Ahead of his *yet to be announced* European Tour, we caught up with Dept! - By The Fans Exclusive Interview

Interview & Words: Jessica Kamp

Photography Credit: Unikorn Union

We had the opportunity to ask South-Korean artist and producer Dept a few questions before he starts his first ever European tour.

Jessica: Hi Dept, thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions for us. Could you give us a short introduction on who you are?

Dept: Hi, thank you for having me. I’m Dept – A musician who has been active for about ten years now. I write, produce and perform music that focuses on emotion, storytelling and atmosphere.

Jessica: Okay, my first question is: How would you describe your process of writing new music?

Dept: My process usually starts with a title and a main idea – Almost like a storyline, I personally think the central story, or theme, is the most important part. Once I have that core concept, the lyrics and the rest of the song start to develop naturally around it.

Jessica: That’s amazing, my following question is about your recent release “Dream age” Could you tell us a bit about the message you’d like to share and the process behind creating it?

Dept: Honestly, I have been thinking about this theme for a long time. And recently I felt like the timing was right. This is a moment when many people can relate to the idea of dreams and chasing them. We live in an era where so many people are dreaming and making those dreams come true, and I wanted to express that feeling through this album. “Dream age” is about believing in possibility.

Jessica: That’s such a lovely take on creating this album, with a new album comes usually a tour. And you’re coming to Europe, how exciting! How do you feel about going to Europe for the first time and what are you most looking forward to?

Dept: I’m extremely excited. What surprised me the most was how passionate the comments were from fans in Belgium and Azerbaijan – Their energy really stood out to me and made me look forward to meeting them even more. This will be my first-time touring in Europe, and my first-time visiting Europe at all, so I am genuinely curious about what it will feel like – what kind of continent it is, what the atmosphere is like, and what kind of connection we’ll create together.

Jessica: Talking about connection, what are your expectations on connecting with the fans overseas?

Dept: Meeting people in new places always gives me new energy, and that becomes inspiration. If the memories are good, they stay with me for a very long time, and I often find myself wanting to return. Touring overseas expands the world around me: It broadens the way I think, even introduces me to new languages and cultures. I really value that.

Jessica: What is the meaning and inspiration for you to start your first European tour?

Dept: I’ve been interested in Europe for a long time, I also heard so many Korean artists say they had an amazing experience there, and that made me want to go even more. So, Europe has always been a place I hoped to visit and performed in someday. And now that will finally happen, it is very meaningful to me.

Jessica: What are your thoughts on sharing your emotions across languages and cultures through your music?

Dept: That is one of the greatest things about music. Being able to connect with people through sound – beyond languages – is a very special experience. Europe is known for strong languages and cultures, so the fact that I can still connect with fans there through music feels like proof that music itself is a powerful language.

Jessica: Who inspired you the most to become the person you are today?

Dept: My parents, without a doubt. They have always supported me, even during difficult times. Their influence shaped me a lot, and lately they have been supporting me even more. They are one of the biggest reasons I’ve been able to keep going as an artist.

Jessica: Thank you so much for your answer, I have one final question. It’s kind of our trademark question: Is there any advice you would like to give to young creatives with the same ambition as you?

Dept: I hope they can create with joy. These days, it’s easy to feel like everything is competition because there are so many artists, but I think it’s healthier and more fulfilling to focus on what you genuinely love. If you keep doing it because you enjoy it, that mindset will carry you much further.

You can catch Dept on his soon to be announced European Tour - which he will be announcing on his Instagram: @dept113