The Heart of Base Camp: Dailog on Music, Love, and Starting Fresh
By. Alicia Zamora
An exclusive interview with Alicia’s Studio brings composer and producer Dailog into focus as he steps into a new chapter of his career. After five years of shaping music behind the scenes in Korea, he is finally putting his own name to a project with the release of his debut EP Base Camp on September 1st. For Dailog, this wasn’t simply about moving from the background to the spotlight—it was about rediscovering the joy and freedom that first drew him to making music, and telling a story that is fully his own.
The meaning behind Base Camp goes further than just the name. For Dailog, it’s his way of showing love as a kind of sanctuary—a place you can always return to and feel grounded before moving forward again. He wanted that same feeling to live inside the music, so the songs carry a mix of warmth and reflection. The sound pulls from surf rock, folk, dream pop, and lo-fi, creating something that feels both familiar and new, almost like old memories rising to the surface. Each track has its own emotional space, but they all circle back to the same idea of comfort, safety, and beginning again.
The EP moves through a range of moods and moments. “Morning Twist” sets the tone with its easygoing, bright energy, while “Boy Scout” leans into reflection and a sense of looking back. “Basement” drops into something moodier, a darker corner of the journey, and “Doodle” balances that out with playful looseness. The closing track, “Campfire,” pulls everything together, creating a sense of closeness and calm, like ending the night around glowing flames. Each track feels intentional, not just as individual songs but as pieces of a bigger story.
For Dailog, Base Camp is just the start. It’s his way of carving out space for his own artistry while still producing for others, showing that the two sides of his career can exist together. This project lays the foundation for what’s next, and in this conversation, he opens up about what that shift has meant for him, the freedom he’s found in self-expression, and the journey he’s ready to continue building from here.
Diving In
Dailog: My name is Dailog. I’ve been composing and producing music for about five years in Korea. I worked with many laborers, K-drama productions, K-pop artists, and a lot of K-indie artists as well. And now, I’ve prepared my new album, and finally released my first EP, Base Camp, on September 1. Today, I want to share more about the album and the stories behind it. Thank you for having me.
Alicia: After composing for so many K-drama productions and other artists, what made you decide it was finally time to put out your own project?
Dailog: For a long time, I expressed other people’s stories through music, but at some point, I felt a strong desire to tell my own story with my own voice. I think every piece of music carries that longing inside. I wanted to make music purely out of joy, free from conditions or specific purposes, and that feeling became the biggest reason for starting this solo project. Now, beyond being a composer and producer, I wanted to expand my scope as a musician.
Alicia: Did stepping into the spotlight as DAILOG feel freeing, intimidating, or a bit of both?
Dailog: Honestly, it was both. At first, it was intimidating—standing in front of people as myself, knowing I’d be judged for who I am and what I do came with a vague fear. But at the same time, the freedom of expressing emotions with my own voice was equally powerful. I worried, will anyone listen to me among so much music out there? But in the end, the sense of accomplishment I gained from the process means more than fear.
Alicia: How did working behind the scenes for years shape the way you approached Base Camp?
Dailog: Writing for artists means respecting their story and their musical character—their voice, their techniques, their sound. Through that, I learned the importance of sensitivity and detail in music. With Base Camp, I tried to carry those lessons forward, expressing my own emotions honestly while also aiming for strong craftsmanship. I think that balance is what led to the warmth and storytelling of the record.
Alicia: Why did you choose the title Base Camp? What does that word mean to you personally?
Dailog: Personally, for me, love was both happiness and shelter. If life is a rough journey, then love felt like a base camp—a place where you can rest and regain the courage to keep going. That’s why I wanted to frame the flow of a day as if it were spent at base camp.
Alicia: The record feels like a pause, a breath — was that intentional from the start, or something that emerged as you wrote?
Dailog: It was partly intentional, but it also took shape naturally as I kept writing. After a few songs piled up, I asked myself, what am I really trying to say right now? In the end, I realized the most honest way was to let the record breathe slowly, like the pace of a day. That direction also fit perfectly with the album’s overall concept.
Alicia: Love is central to this project, but in a quieter, more grounded way. What drew you to explore love from that perspective?
Dailog: The love I experienced wasn’t flashy or dramatic. It was the kind that gives courage and comfort. Simply being together—like sitting under the sunlight through the window—was enough to make me happy. That’s why it felt most natural for me to express love in a calm and warm way.
Alicia: You blend surf rock, folk, dream pop, and lo-fi textures — what pulled you toward that particular mix of sounds?
Dailog: I’ve always loved raw human textures: the warmth of folk, the dreamy layers of dream pop, and for the first time, I explored the rough, exotic energy of rock. Bringing those together reflected my taste best. And before being a singer, I was a songwriter and producer, so I naturally studied and experimented with different styles out of curiosity. That part of my career definitely influenced this record too.
