Yoon Byung-eun, a 66-year-old pianist and composer, has set up his studio in the mountains of Japan at an elevation of 1,000 meters. Although his roots are in Korea, he was born in Japan and has absorbed various cultures throughout his life, condensing the inspirations he gathers from around the world into his music.
During a press conference held on November 4 at the Audio Guy Studio in Jongno, Seoul, Yoon described his life using the term 'Nomadesque,' a blend of 'nomad' and the suffix '-esque,' which implies a resemblance. He stated, "My fundamental roots are in Korea, but having been born in Japan and wandering through various places, I have absorbed many influences and created music from them. I may not be a nomad, but I thought I could be considered Nomadesque."
'Nomadesque' is also a track on his upcoming album 'New Horizon,' set to be released on November 27. Yoon identified this piece as a core work that reveals his inner self.
Since releasing his first solo album in 1996, Yoon has traversed genres, blending classical, rock, and traditional Korean music. His work spans various fields, including music for the game 'Aion,' the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, as well as film and animation scores. Recently, he participated in the Dangun Cultural Festival in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province, and the digital recreation project of the Silla Kingdom.
Through his boundary-less work, Yoon's musical world has become increasingly diverse. He explained, "I believe my music has grown through mutual influence, and this time, I want to showcase my inner self based on those experiences." The new album features 12 tracks, including six solo pieces, such as the title track 'New Horizon,' and six collaborative pieces with projects from the National Museum of Korea and the Yeongwol Dangun Cultural Festival.
Inspiration from Korea's history and cultural heritage is also woven into the album. 'Sayu Thoughts' is a reworked piece inspired by the Bangasayusang exhibited in the National Museum of Korea's 'Room of Contemplation.' The theme song 'Rebirth' for the 60th anniversary of the Yeongwol Dangun Cultural Festival incorporates traditional Korean instruments, percussion, piano, and orchestra, along with elements of the Arirang melody.
Yoon shared, "After coming to Korea in 1999, I fell in love with traditional music after seeing traditional instrument performances for the first time," adding that his desire to explore new sounds outweighed any sense of obligation to preserve tradition.
On November 28 and 29, Yoon will hold a concert titled 'Utopia - New Horizon' at the National Theater's Haeoreum Theater, where he will perform new songs alongside pieces from his 30-year career, reinterpreted with a contemporary sensibility. While reflecting on the past 30 years, he has no intention of remaining stagnant.
"I may not travel to Inner Mongolia, Chima Island, or Tibet as I did before, but I don't think I will stay in one place. I feel I need to see what 'New Horizon' is all about."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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