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“While making this album, the words that stayed with me most were ‘essence’ and ‘quintessence.’”
Taeyang, a member of Big Bang, returns after nine years with a project centered on that idea: his fourth full-length album, QUINTESSENCE. After launching his career with Big Bang and building a solo path over two decades, he said he chose to keep asking what his core artistic identity is rather than settle for easy answers.
Speaking at a listening event in Mapo District, Seoul, to mark the release, Taeyang said, “What I focused on most was what a new version of myself would sound like.” He added that after a long career, creating something truly new and taking risks can feel increasingly difficult, but he spent a lot of time considering what fresh direction he could take. “All those questions and attempts are embodied in this album,” he said.
He approached the record differently this time, changing his production process and seeking out diverse collaborators, including internationally based producers and distinctive domestic artists such as Tablo and Paul Blanco. Taeyang said he weighed which local producers would fit best, and that Paul Blanco was the most eager to collaborate. “At our first meeting he played a few tracks he’d made with me in mind, and the moment I heard them I knew they were songs I could do well,” he said.
The title track is the second cut, “LIVE FAST DIE SLOW.” It’s a declaration about keeping your center and living intensely amid a fast-moving world, driven by brisk, retro synthesizer sounds. Taeyang recalled, “Two years ago, while on my solo tour, I decided the next album needed the fastest, most exciting song. I debated it until the end, but while shooting the music video I felt that choice was right.”
The album also includes “WOULD YOU,” featuring The Black Label’s junior artists Tarzan and Woochan. Taeyang said watching the All Day Project’s debut and early performances brought back memories of Big Bang’s early days. “I thought working with these kids could bring a certain youthful freshness I used to have,” he said. When asked whether he’d perform with his younger colleagues, he hinted that fans could look forward to a joint stage.
“Today’s my birthday, and I’m glad to be able to give my fans a nice gift,” he said.
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