Returning with a full album on his 10th anniversary, South Korean R&B and hip-hop singer-songwriter and producer Crush, signed under P NATION, offers listeners a diverse range of songs with the arrival of his anticipated record.

His third full-length album, ‘wonderego,’ which was released four years after his second album ‘From Midnight to Sunrise,’ is a testament to his constantly developing musical world. It combines the two themes of "wonder" and "ego," where he also delves into the intricacies of love. “Shortcomings are what made me who I am for a long time. ‘wonderego’ is a journey that begins with it,” he remarked.

With his active involvement in penning, composing, and arranging the tracks, Crush shared during the interview that he tried to encompass various facets of himself, “In the ‘wonder’ section, I experimented with new ideas, while the ‘ego’ part delves into sharing my personal narrative.”

‘wonderego’ comes with quadruple title tracks "Hmm-cheat," "EZPZ," "Ego (Hate Me)," and "Oh Man Like Me." It features 19 tracks in total including the B-sides "New Day," "No Break," "Me, Myself & I," "Satisfy," "Deep End," "Not Anything Else," "God Me God You," "Bad Habits," "Ego's Theme," "Monday Blues," "ㅠ.ㅠ (You)," "She," "Walk (Harness)," "For Days to Come," and "Remember Me," collaborating with artists like Dynamicduo, PENOMECO, AMAKA, Kim Ximya, and Lee Hi.

In an exclusive interview with allkpop, Crush discussed the meaning and inspiration behind ’wonderego,' its creative process, recently concluded solo concert, and hopes to be given the opportunity to perform more on stage in 2024. Continue reading to learn more about Crush!

allkpop: Hi, Crush! First, congratulations on your new album! I wanted to start by asking you how long it took you to prepare for this album because 19 songs are a lot for just one album.  

Crush: Thank you! Over the past four years, I've worked on my 3rd full-length album, featuring songs I produced both a while back and more recently. After about 4 years, this long journey has now led to the exciting moment of sharing these tracks with the world.

allkpop: Considering that there are a lot of songs included in this album, what is the main theme or concept of it that binds the tracks together? What is your inspiration behind working on the tracks? 

Crush: I tried to encompass various facets of myself in this 3rd full-length album ‘wonderego,’ which is divided into two parts: “wonder” and “ego.” In the “wonder” section, I experimented with new ideas, while the “ego” part delved into sharing my personal narrative. You might notice a subtle shift in mood between the two segments. 

Beyond this album, I typically draw inspiration from my surroundings, and many thoughts flow to me while taking walks with my dog.

allkpop: You also have albums titled ‘wonderlust’ and ‘wonderlost.’ Does ‘wonderego’ somehow show a relation or connection between the aforementioned albums? What ties these three albums together? 

Crush: ‘Wonder’ is a term that I like, so I aimed to encapsulate its unique atmosphere in this album. Adding the word, “ego” to it, the album diverges from the previous series by candidly capturing my current emotions and experiences, coupled with various experimental elements. Consequently, I believe ‘wonderego’ is best enjoyed as a standalone experience.

allkpop: As someone who has been penning and composing songs for years now, what do you think is the crucial factor and element you consider when crafting new music? How does it feel to be able to infuse your artistic identity into your own music? 

Crush: I tend to write songs based on the inspirations I get and develop them further. When working on an album, I delve deeply into the message and contemplate the story I want to convey. Naturally, a significant part of my personal narrative finds its way into my music. While this process may not always be enjoyable, it has become an integral and inseparable part of my life.

allkpop: You featured numerous artists for some of the tracks. What was it that made you decide to choose these respective artists and what was it like working with them? 

Crush: Many things tend to unfold naturally, such as while in discussions about this album or reminiscing about past collaborations. Notably, PENOMECO contributed to writing the lyrics for the title song “Hmm-cheat,” and his positive feedback on this album was particularly gratifying, for which I am thankful.

allkpop: Speaking of collaborations, could you share with us whom you'd like to work with either for a song release or just a stage collaboration?

Crush: I would love to collaborate further with international artists. Alongside AMAKA, who featured in “Deep End” from this album, I also collaborated with overseas producers like Vedo. The refreshing musical experience from these collaborations has inspired me, and I look forward to more opportunities to work with international talents in the future.

allkpop: This marks your new full album in 4 years. That’s a long time. What do you think has developed in yourself not only as a musician but also as a person? What noteworthy improvements have you observed in yourself within that period? 

Crush: I believe I am still in the process of growth and aspire to continue evolving. If there's any noticeable change over the years, it might be that I've become more capable of letting go and expressing myself more honestly. This album, in particular, candidly incorporates my imperfections and shortcomings.

allkpop: Next year, you'll be celebrating your 11th anniversary as an artist in the Korean music industry. What have you found to be the most challenging and most gratifying, fulfilling aspects of this journey? 

Crush: From my debut in 2012 until 2023, I find numerous reasons to be thankful for my journey in making music for over a decade. The most challenging aspect has been maintaining consistency, and I take great pride in having done so. I owe my current self to the fans who have consistently loved my music, making them my greatest source of pride.

allkpop: You successfully held your end-of-year concert in December! December 25 is Christmas day when most people spend their days with their loved ones, but you decided to hold a concert on the same day as well. How did it feel that there were people, your fans, who chose to spend their time with you on that special day? 

Crush: It was a lot of fun. I put in the effort to prepare a memorable performance, sharing many of the songs from this album. I hope that my fans who enjoyed the performance with their family and friends on Christmas made it an even more unforgettable holiday.

allkpop: 2023 has come to an end. What goals do you hope to achieve in 2024? Tell us about your New Year’s resolutions. 

Crush: It has indeed been a busy year with an overseas tour and establishing my fan club. I'm optimistic about the coming year, and I'm looking forward to more opportunities to connect with fans up close.