After a year and a half, Kang Daniel, the dynamic Korean soloist known for his infectious smile and powerful vocals, is back with his new EP, ACT.
This release marks a fresh chapter for Kang Daniel, showcasing a new side of his artistry. The EP features five distinct tracks, including a collaboration with fellow Produce 101 alum, CHUNG HA.
The music video for the title track, “Electric Shock,” reached 14 million views in just one week, a testament to the release’s quality and sound.
In an exclusive interview with The Knockturnal, Kang Daniel spoke about the songmaking process, his upcoming solo concert in October, his dedicated fanbase FLOWD, and more exciting surprises!
We kicked off the conversation by congratulating Kang Daniel on reaching 14 million YouTube streams for “Electric Shock.” The music video perfectly showcases his vocal range and visual duality, with dynamic sets that alternate between lightning and sunshine. His appearance follows suit, especially in the stunt entrance where he’s literally shocked with electricity, paired with addictive and compelling choreography.
Daniel shared that this was his first release in over a year and three months, and he’s both surprised and grateful for the overwhelming response. Regarding “Electric Shock,” he explained how the melody just clicked for him—it was a natural choice. After experimenting with multiple demos and versions, this one stood out as the perfect fit.
The Knockturnal: Congratulations on reaching 14 million streams for the ‘Electric Shock’ music video! Wow, you’re stepping into a whole new era. How does this one feel different for you? What do you hope to capture with ACT and your first release of the year?
KANG DANIEL: Thank you! It has been a year and three months since I dropped my previous album, so I felt even more nervous about meeting my fans. I did not expect I would receive this much attention, so I was amazed and grateful for everyone’s support. Rather than a specific goal I want to achieve, since this is my first release with a new agency, I want to return to my roots and work hard with a feeling of starting anew.
The Knockturnal: Speaking of the “Electric Shock” music video, it beautifully showcased both your cute and dark, intense sides—just like the song itself. It’s lyrically captivating and melodically stunning. What inspired this electrifying track that ~electrified~ your fans’ hearts?
KANG DANIEL: To be honest, the moment I heard the melody from the demo, I already had a clear vision in mind. “Electric Shock” initially was just a simple sketch with a piano and basic drums on it. But as soon as I heard that bouncy piano melody, I instinctively felt that this song had to be the title track. We established the concept of “Electric Shock” and made lots and lots of versions with different electronic instruments to figure out what would be the right one.
In honor of the rest of the EP, we discussed other electrifying and experimental tracks, including “Losing Myself” and Daniel’s personal favorite, “Come Back to Me” featuring CHUNG HA. He explained that “Come Back to Me” captures emotions perfectly suited for the colder seasons, expressing love with a bittersweet yet hopeful tone.
KANG DANIEL: I believe it (“Come Back to Me”) beautifully captures the emotions suited for the colder seasons, expressing feelings of love with a bittersweet yet hopeful sentiment. I thought the cold instruments would pair well with warm vocals, and CHUNG HA brought it out perfectly.
Speaking of “Come Back to Me,” the track feels like a full-circle moment for fans, as it features a collaboration with fellow Produce 101 alum, CHUNG HA. We
couldn’t help but ask how this collaboration came about, as their vocals and vibes blended so seamlessly.
KANG DANIEL: Wow, to be honest, I’m surprised myself. I hadn’t thought about that common background while working on the song. I felt and wanted to collaborate with a female solo artist. Considering it, I thought CHUNG HA’s voice would complement my husky vocal tone well, so I reached out to her and we made it happen.
In the spirit of collaboration, we were eager to find out who Daniel hopes to work with next. We encouraged him to dream big, promising that we’d help manifest it together, and he enthusiastically responded!
KANG DANIEL: Since you told me to dream big, AURORA comes to mind. I’ve often listened to her songs, which align with my taste, and I think our voices would blend well together. If the opportunity arises, I would love to collaborate with her. AURORA, if you happen to be reading this, I’m a fan! Let’s do a song together!
We also delved into the creation of “Losing Myself,” which blends electronic and rock elements with raw, intense emotions. Daniel mentioned that the song “Can You Feel My Heart” by Bring Me the Horizon served as a key inspiration for shaping the theme of “Losing Myself.”
He explained how it unconsciously influenced him in the creative process. When asked about his decision to explore a deeper rock sound and emotionally charged lyrics, he shared his thoughts on this new direction.
KANG DANIEL: I want to say that “Losing Myself” is a genre I always wanted to give a shot. The song incorporates various instruments, but the blend of Rock, EDM, and Dubstep is like a birthday feast with all my favorite foods to me. I got emotionally connected to the energy of the song, and the thoughts I was experiencing at the time naturally translated into the lyrics.
Outside of this recent release, we wanted to know what else we could look forward to. Recently, Daniel introduced his new fandom name, “FLOWD.” He explained that it was love at first sight with this name, despite considering other options.
KANG DANIEL: To me, the name felt more than just a fandom name, but like the name of an extreme sports team. Since I also emphasize flow in dance and music, the meaning seemed to deepen, and yeah, came the name FLOWD.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2024, Daniel emphasized his eagerness to meet more fans and announced plans for a solo concert in October. He also hinted at more exciting activities on the horizon!
KANG DANIEL: It’s been a while since I’ve been active, I want to greet fans in various ways. I have a solo concert planned for October 2024. I want to show many things as fast as I can, but since there’s a lot of preparation and scheduling involved, I can’t rush to share everything just yet. However, I’m working hard to present good things soon, so dear fans, please hold on!
To close off the interview, with the release of ACT and all his upcoming endeavors, Daniel shared a final message for FLOWD!
KANG DANIEL: Thank you for your patience during this long wait. I’m working hard to share better performances and music with all of you in the future, so I appreciate your support and hope you look forward to it. Love you all!
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Photo Courtesy: ARA
