Notes on K-pop interview: Niel

I didn't tell him this when we spoke, but Niel, aka Ahn Daniel, aka a member of popular 2.5 K-pop boy band Teen Top, was the soundtrack to my college years. My mornings, in particular, because Teen Top's "Supa Luv" was my phone alarm that rang every morning. I loved the song, but I picked it because it's jarring in a way. It's 2025, and I still have a visceral reaction to it when I hear it, wanting to hit snooze.

Teen Top's music was inescapable for several years: "Crazy", "To You", "Rocking", "Miss Right", and the cheating anthem that was "No More Perfume On You" are all integral sounds of the early 2010s K-pop playlists. (I also thought until right now that it's called "Don't Spray Perfume" because that's how it's listed in my iTunes from back then, but I guess you learn something new every day.)

Needless to say, when Niel's team reached out to see if I'd be interested in an interview around his first album as an independent artist, I was immensely intrigued. SHE, which dropped in April, is an anthem to love. It's sexy and very alt R&B in a way that doesn't recall Teen Top's electro-pop sound at all - although they did have their ballads-, but Niel's grown up. And yet from talking, it was clear he's still the same man seeking to get his music out there. In his 30s now, it's more mature than as a teen and twenty-something, but time has come for him and changed him, transforming what were once raw musical skills into something that felt like a bit of an attack on anyone single in their 30s, evoking too many emotions and hard truths. (It's me, hi!)

This interview in general made me think back a lot on how time has changed. This week, as I was writing and editing this, I kept thinking about how eleven years ago, a few friends and I started KultScene. While the site is now defunct, I've been thinking about it a lot this week around the anniversary, and because a very short Teen Top interview for KultScene back in 2016 was one of the first times I spoke to any K-pop act.

I spent a lot of time thinking about that interview, nearly a decade ago now, while talking with Niel. Niel started as a child actor, transitioned into being a K-pop idol, and now is an independent artist with his own company, EL&D Entertainment. In the greater span of things, 10 years is short, but a lot can change between decades. We don't feel the changes as time goes, but one day you look back and things are different.

But some things stay the same. Pop songs are still about love, but we go from "Supa Luv" to "The Meaning Within Love", changing how feel about music and all emotions as we go.

Hi, good evening! How are you doing.

I'm good. It's it hasn't been that long since I just released my new album, SHE. So I have a lot of fan events, fan sign events, and I also am getting ready for an overseas concert. So yeah, I've been busy.

I know you're doing it all on your own. So how is it feeling? You must be either feeling an immense amount of relief or an immense amount of pressure about the album now, no?

There is a little bit of pressure. But I'm also very, very happy that I get to do the music that I want to. The album has been released, and the fans really love it. So I'm having a really great time and very happy.

It's a very different album from you. What's the inspiration behind?

It has the kind of music that I really wanted to do for the past 15 years of my career. It's quite different from my previous solo career albums, and also from my Teen Top era albums. I think it's it contains the kind of music that I really wanted to do.

What changed that you could do it now? Is it just because you are now running the show?

Yes, going solo, having my own company definitely had influence on that. It was a big reason. It helped me do what I want to do. 100%. That's the biggest reason. But also I really wanted to show a new side of myself to my fans. That was also a reason why I could do this.

Why this specific side? What about this album, or the style of music, was something that you felt like you really wanted to kind of make it your own, and show to people?

The music that's in this album is a little bit different from the the hip hop style [current trends in K-pop] that you usually see. It's a little bit in the minority. It's not that mainstream, but the thing is: the kind of music that I listen to is also not that mainstream. So I wanted to kind of show that kind of sides of me. And also I wanted to make a strong impression as a solo artist.

You said that you listen to music sort of like this, or not in the majority so like. What sort of artists did you listen to while thinking of this album?

I like the artist called The Weeknd, I listen to him a lot.

In the US, he's very much in the mainstream, and the majority listens to him.

Yes, his style is quite in the majority. But I added my own style to it, and I think that yeah, that was what I was thinking when I was preparing for this album. I really love The Weeknd.

Have you always liked R&B?

Yeah, I actually really liked and enjoyed groovy style of music since I was very young. Actually, I think more than the kind of energetic songs of Teen Top, within me there was this kind of groovy tempo.

So now you kind of get to make it your own.

Yes.

Who who did you like listening to when you were growing up? Then.

When I was young? I really liked Michael Jackson, and I really liked Chris Brown. So I listened to them a lot.

Do you have favorite songs?

For Michael Jackson song. I really like the song, "Ben".

What about "Ben" appeals to you exactly?

Michael Jackson was quite young when he sang the song, so the purity in his voice, and also the soulfulness.

You're somebody who also started your career very young. Did that resonate with you?

