Paul Blanco, a trending artist expanding his reach in the Korean hip-hop and R&B scene with his unique sensibility, participated in the production of “LOVE LIKE THIS” and “YES” from the album ‘Quintessence’.
During the event, Taeyang explained the reason why he teamed up with Paul Blanco, noting that among the artists he considered collaborating with, Paul was the most proactive in reaching out.
Taeyang shared that whenever he works with a new producer, he often worries that there might be limitations in musical communication if they aren’t familiar with his musical background or legacy. However, those worries vanished because Paul Blanco grew up listening to BIGBANG and is a huge fan of early R&B tracks like “Fool Who Cries.”
He mentioned that the first song Paul sent was “YES,” and as soon as he heard it, he felt it was a style of music he could execute perfectly. Taeyang expressed his deep affection, saying, “Paul put his heart and soul into it from start to finish, as if he were making his own album. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you so much.”
“LOVE LIKE THIS,” a collaboration between Taeyang and Paul Blanco, is an R&B track featuring Taeyang’s soulful voice over a groovy rhythm. “YES” is a sweet song with an addictive repeating “Yes” phrase, featuring a surprising twist by sampling BIGBANG and 2NE1’s “Lollipop” during the transition from the bridge to the outro.
‘Quintessence’ is Taeyang’s first solo full-length album in nine years since ‘White Night’ and celebrates his 20th debut anniversary. The album consists of 10 tracks, including the title song “LIVE FAST DIE SLOW.” The word ‘Quintessence’ refers to the “essence” or “purest form” of something.
