Taeyang has prepared a very special gift to celebrate his birthday!
A listening party for Taeyang’s 4th full-length album, ‘QUINTESSENCE’, was held on the afternoon of the 18th at the Cube Convention Center in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
‘QUINTESSENCE’ marks Taeyang’s first album in 3 years since the 3rd mini album ‘Down to Earth’ released in April 2023, and his first full-length album in a whopping 9 years. True to its name, which means ‘essence’ or ‘quintessence’, the album showcases Taeyang’s distinct musical identity. It is reported to capture the questions and emotions he discovered on his own journey of seeking answers, as well as his personal approach to them.
What makes this comeback even more special is that it lands exactly on Taeyang’s birthday, May 18. When asked if the date was planned, Taeyang shared, “I think this is the first time in 20 years since my debut that I’ve released a new album on my birthday.” He explained, “Actually, ‘QUINTESSENCE’ was originally planned for release early this year. However, I received an offer for Coachella late last year, and once the April date was confirmed, the timing became tricky. I felt that preparing for both Coachella and a comeback would be too overwhelming and I wouldn’t be able to focus properly, so I decided to move it to May. I noticed many other artists release new music on Mondays, and my agency suggested, ‘How about releasing the album as a gift to fans for your birthday?’ That’s how I ended up releasing the full album today. Personally, I’m very happy about it.”
