{"id":2000143,"date":"2026-06-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2000143"},"modified":"2026-06-19T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T21:00:00","slug":"wonderland-238","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2000143","title":{"rendered":"Wonderland"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\tWonderland<\/span>
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\n\t\t\tTAEYONG IS RUNNING WYLD<\/span>
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From leading one of K-pop\u2019s biggest groups to developing his own artistic world, TAEYONG is embracing freedom on WYLD<\/em>. Wonderland<\/em> catch up with the NCT leader to talk creative growth, stepping out solo, and what comes next.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"TAEYONG
All images courtesy of TAEYONG.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For the best part of a decade, TAEYONG has been one of K-pop\u2019s most fascinating creative forces. As the leader of NCT, the vastly popular experimental South Korean boy band formed by SM Entertainment in 2016, he\u2019s spent years pushing boundaries \u2013 whether through his performances, cross-genre music or his increasingly personal songwriting. But while fans have watched him evolve through countless NCT releases and world tours, his latest chapter is a little bit different.<\/p>\n

With the release of WYLD<\/em>, his debut full-length album, TAEYONG arrives at a significant crossroads in his career. NCT are celebrating their tenth anniversary this year, a milestone that of course invites reflection, while TAEYONG himself seems more focused than ever on looking inward. Rather than chasing trends or filling a record with high-profile features, WYLD<\/em> (a stylised play on the word \u201cWild\u201d) strips things back to something more intimate: a collection of songs that explore uncertainty, growth, ambition and self-discovery.<\/p>\n

For anyone who has followed his journey, that shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise. Over the years, TAEYONG has steadily built a reputation as an artist immersed in his craft, consistently showing a desire to communicate something genuine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The album was born from a period of introspection, a time when life slowed down enough for him to confront his thoughts and reassess what music means to him. Across the album, TAEYONG stands entirely on his own, using the space to present a clearer picture of who he is as an artist today \u2013 as someone becoming increasingly comfortable with complexity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"TAEYONG<\/figure>\n

TAEYONG speaks openly about balancing different sides of his personality, the carefree and spontaneous alongside the thoughtful and cautious, and those contrasts run throughout the record. There are moments of confidence, but also vulnerability, creating a body of work less concerned with perfection and more interested in honesty.<\/p>\n

As NCT enter their second decade and TAEYONG continues carving out his own path, WYLD<\/em> feels like the swansong of what\u2019s gone, the beginning of a new era. It\u2019s the sound of an artist evaluating where he\u2019s been, embracing where he is now, and looking ahead to everything still to come.<\/p>\n

We caught up with TAEYONG to talk about the inspiration behind WYLD<\/em>, working with Anderson .Paak, the differences between group and solo projects, and how he\u2019s changed since his debut.<\/p>\n

Listen to WYLD\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

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Read the interview\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Tell us about your debut full length album, <\/strong>WYLD<\/em><\/strong>. Where did the inspiration for the album come from, and what story did you hope to tell through it?<\/strong>
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<\/strong>The inspiration for WYLD<\/em> came from a period in my life when time felt like it had briefly stopped. During that time, I spent a lot of time with my own thoughts, facing feelings of uncertainty and restlessness while reflecting on what music truly means to me. This album captures those honest emotions, my perspective as an artist, and the world I\u2019ve built through music. In many ways, WYLD <\/em>feels like the most personal reflection of who I am right now.<\/p>\n

Before releasing this album you released \u201cRock Solid\u201d in collaboration with Anderson .Paak, how did that collaboration come about? Why did you choose to have no collaborators on the album?<\/strong>
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<\/strong>Anderson .Paak\u2019s energy and professionalism were incredibly inspiring. At a time when I felt a little stuck creatively, working on \u201cRock Solid\u201d with him and Dem Jointz, someone I\u2019ve admired for a long time, gave me a new sense of momentum. When it came to WYLD<\/em>, I wanted the album to clearly show the kind of artist I am and the stories I want to continue telling. Because of that, it felt most natural to fill the album with my own voice and emotions. I think I have two sides to me. Sometimes I\u2019m very free-spirited, and other times I\u2019m extremely thoughtful and cautious. Those different sides help me understand not only my own emotions but also the emotions of others. With this album, I wanted to explore that full range of feelings through music.<\/p>\n

