Crush – Interview for Starnews

[imienazwisko.livejournal.com]

Crush released his first full album on June 6th. Here’s a short interview for Starnews. As usual, I focus on the answers.

The first time you hear him speak, you might think he’s a part of the Korean diaspora in an English-speaking country. When asked if he lived abroad for a long time, he answered: “Ah, really? It might feel this way because I stammer a little when I speak. When it happens, if people who listen to me ask me if I’m back from the US, I tell them I’m living at Wangsimni.”

Hip-hop/R&B songwriter Crush (22, Shin Hyo Seop) was born and raised in Seoul. He said he’s been enjoying listening to Black music ever since he was a kid and singing along those songs put a twist on his pronounciation even in his everyday conversations.

“I studied English a lot during my school days. I tried to translate lyrics written in English. I wanted to sing like Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, so I worked hard to copy their style. Haha. When you listen to “One Hundred Ways” by James Ingram, doesn’t it remind you of the Black people in Itaewon?”

About “Crush on You”, his first full album.

“This was supposed to be the album I would produce completely for the first time, so there was a big pressure when I was preparing it. Now that all the songs are finished, I’m at ease. I don’t know if they’ll do well in the charts, but I’m in a good mindset and I’m looking forward to what is to come.”

The songs Crush is featured on or that he writes or composes usually get the number spot.

“If working with others helped me to imprint my voice in the listeners’ minds at some extent, I think I’ll be able to show more diversity under my name in the future.”

Crush was raised in a music atmosphere and was influenced by his father who liked music. When he started middle school in 2005, he began teaching himself to gain musical knowledge. In high school, he applied to be a part of an art and music class as his dream of being a singer grew.

“I was in my first year of middle school when Dynamic Duo released their first full album [t/n: that would be in 2004... yes, ten years ago]. I was so impressed when I listened to their songs that I actually started trying to write my own raps. I wanted to record them, but I had no MR, so I found my own method by reading books. It wasn’t normal work. I did everything by clicking on my computer mouse, I stayed up all night like this and I made a few demos.”

Doing this recording made him want to release his own album. Once he graduated from high school, he was active on the underground scene in Hongdae and he got to know hip-hop musicians. In July 2013, he signed an exclusive contract with Amoeba Culture lead by Dynamic Duo he had always respected.

“I met Zion.T-hyung for the first time in Hongdae. Then, through constant exchange, I got the opportunity to make other musicians listen to my music. The one who really established the connection between the agency and me was Simon D-hyung.”

He said that he liked listening to hip-hop and he liked rapping, but as he started writing songs, singing with the R&B style suit him better. His first album showed various styles like R&B, Neo Seoul and New Jack Swing. He worked with artists such as Dynamic Duo, Zion.T, Jay park, Jinbo, SimonD.

“Hug Me”, his title track, is the one that reveals his style the most. “It’s the last track I made for the album which I wanted to fill with songs to show my identity. The lyrics make all the emotions two people in love can express melt down.”

The fact that other singers like Junggigo, Taeyang bring attention to the R&B style make the expectations even bigger for Crush’s first album.

“How I will live, how I’m living, what I want to talk about, I want to show it all through my music. I think this album will become an important link for my next album. It’s like getting off on the right foot.”

Original article: starnews
Translation: @onesunnylady