EXIT : Commentary with Te Rim

So!YoON! As it can be inferred from the title, the word ‘EXIT’ in other words, sings the story of separation related. EXIT's emotions are little different from the nuances of ‘normal separation’, that is, "I hate you because of this," and "So, I can't love you anymore." To put it roughly, I think it is more like, "It is not your fault, it is not my fault, so let us just take the situation.” Anyways, it is a combination of emotions that can not be expressed flatly with the word ‘cool’, but if you take a look at the lyrics slowly, you will know what I am talking about. That is why I can draw a far-off heart. So, I do not know if I think that I should be with this person more. We invited someone who made a great contribution to creating the emotions of ‘EXIT’ in a sound way. He is solo musician and producer Te Rim. Hello. Te Rim Hello. So!YoON! Please introduce yourself. Te Rim I am Te Rim, a solo artist and I am working as well as So!YoON!. I am a music producer and I am currently working as a sound director and engineer. So!YoON! I think it's an extraordinary mission where vintage elements and even digital aspects are well understood and incorporated into the sound, while still maintaining a very distinct individual color. Te Rim Correct. So!YoON! You can’t hid the smile. So Te Rim, you have put in a lot of effort, especially So!YoON! from an early age, and even SE SO YEON. You have put in a lot of effort. Te Rim Thank you for thinking so. So!YoON! So, it's not possible to just focus on one track or one keyword, it feels like there's so much to talk about. While we can't discuss everything, today we can talk about Te Rim's contribution and some of the sound processing in 'EXIT' Te Rim That is right. That was when I was in the studio in Yeonnam-dong So!YoON! That is right. There is a story from when you first adopted a cat that you are with until now. there have been various episodes along the way. During this current project, how has Te Rim's emotional state been? Despite that, your music style has been gradually evolving, right? Te Rim Yes, that is right. Even now, my thoughts and directions to music are constantly changing, but when I was offered work by you, my thoughts, musical subjections, and what I wanted to pursue were actually very muscular. So, I was able to accept it with confidence and I think I did a good job in making the song. So!YoON! That's right. As I mentioned earlier, although Te Rim contributed to various tracks, if we were to pick just one track, 'EXIT' would be the one where Te Rim's colors are most prominently displayed, so I wanted to discuss it specifically. 'Smoke Sprite' and 'Till the sun goes up,' which you participated in, had more textural and synth player-like aspects. In other words, I felt that 'EXIT' delved more into the realm of a real producer and arranger. So were there any standout moments in 'EXIT'? For now, can we call it synth-pop? I'd like to venture to say that in the realm of synth-pop, there is no one in Korea who has the same impact as Te Rim. In that sense, I'm curious if there were any keywords or important elements that Te Rim considered significant in 'EXIT'. Te Rim When I first received the demo of ‘EXIT’, it was Gila's demo. At that point, I wanted to highlight and amplify the vibrant aspects of the song, while also showcasing my own textures. I had a strong desire to experiment with dynamic elements in these sections. So, I made several attempts and upgrades in those specific areas, seeking to implement and realize my ideas more concretely. By the way, do you know that there were a total of 16 drafts for 'EXIT'? This time, when I looked at the number of drafts I gave to So!YoON! for 'Smoke Sprite' and 'Till the sun goes up' along with 'EXIT', it was exactly 16 drafts So!YoON! All the tracks were completed in 16 versions Te Rim So I thought to myself, ‘Did she calculate it to ask me sixteen times?’ So!YoON! Besides the same number of the requests, it’s scary Te Rim Keep changing one thing and again So!YoON! It was awful. You did a great job. Te Rim There was a time like that. Anyways, I listened to ‘EXIT’ from version one to sixteen a few days ago, and the thoughts that I wanted to do at first, were reflecting it in the first draft, and as we gradually progressed towards the nearest master version of last, I have my own thoughts and I was actually trying to show my ability as a producer, but having conversation with you, had always commented of your idea or feedback which made me to think back and when I reflected it, I was going with my eyes half closed and relying on my sense. Then you said, “Go in this direction, not that direction.” And if you show me the way, the navigation arrived at the destination. So, this album is your album, and you said that I am actually a producer which did my best to fulfill my role as a secondary producer. So!YoON! I am glad you think so. So, I do not think there was a feedback I had to give on synth or synth tone related. Te Rim's characteristic is that there are many layers and it is a style that stacks up everything, so I remember there were a lot of feedback on the atmosphere and dynamics. Te Rim And the most daring experience I have ever done on ‘EXIT’ was when you commented, “I need something for this part.” If you did not comment it, I could have just moved on. When you commented, I was thinking about what to do here and just played the instrument freely without following any specific rules. So!YoON! You did your solo Te Rim It is a technique that looks like you are good at playing the instrument. So!YoON! It is just playing it anything Te Rim Yes, that is right. After doing that, ‘I thought, I do not need to edit a lot, It can melt into a sound which fits well.’ So!YoON! To me, that point was more like Te Rim. Te Rim I also like quantizing and editing in detail, but when I use vulgar language, the vibe that can only come out of it is bold and the vibe that only we know, but it comes out. So!YoON! In a way, the bridge part was the most important, so we had a lot of thoughts about how to make the bridge come alive, but it felt like we saw a solution with that solo. By the way, I have been mastering the entire album, so I have been listening to it all at once. ‘EXIT’ is the only song with the most density out of the eleven songs. It felt like it was filled from the soul of my feet to the ends of my head. Today, I listened to it to check the mastering before recording. As sixteen drafts passed by, I started something minimal, but it felt like a real space is filled up. Not only ‘EXIT’, but ‘Till the sun goes up’ and ‘Smoke Sprite’ were all collaborated. Gila wrote the song for ‘EXIT’, and I recorded the original song for ‘Smoke Sprite’, and there was a demo for ‘Till the sun goes up’. I am curious