News article of @officialse7en on THE STRAITS TIMES

[Se7en bounces back]

Three years ago,Korean singer Se7en was one of the biggest singers in the business,second only to superstar singer-actor Rain.But he gave it all up to pursue a career in the US.

Fast forward to the present and the singer,whose real name is Choi Dong Wook,is holding court in Singapore to promote his new mini album of seven tracks,which includes a duet with Korean rapper T.O.P of the immensely popular boyband BIGBANG.

While in Los Angeles,Se7en did not have the breakthrough that most artist hoped for.He recorded three English songs including one,Girls,which featured American rapper Lil'Kim but did not make it to the American Billboard charts.There was a plan to record and release a full album in the US but the album release was postponed.

But at the press conference,the 26-year-old singer did not come across as bitter about his lack of success in the US.He said:"I really liked it in the States and i would want to go back if there is an opportunity."
"There were a lot of good times.The basic difference was the culture.I really liked working there.I never felt that it was work as it was fun and the music came out very naturally.Work in Korea just feels like work."

It seems that his fans have not forgotten him.The mini-album,Digital Bounce,peaked at No.2 in Korea last year.Singers in Korea release mini-albums,which introduce fans to their new music,to test the market.

Se7en,who is known for his powerful vocals and ballads,decided to go down the electronic and hip-hop path with Digital Bounce,which bears influences of the time he spent in the US.He said in fairly fluent English:"I made this album for my comeback in Korea and it's different from my other albums.When i was in the States, I learnt from really good producers,dancers and singers."

Some of the musicians he worked with,besides Lil'Kim,including Grammy-award winning record producer Rich Harrison who has worked with Jennifer Lopez,and songwriter Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins.He said that since his return to Korea,he has been inundated with acting offers.

His last acting project was in the television drama Goong S,where he played a commoner-turned-prince who struggles to find his place in the royal family.Se7en makes it clear that he wants to focus on his music and plans to start recording for his next album after promotions for Digital Bounce are done."If a role fits me,i will think about it.I just want to make good music."

The Korean hunk might not have made it big in the US but at least he left with a good command of the English language.He answered most of the questions at the press conference in a language that he picked up only 3 years ago.

[DIGITAL BOUNCE] is available at major record stores.

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(This is the original article on Straits Times,nothing was amended. Credit : THE STRAITS TIMES)

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