[interview] Taemin on Arena Homme October 2013
I watched your audition video. You said “I’ll do my best to death” with a baby face. How old were you?
I was a sixth grader. I liked dancing so much I was practicing without any plan or a role model before the audition. At that time I was really firmly determined even as I look back To the extent it made people uncomfortable from my trainee days to early debut days.
You must have had an intense desire of something.
I got hurt a lot at that time. I thought a singer should sing well but I didn’t have much vocal training because I was going through a pubescent break of voice. Since I debuted in such a state, all my mind was filled with the thought of catching up as soon as possible. My pride got hurt since a singer was only dancing. I was tormented even by a joking comment which I took seriously. But I think I’m the type of person who gets better with criticism.
Trainees compete with each other and get hurt. Since you debuted in middle school days, it must have been more pungent.
In fact I said I needed more time to think the first time my company suggested debut. I thought I wasn’t ready to debut at that time. It could be an excuse as I now look back. There’s nothing you can do if you start to excuse yourself for circumstances in which you can’t practice. You can make it possible. If there’s no time, you can practice in a vehicle on transit. When I had 3 or 4 hours for sleep after finishing our daily schedule in our early debut days, I went to the practice room to sing and dance by myself. As I practiced so crazily, I was able to see slow progress. Then my heart was somewhat relieved.
You came of age this year. SHINee is in 6th year after debut. Have you ever felt sorry for being seen only as ‘maknae’ since debut?
I don’t mind it much usually. And I’m now clever enough to sometimes use my image as maknae (laugh). While I get the way many times as maknae, I also get to think more. It won’t look good for a maknae to be too greedy. So I tend to save words and follow rather than voice my position.
You are mature. A 20-year old doesn’t think like that. One needs to spit out what one wants to say and make some trouble.
I had such a period a bit early. I was like that in our early debut days. Puberty came early to me. Around the 6th grade time? At that time I was really like a fiend. I was negative at everything and cynical.
You spent your school time through SHINee. You must have become mature early as you started your social life early.
Seems so. I debuted underage and have come of age. Time flies by. Being mature means internal growth, but I think I’m now only learning how to cope with certain situations through social life. In 6th year after debut, I become more aware of reality.
You lived half of your life in the eyes of the public. No regrets on missing a common school day life?
I couldn’t go on a school trip with friends in my school days. When I hear of it indirectly, my heart gets touched. Envious. However, I gained something else. I’m satisfied with my current life. Living a different life, being an entertainer is unique. By the way becoming unique seems to be important in the entertainment world. Entertainers also follow other entertainers. A trend-setter looks cool. Not only in music but also in the general area including fashion and entertainment.
You add ‘contemporary band’ title before your name in greeting. You look like you want to be differentiated from other boy groups.
Musically we receive diverse song from Denmark, Sweden, England, etc. We try a variety of genres and concepts, and the same with styling. Generally SHINee’s team color feels more colorful than other teams’. Our members have different personalities and colors. I think SHINee’s style got into shape through Juliette and with our performance getting stronger and band aspect added during Dream Girl time we established ‘refreshing and cool’ as SHINee’s unique image.
SHINee is still experimenting. Is there any image you want to try in the future?
I hope we could have such an image that makes people curious ‘What kind of boys are they?” As mysterious as we can be. Being rare.
Vague as it may be, what will Taemin’s future be like?
I would like to keep an artistic feel. A proper time should come to anyone, so I’m studying composition and practicing in preparation of it. Since I don’t know when it will be, I get to save energy. Maybe that’s why I get to hide rather than reveal as I turn 20.
You look like saving energy inside continuously. How big will the blow-up be?
Blowing it up or not, I think I’d better save it.
You are only 20 in your 6th year. This is a real advantage.
Other teams’ hyungs say so too, that they are envious. (laugh)
How do you recover from fatigue from your busy schedule?
I’m still young, so it’s ok if I can sleep well. But there’s mental fatigue. I think it’s time to get some healing. So I’m forcing myself to have a personal time and take some hobby.
What kind of hobby?
I’m into skateboarding these days. It’s early morning after finishing our schedule, and there are few people. I go to the park at the Han River and skateboard by myself. (Showing his elbow) see I got skinned here. (laugh)
[Trans by jujugal]
I watched your audition video. You said “I’ll do my best to death” with a baby face. How old were you?
