[INTERVIEW] Singer K.Will

Singer K.Will [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

My name is K.Will. Songwriter Bang Shi-hyuk came up with my name Will. I was a bit concerned by the fact that there is a yogurt with the same name but I liked the future-oriented vibe it gave off. It was also the trend at the moment -- to make such names. J-Lim, G-Soul and then K.Will. My real name is Kim Hyung-soo.I was born on December 30, 1981. I could have been a year younger was I born just a little bit later so it's a slightly disappointing birthday. And I thought the day would never come but I'm 30 now, although I don't really feel it because I usually hang out with people who are older than me. I'm at a cute age.I'm an only child. But I think my mother raised me not to be like an only child. I debuted on television through KBS music show "Yoon Do-hyun's Love Letter" but she didn't watch it because she was busy watching a debate show. And everyone worried she would cry at my first concert but she told me very cheerfully afterwards that she didn't cry and had a lot of fun. She said it didn't seem like she was watching her own son. (laugh)When I was young, singers Park Nam-jung and the Seotaeiji & Boys were popular amongst my friends but I remember my mother always listening to pop on the radio. That's why I was able to naturally familiarize myself with rare masterpieces.I was a shy but an idiotic kid. I was very quiet but for some reason, I would sometimes act rebellious toward my teachers. I also asked questions I shouldn't because I was curious all the time and I think I couldn't turn a blind eye when I see adults acting irrational. My fan cafe 'Brian Hyungknight’ was created before my debut. It's my nickname from before my debut, when I sang on a vocal team, which I got because I sang a lot of Brian McKnight songs. The cafe is very special to me because my fans there are from those days.The people I sang with on my vocal team are now talented chorus members or are in bands. I met Kim Jin-ho from SG Wannabe and Lee Hyung from 8eight are my friends from back then too. The members of 8eight also sang the chorus for my TV debut song.I performed my song "Present" with Eun Ji-won, the original rapper for the song in the beginning but we started to ask other rappers to do featurings too. Of course, it was done by my agency's help. I usually perform a lot with my seniors so I felt quite different when I went on stage with Beast member Yong-jun. He was sweating so much after the performance. I thought he did well but I guess he was nervous because he was rapping for someone else's song.I used to record a lot of guide songs before my debut but there were many times I did without knowing who the song would go to. I didn't know TVXQ's "Hug" would become a song that would shake up Korea like that and I didn't know "Come to Me" would be for Uhm Jung-hwa. It was a nice rhythmical and groovy song which I even got to star in the music video.I show my serious side on stage but when I do radio, I sometimes talk too comfortably because I'm with people I'm close with.Reporter : Yoon Hee-Seong nine@10asia.co.krPhotographer : Chae ki-won ten@10asia.co.krEditor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr, Jang Kyung-Jin three@10asia.co.kr<ⓒ10Asia All rights reserved>