“I want to live honorably”: Amy Benham sat down with A.TRAIN to talk about his road to becoming a singer, his inspirations, and his latest mini album.
It was such an incredible experience getting to know alternative R&B singer A.TRAIN. The talented singer uses his music to comfort us and the feelings of loneliness we experience as humans. He recently released his new album “PRAY ON MY INSECURITY,” which was an investment made completely by A.TRAIN himself. From production, lyrics, vocals, and even the packaging and design! Listening to this album you can hear the sincerity of his music.
Firstly, can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! I’m A.TRAIN, I make alternative R&B music. The fundamental sound of my music is R&B but I’m actually making a wider range of music. Nice to meet you!
Describe your music style in three words!
Three words? That is cruel! How can I express that in only three words? (laughs) Beautiful, honest, and consoling.
Oh, interesting!
Yeah, to be honest, I don’t like introducing my music as just one specific style. It’s hard to define.
You’re currently based in Seoul, have you always lived here?
Yeah, I’ve lived in Seoul for most of my life. Although I was born in Bucheon.
How long have you been making music?
I’ve been singing for so many years, even when I was a child. I focused on studying hard during school but I also kept singing. I quit my job when I was 27 years old, I used to be an engineer. My major was Advanced Materials Engineering but I chose to switch to music and signed a contract with my current company. I started to sing as well as make the melody and lyrics. When I first started out I couldn’t produce myself but I started producing last year in the summer. So I can say I really started to make music last year.
Wow that’s impressive! So when you decided to quit your job was that a sudden decision or had you thought about it for quite some time first?
I had thought about it for a long time because I used to think I had to study, get a secure job and earn money to be free from poorness. As you know it’s not easy to live in Seoul if you’re not making money. I had those kinds of thoughts but then I had an opportunity to sing in front of a crowd of 2,000 or 4,000 people. I shared the stage with ZICO and Epik High, even though I was unknown! It was about five years ago when I was still working as an engineer. It was at that moment that I knew I could do it. The reaction I got was good, and I had the power to express myself well. So I decided to quit my job and focus on music for the rest of my life.
How did it feel the first time you performed? Were you nervous or excited?
Both, but I knew that I could do it because I had experienced being on a stage when I was a child. I had done well then so I felt like I could do well again. Also, people around me encouraged me and told me I have talent.
What do you think makes you different from other artists?
Hmm, I don’t want to say that I’m unique and other people are not. But I think my music is sensual because I always try to make it sensual as opposed to grotesque. In my opinion, music which has too many new things can come across as grotesque or flashy and I’d rather just make music which is calm and sensual. The point I’m trying to make is that my music is sensual and honest. I don’t want to pretend to be real, rich, happy, sad, etc. Oh, and it doesn’t mean other people are not honest. I just want my music to show my true feelings and I believe that you can feel this attitude in my newest album. This attitude makes it easy to focus on myself as an artist. My music also includes aspects and sounds of nature. I love nature. For example, the sounds of the ocean, rustling leaves, or wind. It’s a kind of ambient feeling and I prefer that kind of expression.
How are you inspired during the music making process?
I get inspiration from myself, my feelings, and I focus on loneliness. That’s because everybody feels lonely. I think, that’s just natural. If I talk about it, everybody can understand it. There are people who don’t want to be lonely and don’t want to appear lonely. But I know every life is lonely. In that sense, I can understand and touch people’s hearts. Also from art, sentences from books, and TV shows. There are some phrases from TV shows that had an impact on me because they expressed moments in our life so well. I get inspired from just one sentence to make a song. A whole song.
Which TV shows had the most impact on you?
I don’t usually enjoy zombie things but I really like Walking Dead. It helps me overcome my frustration, I actually made some songs because of that TV show. That TV show isn’t just about zombies, it’s about how the world is destroyed and there is no hope. BUT there is hope from people, I think that really tells us about life. I want you to watch this TV show!