about any challenges, highlights, or memorable moments in creating something that is not started from scratch and completed. Te Rim When I work on my own or make a song, I start from an empty drawing paper. While working with you, it was a very different process. But in a way, when you give me a first impression which made me to interpret, reinterpret, change, when creativity is given in other areas and it feels like a challenge. I feel like I am using a different brain. That is always fun for me. If you think about it, it might be a work that starts with a suggestion, but that is why I compare the differences with the original of myself because it is not where I started, so I think there are views that I can have. So, I think that is always interesting and of course, the original songs are so good that I can enjoy working afterwards. So!YoON! I think flexibility is a great advantage which I can pick from you. If you say flexibility is just flexibility, you might think that it is indecisive and generous, but flexibility is the ultimate subjectivity. I think I can have real flexibility only when I have my own. But I always feel that from you. Te Rim Thank you. So!YoON! You seem very kind and gentle, but you are actually a person of stubborn with color of his own, and when I suggest that I do it without hurting them, you are a person who can melt into it really well. So, I think something will come out in the end, even though we do it for a long time. So, the funny part is when the album is completed, people around you listen to it. There are people who know about you and people who do not know about you, people who do not know my music and people who do know my music. For example, in the track order, ‘Smoke Sprite’ or ‘Till the sun goes up’ is in front of ‘EXIT’, so that they can be played in the track layout and people would say things like that it is the person who played before this. Or things like this is Te Rim playing right? I think it’s him. I find it very interesting. Te Rim I did not think about it. So!YoON! So, I wanted to say that Te Rim is Te Rim. And the emotions I feel is always blurry. It is always smudged and it is music that is a kind of distant like ‘Smoke Sprite’. So, I think it helped to create a character that has a lot of sound in this album. Also, I think we got along well. As I kept making music with you, I was able to come up with a more specific concept for this album. We are only going to talk about ‘EXIT’ today, but I think the emotions of ‘Smoke Sprite’ and ‘Till the sun goes up’ participated in contributing to the song's creation. Even the title of ‘Smoke Sprite’ is ‘Smoke Sprite’, so of course, there are strong band sets like bass and drums, but I always think that the mixes and effects that are made have created a space for this song. I really love Te Rim's music, and along with that admiration, I always feel a bit sorry when collaborating because I know you should be working on your own album, but Hwang Soyoon keeps suggesting this and that, so it's overwhelming. Te Rim I have only been working on my album lately, and in order to use my brain well, it is good to move my brain in moderation. Because I recently finished working on So!YoON!'s work, found other hobbies and I can say that I am working on it with all my all effort, but in the midst of that, I am focusing on other things too So!YoON! Is it helpful? Te Rim Yes. It helps me to be in optimal condition. So!YoON! It is good. Te Rim What I personally felt was that when I collaborated on So!YoON!'s first album, there was a unique feeling and atmosphere at that time. In fact, during that time, So!YoON! was also active as SE SO NEON and as a solo artist, so she must have grown a lot musically or just as a person. I also had a lot of such moments and I feel like we both have become stronger through those experiences, now with the same determination. We both seem to have kept our original intentions. So, working with that same mindset, I feel like So!YoON! had that passion and those qualities back then, and now she has more developed experiences and clearer points on how to proceed and pay attention to details. I felt really good about it. However, until the end, I felt that So!YoON! had really, really high standards for herself, but my friend is truly amazing too. So!YoON! Getting stronger as the day passes Te Rim As I experienced the last album and this album, I got to respect you once again. So!YoON! It's true, you are the living proof of the first album and the second album of So!YoON!. I was able to work with a different mindset and intensity in the second album. It's like looking back at Te Rim and my own growth journey from the past, when we were creating together with a real sense of excitement. In the second album, as you mentioned, there has been growth in our respective areas, and it seems like there are steps we can take to blend them more harmoniously. I'm also excited about how we can continue in the future. While Te Rim is my colleague, our styles are quite distinct. I am more of a musician and songwriter, with a strong emphasis on directing, while Te Rim is someone who meticulously crafts and builds sounds one by one. I keep learning from him every time we work together, realizing that this is how it should be done. Additionally, Te Rim always strives to create his own visual and narrative concepts, not just focusing on sounds, and witnessing that has also influenced me greatly in this album. So, I hope Te Rim's solo album will come out. As a fan, I am truly a fan, you know. Te Rim Now that the commentary is stuffed. So!YoON! Yes. There is no turning it back. Te Rim You're doing great! I'm also in the process of wrapping up. So!YoON! Someone has to nag all the time. I am going to play that role on you. I always ask “when does it is coming out?” While preparing for this commentary album, I thought about you the most. Because you are the only person who did the commentary for the 1st and 2nd albums. Anyways, I wanted to bring out this guy, Te Rim, and wanted to show your charm with coolness to the people and he was the main character in making this album, so I hope you listen to it and think of him. Anyways, the fact that we were able to do this for the second time means that we did not end our relationship as a friend. We didn’t just work on one project and say “I can’t be friends with you anymore” I think that is why we were able to work together for six years. Te Rim Do you remember our conversation when we first met? So!YoON! No Te Rim Uh, it was this. On the streets of Hongdae So!YoON! That is right. At night on the street. Te Rim We had a mutual friend, so we knew each other through online So!YoON! Ah, It has been six years. Te Rim Yes. From then, six years has passed. So!YoON! Destiny is so terrifying. Guys.