Cover K-pop star Mark Tuan (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
K-pop star Mark Tuan (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
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Singer Tuan Mark of Got7, who recently finished his ‘Silhouette’ tour in Asia, talks about K-pop’s global impact and pushing his creative boundaries
Being a member of Got7 brings guaranteed global success and a monumental following. The K-pop boyband, since its debut in 2014, has performed at some of the world's most prestigious venues, including the KSPO Dome in Seoul and the Accor Arena in Paris. They also made history as the first K-pop group to headline and sell out the massive 19,000-seat Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2018 during their Eyes on You world tour.
However, Tuan does not measure success purely by numbers. The American singer, a prominent rapper within the group who possesses family roots in Taiwan, thrives on challenging his musical creativity. Renowned for his distinct, magnetic stage presence and melodic rap flow, he has successfully carved out a powerful solo career.
Beyond his massive achievements within the group, Tuan is celebrated for his artistic versatility, raw, vulnerable storytelling and a signature sound that blends alternative rock with pop. His music has amassed over 180 million streams across his chart-topping solo albums. He recently returned to his home base of Los Angeles, where he is working on a new EP that he promises will be “fresh and distinctly different from my previous releases”.
Only less than two months ago, he wrapped up his Silhouette: The Shape of You fan-concert tour with a sold-out final stop in the city of Macau. Tatler caught up with him to discuss his Macau performance, his latest creative projects and the evolution of global K-pop culture.
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Above K-pop star Mark Tuan (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
K-pop star Mark Tuan (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
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This was the final stop of your fan-concert tour. What was the key memory you wanted to leave with the fans at Studio City?
During this tour, I’ve met a lot of fans from different cities with different stages in their lives. Whether they were working professionals or students, I hope everyone left their stress and worries behind to have fun with me.
The fan-concert experience allows your audience to witness both your powerful stage presence and your more personal, intimate side. How do you balance these two aspects?
The Silhouette album naturally became the bridge between those two sides. While creating the album, I focused on performance-driven tracks like High As You and Sunsets and Cigarettes that came alive on stage, while also presenting a more personal side through the album’s visual concept. Through the fan-concert, my fans were able to experience both as part of the same story.
Above K-pop star Mark Tuan (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
K-pop star Mark Tuan (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
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How does it feel to return to Studio City in Macau and perform for your followers again, especially after first taking the stage here years ago with Got7?
The last time I performed here was with my members, so coming back now with my own music and putting together the entire show from the production to the visuals felt like a full-circle moment. I was really excited to share that with everyone in Macau.
Looking back at the Silhouette era, how has your understanding of yourself as an artist changed?
The Silhouette era was a time of discovering my sound and shaping into the artist I want to become. It is an important step in my evolution into what I see as Mark 2.0.
Silhouette highlights both sides of your musical identity, from stripped-back, playful tracks like Pretty Little Pictures to more explosive performance pieces like Sunsets and Cigarettes. Which direction are you feeling more drawn to right now, and what can fans expect from your next album?
At this moment, I don’t think I am more drawn to a specific direction from those two songs. I’m more focused on taking my sound to the next level and exploring new ways to elevate it. I think fans can expect something completely fresh and different from my previous releases.
Above K-pop star Mark Tuan (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
K-pop star Mark Tuan (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
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Is there a song on your latest album that came together unexpectedly or took you by surprise during the creative process?
There isn’t a track that was particularly hard to finish, but Autopilot was added to the album at the last minute and it ended up being one of my favourite tracks on the record.
You founded your own label, DNA, taking on a much broader role within the industry. What has been the most rewarding part of taking full control of your creative direction?
The most rewarding part is definitely being able to see an entire project come alive from the very beginning. From producing the track to shaping the concept for the music video and content planning for the promotion, I’m able to be involved in every step. I even co-directed my music video for the first time, which was a really fun experience.
How does it feel to see K-pop culture celebrated at the Oscars with the win for the animated film KPop: Demon Hunters?
As an American who debuted in K-pop, it’s really cool to see how far the K-pop culture has come and to watch it be recognised on a stage like the Oscars. It definitely makes me feel proud to be part of that journey.
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Above ScreenshotK-pop star Mark Tuan (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
ScreenshotK-pop star Mark Tuan (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
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Do you see the idol label as a helpful platform or a boundary you are still actively trying to push past?
I’ve thought about that a lot, especially since starting my solo career. I don’t see “idol” as something to push past. To me, “idol”, “artist” or “musician” are all just labels that reflect different parts of the journey. What matters most is staying true to myself, continuing to grow, and putting out work that feels honest and that I’m proud of.
As you look toward your upcoming releases, what has been inspiring you recently, and how are you pushing yourself creatively this time around?
I’ve been listening to my new tracks a lot with my team and my dancers. Just seeing everyone’s reactions and hearing their thoughts on the tracks has helped me gain perspective on the type of music that different people enjoy, and it’s been shaping the direction for my next few releases.
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
