Taeyang article for GQ: " I thought I would be able to do whatever I wanted for the next album"

[turdferguson.livejournal.com]

Photoshoot was posted here

Some choice quotes from the article:

What Taeyang wanted to do: After [the last album] <Solar>, I didn’t really think much about what to do as far as the next album was concerned. I just went on a lot of trips. As to the next album, I figured I’ll just do whatever I want. The music I was into at the time was very dark, cold underground R&B, and when I tried to make that kind of music, I ended up butting heads with our company a bit.

About dealing with YG: In the end, this place, too, deals with mainstream music and deals with the general public. To compare, I’m the gambler, but I’m not the one who actually decides how to bet. I make the moves, but it’s the company that looks at those moves and makes the bet. And as the company continues to grow in scale, its musical colors have become more varied. Sometimes, it’s still hard to believe a group like Akdong Musician is in our company.

Paris Fashion Week: (Laughs) If we’re going to talk about Paris Fashion Week, it’s a lot of fun watching the shows. But, the whole time, I was uncomfortable with the appearance that I was there just to be seen, a celebrity wanting to be photographed. When, really, if you’ve been invited to a show, it’s simply courtesy to wear their clothes and try to look good… To be honest, the first time I went, it was an escape, in a sense. I would stress and stress about the album and just feel stuck, never getting anywhere. So I left to refresh myself and have a change of pace. But the second time I went, I realized it. What this is about. I don’t think you’ll see me [in that kind of setting] again.

Almost having Cho Yong Pil in RISE: I would have loved to sing ‘Let Go’ with Cho Yong-Pil sunbaenim, so I pursued it, but we were pressed for time and couldn’t make it happen. I went to him with the song, and he told me the music was good, but that he didn’t have the time to sing on it. In a way, I was grateful he declined because I understood that he’s not someone who does anything casually. I didn’t want to rush it either.

You can read the rest of the article here >> Silly for alwaystaeyang.wordpress.com
GQ 1 2

Comments

[vvipforseungri.livejournal.com]

BIGBANG interviews are always so interesting. Okay, maybe a little bit less with Dae/Ri, but whenever I read a GDYBTOP interview I always feel a little uncomfortable because it's not necessarily what I expect out of a kpop interview. I don't know how truly open he is in this interview, but I feel like it is. Is it sad that I am wary of honesty?

Anyway, this interview was thought-provoking. I liked his recent album quite a bit, but I was surprised to hear how little R&B there actually was on the album. There's a lot of subtle criticism on Taeyang's part, but I don't know if there's resentment yet, per se. I don't know how much I like that he essentially had to convince himself that making "people friendly" music was better for him than doing what he liked. Perhaps this way he is working towards being able to be free with his music (public friendly first to get an audience, then personal preferences later when he's established).

I'm sort of losing hope for a BIGBANG comeback. Or perhaps, less that I'm not expecting a comeback and more that I don't know if I want one.

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

I felt the bitterness in his responses when he was discussing the album. Those parts felt the most honest, to me at least.

[vvipforseungri.livejournal.com]

For sure, but was it such that I feel like he's going to leave any time soon? Not quite yet, but perhaps working towards it.

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

I don't know if he'd leave. And although I could totally see him at AOMG, it'd be hard to find a company like YG, despite the lack of FULL individual album control.

[la-geni.livejournal.com]

They are all have their ways of throwing shade. Seungri has done it too but he does it like at his fan meets and will pull a "I barely had lines to sing," sort of thing and most people won't hear about it unless they follow foreign VIPs on like twitter or something. TOP does it joking around and people are like "haha he's just joking," and you're like "yeah okay," specially if you've been a fan for a while. Even the guys says that they can't tell when he's being serious cuz that's his way of saying things.

All of them said they feel more comfortable as big bang probably partly because as BB they have more clout in the company and probably over their music.. Youngbae has now mentioned several times how important BB is for him, and the chemistry all five of them have...even when it's just two of them doing an interview, you can't fake that. I totally think they'll do just because they enjoy being together, if for nothing else.

