PHASE 1 : Soft Violence 酷我

태민, 8월 31일 새 EP ‘PHASE 1 : Soft Violence’ 발매!
“아름다움은 때론 잔인하다”…태민, ‘Soft Violence’로 선보이는 새로운 미학
Sweet, Bitter, Silent, Brutal을 오가며 더욱 솔직하고 과감해진 태민의 ‘첫 번째 PHASE’
더블 타이틀곡 ‘FLOAT’와 ‘Gooey’, 달콤하게 떠오르고, 뜨겁게 끈적인다.

태민이 8월 31일 새 EP ‘PHASE 1 : Soft Violence’를 발매한다.

공개와 동시에 화제를 모은 앨범명 ‘Soft Violence’는 서로 상반된 의미를 지닌 ‘Soft’와 ‘Violence’를 결합해, 익숙한 아름다움 속에 존재하는 긴장과 모순, 그리고 그 안에서 일어나는 미세한 균열을 표현하며 태민만의 새로운 미학을 제시한다. 앨범을 관통하는 ‘아름다움은 때론 잔인하다’는 메시지는 타인의 시선과 기대 속에서 완성된 아름다움의 이면을 응시한다.

태민은 이번 앨범에서 자신만의 섬세하고 유연한 감각을 간직한 채, 그 안에 내재된 에너지를 한층 강하고 날카로운 방향으로 확장한다. Sweet, Bitter, Silent, Brutal을 오가며 더욱 솔직하고 과감하게 자신을 표현한다. 특히 기존의 이미지를 벗어던지는 단절이 아닌, 오히려 그 안에 감춰져 있던 거칠고 날것의 면까지 드러내며 스스로 구축해 온 세계의 경계를 넓힌다. 이는 익숙했던 태민을 새로운 시선으로 다시 바라보게 만드는 변화이자 보다 선명해진 그의 모습을 마주하는 과정이다.

이러한 변화는 ‘FLOAT’와 ‘Gooey’를 더블 타이틀곡으로 선보이는 이유와도 맞닿아 있다. ‘FLOAT’는 달콤하게 떠오르고, ‘Gooey’는 뜨겁게 끈적인다. 서로 다른 감각과 온도를 지닌 두 곡을 통해 태민의 상반된 매력을 동시에 보여준다.

타이틀곡 ‘FLOAT’는 감미로운 팝 사운드를 바탕으로 복잡했던 일상도 사랑하는 사람과 함께하는 순간만큼은 동화처럼 평온하고 완벽해지는 설렘을 담아낸 낭만적인 트랙이다. 한편, 사랑의 황홀함 뒤에 자리한 불안과 미묘한 감정을 아름답고 서늘한 이미지로 풀어낸 뮤직비디오는 동화적인 아름다움 속에 긴장감을 더하며 곡의 매력을 한층 극대화한다.
더블 타이틀곡 ‘Gooey’는 클래시컬한 피아노 샘플과 파워풀한 드럼, 공격적인 신스 사운드가 어우러진 힙합 팝 트랙으로, 우아함과 위협적인 에너지를 강렬한 대비로 풀어냈다.

또한 태민은 이번 앨범의 음악과 콘셉트 전반에 적극적으로 참여해 자신의 경험과 생각, 자신만의 이야기를 녹여내며 더욱 깊어진 음악적 색깔을 완성했다. 선공개곡 ‘This Is The End’를 비롯한 신곡 5곡과 코첼라 무대를 통해 먼저 공개돼 뜨거운 반응을 얻었던 ‘Let Me Be The One’, ‘Sober’, ‘PARASITE’ 등 6곡까지 총 11곡을 수록해 확장된 태민의 음악 세계를 밀도 있게 담아낸다.

이처럼 [PHASE 1 : Soft Violence]는 서로 다른 감정과 질감을 넘나들며 익숙함에 균열을 내고 자신의 본질을 새롭게 드러내는 태민의 ‘첫 번째 PHASE’다.

