Musicians Kim Chang-wan Band and Kim Kwang-jin, who appeared side by side on L1VE WIRE, shared their thoughts on the musical connection bridging generations. The two veteran musicians, who have maintained their presence on stage for a long time, candidly expressed their feelings about the excitement of sharing the stage with younger artists and their thoughts on music.
“It feels like an era colliding with another era... a space that breaks down the walls of generations.”
Kim Chang-wan Band presented a collaborative stage with rapper Kim Ha-on, who is from 'High School Rapper,' including 'Your Meaning' in the first episode of L1VE WIRE, while Kim Kwang-jin surprised viewers with a duet of 'Just the Way I Feel' with Bolbbalgan4 and 'Girl in the Dream' with NCT's Doyoung in the second episode, delivering a unique emotional experience.
In response, Kim Chang-wan noted, “Meeting junior musicians is an opportunity to glimpse into a new world, but it’s also another experience to reflect on the path I’ve walked.” He added, “I hope they see their youth in the faces of their juniors, and that they also see their future in my current self.” Kim Kwang-jin also said, “It was a very enjoyable and special time. I felt happy and grateful,” conveying the unique significance of the L1VE WIRE stage.
Regarding the atmosphere on the recording set, both shared a common feeling in their own words. Kim Chang-wan expressed, “It felt like an era colliding with another era. The harmony created by intertwining the past and the future was like a mirror reflecting the present,” while stating, “The stage, akin to virtual reality, was a space that breaks down the walls of generations.” Kim Kwang-jin expressed satisfaction, saying, “It was an honor that a special stage was created for me.”
Meeting with juniors: “Learning from each other, discovering similarities!”
He also shared his feelings about the exchanges with junior musicians. Kim Kwang-jin mentioned, “While chatting with Bolbbalgan4 behind the stage, I asked how they feel about listening to my song 'To My Adolescence' now, and I felt that their genuine answers reflect me. Bolbbalgan4 stood out for their relaxed stage manners, and I found many things to learn from them.”
He also expressed admiration for NCT's Doyoung, stating, “Doyoung's music is good, but I was impressed by his thoughtful and deep responses. When I asked how the approach to musicals differs from popular music, he said, ‘I think of it as putting on another weapon and preparing.’ His answer was really amazing.”
Kim Chang-wan remarked, “It seems that juniors are full of confidence and know themselves well,” but added, “I hope they do not get trapped within themselves. While reaching out to the public is a wish of all musicians, the path of music is not solely determined by the public. I hope they carefully observe their own footprints before stepping into the void,” giving heartfelt advice as a senior musician.
“The essence of a live stage is connection… I hope there are more opportunities to share the stage together!”
When asked about the meaning of live performances, Kim Chang-wan said, “A live performance is a place where singers sing, but it is also a place where the heartbeat of the audience can be heard by the singer. The connection with the audience is everything in a live performance,” highlighting the essence of music.
On the other hand, Kim Kwang-jin stated, “The broadcast stage is more difficult than a concert,” still unable to hide his tension during broadcasts. “It’s not easy due to my limited broadcasting experience, but I feel it’s a special stage because of that,” he added.
The two also conveyed warm messages to their juniors. Kim Kwang-jin expressed, “I want to say that we should have more stages with our seniors. I believe such opportunities can broaden the spectrum of the K-pop scene,” emphasizing the importance of different generations creating stages together.
Kim Chang-wan said, “The public knows everything. For musicians, the public is like an endless ocean,” and offered heavy advice: “Be endlessly humble in front of music, and entrust everything to music.”
The production team explained that they chose Kim Chang-wan Band as the first performers of L1VE WIRE because they deemed them “symbolic musicians who connect generations.” They noted that “the message delivered by Kim Chang-wan Band, who has traversed through time with music, aligns well with the program's direction.” They added, “As Kim Kwang-jin's songs have been loved by many artists, the stage delivered directly by the original artist seemed to resonate differently with the viewers,” reflecting on the warm response following the broadcast.
Regarding the atmosphere on set, they mentioned, “Though it was a long-awaited broadcast, both of you were still free on stage like boys,” stating, “It was a time that moved everyone involved.” Lastly, the production team conveyed, “L1VE WIRE aims to create impactful music through unexpected combinations of artists with different characteristics,” and requested viewers to look forward to more special stages transcending generations and genres in the future.
Like the musical story told by the two musicians bridging generations, the musical connections showcased by L1VE WIRE are expected to continue in the future.
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