I was a sixth grader. I liked dancing so much I was practicing without any plan or a role model before the audition. At that time I was really firmly determined even as I look back To the extent it made people uncomfortable from my trainee days to early debut days.
You must have had an intense desire of something.
I got hurt a lot at that time. I thought a singer should sing well but I didn’t have much vocal training because I was going through a pubescent break of voice. Since I debuted in such a state, all my mind was filled with the thought of catching up as soon as possible. My pride got hurt since a singer was only dancing. I was tormented even by a joking comment which I took seriously. But I think I’m the type of person who gets better with criticism.
Trainees compete with each other and get hurt. Since you debuted in middle school days, it must have been more pungent.
In fact I said I needed more time to think the first time my company suggested debut. I thought I wasn’t ready to debut at that time. It could be an excuse as I now look back. There’s nothing you can do if you start to excuse yourself for circumstances in which you can’t practice. You can make it possible. If there’s no time, you can practice in a vehicle on transit. When I had 3 or 4 hours for sleep after finishing our daily schedule in our early debut days, I went to the practice room to sing and dance by myself. As I practiced so crazily, I was able to see slow progress. Then my heart was somewhat relieved.
You came of age this year. SHINee is in 6th year after debut. Have you ever felt sorry for being seen only as ‘maknae’ since debut?
I don’t mind it much usually. And I’m now clever enough to sometimes use my image as maknae (laugh). While I get the way many times as maknae, I also get to think more. It won’t look good for a maknae to be too greedy. So I tend to save words and follow rather than voice my position.
You are mature. A 20-year old doesn’t think like that. One needs to spit out what one wants to say and make some trouble.
I had such a period a bit early. I was like that in our early debut days. Puberty came early to me. Around the 6th grade time? At that time I was really like a fiend. I was negative at everything and cynical.
You spent your school time through SHINee. You must have become mature early as you started your social life early.
Seems so. I debuted underage and have come of age. Time flies by. Being mature means internal growth, but I think I’m now only learning how to cope with certain situations through social life. In 6th year after debut, I become more aware of reality.
You lived half of your life in the eyes of the public. No regrets on missing a common school day life?
I couldn’t go on a school trip with friends in my school days. When I hear of it indirectly, my heart gets touched. Envious. However, I gained something else. I’m satisfied with my current life. Living a different life, being an entertainer is unique. By the way becoming unique seems to be important in the entertainment world. Entertainers also follow other entertainers. A trend-setter looks cool. Not only in music but also in the general area including fashion and entertainment.
You add ‘contemporary band’ title before your name in greeting. You look like you want to be differentiated from other boy groups.
Musically we receive diverse song from Denmark, Sweden, England, etc. We try a variety of genres and concepts, and the same with styling. Generally SHINee’s team color feels more colorful than other teams’. Our members have different personalities and colors. I think SHINee’s style got into shape through Juliette and with our performance getting stronger and band aspect added during Dream Girl time we established ‘refreshing and cool’ as SHINee’s unique image.
SHINee is still experimenting. Is there any image you want to try in the future?
I hope we could have such an image that makes people curious ‘What kind of boys are they?” As mysterious as we can be. Being rare.
Vague as it may be, what will Taemin’s future be like?
I would like to keep an artistic feel. A proper time should come to anyone, so I’m studying composition and practicing in preparation of it. Since I don’t know when it will be, I get to save energy. Maybe that’s why I get to hide rather than reveal as I turn 20.
You look like saving energy inside continuously. How big will the blow-up be?
Blowing it up or not, I think I’d better save it.
You are only 20 in your 6th year. This is a real advantage.
Other teams’ hyungs say so too, that they are envious. (laugh)
How do you recover from fatigue from your busy schedule?
I’m still young, so it’s ok if I can sleep well. But there’s mental fatigue. I think it’s time to get some healing. So I’m forcing myself to have a personal time and take some hobby.
What kind of hobby?
I’m into skateboarding these days. It’s early morning after finishing our schedule, and there are few people. I go to the park at the Han River and skateboard by myself. (Showing his elbow) see I got skinned here. (laugh)
[Trans by jujugal]