The meeting between Rolling Stone Korea and I.M took place in Seoul on the last day of October. I.M, a member of MONSTA X, recently signed an exclusive contract with Sony Music. When asked by the editor about his recent status after the contract, he replied, "I've been focusing on my solo album recently, so I'm taking time to focus entirely on myself," raising expectations for future solo activities. I.M, who likes Chet Baker, had a loose and romantic atmosphere. To listen to I.M's voice, which speaks his musical convictions in a calm and low tone It won't be easy not to fall for him. Let's listen to I.M's story with "Everything Happens To Me," which he often listens to these days.

1. [RSK] Hello, I.M. Nice to meet you! Before we begin, please introduce yourself and say hello to our subscribers.

Hello, Rolling Stone Korea. I'm I.M.

2. [RSK] How have you been these days?

 I'm working on music, organizing my schedule, and working out.

3. [RSK] I heard you recently signed an exclusive contract with Sony Music. Is there a reason why you chose Sony Music?

Sony Music showed me enthusiastic interest and detailed plans. I was grateful for their sincerity.

4. [RSK] This season was busy for some reason, and I feel like I have to look back on the past year and restructure many things. Do you like it when things are busy and hectic, like right now?

Well, apart from preference, this period seems very hectic. There are many events and awards ceremonies at the end of the year, so it's busier than ever. I think it's a very busy time. (laughs)

5. [RSK] Let's talk about I.M's past. You lived abroad, such as Israel and the United States. How did this experience affect you?

I was influenced by the way of thinking because I was exposed to various objects, environments, and people. So, I came to think not limited to one thing, and I came to think, “That could be."

6. [RSK] I bet it was a struggle to adjust here in Korea after living abroad for so long.

Actually, I came to Korea when I was in the second grade of elementary school, so I'm totally Korean now. (Thinking hard) I'm a little confused now. (Laughs) Oh, I remember learning Korean at that time when my dictation test score started at zero.

7. [RSK] When did you first decide to do music?

I was in my room and all of a sudden I thought, "What if I made a song?” That's how I started. It was about seventeen or eighteen.

8. [RSK] Are there any differences between when you're active in a group versus you're working solo?

When you're in a group, you have to consider the needs of the public. I have to make a collection of various parts, but when I do a solo, there are a lot of things that come from my personal emotions, so I think I focus on myself.

9. [RSK] I heard that your dad played a musical influence in your life. Is the reason as to why you like jazz music?

Yes, that's right. I woke up listening to classical music and jazz when I was young. The home audio system was well-equipped at home, which seems to have affected me a lot. My father plays music whenever he is at home.

10. [RSK] I heard that you like Chet Baker's "I Fall in Love So Easily." What are the reasons for liking Chet Baker?

I'm not a quick talker. The song I'm making isn't a fast tempo either. Since I have a calm atmosphere when I'm alone, I naturally thought that jazz and I were similar in texture. Listening to it makes me feel at ease.

11. [RSK] Do you still enjoy listening to <I fall in love so easy> these days?

I like "Everything Happens to Me" these days. I like Hisaishi Joe's "HANA-BI".

12. [RSK] The solo album, starts with "Duality," which was composed and written by you, as you are active in producing songs. Where do you get your inspirations when you're write a song?

I think it comes out a lot when I'm alone. Observing things around me or putting myself in a virtual situation to make a song. And I watch movies too. When I can't think of any inspiration, I drink.

13. [RSK] You told me about the movie, is there anything you remember recently?

I watched “The Accidental Narco, Narco-Saints.”

14. [RSK] Do you usually enjoy crime genres such as “The Accidental Narco, Narco-Saints”?

Well, I think old movies catch my eye. The colors at that time are low-definition, but it's pretty. I like colors like “Joe Black's Love.” I also watched "Mood Indigo.”

15. [RSK] Emotions are probably one of the inspiration factors, so which of those emotions inspires you the most?

There are times when I write songs with joy, and such as depression, loneliness, and sadness as materials. It's hard to choose a particular emotion, and I always write with a sincere heart.

16. [RSK] What is the process of linking this inspiration to your projects?

Well, it's kind of random. For example, you sing a melody in the word you see in front of you and find a similar rhyme there and use the rhyme. I think it's a little hard to unify this process into one. It's something that comes out of nowhere. I write it down in my cell phone's memo. I write it down on my memo app, or make something while making the melody line. It's unspecified.

17. [RSK] You must meet a lot of people as an artist. What type of people do you vibe well with?

Well, it's a hard question. Someone who is vibe well with me… I like people who are not shallow. I think being humorous and being shallow is another. It's hard to get close to someone who's not showing serious thought. 

18. [RSK] As we get older, we experience our love ones leaving our sides. How do you deal with losses and breakups?

"Time.” Is it too obvious? Actually, I've been in the entertainment industry for 8 years, so the people I worked with are leaving, and the fans who have liked me for a long time go to other people (laugh). But as time goes by, the position seems to be filled in any form. It's a shame if you can't see them forever, but if you can see it again, it's not now. You can see it anywhere.

19. [RSK] What kind of artist do you want to be remembered by the public?

I don't think I've ever thought about this while making music. Well, I think I'm getting a lot of my color on my work. When people around me listen to my work, they say it's like me. So I want to continue working like this.

20. [RSK] Could you give a little bit of spoiler to fans who are waiting for your new album?

That's true of any work, but even if I was satisfied at that time, I could see a lot of empty spaces afterwards. In terms of that, I think the next album will be better. Hint will be... ‘something better?’ (laughs)

21. [RSK] Thank you for your long interview with Rolling Stone Korea. It was a time to get to know I.M better. Lastly, please tell us how you feel about the interview and any last words that you would like to share.

I hope it's a time where you get to know me a little bit. I'm confident in what I'm going to make, so I want to tell you that stay tuned, and please look forward to it!

Photographs by Sony Music Korea