Lee Han Gyul‘s music career has been anything but straightforward. From his early days with IM to competing on The Unit and later Produce X 101, where he earned a place in X1, Han Gyul has experienced the excitement of debuting, the disappointment of unexpected endings and the challenge of starting again. His subsequent work with H&D and BAE173 gave him more opportunities to develop as a performer, though it also meant spending much of his career adapting to different groups, musical styles, and expectations. Now, after years of sharing the stage with other artists, he finally has the chance to show audiences more of himself as a solo artist.
His first solo mini-album, NOISE, is an important step in his musical career, letting him to explore different sounds and show more of what he can do as a vocalist after years of performing as part of a group. Across five tracks, Han Gyul experiments with various musical genres, including Latin, R&B, hip-hop and old-school K-pop, bringing his own vocal style to each song while letting listeners discover sides of him they may not have heard before. From the Latin-inspired rhythms of BUNZI and the pretty cool Yeet it x2 to the carefully arranged 007, the encouraging message behind Zero Point and the more personal lyrics of SPIT IT OUT, the album gives us an interesting mix of sounds and emotions.
With the release of NOISE, View of the Arts had the opportunity to speak with Han Gyul about his music, the many changes he has experienced throughout his career and what it has been like to finally record a mini-album entirely on his own after spending so many years performing alongside other artists.
We were also curious to hear how he approached the different musical styles on the album, how much creative input he had during its production and whether working as a solo artist has given him more freedom to express his own thoughts and feelings through music. Our conversation also touched on the difficult moments when he considered giving up music altogether, the fans whose support helped him carry on and what nearly a decade in the Korean entertainment industry has taught him about himself, his ambitions and the kind of musician he hopes to become.
Even during the times when I was seriously questioning my future, just listening to music or imagining myself performing would make my heart race. Then I’d think about the fans who continued supporting me, no matter what happened, and who were still waiting to hear my voice.
View of the Arts: You have been working in the music industry for almost ten years now, performing with different groups and experiencing many changes along the way. When you look back on everything you have been through, what have those experiences taught you about yourself, both as a musician and as a person?
Lee Han Gyul: Looking back, those ten years seem to have passed in the blink of an eye, but at the same time, so much happened that every moment was packed with experiences. Through all the changes and new environments, the two biggest things I’ve learned are how to be flexible and how to stay strong within myself.
Working with different groups and performing on various stages taught me how to work closely with other people and adapt to those around me. I also gradually gained the confidence to trust myself on stage, even when things didn’t go as expected. As an artist, I’ve developed the skill to take on different musical styles and make them my own. As a person, I’ve learned how to stay grounded and not lose myself when things become difficult. Without everything I’ve been through, I don’t think the solo artist Lee Han Gyul you see today would exist.
VOA: You have spoken openly in the past about a time when you weren’t sure whether you should continue pursuing music. What eventually made you decide to give it another chance? And has going through that period of uncertainty changed the way you approach music today?
Lee Han Gyul: What made the biggest difference was remembering how I felt when I was on stage, and of course, my fans. Even during the times when I was seriously questioning my future, just listening to music or imagining myself performing would make my heart race. Then I’d think about the fans who continued supporting me, no matter what happened, and who were still waiting to hear my voice. That made me realise I couldn’t stop there.
That uncertain period completely changed my attitude towards music. Before, I put a lot of pressure on myself to do everything well. Now, I care more about expressing my own thoughts and feelings honestly through my voice. Going through those difficulties reminded me just how precious music is to me. These days, I’m much more grateful for every opportunity, and I try to enjoy each moment while still taking my work seriously.
VOA: I’ve personally always loved your vocals, and listening to “NOISE”, I felt I was finally hearing more of what your voice can do. After spending so many years sharing songs with other members, what was it like recording an album where your voice was at the centre of everything?
Lee Han Gyul: First of all, thank you so much for saying you like my vocals! When I was part of a group, I learned to concentrate on doing my own parts as well as possible. But with this album, I had to carry each song from beginning to end, using only my voice to tell the story and maintain the energy throughout those three minutes or so.
At first, I definitely felt a lot of responsibility and pressure. I had to pay attention to the smallest details, from how I expressed different emotions to adjusting my vocal tone during recording. But as we continued working, I really enjoyed discovering new sounds and techniques I hadn’t explored before. There were moments when I surprised myself and thought, “Oh, I can actually sing in this tone and express this kind of emotion too.” It made me feel that I’d grown and discovered another side of myself as an artist.
Zero Point is a personal promise to myself, but it’s also a way of reaching out to anyone who feels they’ve ended up back at the very beginning of their life. I think everyone goes through moments when it seems like everything has been reset and they have to start from zero.
VOA: The Latin-inspired sound of “BUNZI” immediately caught my attention. It’s quite different from the music we’ve heard from you before. What made you want to explore this style, and what was the process of putting the song together like?
Lee Han Gyul: I’d never tried Latin music before, so when I first heard the demo, I immediately became curious. I wondered, “What would this sound like if I sang it? And how would I bring it to life on stage?” That curiosity made me want to challenge myself. Since this was my solo album, I wanted to be bold and show people a different side of me.
While working on the song, I spent a lot of time figuring out how to bring out Latin music’s rhythm and passionate groove through my own vocal style. I paid close attention to the timing, the way I played with the rhythm and how everything would work with the performance. Because it was such a new experience for me, I found the whole process really interesting and enjoyable.