That definitely was something that we had in common. And when I was training I listened to a lot of Michael Jackson song. I watched a lot of reviews of his songs, and also I wanted to kind of imitate his very melodic high voice.

You are very well known for your voice, and when I was preparing for this. I found an old interview where you were talking about how you actually didn't sing very much before you debuted. So how do you feel about how far you've come as a singer versus way back then

When I was preparing for my debut, I practiced so much, but I practiced so so much. And now I have like a style of music that I like, and I have these opinions. "Oh, I want to do this genre". So I'm very proud of myself for having those thoughts now.

It must be really like a nice feeling to finally kind of be able to come into your own and show everybody exactly what you want to do.

Yeah. I feel so good.

Did you have an "aha" moment during the album's production about being exactly where you want to be finally?

Yeah, I think it was, after all the songs were produced, when we decided on the title song, "She". I think that was when I realized 'Yes, I want to do this music!' That was when I gained certainty and confidence.

Were you thinking of some other songs for the single while you were working on things? Or you were just picking it late in the game?

Yeah, there were some other candidates. And actually I thought all of the songs on this album deserved the title track spot. But I put a lot of thought into it and in the end I chose "She" as the title track because I wanted to do something with a style that I hadn't before, and a style that I wanted to do. So this was kind of a way to challenge myself.

What do you think makes "She" so engaging and a perfect representation of you right now?

I think the mood of "She" is the closest to the mood I really want to express. And I could also imagine myself, dancing to the song. I thought it would be a side of me that fans would really like.

I was really interested in the album, because this is the first launch of starting your own company. I was surprised that you didn't have any songwriting credits. I feel like for a lot of first albums under their own name, a lot of people in K-pop, or just generally, want make sure that they have songwriting credits. So I'm really curious about that, and how working with Doko felt right to you. It looks like a full partnership: him in creating the songs, and you performing them.

Doko really knew what I was about. He really understood me. And just because I was doing this company by myself, I didn't want to only stick to my own opinions, so I was looking for a middle ground. And honestly, the songs that Doko wrote were better than the songs that I wrote. So I made the decision to go with his.

He wrote them, but I'm curious what line or song on the album resonated with you the most?

So the 3rd track, "The Meaning Within Love". The song title made me think, "Wow! How did this songwriter come up with these kind of lyrics?" And especially in Korean, the lyrics are so relatable.

Just speaking from my own experience, but I feel like once you're in your thirties love is really on everybody's mind in a serious way. You have to really start thinking ofwhat love means, and what relationships are important to you. I feel like when I was listening to the album that came through.

(Laughs and nods knowingly.) Yeah, I think I definitely felt that kind of pressure, that I need to show that I know what love is. So what I did was I used different voices for each song. I was really true to the feelings, so that anyone who listens to the song can really relate with the emotions.

Did how you sound while working on this surprise you?

This was my first time working with Doko, and when we were in the recording studio a lot of the feedback he gave me was that he wanted me to dispense with my original style. "I want you to try new things." A lot of his requirements while he was directing me were to put more emotion, put more feelings into it.

Did it feel at all weird or refreshing to think of doing something so new after so many years in the industry?

Actually, it was really great. I have been in the music industry for a long time, so I have had a set kind of style of my own. But I had the thought that I want to change that up. So through Doko I got to experience these changing while recording, and I also learned, oh, like in this part of the song, I can sing it with this kind of emotion. So it was a very productive time for me.

How did it feel to experience that?

I was a little bit worried because the album itself, and also while I was recording my vocal performances... They were different from what I have been doing so far. So I was worried. "What will my fans think?" "What will the general audience that know me through my previous work think?" "'Why did he change like?'" I was worried that they would think that but in my heart was the thought that I want to show my change. I want to show a new side.

Okay, let's talk about that. You debuted in Teen Top, and you guys still keep active occasionally. But now you're doing your own thing, and I just read that you didn't even tell them that you were starting your own company. It feels totally like a shift of career. Does that feel true to you?

So when I look back at the content online from my earlier career, I think, 'Wow! I really tried so hard back then. I was really driven back then. But am I a little less passionate now?' That is what I wondered. But as I was preparing for this new album, and I was establishing my own company, I felt those emotions again from my previous days. The preparation for this album was very challenging, but it was also very fun, and I got to feel those feelings again.

What do you think brought you back to that sense of challenging yourself, and desiring to push through in a way that maybe you previously lost a bit?

I think it was actually naturally formed through all of the preparation processes. Because as I established my own company, I had to confirm every single step of the process, and I had to work with my my staff members to create this album together. And that process was so fun that was very enjoyable. And I remembered, "Oh, yeah, back in the earlier stages of my career I paid attention to all these details." Now that I had this new chapter in my life, I felt like I was actually going back to those early stages of my career. So it made me think, "Yeah, let's try living like a rookie again. Let's try being that newly debuted artist again."

