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Welcome back to Fan Chant, a weekly column for K-pop fans, stans, and newbies alike. This week, we chat with DINO from SEVENTEEN about his new mixtape. Also, if you love reading Fan Chant, don’t forget to subscribe to my companion newsletter to get it delivered right to your inbox!
It’s been genuinely joyful watching SEVENTEEN, now in the eighth year of their career, achieve more global success than ever. In its first week, their 10th mini-album, FML, became the most-sold K-pop album of all time when 4.55 million copies flew off shelves. Then, at this week’s MAMA Awards, they received daesang (the Korean word for a top prize at annual music awards shows) for Album of the Year for the first time in their nearly decade-long career. The group’s youngest member DINO has a lot to celebrate this week, including the release of his solo mixtape.
As part of SEVENTEEN’s solo mixtape project, The Thirteen Tapes, DINO follows in the footsteps of his older brothers HOSHI, VERNON, and WOOZI. Co-written with bandmate WOOZI, “Wait” makes room for DINO to flex his strength as a dancer, particularly in the chorus. Even in a quick check-in, it’s clear how much DINO values and trusts his members — in our brief email chat, he sings their praises at every opportunity. Watch the music video for “Wait” below, and read on for the full interview with SEVENTEEN’s DINO.
How does it feel to have “Wait” out in the world?
I believe this was made possible all thanks to the members’ support and CARATs’ love. I feel so proud.
I believe this was made possible all thanks to the members’ support and CARATs’ love. I feel so proud.
What prompted you to explore a solo mixtape at this point in 2023?
My goal was to really show everyone who I am; what my true colors are.
My goal was to really show everyone who I am; what my true colors are.
You’re no stranger to working alongside WOOZI — what was the process of putting this specific song together with him?
The process itself was full of positive energy and we had a lot of fun.
The process itself was full of positive energy and we had a lot of fun.
You often record and perform alongside your members in the performance unit. How did it feel to take on “Wait” by yourself?
I was once again reminded of how big of a presence the members are to me, especially during the solo practices I had to take on by myself.
I was once again reminded of how big of a presence the members are to me, especially during the solo practices I had to take on by myself.
Have any of the members besides WOOZI heard the mixtape? What did they think?
They also had a lot of compliments which made me happy.
They also had a lot of compliments which made me happy.
What do you love about the choreography for “Wait?” Were you involved in its design as well?
I hoped to translate everyday motions into a dance move to resonate with a wider audience and come up with a seamless yet original performance.
I hoped to translate everyday motions into a dance move to resonate with a wider audience and come up with a seamless yet original performance.
The message of the song revolves around moving forward even in the face of hesitance. Have there been any moments in 2023 you feel embodied that idea for you in particular?
It’s as if the images and the moments that I’d envisioned so far had been waiting in the back, in hesitation, and now they came to life through bold, courageous actions.
It’s as if the images and the moments that I’d envisioned so far had been waiting in the back, in hesitation, and now they came to life through bold, courageous actions.
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