How different is the process when working on an album as a solo artist vs when working on an album for a group?<\/strong>
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<\/strong>There are definitely similarities, but there are also some differences. With NCT, we\u2019re telling stories about our shared passion, friendship, and experiences as a team. When I work on solo music, the focus becomes much more personal. I\u2019m able to explore more delicate and intimate personal emotions\u2014not just happiness, love, and excitement, but also loneliness, sadness, and the many feelings I encounter in everyday life.<\/p>\n

\"TAEYONG<\/figure>\n

You seem to take on more roles than ever with this album. What part of the album-making process do you enjoy more, songwriting or composing? Why?<\/strong>
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<\/strong>To be honest, saying that I \u201cparticipated\u201d in the songwriting or composing process feels a little strange to me because creating music has always been a natural part of who I am. I\u2019m simply making the music I want to make. For me, making music is both a form of rest and a conversation with myself. I really enjoy the creative process because it allows me to discover new sides of myself and continue growing as an artist.<\/p>\n

Is there a specific lyric or line on the album that is the most personal? Why?<\/strong>
<\/strong>The line, \u201cI won\u2019t stop, I\u2019m runnin\u2019 until I reach the end.\u201d That lyric stands out to me because what I need most right now is the passion and energy to keep moving forward. It\u2019s a reminder to myself not to lose that momentum.<\/p>\n

\"TAEYONG<\/figure>\n

Did any song on the album completely change from how it started as a demo to the final result?<\/strong>
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I would say \u201cWYLD\u201d and \u201cHot.\u201d \u201cWYLD\u201d originally had a much more sensual atmosphere, but as I continued shaping the album\u2019s overall identity and refining the story I wanted to tell, it gradually evolved into something more serious and introspective. \u201cHot\u201d was one of the songs I spent the most time thinking about. I experimented with different directions, including gospel and R&B influences, before eventually finding the version that felt right.<\/p>\n

Looking back at the person you were when you first debuted versus the artist who made <\/strong>WYLD<\/em><\/strong>, how have you changed?<\/strong>
<\/strong>
<\/strong>I think I\u2019ve become much better at organizing my thoughts and expressing them through words and music. The things that used to make me feel impatient or anxious don\u2019t affect me in the same way anymore. Instead, I\u2019ve learned to use those feelings as motivation to reflect on myself and keep moving forward. That shift in perspective has helped me a lot, both as an artist and as a person.<\/p>\n

With NCT celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, what moments or milestones stand out to you when you look back on the journey so far?<\/strong>
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More than anything, I think of our fans. They\u2019ve helped me discover sides of myself that I didn\u2019t even know existed, and they\u2019ve shared so many memories with us over the years. There have been countless meaningful moments since debut, but what made those moments truly special was always the fans. To me, they\u2019re an irreplaceable treasure and one of the biggest reasons I\u2019ve been able to become who I am today.<\/p>\n

\"TAEYONG<\/figure>\n

Looking ahead, what are you most looking forward to after the album release?<\/strong>
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<\/strong>I\u2019m excited to share this music with more people and perform it on as many stages as possible. Through future performances and releases, I want to show a version of myself that\u2019s even more honest and free. And honestly, I\u2019m already curious about what kind of new side of myself I\u2019ll discover while working on the next album. (Laughs)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t19 June 2026\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tThe Future is Here: Welcome To GENER8ION<\/span> <\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wonderland TAEYONG IS RUNNING WYLD From leading one of K-pop\u2019s biggest groups to developing his own artistic world, TAEYONG is embracing freedom on WYLD. Wonderland catch up with the NCT leader to talk creative growth, stepping out solo, and what comes next. All images courtesy of TAEYONG. For the best part of a decade, TAEYONG […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,257],"class_list":["post-2000143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-wonderlandmagazine-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2000143"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000143\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2000143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2000143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2000143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}