Singer-songwriter Ha Hyun-sang is set to meet the public with his first full-length album, five years after his debut. Ha Hyun-sang held a showcase to celebrate the release of his first full-length album, 'Time and Trace,' at Ilji Art Hall in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, at 2 PM on April 27 (KST).

In his greeting, Ha Hyun-sang said, "I've made a comeback with my first full-length album after five years since my debut. I have been continuously releasing EP albums during my career. I had a personal desire for a full-length album. I wanted to tell my story with a long breath, so I worked hard on all 11 songs as if they were title tracks."

'Time and Trace' is an album filled with small moments that can be felt in everyday life. Ha Hyun-sang is determined to deeply move listeners with his unique sensibility and personality in each song.

He explained, "'Time and Trace' captures the time and traces I've experienced over the five years since my debut. I tried various styles in writing the songs, using grandiose language in some and conversational language in others. I want to convey small comforts to those who listen."

The album's title track, 'Time and Trace,' is a modern rock genre song that illustrates the story of the passing time and the traces left behind. The emotional lyrics, acoustic sound, and poetic, intricate string performance create a subtle sense of emotion. Ha Hyun-sang introduced the song as, "I wrote the lyrics about the time and traces I've experienced during the five years since my debut. You'll be able to feel the poetic sound." He added, "It's a modern rock genre song. We recorded the entire album live, including drums, bass, guitar, and orchestra. You'll be able to feel the poetic sound through the actual recordings."

When asked about the reason for choosing 'Time and Trace' as the title track, he said, "I really struggled with it, but I thought 'Time and Trace' encompasses the theme that runs through the album the most. All 11 songs have different lyrics and melodies but share a similar theme."

He also revealed the behind-the-scenes story of the songwriting process: "This song took the longest to write among the songs I've written. I first wrote the verse melody in 2020 but got stuck, so I left it and wrote the lyrics again in 2021 and 2022. It took almost three years, on and off."

Ha Hyun-sang even tried to get help from ghosts when the songwriting became too difficult. He shared, "There's a story that ghosts like music, right? In one of the studios where I work, there's a room where a ghost appears, so when I couldn't solve the problem, I went to that room and asked for help just once."

So, what is Ha Hyun-sang's goal for this album? He said, "I hope many people will listen to these songs that I put a lot of effort into. Also, as the weather is getting warmer and the festival season is approaching, I hope to perform on stage and interact with many audiences."

Lastly, Ha Hyun-sang said, "All the songs in this album contain the message 'Nevertheless, we must go on living.' I think everyone carries sadness in their hearts as they live. So I hope that these songs can provide some comfort and consolation for living through the day."

Meanwhile, 'Time and Trace' was released at 6 PM on the same day. As Ha Hyun-sang embarks on this new journey with his first full-length album, fans eagerly await the heartfelt emotions and stories captured in each track. 'Time and Trace' is expected to resonate with many listeners, offering a sense of solace and encouragement for those facing life's challenges.

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