eaJ on Leaving Day6 and Regrets He Has About His Time in the Band

Summary

This transcript delves into the personal reflections of an individual navigating the challenges of being in a successful group. They discuss cultural conflicts between American individualism and Korean collectivism, as well as the emotional toll of being part of a team where mistakes are shared. The individual expresses regret over past decisions but also pride in their contributions, particularly in promoting the group's international presence. Now a solo artist, they embrace a sound more true to their identity, blending alt-pop and rock, and strive to reconcile their past while moving forward with authenticity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The individual reflects on the mental conflict of being in a successful group despite feeling something was 'off' internally.
• 😀 Cultural differences, particularly between American individualism and Korean collectivism, were a major point of internal conflict for the person.
• 😀 In Korea, collective responsibility is emphasized, and the individual came to understand why the group's actions are shared when one person makes a mistake.
• 😀 The person did not leave the group to become a solo artist due to blame avoidance, but for various personal reasons, including issues with the label.
• 😀 Despite leaving the group, the individual does not regret the decision, though they regret the way they handled things and the immaturity they exhibited.
• 😀 The individual passionately pursued a YouTube channel for promotional purposes, overcoming resistance from their label, and succeeded with millions of views per video.
• 😀 The YouTube channel was eventually shut down by the label, but the individual doesn't regret pushing for it, even though there was friction with the label.
• 😀 The individual expresses moral confusion due to the outcomes of their actions and the cultural shift they experienced, particularly with online reactions.
• 😀 They were blamed for bringing drama to the group due to their outspoken nature, but they acknowledge mistakes and wish they had handled things differently.
• 😀 The individual reflects on their role in the band, feeling hurt by being erased from its history, especially considering their contributions to songwriting.
• 😀 Despite the pain of being erased, they genuinely wish the best for the remaining members of the group, even though they feel conflicted about expressing this publicly.

Q & A

What was the main conflict the speaker faced while being part of the successful group?

The speaker felt conflicted due to cultural differences, particularly between the individualistic mindset in America, which encourages questioning and personal ambition, and the collectivist mindset in Korea, where group responsibility and solidarity are emphasized.

How did the speaker’s experience in Korea influence their understanding of group dynamics?

The speaker realized that in Korea, if one person makes a mistake, it affects the entire group. This collective responsibility approach is rooted in a belief that everyone should have helped that person make better choices, and when they didn’t, the whole group shares the consequence.

What was the reason the speaker chose to leave the group?

The speaker left the group due to various reasons, including friction with the label and disagreements over how certain situations were handled, rather than wanting to pursue a solo career.

Does the speaker regret leaving the group or their actions during that time?

The speaker doesn’t regret leaving the group but regrets how they handled the situation, acknowledging that they were immature and could have approached things differently.

Why does the speaker mention wanting their 20s back?

The speaker reflects on their past actions and how they handled business decisions, like pushing for the YouTube channel, and how those actions were driven by passion but might have caused unintended friction with the label.

How did the speaker’s YouTube channel contribute to the group's success?

The speaker’s YouTube channel, which was ahead of the trend in Korea, helped promote the group and reach an international audience, averaging a million views per video. However, the label did not approve of this, leading to the channel being shut down.

What does the speaker regret about their approach to promoting the group?

The speaker regrets how they went about promoting the group, as their approach was driven by anger and immaturity. They acknowledge that more level-headed conversations could have prevented unnecessary friction.

How does the speaker feel about their former group members?

The speaker respects their former group members and genuinely wishes them success. They express pride in their achievements but also feel hurt by how they are being erased from the group's history, despite having contributed significantly.

What challenges did the speaker face in reconciling their past with their solo music career?

The speaker faced moral confusion and hesitation in making music that might remind fans of the past group. Initially, they avoided the genre associated with the group, but over time, they began embracing elements of it while incorporating their personal style into their solo work.

What does the speaker believe about the honesty of their solo music compared to their previous group work?

The speaker feels that their recent solo music, especially with the new EP, reflects a more authentic version of themselves. They believe there is a significant difference in honesty between their solo work and the music they made with the group, which is noticeable to the listeners.