Making pain heard: creating 死神來了 through music, character and companionship
In her afternoon interview on Metro Info’s 勁爆樂勢力 on 10 November 2026, Karen Kong discusses the dark styling and characters in 死神來了 and its connection to 目前無法處理您的請求. She reflects on wanting to be heard during a difficult period, the joy of writing with JNYBeatz, two recording sessions and her experiments with AI imagery. The conversation returns to companionship through music and seeking professional support when needed.
The masked character is a hidden, hurting self
Recording reference position · 01 · 00:10:45Starting with Karen’s appearance at the Metro Radio Hits Awards press conference, the host asks about the music video. Karen explains that the male character is Death, while the masked, dark figure represents her own pain: a part of herself that has been hidden away.
She distinguishes the filmed and generated material. The Visualizer includes live-action footage of her dark styling, while the other music-video imagery was made with AI. Her clothes, makeup, contact lenses and nails extend the idea of another version of herself.
A second chapter for pain that has not been heard
Recording reference position · 01 · 00:12:04Karen connects 死神來了 to 目前無法處理您的請求 through the experience of expressing pain without being heard. When feelings receive no response, a person may bury them further. A polished social-media presence can also conceal distress.
She says the song is intended to accompany people experiencing suicidal thoughts and intense pain, helping them feel understood. The story gives those struggles a presence within the work, with companionship as its purpose.
Wanting someone to listen before judging
Recording reference position · 01 · 00:14:53Karen recalls a period of very low spirits, frequent crying and little motivation to work. Being told to look on the bright side or stop being angry made her feel that her pain had not been understood. What she wanted first was someone to hear her out without judging.
Reflecting on friends’ experiences as well, she says she cannot always be there for everyone individually, but music can reach people online. When words are difficult to find, sitting beside someone and listening can itself be a form of support.
Creating the sound she wants with JNYBeatz
Recording reference position · 01 · 00:17:35Karen and JNYBeatz co-wrote the melody, with JNYBeatz also arranging and producing the song. She enjoyed the spark in their earlier collaboration and wanted to continue working together on this project. She values his style and willingness to explore the music fully with her.
She wants to pursue sounds she enjoys and express what matters to her. Later, discussing a clip of their writing session, she describes losing track of time while creating melodies. That sense of flow and the happiness of finishing help explain why she keeps making music.
Recording again to find the character’s exhaustion
Recording reference position · 01 · 00:24:30Karen describes two recording sessions. After the first, she felt the voice sounded too strong for the exhaustion, numbness and helplessness she wanted to convey. In the second session, she even changed her posture, sitting loosely at an angle to find the character’s state.
She makes a distinction between the earlier low period reflected in the work and her renewed energy at the time of the interview. The performance required her to return imaginatively to the emotional place the song needed.
From a six-song arc to repeated AI storyboard experiments
Recording reference position · 01 · 00:27:27Karen says she already has a narrative direction spanning the first to the sixth song in the project. She discusses new ideas with ChatGPT, develops them alongside the lyrics into a storyboard, and revises it repeatedly.
She then generates character and location images before using another AI tool to animate them. The process involves repeated trials and decisions about results and budget, rather than a single generation.
Companionship and appropriate support
Recording reference position · 01 · 00:29:10; 02 · 00:00:00Near the end, Karen compares emotions to passing clouds, while also saying that emotional illness or depression calls for professional help, such as a counsellor or doctor. Friends may not know how to handle every situation.
The second recording continues the closing thought: if someone responds to an attempt to talk only by saying not to be unhappy, another willing listener may be more helpful. The conversation closes on the connection between music and companionship, followed by 死神來了.