Alicia: The production feels vintage but fresh. How did you strike that balance?
Dailog: Instead of polishing everything to be sleek and trendy, I intentionally left some rough edges. At the same time, I added fresh ideas in the arrangement and sound design to keep it new. My goal was to create something vintage in texture but still pleasing to today’s ears. Simply copying old sounds didn’t make sense—I wanted to really interpret them in my own way.
Alicia: What’s your process for layering vocals and guitars to get that warm, lived-in feel?
Dailog: First, I put a lot of effort into the way I perform. I think carefully about how to sing or play, depending on the emotion or story I want to convey. On the first couple of tracks, I sang and played more roughly, almost like someone just learning music. On others, I kept it lighter and more precise. Then I leaned on vintage elements in production, using textures that evoke analog gear so the sound feels warm and aged rather than cold and pristine.
Alicia: How do you know when a song has reached that “nothing extra needed” point — when it feels finished?
Dailog: That’s always the hardest part for me and for other musicians. For me, it’s when I take a walk, listen with a clear head, and find myself focusing more on the emotion than on what I want to fix. At that point, I know the song is ready. Completion, to me, isn’t about making a track that no one could ever improve — it’s about the music reaching a state where it communicates something honestly, as it is.
Alicia: Okay, awesome. And then we’re gonna move on to the tracks. This is how I saw them, so the questions are based on how I personally experienced them. “Morning Twist” opens the EP with brightness. Why did you choose it as the starting point?
Dailog: As soon as I wrote this song, I knew I wanted it to be the opener because it reminded me of the freshness of morning.
Alicia: “Boyscout” feels restless and loud compared to the others. What space did you want it to hold in the project?
Dailog: It’s a little more rough, strong, playful, and energetic. I wanted to explore other kinds of music through my own album — something different from the way I’ve worked when producing for others. I saw this as an opportunity to experiment with that sound more.
Alicia: “Basecamp” feels like the heart of the EP — was it always meant to be the grounding track?
Dailog: This song embodied BaseCamp the most. It really carried what I was trying to express through the project, so it naturally became the grounding track.
Alicia: “Doodle” carries this fragile, handwritten intimacy. How did you approach writing something that delicate?
Dailog: For me, conveying emotions is the most important part. With this track, the two things that mattered most were what I was feeling and how I conveyed those emotions.
Alicia: “Pajama Party” has a playful, breezy rhythm. Was it inspired by a specific memory or just the feeling of comfort?
Dailog: This one feels kind of like a hidden track, and I had a lot of fun making it. There wasn’t a specific goal in mind — it was more about enjoying the process. The atmosphere reminded me of a pajama party at your house, with that same fun and carefree energy.
Alicia: “Campfire” closes things with warmth that lingers. Did you always know it would be the ending?
Dailog: From the first moment, I felt like this was the song to close the album. When I plan and structure an album, I think carefully about the closing track. With this one, I wanted to show that love is precious and valuable. The last sound spreads out and fades, giving a certain feeling. In Korean, there’s a word, aswium. It’s difficult to explain in English, but the closest meaning is regret. It describes that lingering sense that maybe there could have been more. I wanted that bittersweet, lingering emotion to end the record.
Alicia: You’ve built a career channeling other people’s stories into sound. How different was it to tell your own?
Dailog: This album gave me the chance to reflect a lot on myself — the kind of music, style, sound, and even fashion I like. That’s what made the process different compared to the work I’ve done for others.
Alicia: What emotions or images do you hope listeners carry with them after hearing Base Camp?
Dailog: The importance and preciousness of love — the value that love holds.
Alicia: Do you see Base Camp as a starting point, or more of a checkpoint before your next climb?
Dailog: This feels more like a starting point. I’ll continue working as a composer and producer, but I also want to connect with others as a musician.
Alicia: Now that you’ve made something so personal, how do you see your balance between producing for others and creating as DAILOG moving forward?
Dailog: I like to think of it as fishing. Working on my own album as DAILOG is like going far away to fish in a quiet, remote place. But when I work with artists and labels, it’s like fishing in a popular spot where many people gather — by lakes, beaches, or oceans. Both are precious to me. Even though creating as a musician on my own can be tough, everything feels connected. My experience as a composer and producer feeds into what I do as an artist, and vice versa.
Alicia: To end the interview, is there anything you’d like to say to the people who listen to your music?
Dailog: There’s nothing specific that comes to mind in this exact moment, but I put a lot of genuine effort into these songs. There was so much work and heart behind this album, and I hope listeners come back to it from time to time for a very long period of time.
