"Hoping It Becomes a Song That Lingers"…CRUSH, IU Collaboration Track Comeback

[Dispatch=Lee Myung-ju] Singer Crush returns with new music.

Crush will release the single "Ppiggeuduk" on various music platforms on the 21st at 6 p.m. IU participates as a featuring artist, completing a special collaboration.

His comeback marks approximately 1 year and 2 months since his last release. Crush previously released the mini-album "FANG" in August of last year. Through this album, he won major music awards.

"Ppiggeuduk" is a song that wittily captures the big and small discrepancies experienced by two different people in love. It reflects a different musical color from his previous work.

Like his previous releases, "Ppiggeuduk" was written and composed by Crush himself. Crush said, "I'm excited and happy to share a new song after such a long time."

He also revealed his future goals. He expressed a wish to become "a musician who leaves meaningful songs in someone's life, rather than pursuing grand accolades."

<Crush Q&A>

Q. While you appeared as a producer on Mnet's 'Show Me The Money 12' earlier this year with Zico, releasing the duet "Yin and Yang," releasing a new song under the name Crush comes approximately 1 year and 2 months after the mini-album "FANG" and title track "UP ALL NITE (Feat. SUMIN)" released last August. What are your thoughts on releasing the new song "Ppiggeuduk (Feat. IU)"?

Crush: I'm thrilled and delighted to share a new song under my name after such a long time. I spent the time undergoing various musical attempts and deliberations. The longer I make music, the more moments I feel difficulty, but at the same time, I question myself about what music I can most confidently present.

"Ppiggeuduk (Feat. IU)" was born during that time. Most importantly, it's very meaningful that I could complete music I cherish with IU and share it with the world. Since it's been a while, I hope it becomes a song that lingers in many people's daily lives for a long time.

Q. Like previous releases, "Ppiggeuduk (Feat. IU)" was also written and composed by you. Please introduce the song and tell us what you focused on most while creating it.

Crush: It's a song that cutely and wittily captures the big and small misalignments experienced by two different people in love. Love isn't always beautiful and perfect, and I wanted to express these clumsy and realistic aspects.

Since it's a male-female duet, I focused most on the harmony created by the two voices. I thought a lot about what melody lines and arrangements could highlight each person's musical color while naturally blending together. I paid attention to the small details of breathing and harmony exchanged between two different voices, and I wanted to create a song where each has a distinct personality but sounds even more appealing when together.

Q. It took approximately 1 year and 2 months from releasing the mini-album last year to the new song release. What kind of time did you spend preparing for this release?

Crush: With the previous "FANG" album, I tried to include new sides and musical challenges I hadn't shown before. I gained a lot from that process, and naturally, my thoughts deepened about what kind of music I should make going forward.

These days, finding my own sound is as important as being able to honestly and naturally translate the emotions I feel into lyrics and music. So I spent a lot of time in the studio, creating various music, deleting it, and starting again repeatedly. "Ppiggeuduk (Feat. IU)" is also a result of careful work over a long time.

Q. The collaboration with IU is attracting attention. Both of you are artists with distinct individual personalities. What prompted the collaboration, and how do you feel about working together?

Crush: I've been a fan personally for a long time, and I've always had great respect as an artist.

While working, I thought IU's voice was the only one that would suit this song best, so I suggested it, and I was really happy when she accepted so readily.

Actually, this song wouldn't have come to the world without IU. We thought about the song together and had many conversations, and as a result, I think an even better song was completed than I imagined, and I'm truly grateful.

While working together, I was impressed by IU's delicate attitude toward music and lyrics. Especially, there were moments when emotions I couldn't discover on my own when making the song alone were heard anew through IU's voice, and I was curious about what harmony two voices with different colors would create in the song, but I was more surprised that the chemistry was so good. It was a very precious and memorable project.

Q. You also filmed various content together, including a music video and live clip. Is there an episode you'd like to share with fans from the joint filming?

Crush: First, I thought "IU is truly not a great actress for nothing."

I saw her think very carefully not only about the character's emotional arc but also about the overall flow of the music video and the details of each scene.

Especially, the focus and immersion I felt during filming were really impressive. Watching from beside her, I felt there was so much to learn.

Actually, I was quite nervous during filming, but thanks to IU leading so skillfully and comfortably, I gradually eased my tension and naturally became immersed. It's my music video, but it seemed I depended on her more.

Q. What points would you like fans who watch this song and music video to pay attention to?

Crush: In this music video, IU appears as an existence symbolizing the sadness residing in my inner self.

As the story unfolds, I gradually face emotions I wanted to avoid, and ultimately realize that even this sadness is one aspect that makes me who I am, and I find comfort. Perhaps comfort begins not in completely erasing sadness but in accepting even that emotion as part of myself.

To express this emotional flow more delicately, I used a lot of theatrical direction and symbolic scenes. I think it's a music video that is sad yet wistful, lonely yet leaves a warmth somewhere. I hope viewers also recall their own memories and emotions and discover their own comfort.

Q. The phone call with your mother that appeared in the recent Epic High YouTube broadcast has become a hot topic. Among viewers, reactions saying "she's got girl crush vibes," "she's really bold," and similar comments are coming in. Does your mother know about these reactions, and I'm curious what kind of son you are to your mother?

Crush: My mother is originally a very cheerful and energetic person. The way she appeared on YouTube doesn't differ much from her usual self.

To me, my mother is my most reliable supporter and at the same time the person who gives me the most honest evaluations. No matter how much I'm active outside under the name Crush, in front of my mother, I'm just her son Shin Hyo-seop who needs a lot of care.

Q. You're now in your 14th year since debut. At the fan meeting held in September, you told fans, "You are my life's greatest achievement and dream." How would you like to be remembered as a singer by your fans?

Crush: Time seems to pass so quickly. I still can't quite believe that 14 years have passed.

Looking back, I received much more love than I dreamed of when I started music, and I met many people in that process. Fans in particular are people who love my music, but at the same time, they are the driving force that allows me to continue making music. When I said at the fan meeting, "You are my life's greatest achievement and dream," it was with the same meaning.

Rather than grand accolades, I want to be a musician who leaves meaningful songs in someone's life. If my songs are remembered even during happy days, lonely days, and even after a very long time passes, I couldn't ask for more.

Q. With just over two months remaining in the year, if you could give hints about your plans for the remaining period?

Crush: First, since it's a new song I'm releasing after such a long time, I want to communicate with many people through "Ppiggeuduk (Feat. IU)." I worked hard on this song, so please give it a lot of love.

I've spent this year busy creating various music and attempting new things, and through that process, I think I'll be able to share the music and stories accumulated so far one by one in the future. I'm preparing a new album and various projects, so please look forward to it.