On September 1, the September cover of global fashion and lifestyle magazine Highsnobiety Japan, featuring T.O.P, was unveiled on the magazine’s official website.
In the photoshoot, T.O.P created a striking yet sophisticated look with an all-black outfit and wet-look hair. His signature intense gaze combined with the styling to highlight his distinctive presence.
In an interview conducted alongside the photoshoot, T.O.P spoke candidly about his approximately 10-year hiatus. He described that period as “a time when I actually found myself.” He explained, “I think that without that time, I might not have been able to get back up and start working on music again like this,” describing the lengthy break as a period that allowed him to reflect on himself and eventually return to music.
When asked to describe his current self in one word, T.O.P chose “student.” He explained that he is “someone who lives with the mindset of a ‘student’ who is constantly learning,” adding that he tries to learn something positive whenever he encounters the scenery of nature or meets other people.
He also revealed his special affection for his fandom, TOPSX. Recalling the moment he met his fans again after such a long time, T.O.P confessed, “I think I held back a lot of tears when we met again.” He continued, “Because I had experienced such a long period of absence, I came to understand even more deeply how precious it is to meet again.” He added, “Since it was a reunion after 10 years, I wanted to show them a version of myself that had become stronger and had changed a little.”
T.O.P also shared an update on his plans for a new album. He is currently meeting fans around the world through his brand tour, T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026, and said that directly connecting with fans is the first thing he wants to focus on, hinting that “there are a lot of things to prepare.” In particular, he revealed, “The album is already at a stage where I could release it at any time. I don’t think it will be too far away,” raising anticipation for new music.
He also discussed the direction of his upcoming album. While his first solo studio album, ANOTHER DIMENSION, focused on his autobiographical story, T.O.P explained that his second album will explore his perspective on the world and the people around him. “There will be some fairly bold expressions, and I think there will also be new forms of expression that haven’t existed before. You can look forward to it,” he said confidently, heightening curiosity about his future musical activities.
T.O.P, who is celebrating his 20th debut anniversary this year, launched T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026 in Hong Kong on August 15 before continuing on to cities including Taipei. His Taipei show was particularly notable, with an additional performance added after the original show sold out. T.O.P is scheduled to continue the T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026 tour across various parts of Asia.
Sources: Daum