From being GOT7’s maknae to emerging as a solo artist, YUGYEOM has continuously transformed throughout his 10-year career, captivating fans with each new phase. This year, he released his first full-length album TRUST ME, showcasing his unique vocals and distinctive style. In an interview for Vogue Hong Kong’s latest “My Fab 5” video series, YUGYEOM shares his journey and the “firsts” of his evolving career.

Who was your first celebrity crush?

When I was younger, it was Chris Brown. My dream was to become an artist that could both dance and sing, so when I saw Brown’s performances on TV, I thought: “Wow, I want to become that kind of artist.” When I was an idol trainee, I would dress like Brown and follow other artists’ dancing and movements. Back then, I would even emulate the style in which famous singers sang their songs, and I listened to a lot of different music.

I still haven’t met Chris Brown, but when I was in America with GOT7, we visited a graffiti wall with a picture of him on it.  We took photos and he reposted it on his Instagram account, after which we began following each other. We felt like truly successful fans. 

When was the first time you felt famous?

Probably when someone recognised me on the street. I was just walking and walking, and then someone exclaimed “Oh! It’s YUGYEOM.” I was amazed at how they were able to recognise me. 

What is the first step in your morning routine?

Firstly, I don’t get up in the morning *laughs* 

I’m working from home right now and I have a studio at home. When I wake up, I first check my phone for the time, and if it’s not too late, I go say hello to my three dogs in the living room. I then head to the studio and turn on my computer. Even if I don’t have work, I like to spend most of my time in the studio, and it’s become a part of my routine. 

What was the first challenge you faced as a solo singer?

With solo activities, I am the only one who is responsible for an entire song. I have to sing every song alone from beginning to end, which means I have to be even more diligent when doing so. The choreography formations are also difficult, especially since it isn’t a team of seven anymore. Working solo these days has really taught me how to survive independently. I know I still have a lot to improve on and a lot to learn. Because I want to do well like them in every area, I’ve learned many things, whether that’s writing melodies, writing lyrics, or even how to vocalise each note. 

What is the first thing you plan to do after your album is released? 

Following the release of TRUST ME in February, I will be embarking on performances to promote the album. Whenever I perform songs on new albums, I feel very excited – it’s interesting, it’s wonderful. So when I release my next album, I also want to immediately hold a lot of performances. I think that the process of creating new songs and then performing them is fascinating.