By Mars Brunk, Graphic Designer
Christian Yu, known famously as DPR IAN, is a Korean-Australian artist known for his beautiful music videos and lore-driven music. The 35-year-old is an ex-Kpop idol, having been in the group C-CLOWN from 2012-2015. He made his reappearance in the industry in 2020, with the single “So Beautiful.”
The world of DPR IAN is one that many can relate to and find comfort in. Christian was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his teens and recently was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. He uses his music as a way of painting the world inside his mind, including his alter Mito.
Christian was in a metal band in high school, then moved to South Korea with the intention of becoming a b-boy dancer. He was street cast to become an idol for an entertainment agency, where he eventually debuted as the leader of the group C-CLOWN in 2012 at the age of 22, under the stage name Rome, inspired by his Korean name, Barom.
After the Kpop boy group disbanded, Christian formed the label Dream Perfect Regime, DPR, alongside Hong Dabin, Kim Kyungmo, and Scott Yunho Kim. Later on in DPR, Kim Yongwoo also joined the agency. Christian encountered many issues with this agency, with Scott Kim unfairly managing the company. Dabin filed an official lawsuit against Scott, alleging mistreatment and financial exploitation. The lawsuit was dropped just one day before mediation, though recently Christian took to X to vent about his frustrations with the ex-CEO in an emotional thread.
Christian incorporates his mental struggles heavily into his work, giving listeners a way to connect to his music. His song SKINS was written and recorded entirely by his alter, Mito, and released after Christian found the song. The overarching story of his music follows Christian’s journey with bipolar disorder and DID, his alter Mito, as well as a personification of his mania named Mr. Insanity. We see these people interact in music videos filmed in a highly cinematic way, allowing for immersion into the world of his mind.
Christian also directs and edits his music videos himself. VFX and CGI are staples of his music videos, as well as cinematic shots and quick jump cuts. He has also filmed a short music movie, titled MIITO MOVIE (PART I). This eight-minute video is a quick medley of four songs off of his first full-length album, Moodswings in to Order, with a storyline depicting rapid swings between emotions and superhero-like powers of the personifications. Christian has stated that he enjoys being able to portray his alter, Mito, and different mood states in a realistic sense with highs and lows both depicted. It is unclear when part two will be released, as it has been over three years since the first part was released, though film reels shown at concerts are possibly hinting at sometime within the next year or two.
While Christian has not won any awards as of writing this article, he has been nominated for three Korean Hip-Hop awards for R&B Track of the Year, R&B Album of the Year, and Music Video of the Year. He has directed music videos for many other Korean artists such as Mino, Bobby, and Taeyang. He has also been featured in music videos by CL and IU.
A new album is currently in the works, as teased by Christian, though it is unsure when this album will be released. In the meantime, there are four albums and EPs to explore. His R&B style is incredibly appealing to general audiences, with gorgeous music videos and visualizers to couple with. There are also archives of his Instagram lives on YouTube, where he frequently answers questions from viewers about his musical process and experience with his mental disorders. Christian truly has a talent for creating and performing, so please check him out!
