[INTERVIEW] How DAY6 Wonpil’s inner struggles shaped ‘Unpiltered’

On a quiet Tuesday morning in a cafe tucked inside Seoul’s Gangnam district, Wonpil sits in a camel-colored jacket, his wide, expressive eyes flickering between excitement and visible nerves.

Known to fans as the spirited keyboardist and vocalist of K-pop band DAY6, the 31-year-old singer is preparing to introduce a more vulnerable side of himself through his upcoming solo mini-album, “Unpiltered,” set for release Monday.

“It still feels surreal,” Wonpil told The Korea Times with a soft laugh. “Even doing this interview feels unbelievable. Preparing this album made me realize once again that music can never be created by one person alone.”

The new project comes a whopping four years after his first solo release, “Pilmography” in February 2022. The seven-track release features the emotionally charged lead single “Highs and Lows,” alongside songs like “Toxic Love,” “Up All Night” and “Step by Step.”

Wonpil of DAY6 / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

While DAY6 has long been associated with youthful K-band anthems and uplifting pop-rock, Wonpil says he reached a turning point around the band’s 10th anniversary.

“I kept thinking about the image people have of us,” he explained. “We are known as a band that sings bright songs about youth. I wondered whether we should continue in that direction or approach listeners with a different color.”

That internal questioning ultimately shaped “Unpiltered,” an album he describes as existing “somewhere between completely new sounds and the music we have been known for.”

The album’s title merges the word “unfiltered” with the singer’s own name. Wonpil frames the project as a deeply personal statement, signaling his intention to present stories in their most honest form.

“Highs and Lows” captures that intent, unfolding over a darker sonic palette that reflects the brutal aftermath of a failed romance.

“I had feelings inside me that I wanted to let out,” the singer said. “As I get older, I feel like I cannot make the same music I did before. But the message about life and youth will always remain.”

Wonpil of K-pop band DAY6 / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

That catharsis extended beyond the recording studio. During the project’s concept film and music video shoots, he recalled crying until he was physically exhausted.

“I realized smiling had almost become something I had learned to do automatically,” he said. “Seeing myself in such a raw state made me feel, ‘This is actually who I am.'”

Despite the album’s intense emotional undercurrents, Wonpil — fully aware that the behind-the-scenes stories could stir concern among fans — emphasized that “Unpiltered” is not rooted in any single personal incident. Instead, it reflects an amplified version of his inner struggles that many listeners might connect to.

“I wish there were a place where people could scream freely and say they are struggling,” he said. “Everyone endures so much silently.”

The artist hopes the record will offer listeners both solace and release.

“I want people who feel pressure in their daily lives, especially because of relationships or social situations, to feel a sense of relief when they hear these songs,” he said.

Wonpil of K-pop band DAY6 smiles ahead of an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul’s Gangnam District, Tuesday. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

Musically, Wonpil also sought to break away from his own habits on the new album. After more than a decade of songwriting, he deliberately challenged familiar melodic patterns, drawing inspiration from heavier pop-rock influences, including bands like Imagine Dragons.

Park Jin-young, the industry veteran and founder of Wonpil’s longtime agency JYP Entertainment, noted the singer’s artistic shift when he previewed the project.

“He told me he could see a completely new side of me and the potential for my music to expand in new directions,” Wonpil said. “Hearing that reassured me that what I wanted to express was coming across.”

Looking ahead, Wonpil will bring the new material to the stage at his “Unpiltered” solo concerts in Seoul this May, marking a stark contrast to his pandemic-era solo shows, where audience interaction was limited. This time, he hopes to reconnect with fans in a more immersive way.

Wonpil of DAY6 / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

“I just want to send this music out into the world as soon as possible,” he said. “I have been imagining listeners’ reactions every day. I feel like I am almost sick with anticipation.”

For an artist who has built his career delivering comfort through melody, “Unpiltered” signals not a departure, but an expansion of his spectrum.

As Wonpil puts it, “I want to make music that helps people keep living — music that makes them feel they are not alone.”