Q&A: EL CAPITXN Prevails
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY GIGI KANG ☆
Photo by Cozy Rose
“THOUGH EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY, WHAT IS THE SAME IS PAIN—and the amount of pain we feel. I think there is beauty in carrying that and still pushing forward,” says EL CAPITXN.
The South Korean artist is the exact image of dedication. Over the past decade, EL CAPITXN has lived with a mysterious condition limiting his singing voice. It was the reason he had to pivot numerous parts of his life, including his music career. Instead of giving up, he moved away from the stage to behind the scenes and proved himself as one of South Korea’s most influential producers and songwriters.
Now, EL CAPITXN is reinventing his relationship with music and returning to the limelight. In collaboration with Jeremy Zucker and TAEHYUN of TXT, he released his debut solo single “Breaking Through” in March via his own company, Vendors Production, and EMPIRE. Despite the immense ache of loss, the frustration of not understanding why his struggles had to happen, and the uncertainty that resulted, EL CAPITXN chose to persevere rather than succumb to circumstance.
Through lyrics like “I just can’t think of starting again,” the song expresses EL CAPITXN’s hardships of having to build himself as an artist all over again. But he also conveys the irrepressible desire to grow as a musician alongside obstacles rather than surrender to them through lyrics like “I can’t lose you” and “Said you’re my world and you really are.” After all, music is EL CAPITXN’s greatest passion.
“Breaking Through” is a symbol of him doing things his way. He’s innovating his approach to music, such as the hybrid DJ performance on his WHO KILLED EL? world tour that wrapped up in March. He worked around the challenges his voice presents and put on a show that demonstrated all he has to offer as an artist, including a renewed confidence. Despite unimaginable setbacks, EL CAPITXN prevails.
If you are somebody who has known pain, or are feeling stuck and disheartened, you will certainly find understanding in EL CAPITXN. Through his courageous honesty, EL CAPITXN reassures listeners that it’s ok to get back up after loss, to be patient with ourselves and our scars, and to try again and again until we find the strength that we might once have believed was gone forever.
Read Luna’s conversation with EL CAPITXN below and be sure to check out “Breaking Through.”
Photo by Cozy Rose
LUNA: How did the WHO KILLED EL? tour go for you?
EL CAPITXN: The tour was a really big challenge and adventure. For me, it was a big chance and a big movement as an artist. It was an experience that was quite special and like no other to establish myself as an artist in this way.
LUNA: Congratulations on “Breaking Through.” The track marks the start of a new chapter for you as an artist. What intentions are you going into this chapter with?
EL CAPITXN: It may be my second try at this, but really it’s also like my first try. I am needing to break through something that is inside me and I think that’s the effort I need to make. That’s what I hope to do and break through it.
LUNA: Even though “Breaking Through” sounds like a love song, I think it could apply to other things too, such as your love for music and not wanting to lose music. What role does that love for music play in your day-to-day life?
EL CAPITXN: It’s so hard because the lyrics [say] I only think of you and I can’t concentrate on anything else. It’s expressing that all I can do is keep remembering and thinking and reminiscing.
LUNA: The music video also shows equal parts pain and equal parts celebration. That bittersweetness is my favorite thing about the song.
EL CAPITXN: What I wanted to express through the music video was that when you love hard, you’re so happy but you’re also so sad. There is pain in that. I also wanted to show [despite] going through this, I’m working hard through everything, and [I wanted to] show that visually.
LUNA: This song and new chapter of your career comes after a long period of difficulty, and you’re not giving up. What have you learned about yourself as a musician through the challenges?
EL CAPITXN: I think you’ve said exactly that. My situation is broken and hurt, but it’s meaningful to walk with the brokenness and the pain. It’s not an easy thing to do, but we do it.
LUNA: As a producer and songwriter, you translate the stories of others into music. It requires a willingness to understand others’ experiences and empathize. What does being a producer teach you about human connection?
EL CAPITXN: I’m not very sociable but through music, I can feel people’s hurt and happiness. To me, human connection is expressing their stories in a song, oftentimes under three minutes. It’s a lot of pressure and it’s difficult. It’s not the same as just another relationship because I have to express them through music, then help others empathize and feel that too. I try really hard to understand [their stories] because it’s not how I usually function.
LUNA: What have you learned about the art of storytelling from working with the stories of others?
EL CAPITXN: For me, storytelling is straightforward and simple. It’s fleshing out what’s in my mind and putting it out. Expressing [another] artist’s emotions through storytelling is not easy. When I have to do that, I contemplate and try to understand deeply. False and fake stories are easy to tell; to tell a truthful story is much harder.
LUNA: It’s like breaking through the walls that sometimes you don’t even notice are up but, over the years, you gain them. I think “Breaking Through” is a wonderful title choice for the first part of this new chapter.
EL CAPITXN: Because it’s the first song that I’m coming out with, I’m using it to express myself. I am starting new again and I was like, “Do I want to showcase something cool?” How I need to come off was a big question. I’m not normally great at expressing myself, but I thought that I’m going to try expressing myself for the first time. I felt like breaking through was exactly what I was trying to do.
LUNA: It’s funny that you say you’re not great at expressing yourself because a lot of the music that you’ve co-written with other artists is very expressive. I’m happy that you’re able to step in and tell your story now, but I think you’ve always had that ability.
EL CAPITXN: I think from a certain point, I’ve been trying really hard to express myself and break through and move forward. It makes no sense not to break through. I’m still trying quite hard not to hide. Even if the side I show doesn’t end up being cool, or others are like, “What is he doing?”—I don’t want to hide. I want to keep doing what I’m doing.
LUNA: You have an album planned to release later this year. Is there anything new you’re trying musically on this album that you haven’t been able to before?
EL CAPITXN: There’s so much that is new. I am deeply contemplating all the time how to show myself through music to others. Sometimes I think one way is right, then other times I think another way is right. There was a lot to choose from, but I think I have found a sense to do it. I plan on going forward quite boldly.