You mentioned that it was fun to work with your staff, and it was something new and exciting. What was the most interesting or surprising thing that came out of the process when you're starting off on your own again?

The interesting thing was that I didn't realize that I had to decide on such minor details. I had to make decisions on very, very small parts. When I was in my older agency, whenever I said I want to do this, then staff members behind my back would just do everything. They'd put together everything, and then just present the results to me. So I didn't know that I had to make so many decisions, went into the process, and I had to choose every one of them. So that was interesting.

Then new surprising thing that I learned is... Wow! Money doesn't last very long.

Money is a big stressor. And the music world, K-pop especially, tends to invest in younger artists. Yet you're one of your generational peers who are really trying to keep their careers going, and funding their own artistry to do it. What made you decide to invest in yourself this way?

I think the biggest factor was that I really wanted to try doing everything that I wanted a hundred percent. When I created an album in my previous agency, I think our opinions were included in the album, but it was kind of a negotiation between what we wanted and then what the management wanted. But I really wanted to try 100%, my own album.

Are there any past instances where the negotiations failed on your part, and you felt really disappointed?

I wouldn't say exactly disappointing, but there were albums where I was like, "Oh, this one could have been better. This would have made me a little bit happier or a little bit of that." But not exactly like "Oh, I'm so disappointed with the results."

Truly that's what it's like working in a team and a company. Now that you're running your own company how are you feeling about negotiating with staff?

I think I got to know a lot of things that I didn't know before, and getting to know about those things helped me prepare for the albums better. For example, before I didn't know like the type of paper you need to use for, like the lyric sheet, or like the photo books. But now I know. "Oh, this is the right kind of paper, and when I use this kind of paper fans really like it." All of the little bits really add up to a great album.

Right, paper really doesn't matter but it really does, especially for fans. I've heard fans joke that they spend all their money on paper boys and girls, because photo cards are so popular among fans nowadays.

Laughs

This is for a newsletter called Notes on K-pop, so I'm curious about how you feel about your impact and and where things are nowadays in the industry.

With Teen Top, we went on a world tour and everything. But when I look at the K-pop artists that are like active right now, I think they are so amazing. When we were active we used to look at certain stages and think, "Wow! Could we perform there someday?" And then K-pop artists these days are actually on those stages. And then I also think, "Oh, I wish we could come back as Teen Top and be on those stages ourselves as well." So yeah, I really support the K-pop groups that are active right now. And yeah, there's a lot of feelings there....

Different eras have to offer different things to, and that's just the way that the world works. But how do you feel about your legacy and the music that you created?

Actually, back in our Teen Top days, we didn't really think that we were that impactful but when we were on world tours we did think, "Wow! There are fans in this country." We were young back then. So it was all a very interesting and surprising experience. We were surprised that we were able to sing in many kinds of countries.

Aside from stuff that you've created, what is your first memory of K-pop, or a song that really resonates with you?

Right now there are so many K-pop artists who are spreading K-pop to the global stage. And there's just so many good artists. I don't think I can just pick one. But I would love to become one of them.

That is the epitome of a K-pop answer right there.

Laughs.

How do you feel about like eternally being associated with being an idol?

I really like it. I began as an idol, and I think if I were still to be viewed as an idol and still be called an idol then I'm older I think it would feel like I'm living young, so I think I would love it.

Idol is definitely something that you associate with young stars, and and I think as the industry gets stronger and people's careers continue on longer it's been interesting to watch.

Yeah. it's really interesting to me as well. I love it. I get to be on stage. I get to perform with like these younger artists, and that's like a great source of happiness for me. And it gives me a lot of energy. When I look at them I'm like, "Oh, I want to live young like them, and I want to try out things that they're doing." I think it keeps my mind also very young, and I think that helps me.

Not to be rude, but I can't help but laugh a bit at the idea of like keeping your mind young. You're very young!

Laughs. True, but I think I have to keep getting younger, because, like a lot of idols have to be, these days are in like their teenage years. So yeah.

You were known for being a teen, so what's one thing that you are like, "wow, thank goodness I'm not a teen anymore"?

Honestly, there here are a lot of things that I'm glad that I'm not a teen like that anymore. I'm really glad that I'm not in my teenage years anymore. When Teen Top first debuted, our concept was a little bit hard to understand. I can express what my opinions are now, and not do those kind of concepts anymore.

I hope it wasn't all bad for you, but I'm glad that you're able to do what you want to do now on, in a way that feels natural and mature and and age appropriate.

It's great that I can.