01. FLOAT *타이틀곡
Lyrics by Drew Love, Bava
Composed by SOFTSERVEBOY, Drew Love, Bava
Arranged by SOFTSERVEBOY
타이틀곡 ‘FLOAT’는 감미로운 팝 사운드에 개러지 드럼 리듬과 아날로그 악기들이 어우러진 아늑하고 낭만적인 트랙이다. 복잡한 일상도 사랑하는 이와 함께라면 동화처럼 완벽해지는 설렘을 태민의 섬세한 보컬과 여성 보컬 레이어드로 포근하게 풀어냈다.

02. Gooey *타이틀곡
Korean Lyrics by jonjon (XYXX), TAEMIN, BUMZU
Composed by ditch david, Ninos Hanna, Jack Samson, WILJAM, CX Lucas, Hautboi Rich, A-Dee
Arranged by ditch david, CX Lucas
더블 타이틀곡인 ‘Gooey’는 클래시컬한 피아노 샘플과 파워풀한 드럼, 공격적인 신스가 조화를 이루는 퍼포먼스 중심의 힙합 팝 트랙이다. 태민이 작사에 참여해 무대 위에서 완전히 녹아들며 하나로 얽히는 자유롭고 치명적인 매력을 ‘Gooey’라는 단어에 감각적으로 비유했다.

03. Let Me Be The One
Lyrics by Kuk Harrell, Hidde Huijsman, TAEMIN
Composed by Kuk Harrell, Hidde Huijsman
Arranged by Kuk Harrell, Hidde Huijsman
‘Let Me Be The One’은 레트로 감성을 현대적으로 풀어낸 세련된 멜로디와 경쾌한 리듬이 돋보이는 뉴잭스윙 스타일의 곡이다. 태민이 작사·작곡에 참여하여 자유롭고 낭만적인 밤의 에너지를 담아냈으며, 듣는 이들에게 순수한 즐거움과 특별한 설렘을 선사한다.

04. PERMISSION
Lyrics by TAEMIN, James Abrahart, Rachel West, Isaac Han, Jeasoo Kim, Dae Sung Ho, Chun Jae Young
Composed by Yarden Peleg, TAEMIN, James Abrahart, Rachel West
Arranged by Yarden Peleg p/k/a JORDi
어둡고 세련된 사운드 위로 절제된 리듬과 몰입감 있는 보컬이 긴장감 있게 전개되는 ‘PERMISSION’은 태민이 작사에 참여하여 타인의 기준과 통제에서 벗어나 스스로 삶을 주도하겠다는 단호한 해방의 메시지를 담아냈다.

05. Sober
Lyrics by TAEMIN, Shaquille Rayes, San Yoon
Composed by TAEMIN, San Yoon, John McLucas, Jimmy Claeson, Chris Wahle
Arranged by 94K
‘Sober’는 청량한 어반 댄스 팝 비트 위에 리드미컬하고 세련된 사운드가 레이어드된 중독성 있는 얼터너티브 댄스 팝 곡이다. 작사에는 태민이 참여하며 상대에게 이성을 잃고 깊이 빠져드는 치명적인 사랑과, 그 중독에서 깨어나기를 거부하는 강렬한 욕망을 매혹적으로 표현했다.

06. 1004
Lyrics by TAEMIN, Josh Cumbee, Tricia Battani
Composed by G’Harah “PK” Degeddingseze, Josh Cumbee, Tricia Battani, TAEMIN
Arranged by G’Harah “PK” Degeddingseze
'1004'는 차분하게 흐르는 피아노 선율로 시작해 후렴에 이르러 드라마틱하게 고조되는 트랙 전개가 강렬함을 더하는 팝 곡이다. 태민이 작사·작곡에 참여해 동음이의어인 '천사(Angel)'를 활용, 멀어져 간 연인을 천사에 비유하며 잊혀지지 않는 아련한 추억과 그리움을 시적인 언어로 풀어냈다.

