We caught up with ChungSeul, who’s about to launch his first crowdfunding ever in his career. In this exclusive interview, he opens up about his journey, his aspirations, and the unique challenges he has faced as a musician. From busking in Japan to performing in Turkmenistan, his experiences have been as varied as they are enriching. Read on to discover ChungSeul’s reflections on his music, his upcoming projects, and his dreams for the future in this insightful conversation.
Q1: First, could you introduce yourself?
ChungSeul: Hello, I am ChungSeul, a singer in my 8th year since debut.
Q2: You’re about to release the digital single Heaving Sea (너울). Could you give us a brief introduction about it?
ChungSeul: ‘너울’ means ‘large and fierce waves of the sea,’ inspired by the wind’s influence on wave length. It symbolizes a lover as a ‘sea’ influenced by ‘you’, the ‘wind’, creating a song about a tranquil yet powerful, slow but far-reaching love.
Q3: Is there a particular message you want to convey to your fans through your new song Heaving Sea?
ChungSeul: The song is about love, but I personally want to dedicate it to my fans. ‘You’ are the ‘wind’ to ‘me’, which is the ‘sea’. I want to sing it with the hope of reaching far together with fans.
Q4: What are your expectations from the upcoming crowdfunding campaign and the digital single?
ChungSeul: This is my first time trying crowdfunding, so I can’t quite imagine what the outcome will be. However, I hope this album will not be the end but rather a starting point for a leap forward. It would be an honor if many people join and support me on this journey.
Q5: How does this digital single differ from your previous albums, and how does it reflect your experience or journey as an artist?
ChungSeul: Though not my first solo album, it’s truly the first with my own music style, which marks a new challenge for ChungSeul as an artist, stepping out from the supportive Ondo.
Q6: You’ve been a part of the band Ondo for a long time. What does Ondo mean to you, and how has it influenced your music, especially for this solo album?
ChungSeul: I have been with Ondo for seven years now, and they are incredibly precious to me, essential in my musical life. I can count on my team members who always believe in and support me.
Even though this album isn’t a band album, they didn’t show any disappointment; instead, they supported me, providing serious feedback throughout the album’s production, which was a great help.
Q7: We understand that this digital single has been a long time in the making. Can you share the reason for this and what motivated you to finally release it?
ChungSeul: Originally, there was another song planned along with Heaving Sea. However, due to the supporting company’s issues, the project was canceled, leaving it incomplete.
I wondered when I would be able to present this song to the world. Fortunately, I came across Terafty, and I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to finally share it.
Q8: Do you have any advice or words for artists who might find themselves in a similar situation as you did with this digital single’s preparation?
ChungSeul: The world is full of uncertainties, and things don’t always go as planned. However, just as in our journey, and as seen in the journey of top musicians, the most important thing is never to give up. Even when encounter frustrating situations and start to doubt yourself, I hope you keep pushing and never give up.
Q9: Why did you choose Terafty for this digital single?
ChungSeul: The main reason I chose Terafty is because it didn’t seem like a company solely focused on profits. I also appreciated their positive view of me as a musician.
Most importantly, I saw it as an opportunity to introduce my songs not only domestically but also to an international audience.
Q10: What plans do you have for the new year after your new digital single? Are you planning any other albums?
ChungSeul: First, if Heaving Sea turns out to be a successful release, I’d like to release another song, Gaehwa, which hasn’t been seen by the world yet. Moreover, I wish to release at least one or possibly two songs for Ondo.
My biggest goal is to hold my first solo concert by organizing a showcase. It might be too ambitious to achieve within a year, but it’s important to dream big.
Q11: What would you like to say to your potential backers?
ChungSeul: I might not be as widely known as some globally famous and talented singers. Nevertheless, I am still shining with my own light, the unique color of ChungSeul. Not many have seen this light yet, but someday, you will see Cheongseul shining brilliantly and say, “I was part of that incredible beginning.”
Terafty 
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