[vvipforseungri.livejournal.com]

I get vibes from most of BB that they're done with YG - though I agree, they're not done with each other. It's nice to see that they would probably do it for the sake of the others; it means they (most likely) won't half-ass a comeback. But I don't know about post-conscription. As much as I love BIGBANG... yeah, I'd rather they stopped before they get worn out.

[sugarcages.livejournal.com]

Is it sad that I am wary of honesty?

It's understandable. It's pretty much stated that YG still has a hold over them and their career choices, so you can't quite trust the words of someone who admits to that. Like...how far does the coaching go?

Anyway, Taeyang always gives good interview so it was a good read.

[turdferguson.livejournal.com]

to a certain extent i understand why music companies assume that the general public wouldn't like it if an artist went on a different direction than expected. you have to establish yourself first and consistently put out good albums before they get to The Album I Want To Make. they have to become a better artist with each new release. i think when taeyang speaks candidly about his music he's trying to get the people ready for when he tries something different and it's a good idea imo

soooo i hope he goes back into the studio soon lmao

WAY tl;dr

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

I really love reading GToBae interviews because I learn quite interesting things. They're quite introspective people. But it's also bittersweet to read them. I agree with what was said above. It's hard to distinguish if there's coaching involved or if they're truly being open and honest. I think I choose to believe that Taeyang is speaking freely here, because I enjoy reading his responses to things.

I loved his album, and since I wasn't around during Solar, I had no prejudgments about his music and trusted blindly. That being said, it stings a bit? that the music on his album might not have been what HE wanted. I'm not a "public-friendly music" type of listener, so I'm wanting to listen to what he wanted to release. I know for sure, Love You To Death is his favorite track, so it'd be nice to see where he'd head in that direction without being The Weeknd, and being Taeyang.

Ah, but mixtapes are for getting out to the people what you can't get out. He should try it.

Yes, I have to this time. To be honest, when I’m performing, I don’t have the compulsion that I have to sing everything well. But I try because then people make a fuss

....he pays attention to the internet...especially YT.

Re: WAY tl;dr

[awsteven.livejournal.com]

a mixtape would be awesome tho i wonder if that's allowed in his contract since songs= potential profit. maybe i'm bitter but i doubt yg would let any of his artists release free music

Re: WAY tl;dr

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good way to do something he wants to do and then have the public listen to it. If they all don't like it, which they won't because people always have to be music snobs, then there's no money lost. For however many don't like it, that many will.

Re: WAY tl;dr

[sugarcages.livejournal.com]

Of all the places to pay attention to! He should just listen to Omona (lol)

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

i feel sad to know how much he struggled and still not satisfied with his album. and seeing how this album is success commercially (i think), i'm afraid the company will continue to make him do what the market wants instead of what he wants. i hope he can somehow release the songs he had worked on.

[bananaclaw.livejournal.com]

+1
Especially since the Intro and Love You to Death were the lowest ranked tracks on the album (according to wikipedia and hearsay. reliable, I know lol)

I hope he'll be able to add more and more songs of his preference with subsequent albums

[deeinanutshell.livejournal.com]

exactly... it makes his whole success with EyesNoseLips bittersweet T__T and now it could go 2 ways: 1) YGE continues to firmly control his content bc his brand as an artist become too vulnerable to the company or 2) YGE loosens up his control as Taeyang gains a loyal fanbase that would ensure success no matter what music is released. tbh none of the options sound appealing but 2 is a bit better than 1. :( this is the cost of success i guess.

[goldenrosalie.livejournal.com]

ever since he started shading yg last year... he just won't stop. gotta love yb!
As the album kept getting dumped and delayed.... basically the summary of this interview.
Both in GQ and Billboard interview he mentioned "Love You To Death" as his fav track and the one he had to fight for because yg was so nhft. It's kind of interesting because i like this album ONLY because of this song's existence. It's that one song I can't stop listening to and I don't really care about other tracks. It makes me sad that he couldn't make a whole album like that even tough he wanted that. And essentially this album doesn't have the sound he wanted. I DO understand yg's pov because LYTD is really NOT the music Korea gives a single fuck about but it still sucks.

