For such an energetic onstage personality, K-pop idol Baekhyun has a chill vibe around him that shows he’s ready to take on anything thrown his way. Best known for being a member of the legendary EXO boy band, he has since gone on to release chart-topping EPs like City Lights, Delight, Bambi, and most recently, Hello, World. You might also recognize his songs being used in hit series such as Dr. Romantic 2 and Hyena. We sat down for a quick catch-up with the idol a day before his “The Best Day” fanmeet organized by lifestyle giant Bench at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

You’ve been to the Philippines a few times. What do you look forward to each time you visit?

I know that fans in the Philippines are very passionate. One of the things I really look forward to is the loud cheers, the passionate cheers of fans from the Philippines. I want to come to the Philippines more often. I look forward to seeing a bigger audience whenever I come back.

What are you most excited about in working with Bench for this fanmeet?

I heard there would be games and times for music with the fans for the fanmeet with Bench. I don’t have much time to show fans my relaxing, comfortable side but with the help of Bench for this great opportunity, I’ll be able to show fans my other side, my relaxed and personal side. I want to say thank you to Bench for giving this opportunity and I’m very excited and looking forward to enjoying the time with my fans in the Philippines.

What are some of your favorite moments in these fanmeets? Are there any particular moments that stand out?

In my last song performance during last year’s solo concert, there were a lot of people who cried and showed tears during that performance. I was thinking, “Why? It’s not like we’re not going to see each other anymore, right? We still have next year to see each other!” That’s why I told myself that I should come to the Philippines more often. And guess what, I’ll be coming back again this year for my concert. Last year was a hard schedule for me. It was very hectic. I thought that this year should be slow-paced and not much of a hectic schedule, but I still have a hectic schedule to come. I’ll still be coming back to the Philippines for the fans to be comforted and [so I can] take care of them.

How do you relax after putting up such a performance?

After the performance, if there’s an activity and if the day after there’s another one to do, then I minimize my eating habits, my meal plan. I enjoy (getting) a massage. It’s that time of my own when I can relax and recover from a tiresome day. I love bathtubs, just normal things. If you have anything to recommend, what would you recommend? (At this point we shared a laugh and talked briefly about unwinding through video games).

Who are some of the artists who have inspired your musical journey?

When I was young, the artist who really inspired me was Brian McKnight. When I was younger, my mother kept insisting for me to learn the piano. I would tell my mom, “No I don’t like piano, I want to play games.” When I saw the performance of Brian McKnight singing while playing the piano, it really struck me and surprised me. It was really cool. Now I kind of regret…I should have listened to my mother and learned the piano at an earlier age.

Are you listening to any current artists on repeat?

The fans know that whenever I do a live broadcast with them, some of the playlists would be the songs of Brian McKnight. Instead of thinking about what is the trendy song that people listen to, I categorize it by year. So, what are the songs of the year? Like 2005 to the early 2000s, ’80s, (and) ’90s. I don’t have much time to listen to music with earphones on since, as an artist, I spend a lot of time with an in-ear monitor. My ears get very tired. In my house, when I listen to music, I don’t think of it as a playlist or what songs I like, I think of it more as categorized by year. The song I enjoy listening to currently is Muni Long’s “Hrs & Hrs.”

Is there a particular year of music you enjoy listening to?

Late ’90s and early 2000s R&B. I like the medium tempo kind of R&B music, the traditional type of R&B music. Late ’90s and early 2000s are the peak years, the highlight years of the R&B industry. The songs from those periods of time really got my attention and struck me hard.

What future projects are you excited about for your fans to see or hear?

There will be collaborations. There will be an album. There will be collaborations within the album. I’m preparing so many things and planning to do a lot of different activities. Slowly but surely, I’m planning on things. I will, for sure, show different sides of Baekhyun to the fans.

Do you have any special messages for your Filipino fans?

Every time I come back, it feels like we just saw each other yesterday. They welcome me really warmly, as if we just saw each other recently. When I’m on stage, the fans from the Philippines really love my performance. They come to the concert wearing outfits related to me and there’s the fan chants. I really appreciate it. I realize how much love and support I receive from fans in the Philippines. Just like now, stay healthy and don’t be sick. For a long, long time let’s be together and spend good memories together. I’ll make sure to come back to the Philippines.