VOA: “Yeet it x2” is such a fun, refreshing song. It reminded me of the older days of K-pop, when music could be a little unpredictable and artists weren’t afraid to experiment. Was that something you and the producers wanted to capture from the beginning?
Lee Han Gyul: You’ve understood exactly what we were going for! With Yeet it x2, we wanted to move away from the usual formulas and create something where we could just let our energy out and enjoy ourselves.
While preparing the song, I had a lot of conversations with the producers about making a track that people wouldn’t need to analyse or find the ‘right’ way to enjoy. We wanted listeners to just move with the music and have fun. I also wanted to bring back some of that raw energy, humour and unpredictability that older K-pop songs had, but give it my own modern twist. I remember feeling really relaxed during the recording. It was probably the song where I let go the most and just enjoyed myself.
VOA: I personally love the arrangement and lyrics of “007”. It’s actually my favourite song on the album. I was impressed by the space between the instruments and how naturally your vocals fit into the music. Why do you think this song suits your voice so well? And how involved were you in making its final sound?
Lee Han Gyul: I’m glad 007 is your favourite! I like how the song doesn’t have too much going on at once. The space between the instruments, the way the rhythm builds tension, and the deeper tone of my voice all work together to give it a distinct feel. I think that minimal approach is what makes the song stand out.
I’ve always felt that my naturally deep vocal tone and sense of groove work really well with this kind of minimal but stylish sound. During the album’s production, I exchanged a lot of ideas with the producers about the song’s concept and overall mood. I also shared my thoughts on how much space the vocals should have and how they should sit alongside the instruments. We worked on those little details together until we were happy with the result. It’s a song I’m very attached to because I think it reflects who I am as an artist.
VOA: “Zero Point” is about finding the courage to start again, even when you feel you’ve lost everything you’ve worked for. Considering your own journey in music, it seems like a meaningful song. Does it have a personal connection to your experiences, or did you see it more as a message for anyone who has lost confidence and had to rebuild their life?
Lee Han Gyul: It’s definitely both. Zero Point is a personal promise to myself, but it’s also a way of reaching out to anyone who feels they’ve ended up back at the very beginning of their life. I think everyone goes through moments when it seems like everything has been reset and they have to start from zero. But I wanted to show that zero doesn’t have to represent hopelessness or having nothing left. It can also be a starting point where you’re free to create something new.
Looking at everything I’ve experienced myself, I wanted this song to remind people that starting again doesn’t mean you’ve failed. I hope it gives listeners some comfort and the courage to keep going.
As long as the music gives me an opportunity to show what my voice can do and express something meaningful, I’m always willing to give it a try. I hope everyone looks forward to seeing how I continue to grow and change as an artist.
VOA: “SPIT IT OUT” brings a more relaxed hip-hop sound to the album, with lyrics about expressing feelings that have been kept inside for a long time. Throughout your career, were there things you wanted to say but couldn’t? And now that you’re working as a solo artist, do you feel you have more freedom to express those thoughts through your music?
Lee Han Gyul: After working in the industry for so many years, there were definitely feelings and thoughts I’d kept to myself. Sometimes I had to hold things back because of the circumstances I was in or because I was conscious of how other people might see me. SPIT IT OUT gave me a way to express those feelings without being aggressive about it. I could simply let them out in a calm and honest way.
One of the biggest changes, and something I really appreciate about being a solo artist, is that I can put my own experiences and emotions into music without having to filter them. It’s not just about expressing happiness or confidence; I can also share my worries, struggles and the things I genuinely feel. Being able to communicate those emotions to my fans and listeners through music gives me a real sense of freedom and relief.
VOA: One thing I found interesting about “NOISE” is that all five songs have their own musical identity, yet they are connected by the idea of finding your own path. How much input did you have in choosing the tracks? And was it important to show different sides of Lee Han Gyul rather than sticking to one particular musical style?
Lee Han Gyul: I was very involved in choosing the songs and deciding the track order. I wanted my own thoughts and musical tastes to be reflected throughout the album. Because it’s my first solo release, I really didn’t want people to define me by just one style. For me, it was more important to show how many different things I can do musically. The album includes Latin influences, playful K-pop, R&B, hip-hop and songs with more emotional storytelling. They’re all different, but I wanted them to connect through one idea: finding my own true voice among all the noise around me.
I wanted listeners to hear my versatility without the album sounding like a random collection of songs. My hope was to show the different sides of Lee Han Gyul as an artist while still making an album that works as a whole.
VOA: You’ve experienced several debuts, worked with different musicians and performed for fans who have supported you through many stages of your career. But this time, the album carries your name alone. After listening to “NOISE”, what would you like people to understand about the artist Lee Han Gyul has become? And what kinds of music would you like to explore next?
Lee Han Gyul: After listening to NOISE, I’d be incredibly happy if people thought, “Lee Han Gyul is an honest, confident artist who can take on different genres and make them his own.” I’d also love for people to feel curious about what I’ll do next. In the future, I want to keep exploring different sounds and broaden my musical horizons. I’d love to try a more energetic rock style with a strong band sound, or something completely different, like stripped-back acoustic music that allows the emotion in my voice to come through more clearly.
As long as the music gives me an opportunity to show what my voice can do and express something meaningful, I’m always willing to give it a try. I hope everyone looks forward to seeing how I continue to grow and change as an artist. Thank you!
Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler
Image courtesy of ORCA MUSIC
View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to film, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. As we continue to grow, we aim to deepen our coverage of Asian music while remaining committed to exploring and celebrating creativity across the global arts landscape.