07. Easy Loving You
Korean Lyrics by Tatte, TAEMIN
Composed by Anders Nilsen, Maria Mena, Gerard O’Connell, A-Dee
Arranged by Anders Nilsen
감미로운 왈츠 리듬과 따스한 어쿠스틱 사운드가 어우러진 미디엄 템포 발라드 트랙으로, 닫혀 있던 마음이 상대를 향해 자연스럽게 열리는 순간을 아름다운 비유로 풀어내며 깊은 서정성을 전달한다.

08. SKIN
Lyrics by Alessandra Gazal, Eva Rawlings
Composed by SOFTSERVEBOY, Alessandra Gazal, Eva Rawlings
Arranged by SOFTSERVEBOY
묵직한 베이스 라인과 강렬한 힙합 드럼이 곡 전체를 이끌며 긴장감을 자아내는 힙합 팝 트랙인 ‘SKIN’은 낡은 허물을 벗듯 과거의 정체성을 탈피하고 스스로를 새롭게 정의하며 얻는 자유와 도전을 당당하게 선언한다.

09. PARASITE
Lyrics by TAEMIN, Shaquille Rayes, San Yoon, Molly Moore
Composed by TAEMIN, San Yoon, John McLucas, Molly Moore, Andreas Ohrn
Arranged by 94K
‘PARASITE’는 웅장한 첼로와 오르간 사운드로 시작해 후렴구의 강렬한 비트로 시네마틱한 반전을 선사하는 얼터너티브 록 스타일의 팝 곡이다. 태민이 작사·작곡에 참여해 사랑이라는 이름 아래 빼앗겼던 자아를 직시하고 되찾으려는 강렬한 저항 의지를 담아냈다.

10. Frankenstein
Lyrics by TAEMIN, Shaquille Rayes, San Yoon, SeoWoo Chae, Ed Williams
Composed by TAEMIN, San Yoon, John McLucas
Arranged by 94K
‘Frankenstein’은 쓸쓸한 피아노와 몽환적인 스트링 위로 폭발적인 베이스가 더해져 잔혹하면서도 서정적인 분위기를 자아내는 트랙이다. 프랑켄슈타인 모티브를 통해 사랑받기 위해 끊임없이 자신을 바꾸어 가는 과정에서 결국 정체성을 잃고 괴물로 남겨진 비극적인 감정을 처절하게 그려냈다.

11. This Is The End
Lyrics by TAEMIN, Shaquille Rayes, San Yoon
Composed by TAEMIN, San Yoon, John McLucas, Jimmy Claeson
Arranged by 94K
절제된 피아노 선율과 점차 고조되는 비트가 영화 같은 몰입감을 선사하는 얼터너티브 댄스 팝 곡으로 태민이 작사·작곡에 참여해 억압해 온 세계와의 단절을 통한 해방감과, 모든 것이 끝난 자리에서 다시 시작되는 주체적인 재탄생을 선언한다.


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TAEMIN to Release New EP ‘PHASE 1 : Soft Violence’ on August 31
“Beauty can be brutal” – TAEMIN Unveils a New Aesthetic with Soft Violence
Sweet, Bitter, Silent, Brutal – TAEMIN Steps into His First Phase, More Honest and Daring Than Ever.
Double Title Tracks “FLOAT” and “Gooey” – One Drifts Sweet, the Other Burns with a Sticky Heat.

TAEMIN will release his new EP ‘PHASE 1: Soft Violence’ on August 31.

The album title Soft Violence, which sparked intrigue from the moment it was revealed, brings together two seemingly opposing ideas – “soft” and “violence”. Through this juxtaposition, the album explores the tension and contradictions beneath familiar notions of beauty, as well as the subtle fractures that begin to emerge with them, introducing a new aesthetic distinctly TAEMIN’s own. As its core is the message, “Beauty can be brutal”, which looks beyond the surface of beauty shaped by the gaze and expectations of others.

