RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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For YEONJUN, breaking free from expectations has become more than a theme. It’s the core of his latest solo albums.
The K-pop star brought that spirit to an exclusive Billboard Live event at West Hollywood’s Troubadour, where he sat down for an intimate Q&A with Billboard News’ Tetris Kelly before taking the stage for an electrifying performance featuring songs from his solo work. Amidst the conversation, YEONJUN shared the creative process behind NO LABELS Pt. 1 and NO LABELS Pt. 2 , the pressure he’s learned to let go of, and how he continues to discover new sides of himself as an artist.
“ NO LABELS is all about showing the different sides of me,” YEONJUN explained during the conversation, describing the second project as more “natural and unfiltered” than its predecessor. While NO LABELS Pt. 1 introduced fans to a new dimension of YEONJUN outside of TOMORROW X TOGETHER , he said the two albums represent different sounds and visuals while remaining equally true to who he is.
This meant challenging his perfectionism, however. YEONJUN admitted that he puts pressure on himself to do everything perfectly, but is now trying to approach his music with a lighter mind-set, which is a perspective that carried into the making of NO LABELS Pt. 2 . The shift seems to be paying off: After the first album’s top 10 debut on the Billboard 200 , Yeonjun said he actually felt more comfortable preparing his follow-up because he had learned to enjoy the creative process.
The event also offered a select group of fans the chance to experience YEONJUN’s solo work in an intimate setting. Chosen through a lottery to attend the exclusive Billboard gathering, fans filled the room with cheers throughout the Q&A, showing their support as YEONJUN talked about everything from his music and fashion to his creative transformation. Their energy only amplified once he took the stage, turning the room into a celebration of his solo achievements.
During the Q&A, YEONJUN also discussed the inspiration behind “Ice Cream,” the deeply personal “Long Way Long Ride,” his work with fellow creative Petra Collins for Vogue, and his TXT groupmates’ reactions to his solo album. He also hinted that the NO LABELS journey may not be fully over just yet, telling the ecstatic crowd that he was “excited for what’s ahead” while keeping details about a potential next installment under wraps.
He brought the conversation’s themes of self-expression to the stage, performing “Vanilla,” “Ice Cream,” “Baby Wassup?,” “Long Way Long Ride,” “Fxxking Star” and “GGUM.”
Scroll through the gallery to relive highlights from YEONJUN’s Billboard- exclusive event, from the fan-filled room to his special performance.
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