the lead single of the same name. ONEW's song and album were released on Monday (11/4/2022) and were immediately liked by fans.

A few hours before the release, ONEW held an online press conference about the DICE album with Minho as the MC. Here are some statements and answers from ONEW regarding his second album.

1. DICE is your latest solo album after 3 years and 4 months. How does it feel to make a comeback?

It's been a long time since I came back with a solo album so I'm excited and nervous. I worked hard on this album to show my mature musical style and other sides of myself. So I hope you all enjoy listening to it and give appreciation, love, and support to this album.

2. Then, introduce the DICE album.

DICE is a mini album with six songs including the title track, DICE. From freshness, romance to melancholic songs, I tried to combine different music genres with different moods and contain lyrics and messages full of hope. Because this album is full of songs that relate to all situations, I think people will be able to enjoy listening to the songs and connect with their situations.

3. Please tell us about the song Sunshine.

(credit: SM Entertainment)

Sunshine is an electronic pop upbeat song with funky guitar sounds. It is a song that depicts the feeling of excitement when taking a spontaneous trip to escape from daily routine, and it is perfect for the recent weather where you just want to go out and play. I believe that adding Sunshine to your playlist when traveling or driving will add spirit to your everyday life.

There are some words in the lyrics such as White Pina colada, The Bahamas, nirvana, and passport, which can remind you of vacation moments. As an interesting fact, the original lyrics I received for White Pina colada didn't use an 's', but I added it for several reasons. Not only because it sounds better in harmony with the next verse and perfects the end of the sentence, but also because there is a semantic meaning behind it. It's more enjoyable to travel with someone who is compatible with you than to go alone, so I added 's' to show the plural meaning (more than one person).

4. Can you explain the song On The Way?

On The Way is a song with jazzy piano and ear-catching guitar improvisation. The song is very romantic with lyrics about staying up all night thinking about your relationship with someone you love, wanting to give everything you have and run towards your love. This song may be the longest I recorded because I wanted to show the romantic mood as much as possible. I may have spent five hours recording this song and I am satisfied with the result.

5. Now explain about the song Love Phobia

Love Phobia is an alternative pop song with a complex vibe. The song describes skepticism and fear of love, but also a strong desire for eternal love. I want to add my own interpretation and hope to convey it well to the listeners so they can understand what I want to say when they listen to it.

6. Please explain about the song Yeowoobi

Yeowoobi is a song that gives the impression of a dream but also a sense of loneliness that fits the meaning of 'raining under the sunshine'. When you fall in love, there are moments of warmth and sadness. I spent a lot of time thinking about how to show the emotion of doubt, and finally decided to sing calmly to deepen the emotional expression of the song.

This song was produced by Hitchhiker. Before recording, we spent a lot of time discussing how to reach the highest note, and I was able to give my own ideas and even work on a guide for the song. Since we have been working together since my first album, we can have the same thoughts and be a perfect match. I am satisfied with the result of Yeowoobi and hope you enjoy it too.

7. Explain about the song In the whale dong

In the whale is a medium tempo pop song with a filling sound. This song was initially worrying because it was challenging to express, fill the emptiness, and show its cheerfulness only with my vocals. But after seeing the positive reactions from fans in the highlight video for In the whale, this became a song I was looking forward to.

This song has a special place in my heart because I participated in writing it and had many ideas. It may sound sudden, but I visualized this song with the image of being inside a whale. Metaphorically, it is my imaginative picture to show coming out of darkness, distress, and difficult situations to be together again. I also wrote the lyrics thinking of the fans who always support me.

8. Now explain the main song of DICE

From the first time I heard the demo for DICE, I thought it would be perfect as the main song, because of its explosive rhythm to start a song. This song has charm because it is both welcoming and fresh. Just like the meaning of the word DICE, the lyrics compare falling in love with a game, a willingness to give everything for the person you love, even though you know you will lose the game. When you first start playing, you won't know who will win until you're good at the game and can say you'll win 100%. In essence, this song shows a willingness to give everything from the beginning for love, whether you win or lose.

9. Explain the choreography for the song DICE.

Just like the keyword 'rolling dice' repeated in the chorus, the choreography shows the movements of gripping, throwing, and catching dice. Although these important movements may feel strange at first and make you curious like 'what is the chicken leg movement?', it is the main point of the choreography that shows gripping a dice. So, it's good to remember this when watching the MV.

