#01 Unraveling The World Of Nautilus: The Unique Korean Soloist Who Wants To Dominate Google Search Results

“Music is the universal language of mankind”, wrote Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and these words never fail to ring truer by the day. The unprecedented popularity of K-Pop has not only ushered in a new era in world culture but has also opened up a vast new sphere for homegrown artists of varied genres to achieve global exposure and renown. One such exceptional musician is Nautilus, and today, we're taking a look at his wonderful story.

Born Noh TaeSoo, Nautilus created his on-stage persona after careful consideration of a number of factors. First, his initials "N-T-S", which reminded him of BTS, inspired him to go for an English moniker that would not overlap with the group. In this regard, his favorite game character of the same name in "League Of Legends" seemed to be the perfect match. Upon further review of the word in English and its different meanings, Nautilus came upon an interesting observation. Looking up the word "Nautilus" on Google brings up an array of results, namely, a science magazine, a fictional submarine, a mysterious sea creature, a luxury sports watch brand, and so on and so forth. This got him thinking about his schoolmate f(x)'s Luna, who now appears before anything else when "Luna" is searched on Google. Fired up by the desire to achieve such spectacular success that his name appears at the top of the "Nautilus" search list, Noh TaeSoo chose his stage name and made his official debut in 2018 with the single 'Promise'.

Prior to making his debut as a singer-songwriter, Nautilus dreamed solely of writing music. From a very young age, he enjoyed playing the guitar and even majored in the same when he grew older. However, he realized his innate talent as a vocalist much later. He started busking in Uijeongbu, his hometown, and eventually decided to upload cover songs on YouTube, where he received a roaring response, effectively building a close-knit community of fans who supported him endlessly. Soon enough, he was discovered by his current CEO, and Nautilus began preparations for his debut in earnest. However, before he could show himself to the world in all his glory, he had to take a step back. As it turns out, he was diagnosed with vocal cord nodules and was in a place where things could get better or worse. Thankfully for him, he recovered fully and was now ready to take over the world.

Debuting in this industry was like a golden ticket to success for Nautilus because he quickly became a highly sought-after singer, especially for OSTs. His soulful voice, magnificent artistry, and ability to express an impressive range of emotions were highly valued and appreciated far and wide. At the same time, his sincere, friendly, and compassionate personality also won hearts, raising anticipation for his future activities. Now, that he has made his much-awaited comeback, let's find out what a day in the life of Nautilus looks like, shall we?

DAILY LIFE

We met Nautilus on a warm fall afternoon, and he instantly greeted us with a warm smile. He revealed that his MBTI was INTJ, which seemed to fit him like a glove. His amicable charms were evident at first glance, which made our conversation particularly comfortable and seamless. About his voice, Nautilus shared that he was working hard to manage his throat by drinking 4L of water every day, which also helped him with his diet. He further elaborated that because drinking water won't necessarily affect the throat, he makes sure to keep it moisturized with a medicinal gargle, if needed. Nautilus also mentioned that his CEO helped him greatly in fixing his sleep cycle, so he's undeniably grateful to him.

Regarding his likes and dislikes, Nautilus said that he loves winking in photos and enjoys looking out for famous restaurants with the most delicious food. This is probably one of the reasons why he's so passionate about traveling. As a matter of fact, he was recently in Tokyo, Japan! Nautilus has a special spot in his heart for Japanese and Western cuisine, especially sushi and steak. As for what he'd like to try, draft beer and sausages from Germany are at the top of his list. At the same time, if he had to recommend a Korean dish to international fans, it would be Budae Jjigae, also known as Army Stew. Speaking of international fans, Nautilus also revealed that if he were to do a tour, he would definitely go for a Korean tour, a Japanese tour, and a US tour.

DRAMA OST

Now, onto the key focus of this article - Nautilus' latest projects. If you've been keeping up with the world of K-Drama lately, you could not have missed one of the most highly anticipated dramas of 2022 - "Curtain Call", starring acting powerhouses Ha JiWon and Kang HaNeul. Nautilus contributed to the OST of this incredible drama, adding to its immersion and quality. We spoke to Nautilus about his experience working on the OST, and the conversation that followed was not only enlightening but also refreshing.

1.In the past, you’ve participated in the OSTs of popular dramas like “Kingmaker: The Change of Destiny” and “Love (ft. Marriage & Divorce) II”. What kind of OST have you prepared this time and through this OST, what image can fans expect to see from you?

