ⓘ You might be familiar with the multi-talented #LORIEN, but today he's opening up in a way you've never seen before as he takes on #17Questions. Get an inside look at what inspires him, his passions, quirks, and what makes him tick in this exclusive Seventeen interview.

"Hey, it's Lorien. It's been a while since my last interview, and I'm glad to finally sit down with Seventeen today to answer 17 questions. My new album A Room Called Reverie is out now, and it's something I've been working on for a while. It feels good to share it with everyone. If you haven't listened yet, I'd say take a moment to check it out when you can. Alright, that's enough promotion for now—let's get to the questions."

| What's something people would never guess about you?
• "I am a caring person, but I just don't show it all that often," Lorien said, his tone calm but direct. "It's kind of the case of being hurt in the past, and I just don't want to show that side of me in public... or to someone I can't really be that way with." He shrugged slightly, keeping his expression neutral.

| What's one decision you'll always be proud of?
• "Debuting. It's been seven years since I started producing, but it's been only two since I debuted as a solo artist," Lorien said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I don't think I would be a musician now if it wasn't for me starting to produce." He paused for a moment, the smile widening slightly. "But the funny thing is, I didn't even plan to start producing my own music. I guess at a certain point, I realized why I make music for someone else when I could be making it for myself. And that's the start of how Lorien came to be."

| Out of everywhere you've been, what's felt most like home?
• "If I have to say anywhere that I've been, I think I would have to say Hawaii," Lorien began, his voice softening a bit as he spoke. "I'm not from there, but during my childhood, my dad, my younger brother, and I would travel there for vacations during summer break." He smiled faintly, as if lost in the memory. "It's just a beautiful place where everything seems nice and peaceful." He paused for a moment, his expression turning more somber. "I hope they are recovering from the fires that happened, and rest in peace to all those we lost in that tragic incident."

| I can't believe I've never ______.
• "I can't believe I've never been on a tour before," Lorien said, shaking his head with a slight chuckle, his expression a mix of disbelief and excitement. "It took me at least two years to finally get started on working on going on tour." He paused for a moment, a proud smile appearing on his face. "I do want to meet Valentines from all over the world. I know the location breakdown for my fandom, which makes me want to travel everywhere in the world so I can meet every one of them." His eyes softened, a fondness in his gaze. "Sometimes we bicker and argue, but I can't help but love them." He leaned forward a little, his tone more serious as he continued. "So, to celebrate them, this is where I announced my upcoming tour. Details will follow soon, but I just know tickets go on sale soon, so please look out for an announcement. Thank you.".

| If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
• "I've already collaborated with a few people, but I guess I would have to say PH-1," Lorien said, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "He's an artist I've been listening to for many years now." He leaned back slightly, a small smile appearing. "I think it would be cool for us to collab. A mix of different music styles and beats would be really cool to hear and see." He nodded, clearly excited about the possibility. "I think my fans would like it as well, so let's hope it happens in the future."

| What advice would you give to 17-year-old Lorien?
• "Lorien, be the person you want to be," he said, his voice steady yet reflective. "Don't let anyone tell you differently. And cut off those who treat you wrong or don't want you to succeed." He paused, exhaling softly as if recalling moments from his past. "Take it from older you, who's been through so much these last few months." His expression softened, a faint smile forming. "You're a smart kid, and you deserve the world. Letting someone hold you back will never get you to the place you want to be."

He leaned forward slightly, his smile widening just a bit. "And smile more, kid — there's great things in the world waiting for you." His voice grew quieter, more thoughtful. "Don't be afraid to show the people you love... or want to love, love. Because I know you have a lot in your heart." He gave a small laugh, shaking his head. "Just don't be afraid of the shot. Hwaiting!"

| If you could bottle one scent that reminds you of home, what would it smell like?
•"I think fresh green grass and flowers," Lorien said, his gaze softening slightly. "I grew up in two different places that are completely different from each other. One place is a big city where you can hear nothing but beeping cars and the occasional street performer." He paused briefly, then continued. "The other one is kind of small, but you can hear the occasional church bells and festivals happening here and there."

"If I had to bottle up one scent, I think it would have to be the earthiness of Scotland." He smiled faintly. "Sure, I've lived in New York, which is full of bustling life and different smells, but nothing can quite defeat the smell of fresh earth and grass." He shrugged lightly. "So yeah, the smell of earth would be the one thing I bottle and keep as a scent."

| What's your favorite part of being on stage?
• "It's the rush I get from being on the stage," Lorien said, his hands moving slightly as he described the feeling. "Seeing my fans in the crowd. Having someone who actually listens to my songs be there in person." He smiled as he leaned back, clearly energized by the thought. "I guess that's why I do what I do. I make music for those who will actually listen and who can resonate with it."

He looked off to the side for a moment, reflecting. "I know music is universal no matter what language it's sung in, but still, it means so much to me to know that people actually listen to the things I put out in the world." He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head slightly. "I mean, I'm so used to people not listening to what I wanted to talk about. But having people who do is just so heartwarming to me."

