Han: The All-Rounder
In the week leading up to the release of Stray Kids' first ever Rolling Stone UK cover, we're sharing our individual interviews with each member from within the magazine. Next up, it's the all rounder: Han.
On set, HAN is slinking around, moving fluidly in a tight monochrome Balmain outfit, striking poses as if he were Mick Jagger. His tousled hair is almost falling over his eyes as he swivels his hips to land the perfect pose. Being adept at modelling comes as no surprise as HAN Jisung is good at everything. Known for being the all-rounder of SKZ, he raps, sings, writes, dances and produces.
Although he can often be more reserved in group settings to allow other members to have their say, when he does speak it’s purposeful and insightful. He is evidently an introspective, considered person, which is a key element in how he creates songs.
“I prefer the songwriting process. That way, I can write songs and imagine the voices of the Stray Kids members inside of it,” he says. “I really enjoy the reaction of the fans when I see my music being used in online content.” As with everything Stray Kids, it’s a team effort, and that includes producing their tracks. “Sometimes there are occasions where what I imagine for a song and the actual reality of it is different, but whenever there are differences, it always leads to a better solution because each member, with their own difference, can put their own style inside of their own lines. I am always surprised — in a good way. Working with Stray Kids, for every piece of work we put out, there is so much effort, not only from myself, but all the band.”
HAN is not afraid to get personal in his songwriting. One of his tracks is ‘SLUMP’, and he speaks of the strong connection he has to it. “It’s a song that I wrote in a moment in my life when I was facing some difficulties, so it has a good meaning for me,” he says. “The fact that this song was recorded not only in Korean, but also in English and in Japanese, made me feel like it could touch lots of people. That’s the most meaningful song for me.”
As is often the case with personal and emotionally raw tracks, the reaction to the record from the STAY has given it extra meaning. “It’s very easy for me to not to feel vulnerable [about the song] but instead be happy [about] the reaction. It’s hard to express in words as I find myself in awe about [the] STAY’s response.”
On stage in Hyde Park, HAN’s quiet confidence bubbles over when he performs. A counterpart to Changbin with his rapping, he has a deep understanding of the band’s discography that results in a powerful connection between him and the STAY. His energy and ability to convey emotional vulnerability is something that he shares with a British artist who he greatly admires.
“YUNGBLUD from England, I love him (laughs)! I really enjoy that when I listen to even just a few bits of his music, I can recognise his style, the colour and the way he brings himself!”
Like Felix, HAN loves the buzz of travelling, but he also feels the call of home like Bang Chan. “I really love travelling overseas, and it’s something that makes us feel free. I love it, but there are times where I just want to eat kimchi stew, not just one that’s hard to find, but one that’s made by my dad. It’s something that always reminds me of home.”
Apart from YUNGBLUD, HAN has other draws to the UK. “Something I am really looking forward to is that I really enjoy cooler weather; I don’t like the hot weather, so that’s something that’s good, but also the festival which we’re going to perform [at] is such a huge event for me. I am looking forward to the people and the other performers I am going to meet. There is a movie based in London with Timothée Chalamet, and I was really inspired by the night view of the city.”
Despite disliking the heat, HAN and Felix have the fan-ordained moniker of the ‘sunshine twins’, due to their birthdays being one day apart. For all his introspection, HAN’s playfulness is always present, especially in his performances. At BST Hyde Park, he was so wrapped up in the moment on the b-stage that he didn’t notice that the other members had returned to the back of the stage, prompting him to make a frantic dash to join them for the dance break. Being the true pro that he is, he of course made it just in time — we wouldn’t expect any less from this all-rounder.
Taken from the October/November issue of Rolling Stone UK – you can pre-order it here now.
