Cold's Reflections on His Solo Album in English, Synesthesia, and 2025 Strategies
Cold's Reflections on His Solo Album in English, Synesthesia, and 2025 Strategies
In a period when K-pop idol groups are frequently the topic of international discussions regarding Korean popular music, independent singer-songwriter and composer Colde has forged his own path, becoming a successful artist with a passionate global following enamored by his unique brand of alternative R&B. His music is characterized by its diversity, innovation, and emotion, merging soothing, melodic vocals with a seamless blend of R&B and genres ranging from hip-hop to rock to even jazz.
On stage or in his music videos, Colde (real name Kim Hee-su) radiates an aura of self-assuredness and playful charm that resonates with his audience. Yet during our virtual conversation, he appears more introspective and laid-back, retaining an undeniable charm. Although this was our first encounter, speaking with him feels akin to catching up with a cherished, homegrown friend who is wholly invested in our interaction.
Our conversation took place during the initial phase of his first world tour, "BLUEPRINT," which spanned 20 cities in the United States and Canada as well as various locations in Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
An Overview of Colde's Musical Journey
The tour was merely the latest milestone in the 30-year-old artist's career. Colde debuted in 2016 with the indie R&B duo offonoff, released his initial solo EP, Wave, in 2018, and has since collaborated with renowned artists such as RM of BTS, Heize, and Baekhyun of EXO. He has also released numerous singles and albums and contributed to various K-drama soundtracks, most recently for the smash hit romcom "No Gain No Love."
Post-dissolution of his label HIGHGRND in 2018, Colde created his own label, WAVY. He later founded two more record labels, Layered Island and PYRAT, proving his audacity and eagerness to pioneer new paths.
His passion for music was sparked in high school when he stumbled upon a YouTube video showcasing the use of an Akai MPC sampler for music production. Intrigued, he purchased the same device via eBay and began experimenting with sampling and beatmaking, viewing it as an artistic endeavor akin to painting or designing.
Colde's Utilization of Design in His Music and the Development of Synesthesia
Colde's design background has significantly influenced his artistry and public identity, from his chosen stage name to the collaborations he pursues. He selected his artist name, believing that "cold" would provide an intriguing contrast to the warm narratives he intended to convey through his music, but finding "cold" alone appeared lacking, so he added an "e" to balance the typography.
When choosing collaborators, Colde adopts a methodical and color-schematic approach, likening the process to selecting appropriate hues for a painting. For example, if he desires a deep, purple tint in a song, he might enlist an artist renowned for evoking that specific color.
My curiosity was piqued by this statement: Do hues emerge when he listens to music? I ask.
"Indeed, I tend to perceive music in terms of colors or visual elements, and while composing music, I sense that it carries a specific color," Colde responds. "However, I believe this isn't innate but rather a consequence of constantly pondering design. When I listen to music, I envision how it might appear visually."
Colde on His Collaboration with RM of BTS
When prompted about the color that conjures images of a BTS track featuring RM, the band's leader, he chuckles.
"Purple carries symbolic significance for them," Colde says. "But for the collaboration we worked on last year, I needed a beguiling, enchanting purple or perhaps a deep, mysterious deep blue. To convey that indigo, I needed a voice that resonated with depth, and since my tone is gentle and higher-pitched, I naturally sought a vocalist with a contrasting timbre: RM."
As for potential future collaborations, Colde mentions Asian-American singer-songwriter keshi as a potential partner.
"We've never had the chance to meet in person because our schedules have not aligned," Colde says. "We've talked about meeting, but our plans have yet to materialize. I'm hopeful that we'll have an opportunity to connect and possibly work on something together in the future."
A Year Filled with Firsts for Colde, and Future Plans for 2025
Thus, in the domain of K-pop, Colde has carved out a distinctive niche, utilizing his design background and innovative approach to music to create a compelling, diverse body of work that resonates with a global audience. His ability to remain authentic and experiment with various styles has kept him relevant in an ever-changing musical landscape. As we delve deeper into the future, Colde's impact on international music remains a captivating and evolving story.
As for 2025, who knows what exciting milestones await in the world of music and its captivating artists like Colde.
2024 has been a bustling year for Colde, packed with activities. Besides wrapping up his initial worldwide tour, he unveiled his debut full-English album titled YIN as a prelude to his upcoming full-length album, planned for release in the following year. Prior to that, he's contemplating launching a second album, tentatively titled YANG.
The three songs on YIN offer a sneak peek into Colde's artistic versatility and pay tribute to some of his most significant musical mentors, such as Pharrell Williams and The Neptunes, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, and Nirvana.
For example, the track “Toxic Love” showcases a striking resemblance to Justin Timberlake's vocal tone, a choice Colde deliberately made.
"One of the key aspects I focused on this time was figuring out a way to shape my voice to mimic the vocal characteristics of the R&B and pop singers who've inspired me, while still maintaining a distinct sound of my own," he explains.
In the music video for “Nirvana Blues,” a heartfelt homage to Nirvana, Colde channels Kurt Cobain's spirit, whose impact influenced the inception of South Korea's indie music scene in the '90s.
Some scenes from the video illustrate Colde wearing a blond wig, igniting my curiosity about the meaning behind this gesture.
"There's the Colde of today, and the ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ Colde who embodied the spirit of his early twenties," he clarifies. "Just like the boldness I felt when I wore headphones and listened to ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ listening to ‘Nirvana Blues’ now makes me feel like I'm returning to that period as the current Colde. These two personas appear within the music video, so the curly-haired me represents the present, and when I wear a wig, it's me imagining myself as Cobain. And once the song ends, I'm back in reality."
Colde's flair for fashion and colors resurfaces in “I Color You,” a lively pop track about "how lovers color each other with different tones." Similar to “Nirvana Blues,” the music video for “I Color You” was also filmed in England, primarily in and around London.
"For me, London possesses a vast array of memories linked to the music I created in my twenties," he says. "To maintain the themes of youthful nostalgia, I chose to revisit the locales I explored while filming music videos for offonoff or Wave."
At the tail-end of the month, Colde debuted a YIN REMIX single album, collaborating with artists like WOODZ, JUNNY, and CAMO on fresh, revised renditions of each track. His long-awaited studio album, slated for release next year, will pave the way for yet another tour to connect with his audience.
It appears that 2025 is poised to be another eventful year for Colde.
- Despite the popularity of K-pop idol groups, Colde, a Korean R&B artist, has carved out a unique niche with his alternative R&B music, attracting a global following through his innovation and emotion.
- During the 2024 leg of his world tour, 'BLUEPRINT', Colde collaborated with RM from BTS, merging their distinct vocal timbres to create a riveting deep, mysterious deep blue track.
- As a Korean hip-hop and R&B artist, Colde's passion for music was ignited in high school when he discovered the use of an Akai MPC sampler for music production, which he viewed as an artistic endeavor akin to painting or designing.
- Colde's love for diverse music genres led him to contribute to the Korean indie music scene by producing remixes for songs, influenced by artists such as Pharrell Williams, Michael Jackson, and Nirvana.
- As Colde prepares for his upcoming concert tour in 2025, Korean music enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the chance to see his electrifying stage performances and experience the emotion-laden, hip-hop and R&B songs that have captured the hearts of music lovers around the world.