[TF Interview] "I'm a slow starter"... Son Ho-young's 'true beginning' after 20 years

New song 'Go Around' to be released on the 14th at 6 PM'Realization' felt during 20 years of activity captured in songSolo concert also announcedSinger Son Ho-young will release the solo debut 20th anniversary single 'Go Around' on the 14th. /Gemstone E&M[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Hyun-jung] "I am someone who takes a long time."This is what singer Son Ho-young mentioned most often during the interview.And after completing 27 years with the group god and exactly 20 years as a solo artist, he confessed, "I think I can finally express the real me to some extent now."This is something fans would find very surprising. The reason is, of course, that he is Son Ho-young, not anyone else.Indeed, as a member of god, who rose to the ranks of a self-proclaimed 'national idol,' and as a solo artist who has actively engaged in various fields, solidifying his position, this statement might sound like excessive humility.However, Son Ho-young shook his head vehemently and emphasized, "I am still improving, and I am in the process of completing not only myself as a singer but also 'human Son Ho-young'."His special single 'Go Around,' released on the 14th to mark his 20th solo debut anniversary, is a song he personally wrote, capturing these feelings and thoughts of Son Ho-young.Therefore, 'Go Around,' which carries the message, 'Looking back, everything turned out fine. So it's okay to take a detour,' is both a comfort to fans and a message he wants to convey to his 'past self.' met with Son Ho-young at the Gemstone E&M building in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 1st, and listened to the trajectory of his life drawn over 27 years with god and 20 years as a solo singer.The first thing Son Ho-young brought up was '20 years.' He debuted as a solo artist on September 13, 2006, with his first full-length album 'Yes,' and described his 20th debut anniversary as 'becoming a college student.'Son Ho-young said, "The 20 years are starting to sink in, but it doesn't feel like a long time. At 20 years old, one becomes a college student, right? When I talk to fans, I say I'm 'in the position of a 20-year-old college student,'" he said with a laugh.Of course, Son Ho-young does not take the value of his 20th solo debut anniversary lightly. Rather, he had a strong desire to express his gratitude to his fans in any way possible as the 20th anniversary approached.This is why Son Ho-young is releasing new music for the first time in five years since his 2021 single 'In the Flowing Time,' and holding his solo concerts 'HORIZON' on the 31st and November 1st.'Go Around' is a song with the message, 'Looking back, everything turned out fine. So it's okay to take a detour.' This is a message Son Ho-young wants to convey to his fans as well as his 'past self.' /Gemstone E&MSon Ho-young said, "I have many desires to do things, but I am sensitive and timid. So, if I'm not ready, I don't force myself to push through." He continued, "In the past, new song releases were constantly postponed because of this, but I decided I absolutely wouldn't let this time pass by. It felt disrespectful to my fans to just let the 20th anniversary pass without doing anything."The single 'Go Around,' completed in this way, is a work that sings about 'things that are only seen in retrospect,' as mentioned earlier.Son Ho-young explained, "Genre-wise, it's a light pop-rock song, and it's a feel-good track. It's an easy-listening song that's not boring and can be enjoyed comfortably." He added, "As I've gotten older and have been active for a long time, I wanted to convey stories I can tell from my own experiences rather than just passionate love stories."According to Son Ho-young's self-assessment, 'things I didn't know then but know now' is the sentence that best describes his life. He confessed that it was only after experiencing numerous failures and frustrations, as much as his luck and successes, that he came to know himself better.Son Ho-young reflected, "As I reached my 20th anniversary, I started to see myself more objectively. For example, when I was younger, I would practice singing for 8 hours a day to challenge a certain vocal range, but looking back now, it was an impossible goal from the start. I often set goals that were beyond my reach, thinking I could break through my limits by practicing and working hard in that way."In particular, he said, "When I was young, I thought I would become a different kind of musician than I am now. I thought I would be a singer who writes and composes a lot and has a distinct color as a solo artist. But I couldn't achieve that dream." He calmly stated, "As time passed, I gradually realized my own capabilities. I realized I didn't have a talent for creation. Creation isn't something that can be achieved through effort."Son Ho-young revealed that it was only after 20 years of solo activities and 27 years with god that he was finally able to understand himself well. /Gemstone E&MAlthough he now speaks of it comfortably, at the time, this fact caused Son Ho-young immense stress. He said, "Trying to do what I couldn't do only piled up worries and led me into a swamp. But fans were waiting, so the pressure kept growing, and as the stress accumulated, I kept going down the wrong path. That was me when I was young."He continued, "I regret not discovering and developing my strengths a bit earlier, which might have led me to find music that suited me better." He added, "Back then, I thought I could do it if I tried. But there are things you can't do no matter how hard you try. I know that now."Nevertheless, thanks to going through this process of regret, Son Ho-young has come to understand himself better and knows well what he can do.Son Ho-young said, "I constantly organize in my mind what areas I can work in in my current state. What I am most confident in and enjoy the most right now is performing. That's what a singer is most confident in, and I'm still figuring out the rest." He confidently stated, "I believe I am more prepared now than in the past to take on acting, musicals, and movies. The reason I appeared in plays and musicals is because I thought, 'I can do it now.'"Although he speaks of it with a smile now, it is not easy for a musician who is still active and has reached the top to evaluate themselves as 'untalented.'Naturally, the moment Son Ho-young acknowledged this was a great setback for him. What supported him at that time were time, his fans, and god.Son Ho-young said, "Rather than needing a special trigger to overcome frustration, I think it's resolved if I just walk the right path. That's my opinion." He continued, "Conversely, if you stop, it won't be resolved. There were times I wanted to stop, but I kept moving forward, even if slowly. Then, it seemed to resolve naturally."He added, "At the center of it all were the god members." He continued, "And the most important beings are the fans. They are the driving force that has allowed me to endure for 20 years. Nowadays, there are many opportunities to communicate directly with fans, and when I meet them, I gain a lot of strength, thinking, 'I can still do this.'" He expressed his sincere gratitude to his fans.In summary, 'Go Around' is not just a song that sings 'everything will be alright,' but it is Son Ho-young's 'life song' that encompasses the ups and downs of his life over 20 years of activity, the insights gained in the process, and his gratitude towards the precious beings who became his strength to endure for so long. This is why he is so sincere in this comeback.Son Ho-young will meet his fans with his 20th-anniversary solo concerts on October 31st and November 1st. /Gemstone E&MSon Ho-young said, "Honestly, I had ambitions when I debuted as a solo artist. Until then, I thought I had a lucky and smooth life. I passed auditions, met the god members, released albums, gained momentum, and even won awards. I thought I was a lucky person, and I thought my solo career would also be smooth. Of course, I worked very hard to not be ashamed of myself, but honestly, I thought it would just go well as a solo artist too. But that's when I first learned that things don't always go as planned."He continued, "Ultimately, you can only know what kind of person you are by living. I think I've been expanding my limits little by little over 20 years." He said with conviction, "It will be the same in the future. I'm already discussing the next song with the company. I think I'll be able to try more things from now on."Finally, Son Ho-young emphasized, "I haven't set an end to myself as an artist. Of course, large-scale performances with choreography might have an end someday, but as an artist, I want to continue without thinking about 'until which anniversary.'"Son Ho-young's real stage begins now.laugardagr@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]