[deeinanutshell.livejournal.com]

omg it makes me SO ANGRY that we could've had a whole album of LYTD but we got blocked by stupidass YGE. i really think this album fell short of solar in terms of it's lack of presence of the r&b influences i like to hear in yb's work. i was so confused when it was released actually bc i was so sure that the whole frank ocean, the weeknd, miguel slow old school r&b was the direction he was going... but then it ended up being more 'ballad'-y then r&b which is what koreans prefer but meh :/

[blackstarnebula.livejournal.com]

late but you are/were right about the direction he was going or at least trying to go in. Considering LYTD is his fav song and that he stated that it and the Intro were the direction he wanted to go in but couldn't says a lot. But YG shot that shit down so here we are.

[ckino (from livejournal.com)]

now i wonder if the album consists of tracks equivalent to Love You To Death. The album probably be my favorite album of the year. That is the only song I care about and definitely hope to watch it live.

[canxi.livejournal.com]

Ah, proving my theories that Teyang is the most frustrated person in YG, lol.

I feel like if he was a solo artist, he would probably be out at the next end of contract...maybe even the last time it ended. I often picture him listening to Jinbo or Crush and being sad that he can't be more experimental. Although, I also understand the concern of making music the audience will like I don't think it's always a good idea to go a "safe" route as it hinders growth even if you put out a solid album like Rise. I liked it, but you can tell it wasn't the music he was talking about doing in all his interviews.

I think he should really push for that mixtape or just pull an M.I.A and just drop a track one time, lol.

[sugarcages.livejournal.com]

I think at this point Taeyang should just do underground music--have a different stage name, stage guerilla concerts without any kind of marketing. It would be different and YG won't have to fund it as much as his mainstream pop persona. Kind of what L'arc en ciel did when they went alternative rock/punk.

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

Interviews like these always makes me wish he would leave YG for some smaller label like AOMG 'cause I think he would be happier there. Anyhow with his physical album sales flopping compared to Solar, maybe YG will stop trying to make him release mainstream pop albums and will just concentrate on choosing public friendly title track?

[goldenrosalie.livejournal.com]

are his physical sales that bad? plus i always assumed that physical sales in yg's case aren't as important as for example sm.

[bunica1990.livejournal.com]

He gives some of the best interviews in kpop tbh.

I feel like he'd be better off with a different agency at times.

[weerainbow.livejournal.com]

I feel like Taeyang's interviews are always worth the effort to sit down and properly read and take in and digest. I love his honesty about the battles he has over his music and about the processes he goes through and especially how he shares so openly his doubts and his excitements about music. It's fascinating to see him grow in the way he expresses himself both musically and in interviews. I'm so glad he battled enough to make an album he was happy with but not so much that he wasn't able to produce anything. Hearing him talk makes me wish to spend time just talking about music with him, letting him share his random thoughts on it. How fascinating it would be :)

[hellodee16.livejournal.com]

We almost didn't get LYTD, smh.
So curious about all the YG rejected songs fr TOP and YB...

[vermicelli-rice.livejournal.com]

But it’s my experience that when you break up, you really do start taking care of your looks more.
Is that how we got Taeyang's hair back to normal? /jk

But seriously speaking, for someone who doesn't follow him, his (bitter) honesty is really refreshing. Props too to the GQ interviewer. This was really a great read.

[yamamotokun80.livejournal.com]

If Yb gets this, now I start wondering about the rejected songs of GD....

[blackstarnebula.livejournal.com]

he gets the same pressure but I think GD has a little more freedom than YB mostly because he has more clout as the most successful member, producer and face of BB. But GD has mentioned in interviews how he gets blocked from releasing certain songs because it's not "commercial" enough. GD, YB and TOP have all made comments about that. YB says it the most frequently because he's 1) the most stubborn so he fights YG the most 2) has had the most issues with YG in terms of music being released. He had issues with both Solar and now Rise which Rise being the most contentious judging by the non-stop shade of the last 2 years.