Wonpil Unfiltered New Album

After four years, Day6’s Wonpil returns with a fresh solo sound, ready to lay his emotions bare in his new EP.

Wonpil’s EP “Unpiltered,” released Monday, marks his first solo release since his 2022 album “Pilmography.” The seven-track mini album, written and composed by Wonpil himself, reflects his desire to present a more raw and honest side of himself – “newer, more vulnerable and less polished.”

“This album will probably feel very different from my first solo album,” said Wonpil during a recent interview in Seoul. “I think people will see a lot of unfamiliar, new sides of me, so I feel both nervous and excited.”

That shift in direction was intentional from the very beginning.

When Wonpil began working on “Unpiltered,” he aimed for it to stand apart from the comforting and warm themes of “Pilmography.” He had also been contemplating change while preparing for Day6’s 10th-anniversary album, “The Decade,” last year.

“I’ve always wanted to explore different musical and artistic styles,” he said. “Those thoughts accumulated before working on ‘Unpiltered,’ and since this is a solo project, I focused entirely on what I wanted to do and experimented musically.”

At the heart of “Unpiltered” is the lead track “Highs and Lows,” a dramatic rock ballad that channels bottled-up emotions through the metaphor of love. While seemingly about romance, Wonpil reveals the song’s origin: the need for emotional release.

“People can’t always fully express what they really feel. There’s a limit to what you can say as a member of society,” he explained. “Everyone holds things in. I wanted this song to be a small outlet for that.”

For Wonpil, this need for emotional release stemmed from the pressure he felt after returning from military service in November 2023.

Day6, who debuted in 2015, experienced a surge in popularity between late 2023 and early 2024 with hits like “You Were Beautiful” and “Time of Our Life.” This increased attention brought a heightened sense of responsibility to meet growing expectations, Wonpil explained.

“The way people looked at Day6 changed after my discharge,” he said. “There was pressure from that, and I felt a greater sense of responsibility about songwriting and performing. I realized I had been under more stress than I thought, and I wanted to use this song to release those emotions.”

He also alluded to personal pain and a sense of loss that significantly influenced the album’s emotional core. Instead of concealing these emotions, Wonpil channeled them into his music.

“I always want to show the good sides of myself to the public and to my fans, but I wanted to be different this time,” Wonpil said. “I wanted to show a different image of ‘human Wonpil.’”

This desire is reflected in the album’s title, “Unpiltered.” When asked what he wanted to reveal without a filter, Wonpil immediately answered “emotion,” stating that he incorporated personal stories and experiences into the album to achieve this.

He highlighted several tracks as examples: In “Highs and Lows,” he captured the feeling of emotional breakdown, something he wouldn’t have expressed in Day6 songs. “Already Grown Up” explores the struggle of pretending to be okay and acting like an adult when it feels unnatural. The closing track, “Piano,” reflects on the fear of being forgotten and the desire for remembrance.

“Since the new album reflects a darker side of my personal identity and story, I worried that people might be concerned for me,” he said. “But I don’t think you can only show the good sides of yourself, and music feels like a safe space for me to communicate those.”

Wonpil hopes listeners will see the album not just as a cry for help, but as a tool to process their own emotions.

“I hope my album can help people release their own emotions as well,” he said. “I want ‘Unpiltered’ to become a channel where people can let out what they’ve been carrying deep inside.”

“Unpiltered” captures a snapshot of where Wonpil is now: in his 30s, facing pressure, and thinking more deeply, yet still moving forward.

When asked about the kind of music he ultimately wants to create, his answer went beyond trends or instant gratification.

“Not just as a solo artist, but also as a member of Day6, I want to make music that doesn’t age,” he said. “My dream is to make music that still feels relevant even after 10 or 20 years.”