Lorien's expression grew more focused, his voice determined. "I will continue to make music and give you guys something to listen to. That's my promise to you all." He raised his hand in a small gesture of reassurance, as if sealing the promise with the motion.

| What moment made you realize you were on the right path?
• "My first concert," Lorien began, a soft smile forming as his gaze drifted off, recalling the moment. "I think it was the first time I broke down in front of my fans." He paused, the smile fading slightly as he grew more reflective. "I had broken down in tears on the stage after finishing my last song."

Lorien exhaled slowly, his eyes focusing as if reliving the experience. "I guess it was because I never expected to get that far into my career, but at that point, I was glad I did." He looked up, his expression softening. "I'm just happy that I have people who I can resonate with, and people who show me love based on what I'm doing and what I'm putting out into this world."

He shifted in his seat, his hands folding together in front of him. "That was the moment I realized that maybe the mindset I had before wasn't the right one for me." His voice softened, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "It's the moment I realized that being optimistic is something greater than being pessimistic."

Lorien straightened up, his gaze becoming firmer. "It made me realize that this is the career that was meant for me, regardless of if I wanted it to begin with." He nodded slowly, a sense of finality in his voice. "So yeah, my first concert was when I realized that this career is for me."

| What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
• "The best piece of advice I had gotten was a few days ago," Lorien began, his gaze drifting as if recalling the conversation. "I was on the phone with my dad, who seems to give me a lot of advice nowadays." He paused, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I had forgotten the topic we were talking about, but it had suddenly switched to balancing success and happiness."

He took a deep breath, looking down for a moment as he reflected. "I just remember him saying he's noticed how much happier I've been after I had overcome something that was troubling my mind these last few months." His tone softened, and his shoulders relaxed. "And I do have to say that these last few months have been hard on me."

Lorien leaned forward slightly, his voice growing more thoughtful. "I last released my last song three going on four months ago. Around that time, I was just going through a lot, and so I had put my career on the back burner in order to get my mind in a better place." He sighed, shaking his head lightly. "I hadn't wanted to do that, but it's what I needed, and I know it's what my fans would've wanted as well."

He glanced up, a slight frown forming. "But one thing about me is that I don't like disappointing them or leaving them hanging for a long time." Lorien straightened up, his voice firm. "But my dad had told me that balancing success and happiness is hard, but happiness is always supposed to come first before success, no matter how hard it pains you to just take a break and relax for once."

A look of gratitude crossed his face as he spoke. "And that's the best advice I've ever received in my life because it helped me get to my happy place that I'm at now." He smiled softly. "And I'm just thankful for my dad. I know he's watching this, so I want to say thank you, dad, for all the help."

| What app are you completely addicted to right now?
• "Any app?" Lorien chuckled, thinking for a moment. "I think that would have to be YouTube currently." He leaned forward slightly, his voice picking up with enthusiasm. "I've been learning a lot from cooking YouTube videos. Some in Korean and some in English."

He smiled, scratching the back of his neck as he continued. "I'm trying to get better at cooking for myself and find more healthier options since I've been eating a lot of takeout." Lorien glanced down for a second, a hint of embarrassment creeping into his expression. "I'm not as skilled in cooking as my little brother is, but I'm trying."

His face softened, and he shrugged lightly. "And YouTube has been the one place I go to constantly for recipes and just to learn how to cook certain things." Lorien's eyes brightened with a bit of nostalgia as he spoke about food. "As of lately, I've been trying to cook slow-cooked Scottish beef stew, which was my favorite food growing up." He laughed quietly, almost to himself. "I kind of feel ashamed because I'm from Scotland, but I really didn't learn how to cook Scottish dishes."

| I never leave the house without ______.
• "My notebook." Lorien smiled softly, his fingers tapping the edge of the table. "It's been something I've carried around since 2019. Whether it's writing down sounds I hear, scenes I see, or lyrics. You can find inspiration anywhere, no matter where you go."

He shrugged slightly, looking down at the table. "It's a good thing to have on hand because you never know when inspiration will hit. Whether it's walking on the beach, around the park, or at a coffee shop."

Lorien's expression softened. "My notebook is my go-to, along with my headphones, though lately I haven't been using them." He gave a small, nostalgic smile. "Especially when I walk around New York. I like hearing the sounds of the city I grew up in since I haven't in months."

| Describe your personality in three songs instead of three words.
• "Three songs..." Lorien paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I think number one would have to be 'Stressed Out' by Twenty One Pilots." He exhaled softly, his expression a bit weary. "Because lately, I've been stressed out doing so many things. But the more I spend time with my father and my sister, the less stressed I am. Just being around them makes me happy."

He looked up, a faint smile crossing his face. "Song number two would have to be 'I Can't Help It' by JVKE." Lorien's gaze softened, his voice quieter. "Lately, my feelings have been all over the place. Maybe it's because I found something or someone I can resonate with on a deeper personal level. But enough about that."

