All the things he went through in his 20s, as seen when hitting the “30” milestone: that’s what Sungjin’s album 30 is all about. Released on November 5, 30 is the first full-length solo album by DAY6 (데이식스) member Sungjin (성진). 

As stated in the official press release for 30, this record is a collection of songs about Sungjin’s experiences leading up to his 30th birthday. The singer, whose full name is Park Sungjin ( 박성진) born on January 16, 1993, confirmed he actually finished the songs by January 2023, while the extra time was needed to complete the production. Sungjin is the last one of the group DAY6 to debut with a solo project after Young K (영케이), Dowoon (도운), and Wonpil (원필).

The title track for the record, “Check Pattern,” has been presented to media outlets as one that “explores the complex emotional lines of meeting, parting, and regret in life through the theme of a check pattern that is repeatedly connected and disconnected.” It’s undeniable that there are patterns in our behaviors and in the ways we interact with the world, so this association of ideas is very suggestive. Here’s what the lyrics say: “Life’s like walking on a check pattern/ Despite the endlessly repeated meeting/ And parting/ I can endure it/ Even if we turn our backs/ And get further away while missing each other in the end/ I just know/ That we’ll face each other again someday.” 

The music video for “Check Pattern” sees the artis playing the role of the director of a play, setting up a stage for a small audience that remains absorbed in the story unraveling in front of their eyes. 

It’s worth mentioning that singer-songwriter Jukjae (적재) collaborated in writing and producing the song, along with Sungjin and composer Joohyoung Lee (이주형) from the producing group Monotree (모노트리). About such a remarkable collaboration, Sungjin said: “As we worked together and added ideas, the song became more and more perfect, and it was a learning opportunity for me in many ways. I think the point of appreciation is up to the listeners. If I were to talk about my personal impressions as a listener, I’d say it evokes the image of an ordinary winter day that contains subtle excitement and warmth.”

About working on his first solo album, the DAY6 member also added: "I focused on the message I wanted to convey through my music, regardless of the number of songs or album format. There are many responsibilities involved in the process of making an album. Still, the freedom to reflect and choose my own opinions is the biggest attraction of being a solo artist."

The other tracks of 30 include “Covered in Love” (동화 속 아이처럼, which actually translates to “Like a child in a fairy tale”), that expresses the bewilderment of a young person realizing how reality can be much colder than expectations when you grow up;  

 “I don’t wanna do anything” (아무것도 안 하고 싶다), which conveys the feeling of being overwhelmed by daily worries and self-doubt. In  “Nowhere You Are” (어디에도 없는 널), the singer reminisces times spent with someone he parted from, feeling grateful to even just have the opportunity of seeing them again. Then, “as always” (나무는 결국 겨울을 견뎌낼 거야, meaning “The tree will always survive in winter”) tells the story of youth, which may be a time of hardship rather than happiness, but in the end, we will get through it, and all trials will pass. 

In “Wednesday Night,” Sungjin reveals how that day of the week is a particularly happy one for him; yet, in “EASY,” he talks about the uncertainty about the future, the challenge of self-acceptance, and the pressure to appear fine when things feel anything but easy. Luckily, Sungjin can count on his fans (known as My Day) to get back on his feet, and he thanks them for all the help in  “You Wake Me Up.” 

The eighth track is “I don’t wanna lose,” where the artist seems to be talking to his own younger self, a child who’s afraid, hiding in a corner, and begs him to be himself and not get lost. Finally, the album ends with “Memories,” a song about the lingering pain of an old love that was never fully processed and the regrets for the things left untold.

In the same interview quoted above, Sungjin talked about how he feels different now that he’s a thirty-something compared to before, saying: "In my twenties, I vaguely thought that by the time I hit thirty, I’d feel much more at ease and that life would improve, so I put my all into each day. I think I was often more focused on chasing the future that would come someday rather than fully living in the present. But from the moment I turned thirty, I started spending more time focusing on the present and reflecting on myself, learning how to accept things as they are. As I gradually incorporated ways to care for myself into my daily life, I found that I developed a sense of calm in my approach to life. Now, even if I encounter challenges in my thirties, I feel more stable, knowing I won’t get as lost as I once did. Since my music will naturally stem from my life experiences, I expect that I’ll be able to explore much broader and deeper themes than before."

Along with the release of 30 Sungjin held his first run of solo concerts, from November 8 to 10, in Seoul: the tickets went sold out immediately, proving how the fans highly anticipated his solo debut. Those who did not get to snatch the tickets might have secured access to the paid livestream (happening on the Beyond LIVE platform).

Edited by Rachael Lovette