True Story: I Spent My Birthday With K-Pop Star Kang Daniel
When K-pop star Kang Daniel stepped on the stage at Webster Hall, a nightclub-turned-concert venue in New York City, it was like someone literally turned up the temperature in the room. It was the first North American stop of the Korean artist’s First Parade tour, and 26-year-old Kang—dressed in a black leather jacket embroidered with shining silver sequins—opened the show with the fiery “Who U Are.” “Come a little closer to me, tell me all about it, who u are,” he crooned while twisting and turning his body to the screams of fans.
It was my birthday, and I swayed to the sound of Kang’s music from the back of the hall. From the high-octane anthem “Who U Are” to breezy jams like “Upside Down” and dreamy ballads like “Ghost,” the set list was all about celebrating Kang’s career as a solo artist.
Like many, I was introduced to Kang through the 2017 survival reality program that catapulted him to superstardom in South Korea. Produce 101 season 2 featured 101 contestants competing to debut in a new boy group, and Kang placed first through audience voting. The 11-member Wanna One (who I saw perform at KCON NY in 2018) disbanded in December 2018 (the group was designed to be temporary), and Kang has since hustled to establish himself outside of that.
He faced many roadblocks before reaching this moment. Once his contract with Wanna One ended in 2018, Kang was embroiled in a legal dispute with former label LM Entertainment. He filed to suspend that contract in 2019 and established his own company Konnect Entertainment—of which he’s still the CEO (the legal dispute with LM ended a few months later). After he released his first EP Color on Me as a solo artist later that year, Kang went on a hiatus due to depression and a panic disorder. He returned a few months later and hasn’t shied away from tapping into the subjects of fear and anxiety in his music.
A prime example is “Paranoia,” a haunting track about confronting inner demons and my personal favorite from his discography. When Kang began to play this song at his concert, hundreds of arms immediately shot up into the air to record his performance. After the show ended, I visited Kang backstage. He was wearing a New York Yankees jersey—the outfit he wore for the final portion of his show—and wished me happy birthday with his signature toothy smile. “Being able to watch ‘Paranoia’ live was the best present,” I told him.
The night before, I met Kang at a cafe in the Flatiron District. Through a translator, the artist talked about how he likes to celebrate his own birthday, the milestones in his career so far, and the goals he has for the next chapter of his life.
So tomorrow is my birthday, and I’m very excited to spend it at your concert. How do you usually celebrate yours?
I gather around 19 to 20 boys and we play games. It’s more like a tournament, and the winner gets a prize. Boys night, yeah! We play FIFA.
That sounds relaxing. You’ve been on your First Parade world tour and completed the Europe leg earlier this year. How do you relax and recharge when touring?
After I went to Europe, time difference was a game changer. I was really worried about how I was going to do this show because I was tired due to the time difference. That’s when I started working out in Europe. I liked it so I just kept doing it, and that’s how I keep my health.
Were there other takeaways from your Europe concerts?
Because you’re also Asian, you might understand better. I always think the culture they have at the venues was kind of shocking, in a good way. Because the music halls in Europe, there are bars—they’re selling alcohol, beer, cocktails. The audience was having drinks and enjoying the show at the same time. That was something really different. I was really shocked, in a good way. I really want something like that to happen in Korea as well. In Korea we are very conscious of other people, what they think of us. In Europe they were very free, they were just enjoying themselves and I really loved it.
Rewinding from your world tour, let’s go back to the very beginning. Why did you decide to become an idol?
I’m going to be very honest with you: It was all because of money. I went to an arts high school, but the tuition was really expensive. That’s why I dropped out of the school. At that point, I didn’t really have a clear direction to go. But my family was going through a very difficult time financially, and as the only child, I felt like I had the responsibility. I needed to take care of my mother, who was not feeling really healthy. I decided, if I can dance, I have to do it on the big stage. That’s why I wanted to become an idol.
Now that you’re the CEO of your company, do you feel like you’re able to better achieve that financial goal?
I don’t want to lie, so yes, I achieved what I was looking for. Now I’m not necessarily seeking money from what I’m doing, but rather, I want to do something I really enjoy and make the music I love.
You started off with more dance experience but have developed your vocal skills. How have you worked on that?
Currently, I focus 70 percent of my energy on vocal and 30 percent on dance—I felt the need for it. It’s ironic that it’s kind of scary to be on the stage. But the better singer I become, the more confidence I gain.
Can you tell me more about that fear?
I’m more introverted, and sometimes I feel a little bit scared when people just look at me. People ask me, then how do you perform? But to be honest, onstage, you can’t really see audience’s faces and you don’t really make eye contact with them. But in the middle of a concert, if I look at them and see them having a good time, then it tells me I’m doing a good job. And with that confidence, my fear turns into joy.
Wanna One came to KCON NY in 2018. How does being in the States now compare to that visit, given that you’re at a different stage in your career?
You might think I’m a narcissist, but I believe I’ve done well. I love who I am now, and I’m very proud of my work. And I’m confident about the things that I’m going to accomplish in the future, so I’m having really happy days right now.
That’s awesome. I don’t think it’s narcissistic to be proud of your accomplishments.
Thank you.
A lot of the songs you’ve written as a solo artist talk about difficulties you’ve faced. Because I grew up in Asia, I’ve seen how mental health is not talked about a lot there compared to here. How does it feel when fans from around the world tell you that your music makes them feel connected?
Honestly, when I heard that feedback for the first time, I felt this responsibility and it was kind of scary. Because I was just telling my story, but they were like, “Your music really helped me.” And I wasn’t sure if I could make this music again and I had a lot of worries about that. And then in the end, I think they didn’t get help only because of some words, but it’s the music—my music is soft, maybe it gave them peace. So once I realized that, I don’t worry about it anymore.
I also wanted to ask about your acting debut in Rookie Cops, a coming-of-age-story set in the world of police training, last year as Wi Seung-hyun. What did you take away from that experience?
I’d like to do my future one based on a game or novel so that there is an existing storyline, and then I’d have enough time to study the character. For example, the thing I really love about The Last of Us is that I experienced it by game before the drama came out, I know who Joel is and I know how he lost Sarah. And Ellie, I know her personality. That’s what makes it more interesting overall. When it came out, I really enjoyed it.
And did your acting and hosting experiences—like when you were the MC for the dance competition series Street Woman Fighter and Street Man Fighter—make you want to do more of that soon?
It’s always good to have various experiences, but I really need to have better stamina. When I was shooting the drama, I was doing the MC activity at the same time. When I went back home, I would get nosebleeds. I’m very open to the opportunities, but it’s a matter of timing.
Last year, you released The Story. What is the story you want to tell in your next album?
I’m working on an album and it’s going to deliver deeper messages than the ones I’ve shared in the past. At the beginning, I was kind of worried because the message is so deep. But the outcomes I have so far, I’m not worried anymore—I think people will like it.
You’ve accomplished a lot in your 20s. How do you feel about all of your success at this age?
At first I wanted to say I don’t have any desires, but maybe I do. I really want people to know my music. In Korea, everyone knows my name, but it’s based partly on Wanna One or the songs from the group. It was already five years ago, so now I really want people to listen to my music and know my music.
Are there other moments in your life that you’re really proud of?
I don’t know if it’s big or small, maybe it’s small, but I can take care of the medical bills for my cats and for my mom and dad. The fact that I can take care of them makes me proud.
You Might Also Like