This time, I participated in the OST of the KBS drama "Curtain Call", which is the most anticipated drama of 2022. As much as everyone has anticipated the drama, I've worked hard on the OST so that viewers can be more immersed in the drama.

2.Usually, after seeing the drama’s script and hearing the OST’s song guide, do you try to plan out how to sing the song, and sing it according to how you planned it? Or are you the type to get inspiration based on your feelings at that moment?

I am the type that plans before recording by pulling out an image from the lyrics and thinking about how to express it, so that I can immerse myself as much as I can into the drama.

3.When you received the song this time, how did you plan to sing? Do you think your recorded track went according to how you planned it?

I focused on expressing the pain of love and longing for loved ones. The director gave me a lot of advice on how to express it, so I got a better result than I planned.

4.OSTs play a big role in amplifying the impact of a K-Drama to its viewers. Since “Curtain Call”, in particular, is a popular drama that fans have eagerly looked forward to, do you feel any pressure about it?

The expectations were high even before the drama started so I could not feel not pressured. Many senior singers also participated in the OST, and many famous actors appeared in the drama, so I tried harder and did my best to make sure that I was at par with them.

5.What were the 3 points you had in mind to express the atmosphere of this drama through your OST?

Rather than expressing "love for a lover," I tried to express various emotions while thinking about the different scenes in the drama such as "eagerness for what I want", "a grandmother who misses her grandchild", and "heartfelt love".

6.When viewers hear this OST for the first time, what emotions do you think they will feel?

I think it will be like a tear button that will make dramatic scenes even more dramatic.

7.If you had to suggest one of your songs to fans who will hear your voice for the first time through the “Curtain Call" OST, which song would you recommend?

I'd like to recommend 'Eternity'. Similar to the OST this time, I participated in that song with lyrics that express the heart of a loved one in a lyrical expression.

8.Lastly, please say something to fans who listen to your OSTs!

Please support my OST, ‘Love’. Now that the COVID-19 situation has gotten better, I will try my best to see you, my fans, and sing at a concert event.

That's not all! Nautilus is also back with a brand new song - 'My Girl', which is a remake of the iconic "Princess Hours" OST - 'I'm A Fool'. Accompanied by a music video, it is a wonderfully poignant and touching story of heart-fluttering young love that knows no bounds but remains unfulfilled. Nautilus adds a youthful and spirited energy to the song, reinventing it in his own style yet retaining the early 2000s nostalgia we so dearly love. His voice is resounding and tugs at the heartstrings, reminding one of their very own first love.

In connection with this release, Nautilus shared that because he was a fan of the drama when he was younger, participating in this remake was even more meaningful to him and made him happy. We will allow the genius himself to introduce his new song with a special voice note he sent for fans all over the world.

“My Girl”
(2022)

1. Congratulations on your new release! You are doing a remake of the OST 'I'm A Fool' from the drama "Princess Hours". How did you come to participate in this project?

'My Girl' is a song that I sang while playing the piano at a school festival singing contest when I was in the third grade of middle school. It’s a song that I have a lot of affection for and that I've enjoyed singing until now. It was an honor to remake it like this.

2. What were the most difficult and exciting moments of releasing a remake song?

I was really excited to see the original singer in person because he was a musician who gave me many memories when I was young. The original singer wanted to hear the guide version of my song first, so I worked hard on it.

3. Can you tell us about your reaction/feelings when you heard the final and complete version of the song?

Because I worked hard, the final product was a song with a high degree of perfection, and I had a feeling that both people who knew the song in the past and those who were new to this song could enjoy listening to it.

4. If you could only listen to one song (one by you, one by someone else) for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

Out of my songs, I personally have a fondness for the song ‘Eternity’. It is a song I made with Go SeokYoung, the Producer of Buzz, who made me dream of music when I was young. And, the song he composed, Buzz’s ‘Journey For Myself’ is a song that I still listen to when I’m having a hard time.

5.If you were to do a collaboration for your next album, who would it be with, and what concept would you like to do?

I want to collaborate with Yang HeeEun. I was moved by her performance on “Archive K” with Sung SiKyung.

6.Can you describe this new song in three words?

Memory, Sentimental, Novelty
I hope many people will be able to feel these emotions through this song.

Find out more about how Nautilus' held his first-ever solo concert in the 2nd part of our series (upcoming) and how it went in the 3rd part (upcoming).

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