“PRAY ON MY INSECURITY” EP
What is the main theme or message behind your most recent album “PRAY ON MY INSECURITY”?
There is a whole message, a piercing message, and it is about consolation. The subject is about our insecurity because we are human beings and we are alone. Even though we are together right now, we are alone. I decided and realized we always want to be happy, secure, and achieve better things but we are always frustrated by the distance between security and insecurity. That distance makes us frustrated so I think the only way to be happy is just acknowledging we are insecure beings and then we don’t have to be frustrated by other things. It is easy to be frustrated even just from looking at Instagram, our idols, our goals, and so on. That’s because we have hopes and expectations which are focused on better things and not present things. But we are living in the present! Our existence is present. So that is what this album is about. I thought if I talk about this through an album it can console me and if it works for me it can work for others. I believe that, so I chose this subject and made it. (Coincidentally Daniel Caesar’s song plays in the café background.) Oh! It’s Daniel Caesar’s song, it’s very important! You love Daniel Caesar right? I love Daniel Caesar too and the song has a part which is very important because it goes like this: “Prey on my insecurities, I know you’re feeling me,” and I thought, “Damn!” We need to prey on our insecurities. Not prey on money or expectations. That can make us happy or satisfied, I believe that.
Are there any other artists you are hoping to collaborate with in the future?
Musiq Soulchild! Also, I hope to make music with Asgeir from Iceland and Bon Iver! In Korea, I want to make music with Beenzino because I met him three years ago and he told me about focusing on myself and making my own style just like he did. That meant a lot to me so I now truly realized and understood his words.
Do you have any upcoming performances?
I have a performance on 20th July, I have a location to practice and perform. I own that place and I want to hold a performance in there.
You run a venue too?!
Yeah, I made a soundproof room for working and there is another area for renting out or for people to use. So I will hold a performance in there. I’ve met various people with different kinds of talents and who appreciate art and beautiful things so I wanted to create a time and space for everyone to share that, so that’s the main point of my performance. Do you want to come?! (Editor’s Note: Follow A.TRAIN on Instagram for more info on his upcoming performance–links below!)
Who are some of your favorite musicians to listen to?
Daniel Caesar, Bon Iver, Rhye. Rhye makes really beautiful music!
Which of Rhye’s song’s would you recommend?
All of them, they are really beautiful! His album covers are so artistic. Just look at them!
Are you planning to go overseas one day? If so which country would be your dream destination to perform at?
Finland (again), Iceland, and America. At the moment, I want to make music for Koreans and live in Korea.
Outside of music, what are your other interests?
First going to exhibitions to get inspiration, art has the power to move me. I also draw and paint sometimes. At home, I usually watch Netflix to get inspiration, and I enjoy taking care of my plants! I can feel life from those plants so caring for them makes me feel like I am caring for life, we need to love life and I have to make music for that. Love.
What kind of plants do you have?
Rosemary, actually the shadow on my album cover is from the rosemary in my room. I took the photo with my previous phone (laughs) but it was a natural moment that can occur again. I also have an Indonesian plant, palm tree, and a bat plant.
Written by A.TRAIN Arranged by A.TRAIN, NO_ON Mixed by A.TRAIN, NO_ON Mastered by Kimyeah (using YarK DigiLog Tech.) Artwork: A.TRAIN, Aone “But it’s not important who did what.”
Rapper WILLYEOM has released his first mini album and the music video of its title track ‘flytrap’ today. ‘swingby‘ features A.TRAIN, Kor Kash, and more.
After ‘GOOD IS BAD’, rappers Jindotgae and WILLYEOM return with their second project album, ‘BAD IS GOOD‘, and the music video of its title track. The album features A.Train, Bully Da Ba$tard, and QM.
Independent beatmaker Crack Bit has released his first full-length album ‘Ordinary‘ and the music video ‘Sleepless Night’ today. The LP features singers TheDeep, A.TRAIN, JaeDal, AGER, and TSUN, as well as rappers Simba Zawadi and Jayho.
