2NE1 for Billboard

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

2NE1 Talks Long-Awaited Return, U.S. Debut Rumors: Exclusive Video Q&A


Video won't embed, please watch at the source

“All the great energy we received during our world tour reflects on our new album” -CL

Since their fiery, eye-demanding debut in 2009, 2NE1 has generated a relentless and diverse string of hits like the club banger “Fire,” mid-tempo R&B track “I Don’t Care,” the emotionally-vulnerable “Lonely,” rock-influenced “Ugly,” hard-hitting “I Am The Best” and last year’s K-Pop Hot 100 No. 1 “I Love You.” All of which were heard on the girls’ first world tour, keeping them busy throughout 2012.

After a year’s break from the K-pop scene, the YG Entertainment girl group quartet are finally back with another the genre-blurring “Falling In Love” with a plan to roll out a new single every month until dropping a new album in October.

If “I Love You” roped in listeners for its innovative combination of electronic beats and singing style of trot (the oldest form of Korean pop music), their latest, “Falling In Love,” grabs ears for its reggae beat intertwined with hip-hop stylings.

“Falling In Love,” released July 8, is a refreshing hybrid of surging reggae rhythms and a jaunty, feel-good melody. The sophisticated, very-catchy track is accentuated by each member’s unique vocal strengths resulting in a summer love anthem packed with loads of sass. The song was produced by YG’s in-house producer Teddy and Choice 37 — both of whom were responsible for YG sonic goodies like BIGBANG’s “Bad Boy,” “Fantastic Baby,” G-Dragon’s “One Of A Kind,” Lee Hi’s “Rose” not to mention a slew of 2NE1 hits.

After their first TV appearance on Mnet’s “M! Countdown,” the girls (fashionably dressed in matching London artist’s Kesh’s collaboration line with American Apparel), met with Billboard for an exclusive interview at YG Entertainment’s Seoul headquarters to discuss their new musical direction, concept and plans for rest of 2013.

“We are extremely excited as this is our first single in a long time,” says the self-proclaimed “baddest female” and seemingly-fearless leader CL. “It is actually our first official album release in two years. We really wanted to be onstage together so I think it’s going to be fun. All the great energy we received during our world tour is reflected on our new album.”

In “Falling in Love,” 2NE1 sets aside their tough, hard-edged charisma to find their inner femininity, displaying a striking transformation as they sweetly croon and rap. Take for example, the translated lyric, “My lips are drying up, my insides are freezing up; I can’t look at you, you’re so dazzling boy, I’m so blind.”

“We wanted to come out with a summery, fun track,” explains CL of their newest musical offering. “It is a love song that is definitely not scary [laughs]. It was a daring move for us since it is a love song with positive lyrics. I think it will display 2NE1′s cuteness as well loveliness. We were all about showing our fierce charisma with ‘I Am The Best,’ so through this stage, we plan to smile and present our loveliness as much as we can.”

Their in-your-face stage presence is nowhere to be found as they brightly smile and lightly float on stage.

“We felt a burning passion for this new track,” says Sandara. “It felt like we were starting fresh as this was our first time pursuing a sweet, love song.”

2NE1′s musical power lies in their ability to discard the old and adopt new styles. The easy-to-sing-along melody on top of CL’s bouncy, yet heavy, rapping and Park Bom’s soulful vocals turns anything into an immediate head-bopper.

Fans will be able to see more of 2NE1 in the later half of this year. They’ll release a single and accompanying music video once a month, until the album is released in October and there are plans to promote at least four all new tracks from the upcoming album. However, their most anticipated schedule is their upcoming exclusive concert in Korea.

2NE1 plans to launch their long-awaited concert in Korea, sometime in October or November. “We want to meet as many fans as we can through our performances,” say the girls collectively. “We love performing onstage and we hope to learn a lot from the people we’ll work with through our concert.”

So what about the U.S. debut the girls have been teasing for so long?

Despite working with will.i.am (2NE1 featured on “#willpower” track, “Gettin’ Dumb”) CL confirms that “there are no official plans to crossover.” After their world tour last year, the girls are putting the focus back on home base, Korea. But the leader adds, “We really want to visit South America. I heard our fan base is the second biggest there… When I first met Will.iam., he told me that we were really popular in South America and we’ve been wanting to perform there for a while.”

Though no matter where they make waves (officially or unofficially), 2NE1 continues to be a leader for the exponentially growing K-pop scene. Despite some time away from the scene, 2NE1′s new album — which promises a single each month until its October release — and the excitement (and coverage) it brings will be a testament’s to the girl group’s global presence.

Source: billboard

Comments

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

The second a new girl group is debuted why does it feel like YG will most likely just drop 2ne1?

[torontok.livejournal.com]

Because YG throws his own atists under the bus since he's seemingly incapable of managing more than two acts at a time.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Part of me would rage, part of me doesn't care cause I've been seriously underwhelmed by their latest release
I don't even know where I stand these days

[ms-rancha.livejournal.com]

bec two of them are close to 30 and you can feel that yg needs to replace them? but with the same concept but dances more. minzy and cl can be a duo or solo.. bom will be solo like gummy and dara can be an actress.

