In recent years, Dailog has slowly begun to rewrite its own story. As he continued releasing music under his own name, the questions guiding his creative process also changed subtly: he started to pay closer attention to what he wanted to say and how his own daily experiences could become the foundation of “Dailog.”

In this special interview, Dailog opens up about his thought process behind creating the yearning melody of romantic songs and his recent EP, Cantabile, which echoes the question, “What if the music I release became the soundtrack to a romance film or drama?” Along the way, he reflects on what he has discovered a little bit more about himself in love.

Congratulations on your new EP, Cantabile. I heard this release was born from the question, “What if the music I release became the soundtrack to a romance film or drama?” As a producer who has worked across K-drama OSTs, what made you want to tell your own romance story through this release?

While working on drama OSTs, I’ve expressed countless love stories through music. But at some point, I began to wonder what it would be like to tell a story based on the emotions and experiences I’ve personally lived through. At the same time, I found myself imagining, “What would it look like if the music I made became a romance film of its own?”

Cantabile was born from that question. Rather than focusing on grand or dramatic love stories, I wanted to capture the warmth that can be found in everyday moments. I think this EP naturally connects my experience as a composer with my personal emotions as a singer-songwriter.

You have spent eight years building your career in music production and songwriting, working on soundtracks for dramas such as Hospital Playlist, Tale of the Nine Tailed, Can This Love Be Translated, and more while working with K-pop artists along the way. What have those experiences taught you about creating music that connects with different audiences?

Through working on dramas and with K-pop artists, I’ve come to better understand the importance of accessibility and universality in music. Because these projects are often created for large audiences, they require emotions and situations that many people can relate to. As a result, I often found myself writing music that was rooted in familiarity rather than something overly niche or obscure.

At the same time, I believe it’s important for creators not to lose sight of the sense of freshness that can be discovered within familiarity. For me, that freshness comes from finding and expressing my own identity. That’s something I continue to pursue in my work.

After many years of creating music for dramas, do you still find yourself approaching songwriting with a cinematic mindset, almost as if you are creating a soundtrack for a film or drama?

Yes, I think it has become almost second nature to me.

Whenever I listen to music, I tend to imagine scenes first. When I write songs, I often picture specific characters, places, or atmospheres as I work. Even in my personal projects, I sometimes imagine an entire fictional film in my head and write music as if I were creating its soundtrack. That’s probably why a cinematic atmosphere naturally remains in my music.

One of the reasons I love music is that great music can make any moment feel special. No matter the situation, it can make you feel like the main character of a scene—even if it’s just an ordinary day.

Now that you have released several EPs under your name, what was the biggest creative or emotional challenge in making that transition into a singer-songwriter? Was there any hesitation or pressure when you decided to release music under your own name as Dailog?

The most difficult part was realizing that there was no single right answer. 

As a producer, the direction and goals of a project are usually quite clear. But with personal music, I have to make every decision myself. I have to decide what kind of music I want to make, what stories I want to tell, and how I want to be remembered. Of course, there was pressure. But at the same time, it was also the space where I could be the most honest. Over time, I realized that documenting who I am in the present moment is more important than trying to present a perfect version of myself. These days, I try to let go of that pressure, enjoy the freedom, and simply have fun creating music.

Cr: Dailog // Cantabile

The name “Dailog” comes from the idea of documenting a “daily log” of emotions and moments through music. When did you realize that your own daily emotions could potentially become the foundation of your artist identity?

I think I realized it while documenting ordinary moments rather than extraordinary ones.

Looking back, many of the songs I loved most weren’t about grand stories—they were about everyday emotions. And when I looked at the music I had written myself, I noticed that it also came from my own life and experiences. That’s when I started to feel that documenting everyday life could become the foundation of Dailog’s identity.

Cantabile has this light, romantic atmosphere. While creating this EP, did you discover anything new about the way you understand love or vulnerability?

That’s an interesting question.

This album is a story about warm and loving relationships. But in order to talk about warmth, you can’t help but be aware of coldness as well. While writing these warm songs and lyrics, I often found myself reflecting on some of the colder and more difficult periods of my life.

Looking back, some of my deepest pain came from relationships. But at the same time, the people who helped me live, grow, and find happiness were also relationships. I think that because we are vulnerable, we need to love one another.

After working on K-drama OSTs and K-pop projects for others, how has creating your own music changed the way you understand your voice as both a composer and a singer-songwriter?

The biggest difference lies in the question I ask myself.

In the past, I would start by asking, “What does this project need?” Now, I find myself asking, “What do I want to say?” Through that process, I also realized that the composer and the singer-songwriter within me are not completely different people. At the end of the day, both are simply trying to communicate emotions through music.

When I create my own music, I also try to reflect deeply personal aspects of myself—my voice, my vocal range, my tastes, and even the parts of myself that I’m still discovering. If my music becomes separated from who I am, then it starts to feel dishonest. I believe listeners can truly connect with music only when it contains something genuine about the person who made it.

What kind of stories do you want to explore next as Dailog, and how do you hope listeners will continue to understand your world as a singer-songwriter?

I would still like to continue exploring the theme of love, but I’m also interested in expressing a wider range of emotions in the future. Lately, I’ve been curious about how emotions such as anger, desire, and the complexities of personal growth could be translated into music.

Rather than seeing Dailog’s music as a separate or extraordinary world, I hope listeners experience it as something that naturally connects with their own everyday lives.

Lastly, is there anything else you would like to share with listeners who are discovering Dailog through “Cantabile?”

First of all, thank you to everyone who is discovering my music through Cantabile.

This EP is not a story about major events or dramatic moments. It’s a collection of small happinesses found in everyday life. I hope these songs can stay with listeners not only during special occasions, but also during the ordinary moments of their day. And if one of my songs can someday become part of a cherished memory or a meaningful scene in someone’s life, that alone would make me very happy.

Follow Dailog:

Instagram | Spotify