TEEN TOP's NIEL strikes out on his own as a soloist and company founder
The TEEN TOP singer sat down with Bunni Pop to discuss his latest musical era 'She' and the decision to start his own label
(Photo credit: EL&D Entertainment)
NIEL has been in the spotlight for the majority of his life. As a child, he got his start as an actor. Though in his teens, many got to know him as a member of the second generation hit K-pop group TEEN TOP.
Debuting in 2010, TEEN TOP came onto the scene just as Korean culture—known as the Hallyu wave—saw significant expansion in popularity across the world. Groups like Girls Generation, SHINee and Big Bang topped the charts, while dramas like Boys Over Flowers were a runaway success.
During that era, TEEN TOP received significant attention with hits like “No More Perfume On You”, “Miss Right”, “Crazy” and “Rocking”. And like many second gen groups today, TEEN TOP have maintained their longevity and remain an active group.
NIEL, who debuted as an idol at the tender age of 15, is now 30 years old. He’s also starting a new era as a soloist and CEO.
In March, he launched his agency EL&D Entertainment, and released his 4th solo mini album SHE.
I sat down with NIEL to discuss his ongoing musical journey, TEEN TOP and what he wants to achieve in the future.
Hi NIEL! For those getting to know you, can you tell me a bit about who you are, and give people a taste of your music?
Hello, I am NIEL, both of TEEN TOP and a solo artist! This album is the first one I’ve created entirely on my own after founding my own label. From start to finish, it is filled with my thoughts and the musical direction I truly want to pursue. I tried to capture the emotions of love and heartbreak in each song, using different ways to express them. If you listen to the album from beginning to end, you’ll be able to feel the overall emotional flow.
What’s the story behind your latest album SHE?
The title track “SHE” mainly expresses the longing that comes right after a breakup, and each of the other songs also carries its own emotion and story. The last track, “What’s the Excuse for Love” is about letting go of sadness and just letting it all out with a sense of freedom through an upbeat melody. But if you listen closely to the lyrics, you’ll notice that the feelings of heartbreak are still there.
Can you tell me a bit about the artistic choices in your music video?
All of those choices came from the songs themselves. My team and the director listened to the songs over and over with me, sharing ideas, and that’s how we ended up creating a great piece of work. The melodies of the songs themselves were really good, and everyone brought so much passion and love into the project. That led to many ideas being shared, and I think that’s what made it possible for us to create something even better.
(Photo credit: EL&D Entertainment)
This project also takes inspiration from genres like neo-soul and groove pop. What artists did you find yourself gravitating towards when putting this together?
I wouldn’t say I was inspired by anything specific. It all began with my first conversation with the composer DOKO. He then studied me extensively, things like what kind of songs would suit me, and which genres might feel fresh when I try them. So when I first heard the song DOKO gave me, I immediately thought, “This is it!” It was a completely new genre for me too, but honestly, I just really loved the song.
This is the first project you have released since starting your own company. What does it mean to take artistic control over your work?
I think freedom and pressure always go hand in hand. It was amazing to try out 100% of the ideas and musical direction I truly wanted. But since everything had to go through me, I had to pay attention to every little detail. And knowing that I was fully responsible for every decision came with a lot of worry and pressure. Every time I shared little updates, my fans gave me so much support, and that became my biggest source of strength, helping me see the album through to the end. That’s why I’m always truly thankful and just full of gratitude to my N-LISS (NIEL fandom name).
What have been the biggest challenges of being your own boss?
I realized I had to make the final call on way more things than I expected. Now that I’ve taken on the role of the leader myself, I’ve come to feel a deep sense of gratitude and respect for the people I’ve worked with in the past. Since this was my first time in this kind of role, there were some ups and downs in the beginning as I tried to build a system from scratch. But now, thanks to my amazing team, staff, and collaborators, things are becoming much more stable.
Many have gotten to know you through your work on the K-pop group TEEN TOP. How would you describe those experiences that have informed you as a soloist?
I think it’s because of my experiences with TEEN TOP that I can sing on stage now with a much more relaxed and comfortable presence. Back when I was promoting as part of the group, we did so many performances and activities. Even during nerve-wracking moments, I wasn’t alone. Having the members with me gave me a lot of strength, even if I didn’t always realize it at the time. If I had debuted as a solo artist without group experience, I think I would’ve been more nervous and made more mistakes.
You have expressed the desire to show more maturity as a musician and an artist. At this point in your career, what does that look like?
I think being mature as an artist means knowing exactly what you want to do, what kind of music you want to create, and what message you want to share. I believe I’m still taking small steps toward becoming a truly mature musician. One thing is for sure: this is just the beginning!
You got your start in showbiz as a child actor, before debuting in TEEN TOP. But you have been open in the past that transitioning to music was not always easy for you. What work did it take for you to persevere in the K-pop space?
Back then, I just had the mindset that I had to make it no matter what, so I practiced like crazy. Since I was in an environment where I had no choice but to do well, I approached everything like a mission I must complete, giving it everything I had. It was tough at times, but I believe those moments are what made me who I am today.
Looking back at your time performing with TEEN TOP, is there a particular highlight?
The moments that stick with me are when we were all hanging out together in the waiting room, playfully teasing each other and sitting around playing games. And of course, I was so nervous and excited for our debut stage. That moment is still burned into my memory.
You have continued to act, and will soon appear on the musical 6 O’Clock Off Work. I know acting is what you did first as a performer. Has being a musician helped you enhance your acting?
When I sing, I always try to fully immerse myself in the emotions of the lyrics. I feel like that’s the only way the message of the song truly reaches both the listener and myself. I never sang with the mindset of “I’m going to act this!” but I think that habit of focusing deeply on the song naturally became a form of practice for acting without realizing it. Since musicals involve singing as well, I think my past experience in music helped me a lot.
Now that you run your own company, what are some projects you’d like to try down the line?
I’d love to travel not just in Korea but all around the world to sing, talk, and connect with many N-LISS and ANGEL (TEEN TOP fandom name) who have been cheering me on from afar. I also want to try creating content that only I can do on YouTube or a show. I feel like I’m still in the process of figuring out what exactly that is. Any ideas for something I could enjoy doing and fans would also find fun to watch? If you have any ideas, please don’t hesitate to share with me, everyone!
Any future goals or plans that you’d like to achieve?
No huge goals or plans, I just hope to stay healthy and keep sharing good music with N-LISS for a long time because those moments we share together are precious to me. If you listen to ‘If you’re the ocean’ from this album, I think you’ll really feel what I’m trying to say. Let’s keep having lots of fun and doing happy things together from now on too.
Follow NIEL on Instagram and YouTube!
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