[fuckurou.livejournal.com]

It really feels like YG is professionally done with them, with the long hiatus and lack of set in stone future plans, like they don't know whether October album will be a full one or a mini. Dara and Bom said in an interview they don't see themselves in 2ne1 5 years from now on, so I guess they'll either renew they contract for 2 years (like Seven and Gummy) or not at all.

[torontok.livejournal.com]

Minji looks off in that screencap. her face loosk weirdly tiny.
NGL, I was hoping they'd have a sucessful US debut but they waited too long.

[hurtmybones.livejournal.com]

thank god they scrapped those plans for the us debut, I had a feeling they did.

[theharleyquinn.livejournal.com]

It's kind of embarrassing to have to pretend that they weren't trying for a U.S. debut when they clearly were, but at the same time it's probably better for them in the long run. It wouldn't have been managed well at all.

[j3ssc.livejournal.com]

Nonsense. They were but Will.I.Am was their main producer and he was often flying here and there and working on that damn album that took 2 years to even come out. As soon as I read that he wanted to tour after the album release, I knew there just would not be any time to fit 2NE1.

[footballfina.livejournal.com]

Scrapping the US debut is the best decision YG's made in a while. Kpop acts need to abandon any dreams of western success and just focus on conquering Asia (which will soon be just as big a market).

I think that focusing on the emerging powerhouse that is China is probably the smartest thing to do financially speaking (*cough* something SM seems to have realized after BoA *cough*)

[45s.livejournal.com]

TBH the east is where their money is made bc US ppl do not buy music and artists rely more on appearances, merchandising deals, concerts, acting gigs, endorsements than on physical sales. the acting becomes more important more in the US bc they register with SAG and have more control over their own image than they did with a US label. plus more take home pay

like, US artists know ppl pirate their shit nonstop and they're not making a dime from it since the record label takes 98.99%

(lol pardon my bad spelling!)

[iglossmyeyes.livejournal.com]

Japan is still number one priority for kpop acts. i don't know China's market very well, but idt it's that profitable. SM tried to make it happen in China since a long time ago (BoA's been releasing chinese versions since 2000 up till Girls On Top, DBSK had couple singles, Suju-M of course) but they always go to Japan in the end. idk if it's issue connected with venues (bigger concert tours?), language problem but the fact is kpop is wary of China.

[torontok.livejournal.com]

I feel like south-asia is still a huge untapped market for kpop.

[asteri5k.livejournal.com]

Scrapping the US debut is the best decision YG's made in a while.

Took them long enough. I feel that they've placed too much time on hiatus trying to break in the US. Not just the 2 year hiatus. The year gap between their previous releases is completely without activities.

[45s.livejournal.com]

After a year’s break from the K-pop scene, the YG Entertainment girl group quartet are finally back with another the genre-blurring “Falling In Love” with a plan to roll out a new single every month until dropping a new album in October.


that is the most ambitious and ridiculous statement i've heard from a yg artist ever. who are they kidding.

[crazyxcami.livejournal.com]

They did it for their 2nd Mini Album and it was very effective judging from both Online & Offline Physical sales. I don't see how that can be called ambitious when they're just rehashing strategies lol.

[konichiwacobra.livejournal.com]

everything is still up in the air. what a mess. get it together YG.

[timetobegin.livejournal.com]

I always feel like what we get from them is not what we want, and what we don't get is what we do want. Long awaited concert tour? ROFL. They hardly have any new material to add and as long as they are struggling with lives... no thank you. It's a shame those US plans are scrapped, because I am curious for whatever material they recorded with Will.I.Am.

Oh well, YG doesn't care anymore anyway. Terminate the contracts and let these girls do what they like. Minzy solo please!

[sub-divided.livejournal.com]

One song ("Gettin' Dumb") from their collaboration showed up on Will.I.Am's album, and it was baaaaad. So I'm glad they didn't go through with that.

[classicart.livejournal.com]

This album and concert are definitely going to be their last hurrah. I don't think they'll ever officially break up, but they'll go their separate ways and do their own projects.

[chukachukachoo.livejournal.com]

thank you

[ashyvt.livejournal.com]

omona is a very negative place sometimes... (also has a passion for being offended-generalization)
I try not to be so emotionally invested esp in YG's shortcomings so when they release something-it makes me happy.

[schticklet.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. Especially that whole first line.

[porcupinegloves.livejournal.com]

THEY REALLY WANT TO VISIT SOUTH AMERICA
(i know this means literally nothing but i can dream right)

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forwards to all the new singles, though I would also like to see how many physical albums they could sell if they didn't release so many digital singles from the album beforehand.

[camouflagecat.livejournal.com]

I'm just interested in their new songs and Mvs (I hope there's gonna be more MVs?) they're gonna release every month

[chukachukachoo.livejournal.com]

Some people are convinced YG wants to drop 2NE1 which makes no sense to me. They're one of his money makers when he lets them do shit. also tired of blackjacks on tumblr and crap talking about Dara/Bom probably wanting to settle down and have kids because they'll be 30...

But people here are also convinced the girls hate each other. really it's the fans who don't get along and are projecting their dislike of certain members (or their fans) onto 2ne1. This fandom is just super negative and I don't get it.

thank goodness that album they did with will.i.am is gone.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I don't think I ever saw someone on omona saying the girls hate each other...