He shifted slightly in his seat, his posture a bit more serious. "Song number three would have to be 'On The Street' by J-hope sunbaenim." He nodded, a sincere look in his eyes. "It's resonating with how I feel right now. Everything I do is for the people I love and care about—my fans, my family, my friends. I just want everything I do to be for all of us, not just for me."

| What song has been your personal anthem lately?
• "The song that is my personal anthem as of right now..." Lorien paused, his hand running through his hair as he thought. "It would have to be 'Luther' by Kendrick Lamar and SZA." He smiled a little, as if remembering something. "I don't know why, but I've been listening to it a lot lately." He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "It's just one of those songs that gets stuck in your head, you know?"

He leaned back slightly, his arms crossed as he continued. "I think I got hooked on it when I watched the Super Bowl. There's just something about the song, something in the way it feels, that I can resonate with." Lorien's expression softened as he tried to find the words. "I'm not quite sure what it is exactly, but it hits me in a way that's hard to explain."

He shrugged, looking thoughtful. "But I really like the song, and I'm definitely going to continue listening to it. It's one of those tracks that just clicks for me, even if I can't fully pinpoint why." Lorien gave a small, knowing smile, like he was sharing a secret with the audience. "It's one of those songs you just keep on repeat."

| I hope someday I ______.
• "I hope someday I can maybe reconnect with someone who's been my worst enemy," Lorien started, his gaze distant as he thought about his words. "It feels like a lot has happened between us, and it's been painful to let them go." He exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. "But it was what I needed to do. I couldn't keep letting them influence my life, especially when they made it miserable for me."

He paused, looking up as if searching for the right words. "Maybe it's wrong of me to want to reconnect, but the person I want to become knows that holding a grudge isn't the way to go." Lorien's expression softened, and his tone became reflective. "I don't want to keep holding onto that anger. I know it's not healthy for me."

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers briefly running through his hair. "It might take some time before I'm ready to talk to them again, but for now, I'm OK with not talking to them." He shrugged lightly, his eyes more focused now. "I don't want to carry that grudge forever, so hopefully, with time, it'll simmer down, and I can finally have that conversation with them."

Lorien let out a soft sigh, almost to himself. "Maybe by then they'll realize what they did, and maybe they'll even apologize for it." He smiled slightly, though it didn't quite reach his eyes, as if unsure of what the future held. "But for now, I'm just focused on healing and becoming better for myself."

| What's a performance you'll never forget?
• "Again, I would have to say my first concert," Lorien began, a small, nostalgic smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His hands rested on his lap, and he slowly shifted in his seat, as if the memory was still vivid. "I know I already mentioned this, but maybe it's because I cried for the first time in front of so many people I didn't know personally. But the thing is, I knew them. They gave me a safe place to let out all those emotions I didn't know I had to release at the time."

He paused for a moment, his expression growing more thoughtful. "That was the first time I ever let myself be vulnerable in front of anyone who wasn't family," he admitted, a hint of vulnerability in his voice that was rare for him. His fingers curled around the edge of his chair, as if grounding himself in the present moment. "I know it probably came as a shock to most of the fans in the crowd. I didn't really explain myself at the time. But honestly, I didn't need to. They understood, and that's all that matters."

Lorien's gaze softened, looking directly into the camera as if addressing his fans. "Valentines, I'm really proud of what we have. What we've built together. Every time I release music, I know it means something. And it's because of you guys, listening to it and showing me so much love, that I'm able to keep going. You guys give me the strength and support I need, and I can't thank you enough for that."

A genuine smile broke through, though it was tinged with both pride and gratitude. "Let's make 2025 and this upcoming tour something really special, OK?" Lorien's voice softened, but his tone was firm, like a promise. "Promise?"

| If music wasn't your career, what passion would you be chasing instead?
• "I don't think I've told anyone this before," Lorien said, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he shifted in his seat. He looked thoughtful for a moment, as if the thought had just resurfaced. "But I was really into writing. It actually helped me start producing music. If music wasn't my career, I think I would've loved to be a horror book author, just like my inspiration, Stephen King."

His eyes brightened a bit, as if the mention of King had sparked a memory. "There's something about horror that fascinates me. The way it can be interpreted in so many different ways, just like music. Both are similar, in a way. You can express so much with either one."

Lorien leaned back slightly, tapping his fingers on the edge of the table. "Think about it—both horror and music have evolved so much through the centuries. So many brilliant minds have created so many different genres, each with its own unique style. It's amazing to see how both of them have developed over time."

He paused for a brief moment, as if imagining the possibility of writing a book. "Maybe one day, I'll actually start writing my own horror book. Who knows? But for now, I think I'll just focus on my music. It's what I love, and I want to keep creating things that people can connect with."

He smiled, almost to himself, as if content with where his focus was. "But yeah, who knows what the future holds."

"Thank you for hanging out with me and Seventeen for this 17 questions interview. I really hope you got to learn a little more about me and my journey. If you haven't yet, make sure to check out my newest album A Room Called Reverie. It's all about feelings, love, and personal experiences—something I know not everyone can relate to, but I really hope it connects with you in some way. Music has always been a way for me to share my story, and this album is no different. Thanks again for taking the time to get to know me better. This has been Lorien and Seventeen. See you soon, and take care."