Kang Daniel Solidifies Dark and Mature Image in “PARANOIA”

A far cry from the early days of the Produce 101 Season 2 sweetheart, Kang Daniel has been exploring many different genres and concepts in his music since starting his own company, KONNECT Entertainment, and launching his solo career. Watching his journey from young trainee to solidified solo artist has been a ride, and “PARANOIA” is another notch in the artist’s belt, showing an even darker side than we’ve seen from him before.

Like a lot of melodies Daniel chooses to use, it’s difficult to describe “PARANOIA” upon first listen. The tone opens up somewhat light, with a simple melodic line and his voice with no bass, placing emphasis on the lyrics and his vocals. The main beat trickles in, building up to the chorus where it explodes in full. Even with the build up, it’s still more subdued when compared to the dark lyrics, but that’s what makes the song so intriguing. It’s definitely a more traditional hip-hop influence and is a perfect complement to Daniel’s memorable vocals. While the melody itself doesn’t pack a punch for the darker concept, the lyrics are certainly more than enough to drive home the point. Anticipation builds in the last third of the song where the melody shifts once again to a more ominous feeling. The track is definitely infectious, led by Daniel’s stellar vocals. 

The music video is where the real story is told, giving much more depth to the entire concept of “PARANOIA.” With sepia tones and darker lighting leading the way, we see Daniel’s fears stated in the lyrics personified by backup dancers in all-black outfits and ski masks tormenting the singer, even jumping on top of him with a knife to end his life in the end. Daniel is seen huddling in the dark under a table, running against the crowd, and being subjected to hundreds of cameras within his room, a powerful allusion to his inability to have privacy with his celebrity status. Daniel’s overall demeanor showcases an intensity we’ve never seen from the artist. It’s also worth noting that some portions of the choreography have him acting as a puppet being controlled by invisible strings, a much stronger metaphor for his lack of control, not just over his fears, but his life in general. There is a lot of powerful meaning behind the video, and it definitely hits home in a way his previous releases haven’t.

Even as someone who has not spent much time focusing on Kang Daniel’s solo endeavors, I was personally blown away by the quality of this single release. Check out the music video for “PARANOIA” below!