Singer DAWN has expanded his musical horizons by incorporating the work of a national intangible heritage master into his new album. Moving beyond simple music production, he has embarked on a project to promote the value of traditional Korean culture.
On the 26th, DAWN shared the production process of his new EP ‘green house’ through his social media, introducing a special collaboration with National Intangible Heritage jade master Chang Joo-won.
DAWN revealed, "While preparing for the album ‘green house’, what I pondered the most was how to capture our national heritage with a contemporary sensibility." He explained, "This project started from the desire to not only record the sounds of nature, but also to convey through music the attitudes and spirits of our ancestors who lived in harmony with nature."
Photos released alongside the announcement show DAWN closely monitoring the work on set. Dressed in a black top against a white studio background, he focuses intently on master Chang Joo-won’s craftsmanship. Another captured moment shows him standing beside the master, observing the process of refining jade.
Notably, the scene of master Chang Joo-won utilizing traditional tools to process jade drew significant attention. DAWN aimed to melt the master’s delicate touch and the profound meaning embedded in the workflow into this project.
Mentioning "the process of cutting and polishing jade originating from nature to complete a single masterpiece," DAWN stated, "The master’s work of stripping away the unnecessary to reveal the inherent beauty of the material reminded me of our ancestors’ spirit, which sought to discover the original value within nature rather than conquering or altering it."
He added, "I wanted to find the point where the vibration of nature and the human spirit intersect through that moment of serene immersion," expressing the intention behind the work.
Previously, DAWN released his new EP ‘green house’ on the 23rd, expressing his contemplation on the pace of life and taking a rest. Reflecting on himself, he shared, "Why can’t I endure and run like others?" and explained that he recorded the time he spent lingering in nature through music.
Taking it a step further this time, he is showcasing a novel attempt to connect nature, tradition, and music by highlighting the work of a national intangible heritage master.
DAWN expressed, "I hope ‘green house’ becomes a time for you to feel the most uniquely Korean beauty and peace," adding, "I hope it serves as an opportunity to look anew at the value of the things we have protected."
He further noted, "Moving forward, value services will discover values that are right beside us but easily overlooked, and I will convey another vibration embedded within them through music."
DAWN, who previously garnered attention for his intense performances, continues to pursue a distinctive musical path by focusing on the touch and philosophy of traditional masters.