10. So what are the important points to pay attention to when watching the MV?

Because the concept of this album revolves around DICE, dice appear in the MV several times. I consider it a magic dice, you will see me transform with different appearances every time I throw and catch it. The MV is made in a dark set, a hotel with dim lighting, which contrasts with the colorful clothes. This contrasting element creates a kitschy (kind of tacky) atmosphere that suits the mood of the song. This is an interesting MV to watch and because the theme of the main song also focuses on giving everything and then running towards the beloved, we express this through the appearance of a mysterious woman.

11. So through the album DICE, what new aspects does Onew want to show as a solo singer?

First, because this is an album that I will actively promote, I want to broaden my musical spectrum. When people think of ONEW, I want them to see me not only as a soundtrack singer and ballad singer, but also as someone who can sing various kinds of music and performances. If I had to choose one word to describe this album, I would say diverse.

12. Like the six-sided dice, this DICE album also consists of six songs. What harmony is created from these six songs?

I often talked with the A&R team and producer Hitchhiker when working on this album, from song selection, writing lyrics, to arranging melodies. What I see about the harmony lately is 'hope', and I want this album to be heard by people and remind them that you can reach someone or someone can find you when you're lonely. This album consists of hopes for people to fill their days with happiness.

13. If you could express the charm of this album in one word, what would it be?

I know this sounds cliché, but I would say that this album is DICE. That's what's on my mind when I think of the diversity and direction of this album along with the harmony that brings it, like the numbers from one to six on a dice. This album is concluded with the number 6, because SHINee consists of five members and together with our fans (Shawols), we reach the number 6, thus completing the picture.

14. You were involved in the songwriting process of In the whale. Where do you usually find inspiration?

(credit: SM Entertainment)

I'm not a professional composer or songwriter, but sometimes I think about personal experiences that fit the song I'm reviewing. I'll read books, watch dramas and movies, to remember the feelings I once had. I try to express those emotions beautifully. For In the whale, I have a strong image of Pinocchio in my mind. Instead of making the whole story from beginning to end, I usually develop and build from a specific image. What's in my mind is a beautiful journey to Atlantis while holding hands with fans. Because SHINee also released an album titled ATLANTIS, I thought about it when I heard this song.

15. You said the main song DICE also has a performance aspect. How does it feel to perform alone, compared to when you're with SHINee members?

I feel a lot of pressure because I usually rely on the members when performing together. We usually make eye contact or give and receive energy from each other, with other dancers on stage as well, so now I miss those moments. Choreographer Lee Junho, who has worked with KEY and TAEMIN as well, did an amazing job choreographing this song, but performing alone as a singer is not easy. The most challenging part is not being able to stop singing because I have to sing everything alone from beginning to end. Beyond that, I also want to showcase my vocals perfectly, so I practice a lot and plan more rehearsals to develop my vocals for performances on stage, so please wait for it.

16. What kind of support and advice did you receive from the SHINee members for this solo album?

I have to say that the most memorable moment was when the three members came to the location while I was shooting the MV. It made me realize that I never have to be in this situation alone, because usually we do these things together as a group. This is the first time for me to think about everything from A to Z alone, so I'm under pressure, but it feels very helpful and encouraging to get support and love from my members. I'm touched by how caring they are for me, which motivates me to work harder and prepare more for them.

17. This is your second solo album. Is there any difference or growth compared to the first solo album?

I have to say that the main point of development in this album is how I prepare and feel the level of responsibility. I was very involved in discussions from how to record the MV and album jacket photoshoot, what clothes to wear, to how to write and arrange songs. I never had that much involvement before in making an album. Although it was very challenging because of the weight of the responsibility, it feels satisfying. In addition, it is very helpful to have SHINee members too.

18. Have you found your musical identity/direction as a solo singer ONEW?

As a solo singer, I want to share messages of hope and my wishes for everyone to be happy. Nowadays, we often exaggerate small things. I'm guilty of that too, but if we think about the things that seem minor in our daily lives, we can still find happiness. And there is happiness and pleasure to be found in a world where we interact with each other. Honestly, it's not important whether I dance or sing ballads because I want to be a singer who can send messages full of hope to people and have a positive impact.

19. What do you want to achieve with this album?

This album is a stepping stone. It's the beginning of ONEW SHINee showing all genres of music from A to Z without limitations. I worked hard to show the diversity of my new side, so I hope you all look forward to it.

(kpl/pit)