Akdong Musician Release 1st Album Since Brother's Military Discharge

Akdong Musician /Courtesy of YG Entertainment

Sibling duo Akdong Musician released their first album in more than two years.

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The duo had to take a hiatus from the music scene as the brother, Lee Chan-hyuk, joined the Marines for his mandatory military service, which he completed in May.

They say they have matured and nurtured themselves over that period, and that is reflected in the new release, their third regular album. The new album appears to be a departure from their previous lively and upbeat style, which has made them popular since their debut in 2014.  

Chan-hyuk wrote most of the songs while serving in the military. "I wrote most of the songs on the album during one month while I was on a ship", he said, adding that the circumstances required an old-fashioned approach. "I wrote lyrics in my notebook [real notebook, not laptop], and wrote the melodies underneath. Because I didn't have a recorder, I memorized the melodies by heart".

Lee Suhyun said, "While he was away, I worked independently in other areas of showbiz, appearing in entertainment shows and hosting a radio program. I experienced a lot of new emotions and worked on expressing a wider range of feelings in my singing".

While serving, Chan-hyuk also found time to write a book, which hit bookstores this week. "It's a novel that I wrote during my free time in the military between 10 p.m. and midnight every night. Some songs on the album share titles with chapters in the book, so together they will be a perfect way to stimulate the imaginations of readers and listeners", he said.