\n\tSYNDROME is the singer\u2019s first full-length studio album, and it arrived not only after his military break, but also more than five years after the former Monsta X member departed the band. For Wonho, the 10-track album is a milestone moment in his career, finally giving him the time and space he craved to deliver a truly individual project to his fans.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to release a full album like this and I always had the desire to, but there were obviously some situations where I couldn\u2019t [do that],\u201d he tells Rolling Stone. \u201cBut because I had this long break, I was able to prepare this music for a long time and really focus on creating a full album,\u201d he says, adding that, \u201cIt feels like a new beginning to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tWith a run time that clocks in under 30 minutes, SYNDROME is short but undoubtedly sweet, with songs that range from the party-ready album opener, \u201cFun,\u201d to the confessional, \u201cAt the Time.\u201d Wonho is at once coy and seductive, leaving listeners breathless on \u201cIf You Wanna,\u201d while the guy famously known for baring his body bares his soul on \u201cBeautiful.\u201d A press release teases the album as Wonho\u2019s \u201cclearest artistic statement to date,\u201d and the singer says he wanted to show every side of himself, whether good or bad.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cEach song is very different,\u201d he stresses. \u201cAll of them have different vibes and different emotions that I wanted to express, and I worked a long time on bringing that out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tRolling Stone caught up with Wonho to chat more about the recording process behind SYNDROME, the secret to staying relevant, and why all he wants for Christmas this year is the fans.<\/p>\n
\n\tWhat was the vibe like in the studio when you recorded the album?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tI had a very fun time with the studio and everything was just fun to work on. I think I probably recorded around 20 songs, but only 10 were selected for this album.<\/p>\n \n\tWill there be a chance that we hear the other songs on another album?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tOf course, there are songs that I recorded and I like, so I\u2019m already thinking about the next album and preparing for it, and I have thoughts about how I want it to be. So maybe they\u2019ll be included on the next one.<\/p>\n \n\tThere are a lot of self-described \u201cparty\u201d tracks on the album, but are you a big party guy?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tPersonally, I don\u2019t really enjoy going to clubs, and it\u2019s kind of uncomfortable for me, but the Europe tour that I recently was on felt like a party, because I got to meet my fans in each country and it was really fun to visit and see them. I also usually don\u2019t drink a lot of alcohol and I\u2019m not so good at drinking, but on Christmas or during the holidays, I do have a day where I\u2019ll drink wine with friends or people around. But I only just drink that day.<\/p>\n \n\tIs it hard for you to go out and not get recognized or bombarded by fans?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tAs an artist, I definitely have to be a little bit more careful when I go out, but the fans usually allow me to eat or shop comfortably.<\/p>\n \n\tHow else do you get inspiration for your music?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tI take the time out to go travel and take trips elsewhere, and even like, today, when I have a busy schedule, I\u2019ll go out in the morning to run and see my environment, just see what the daily environment is like in whatever place I\u2019m in.<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLATEST RELEASE\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tWonho SYNDROME [Standard Ver.]\t\t<\/p>\n \n\tIt\u2019s been more than ten years since you debuted with Monsta X and now you\u2019re in a successful solo era. What is the secret to longevity and staying relevant?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tI think for me, it\u2019s really about keeping my fans close. For some people, maybe honors or money is really important, and of course, everything is important, but I think for me, my fans are the most important because they really show me directly how much they like my music and they give me feedback about what they like. And I feel like because I communicate with them directly, it\u2019s something that\u2019s really big for me. And I also think a big part of it is my consistency. I\u2019m always practicing and working on myself and I\u2019m always consistent about showing my best self to them.<\/p>\n \n\tWhose opinion do you trust the most when it comes to receiving feedback about your music or performances?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\t[Points to team] Everyone here! [laughs]. I would say our company staff, and also the producing team that I work with, they provide a lot of honest and direct feedback about my music. So they\u2019ll tell me, honestly, if this recording was bad, or if my vocal tone or pronunciation wasn\u2019t very good, and then tell me to do it again. So I think those opinions are ones I get the most excited about. That was a good question.<\/p>\n \n\tWith the holidays coming up, do you remember the best Christmas present you ever received?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tThe best present I received was maybe when I was younger, about preschool [age] when there was a Santa Claus dressed up, and they gave everyone else very small presents, but I received a really big LEGO set<\/a>. So I was really happy, but later, I found out that it was actually my dad. The Santa Claus was giving out the presents that the parents had prepared in advance. But I felt very happy and proud.<\/p>\n![\"Wonho](\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-rollingstone-2022\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
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