For this album, TAEMIN retains his signature sense of delicacy and fluidity while channeling the energy within it into something sharper and more powerful. Moving between Sweet, Bitter, Silent, and Brutal, he expresses himself with greater honesty and boldness than ever before. Rather than breaking away from the image he has built over the years, TAEMIN pushes its boundaries by revealing the rawer, rougher edges that have always existed beneath the surface. In doing so, he expands the world he has carefully shaped on his own terms. This evolution invites listeners to see the familiar TAEMIN through a new lens – revealing a version of himself that feels more vivid, defined, and fully realized.

This evolution is also reflected in the choice of “FLOAT” and “Gooey” as the album’s double title tracks. “FLOAT” drifts sweetly, while “Gooey” smolders with a hot, sticky intensity. Through two tracks with distinctly different textures and temperatures, TAEMIN reveals two contrasting sides of himself.

Title track “FLOAT” is a romantic pop track built on a smooth, melodic sound, capturing the thrill of how even the most complicated days can feel perfectly peaceful – almost like a fairytale – when shared with someone you love. Its music video explores the unease and subtle emotions that linger beneath the euphoria of love through imagery that is both beautiful and chilling, adding a sense of tension to its fairytale-like world and further amplifying the song’s allure.

Double title track “Gooey” is a hip-hop pop track that blends a classical piano sample with powerful drums and aggressive synths, creating a striking contrast between elegance and a darker, more threatening energy.

TAEMIN also took an active role in shaping the album’s music and overall concept, weaving his own experiences, thoughts, and stories throughout to create a body of work that reflects an even deeper sense of his musical identity.

The album features a total of 11 tracks: five new songs, including the pre-release single “This Is The End”, and six tracks previously unveiled during his Coachella performances, including “Let Me Be The One”, “Sober”, and “PARASITE”, which received an enthusiastic response upon their debut. Together, the 11 tracks offer a rich and cohesive portrait of TAEMIN’s ever-expanding musical world.

In this way, PHASE 1 : Soft Violence marks TAEMIN’s first PHASE – moving across contrasting emotions and textures, disrupting the familiar, and revealing a new dimension of his artistry.

01. FLOAT *Title Track
Lyrics by Drew Love, Bava
Composed by SOFTSERVEBOY, Drew Love, Bava
Arranged by SOFTSERVEBOY
Title track “FLOAT” is a warm and romantic pop track that blends a smooth, melodic sound with garage-inspired drum rhythms and analog instrumentation. Capturing the rush of how even the complexities of everyday life can feel like a perfect fairytale when shared with someone you love, the song wraps TAEMIN’s delicate vocals in layers of female harmonies, creating a soft and intimate atmosphere.

02. Gooey *Title Track
Korean Lyrics by jonjon (XYXX), TAEMIN, BUMZU
Composed by ditch david, Ninos Hanna, Jack Samson, WILJAM, CX Lucas, Hautboi Rich, A-Dee
Arranged by ditch david, CX Lucas
Double title track “Gooey” is a performance-driven hip-hop pop track that brings together a classical piano sample, powerful drums, and aggressive synths. TAEMIN took part in writing the lyrics, using “Gooey” as a sensual metaphor for the free and dangerously alluring energy of becoming completely immersed in the performance and intertwined as one on stage.

03. Let Me Be The One
Lyrics by Kuk Harrell, Hidde Huijsman, TAEMIN
Composed by Kuk Harrell, Hidde Huijsman
Arranged by Kuk Harrell, Hidde Huijsman
“Let Me Be The One” is a New Jack Swing-inspired track that reimagines retro sensibilities through a modern lens, driven by a sleek melody and upbeat rhythm. TAEMIN took part in both writing and composing the song, capturing the free-spirited, romantic energy of the night and delivering a sense of pure joy and exhilarating anticipation.

