BIGBANG’s Taeyang is back with a new album that captures the very essence of his 20-year journey in music!
During a recent appearance on the “Salon Drip” segment of the YouTube channel “TEO,” Taeyang hyped up fans by sharing behind-the-scenes stories of his fourth full-length album, “Quintessence,” set for release on May 18, as well as the reactions of his fellow BIGBANG members.
Taeyang explained that the album title “Quintessence” means “the purest form of essence.” He shared a funny story about how he initially worried the word was too difficult and asked producer Teddy for his opinion. It turned out the word was the same as the brand of solution Teddy uses to clean his favorite amethyst crystals, making the title feel like destiny!
The strong bond between the BIGBANG members also shone through. While Taeyang noted that the members are “very cold” when it comes to professional work, he revealed that G-Dragon praised the album as “Great,” and Daesung also reacted very positively. Taeyang expressed his deep affection for the group, explaining that mentioning “BIGBANG” in his solo lyrics was a way to express the “miraculous feeling” of sharing 20 years with their fans.
He also opened up about his overwhelming presence at the world-famous Coachella festival. Although he was initially worried due to his hiatus, he admitted that the moment he stepped on stage, he felt it was “Bangchella” (BIGBANG + Coachella), gaining confidence from the fans’ passionate response.
Taeyang sparked laughter by revealing that taking off his shirt on stage wasn’t planned, but he just “felt the vibe” from the crowd’s energy and decided to go for it! He also shared a vivid anecdote about his staff enjoying “American-Chinese food” via a delivery app, even though they were in the middle of the desert.
A well-known “Pyongyang Naengmyeon” (cold noodle) enthusiast, Taeyang shared a story about inviting fans to a noodle restaurant for his birthday. He gained attention for his unique way of communicating, teaching fans the proper way to enjoy the dish (meat first, then noodles) and signing their food reviews.
Taeyang mentioned that his solo album is the “first step” of the big 20th-anniversary year, asking fans to look forward to BIGBANG’s future activities and tours. His essence-filled album, reflecting 20 years of growth, will be available on various music sites on May 18.
