Dabit Talks About ‘Habit’, His Man Season 2, His Special Connection With India And More

Korean-American Singer Dabit made his debut on December 5, 2013, with self-composed digital single ‘Whoo Whoo Whoo,’ which instantly captivated audiences worldwide. However, Dabit’s musical narrative extends far beyond that initial burst of energy. In this exclusive interview, Dabit delves into his decade-long artistic evolution, explores the inspiration behind his music, including his latest song ‘Habit,’ and unpacks the unique connection with Indian fans.

As a versatile artist known for his soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics, Dabit has captivated audiences worldwide with his music since his debut in 2013. Reflecting on his decade-long journey, he shared insights into his evolution from David Kim to Dabit, navigating the complexities of the Korean music industry as an Independent artist.

“Basically, it’s been 10 plus years as mostly an independent artist. It was very much like starting from the ground up and we started where we could and built up everything.” – Dabit

Dabit begins by emphasizing the grassroots nature of his career. “It’s been a very rewarding journey but also at the same time, a very discouraging journey at some time,” encapsulating the complex mix of emotions that define his path with determination and support from friends and collaborators.

Reflecting on the struggle to find his identity amidst industry pressures, Dabit acknowledges the difficulty of pleasing multiple stakeholders.

“For the longest time, probably the first five years of my career, it was very difficult to kind of find an identity when you were trying to please so many people.“

The transition from idol training at Choeun Entertainment, where he spent a year preparing to debut with the boy group ‘24K’ to pursuing his authentic and self-composed tracks further compounded the challenge, as he grappled with reconciling personal expression with others’ expectations.

However, as he matured and embraced his individuality, Dabit found liberation in expressing his truths through music. “As I started aging and as I started getting more comfortable with myself and after I had a few big breakdown moments in my life, I learned to become a lot more comfortable in my skin,” he reveals. Highlighting the transition from honing his craft to fully owning his artistic identity, Dabit sees the past year as a pivotal shift in his career.

“I almost feel like this past year has been more of a real start to my career. Whereas the last nine years was me working on my craft, but not showing me as an artist yet.“

Dabit’s journey in the entertainment industry hasn’t been confined to just music. In 2014, he made his acting debut as a cameo in SBS’s ‘Endless Love‘ followed by another role in MBC’s 2015 drama ‘My Unfortunate Boyfriend’. Reflecting on his past experiences in acting, Dabit shares his enduring passion for the craft. “It’s something that I love”, he affirms, reminiscing about his high school days spent doing musicals.

The release of his latest song, ‘Habit,’ marks a deeply personal chapter in Dabit’s journey. Inspired by the aftermath of a breakup, the song served as a therapeutic outlet for processing complex emotions. “I wrote that song two weeks after I broke up,” he reveals, emphasizing the rawness and vulnerability infused into his music.

 

Amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted his tours to Europe and America, the breakup became a pivotal moment in his journey back to music.

“This song I wrote in the spur of the moment was one of the most raw things that I’ve ever written, and one thing for sure was if I did release it at that time. I don’t think I would have been mentally or emotionally stable enough to process it  in a good way.“

Navigating the complexities of healing and growth, Dabit acknowledges the nonlinear nature of the journey. “A year is hardly enough to get over an eight-year relationship… It’s a lifelong journey in the end.“ he reflects. With his music, he seeks to validate the human experience, celebrating progress and moments of vulnerability. “This was a very therapeutic song that kind of helped me heal,” he acknowledges. Through ‘Habit,’ he sought to bridge the gap between his public persona and his personal self, bravely revealing facets of himself previously concealed. “For the past 10 years, I have been known as the most happy-go-lucky person… But the past year has been me just having these mini breakdown episodes of me crying on television and then on my YouTube“.

“I think that was the greatest thing that I had to learn to balance, to acknowledge my accomplishments, to feel proud of how far I’ve come, but also acknowledge that I’m still a work in progress and that there is still pain that I’m working through”

-Dabit

Despite the challenges, Dabit views the song as a transformative milestone in his personal and artistic evolution. “This is a big part of me that I’ve never shown you guys… But this is also me,” he emphasizes, underscoring the importance of authenticity in his creative expression. Looking forward, he remains optimistic, recognizing that his music will continue to evolve alongside his life experiences.

“I’m living my life and finding inspiration as I live it. Last year was tough, so sad music came out and we’ll see what kind of music comes out this year.“

Apart from his career as a musician, in 2023, Dabit aka Kim Jeong Wook also chose to participate in the popular Korean dating reality show ‘His Man 2’, a gay dating show. While he came out to his family and friends earlier, ‘His Man 2’ became a medium for him to come out to his fans. His latest comeback ‘Habit’ was intricately related to his deeply personal and courageous decision to come out on a public platform. Talking about his stint on the reality show, Dabit shares that the decision to do it was “almost impulsive”, especially since he was fresh off a breakup. “I had just gotten over the relationship and I was looking for something dramatic. I was looking for a change in my life, a big change that can give me hope to start again and start over again.”  Dabit further adds the show came to him when he was going through the worst time in his life, but also at the best time possible. While going into a dating show fresh off a break-up is something he would not advise, Dabit elucidates that the ‘His Man 2’ gave him the push he needed. “The fresh new start, the kind of reset, the kind of boldness, to be able to really put myself out there. His Man knocked down all of those walls, and it gave me no choice but to be unapologetically myself.” 

The choice to come out of the closet wasn’t an easy one for Dabit, especially since the world is still homophobic to a large extent. He has lost friends and has also been vocal about how his mental health took a hit due to it.

“Coming out is not the end of your growth. It’s almost the beginning of your growth and that’s when the growing pain starts. That’s when you really start to have to grow almost a thick skin because not everyone’s gonna want to stick around. That’s honestly the sad part.”

Speaking of one of his goals for this year, Dabit dives into how he wants to reinvent himself. The past year was a self-reflection, as Dabit came face-to-face with the emotional baggage he has been holding on. He has been actively trying to unlearn and relearn whatever he has known till now, deal with the self-doubt, and “focus on the things that were serving me, and focus on the people that were loving me.” 

This is also the year Dabit wants to start over and start from point zero, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. By his own admission, starting over isn’t an easy journey, but one that he is determined to take, starting with “being selfish, that’s how I start from point zero.” 2024 is the year of unlearning for Dabit, and he plans to no longer give in to his people-pleasing tendencies or be afraid to do something because of his fear of being judged.

As one of the few Korean artists who has toured India, Dabit talked about his deep connection with India and how he felt just as much at home here as in South Korea. He shed light on some of his most memorable moments in India, starting from the cultural exchange to having a Delhi belly.

“There were so many things that I did that furthered that connection. For instance, you know, learning my first song in Hindi, like watching Bollywood movies and talking about it with them. Going to my first Indian wedding and performing there. Like. It was not just a visit. It was not just a performance. It was so much deeper than that.”

He is also looking forward to visiting India again to meet his fans, old and new, as a new version of himself, not to mention trying all the biryani India has to offer.

He concludes by adding a short message to his younger self, and a relevant message to his fans.

“Everything that you are dreaming about in one way or another will come true. Take your time. You will get to where you need to be. Don’t rush into it. But don’t drag yourself down in the meantime, because it’s not happening. When it’s your time, it will be your time. In the meantime, just love yourself and don’t worry about the future because you will get what you want. You will be able to be your full authentic self. So just enjoy the ride.”

Written by – Aarati S & Nikita Vatsa

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