04. PERMISSION (CD Only)
Lyrics by TAEMIN, James Abrahart, Rachel West, Isaac Han, Jeasoo Kim, Dae Sung Ho, Chun Jae Young
Composed by Yarden Peleg, TAEMIN, James Abrahart, Rachel West
Arranged by Yarden Peleg p/k/a JORDi
“PERMISSION” unfolds with a sense of tension, pairing a dark, sophisticated sound with restrained rhythms and immersive vocals. TAEMIN took part in writing the lyrics, delivering a resolute message of liberation—a determination to break free from the expectations and control of others and take ownership of his own life.

05. Sober
Lyrics by TAEMIN, Shaquille Rayes, San Yoon
Composed by TAEMIN, San Yoon, John McLucas, Jimmy Claeson, Chris Wahle
Arranged by 94K
“Sober” is an addictive alternative dance-pop track that layers rhythmic, sophisticated sounds over a refreshing urban dance-pop beat. TAEMIN took part in writing the lyrics, captivatingly portraying a dangerously intoxicating love that leaves him completely consumed by another person, along with an intense desire to remain lost in the addiction rather than break free from it.

06. 1004
Lyrics by TAEMIN, Josh Cumbee, Tricia Battani
Composed by G’Harah “PK” Degeddingseze, Josh Cumbee, Tricia Battani, TAEMIN
Arranged by G’Harah “PK” Degeddingseze
“1004” is a pop track that begins with a gentle piano melody before building dramatically into the chorus, adding to its emotional intensity. TAEMIN took part in both writing and composing the song, playing on the Korean wordplay of “1004” (cheon-sa), which sounds like the word for “angel”. Comparing a lover who has drifted away to an angel, he captures lingering memories and a sense of longing through poetic lyrics.

07. Easy Loving You
Korean Lyrics by Tatte, TAEMIN
Composed by Anders Nilsen, Maria Mena, Gerard O’Connell, A-Dee
Arranged by Anders Nilsen
A mid-tempo ballad that blends a gentle waltz rhythm with warm acoustic sounds, the track uses delicate imagery to portray the moment a once-guarded heart naturally begins to open up to someone, creating a deeply tender and lyrical atmosphere.

08. SKIN
Lyrics by Alessandra Gazal, Eva Rawlings
Composed by SOFTSERVEBOY, Alessandra Gazal, Eva Rawlings
Arranged by SOFTSERVEBOY
“SKIN” is a hip-hop pop track driven by a heavy bassline and hard-hitting hip-hop drums that build tension throughout. Like shedding an old skin, the song boldly declares the freedom and challenge of breaking away from a past identity and redefining oneself on one’s own terms.


09. PARASITE
Lyrics by TAEMIN, Shaquille Rayes, San Yoon, Molly Moore
Composed by TAEMIN, San Yoon, John McLucas, Molly Moore, Andreas Ohrn
Arranged by 94K
“PARASITE” is an alternative rock-inspired pop track that opens with grand cello and organ sounds before taking a cinematic turn with a powerful beat in the chorus. TAEMIN took part in both writing and composing the song, channeling a fierce determination to confront and reclaim the sense of self that was lost in the name of love.

10. Frankenstein
Lyrics by TAEMIN, Shaquille Rayes, San Yoon, SeoWoo Chae, Ed Williams
Composed by TAEMIN, San Yoon, John McLucas
Arranged by 94K
“Frankenstein” is a haunting track that pairs somber piano and dreamlike strings with explosive bass, creating an atmosphere that feels both brutal and deeply lyrical. Drawing on the motif of Frankenstein, the song paints a tragic portrait of someone who endlessly reshapes themselves in pursuit of love, only to lose their identity and ultimately be left behind as a monster.

11. This Is The End
Lyrics by TAEMIN, Shaquille Rayes, San Yoon
Composed by TAEMIN, San Yoon, John McLucas, Jimmy Claeson
Arranged by 94K
An alternative dance-pop track that pairs a restrained piano melody with a gradually intensifying beat, creating a cinematic sense of immersion. TAEMIN took part in both writing and composing the song, declaring a sense of liberation through breaking away from a world that had held him back, and an empowered rebirth that begins where everything else ends.