Epik High pre-SXSW Billboard interview: "We're planning a U.S. tour"

[kyokomurasaki.livejournal.com]

[Link to the video because Billboard's embed function will not work no matter what I do]

Epik High is gearing up for their first U.S. show in years, making their stateside live comeback at SXSW 2015.

Ahead of their headlining showcase at K-Pop Night Out in Austin, Tablo, Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz talked to Billboard about their upcoming showcase with their signature mix of humor and seriousness.

"If you're seeing us for the first time at SXSW, it's actually the perfect time to get to know who Epik High is," Tablo tells Billboard. "I'm sure some of our fans are excited, but even more than the fans, we're excited to be performing stateside again. It's been a very long time. During that time, we've grown stronger as a group...whoever's coming to the show, you're going to be a part of the stage, you're going to be part of the act just as much as we are. That's the best part of playing live."

The last time American fans saw Epik High at home was nearly a decade ago when the group hit New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and more on a 2009 tour alongside Far East Movement, Dumbfoundead and more. Should fans expect another star-studded stage?

"With the tour back then, it's not like we planned for guests to be there," says Tablo. "We went there and we became friends with these people, it was a very organic development. We were freestyling together, just hanging out together. We're like, 'Hey, you want to do a couple songs at our show?' And Dumbfoundead came along. Then Far East Movement just came with us to all our stops. I think that's the way it should be. I guess when we're at SXSW, if we make new friends and they're down, we're down, they can just come up and do their thing." And Tablo's dream cameo? "Hopefully Kanye West."

Adds Mithra of the group's evolution since their last U.S. shows, "If we were a tasty, ripen green apple five years ago during our performance in the States, we are now a very juicy, ripen red apple coming to you guys."

Watch the full interview above to get more info on Epik High's upcoming SXSW show along with info about new music ("Sometime this year," Talbo teases), an upcoming U.S. tour ("We're going to hit as many cities as possible, you're going to find us somewhere nearby"), SXSW setlist (Hey, Taeyang fans!) and more.

Tablo is such a goofball lol, and I loved Mithra's "perfect English." I really hope the U.S. tour actually happens and that one of the dates is even remotely close to me because I would be there in a hot second.

Source: Billboard

Comments

[remap.livejournal.com]

I hope "US tour" means "Canada and US tour"

also sort of related, but Tablo tweeted that their bringing back MapTV and I'm sooooo excited for the madness they'll bring lmao

[jessi-cola.livejournal.com]

"nearly a decade ago when the group hit New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and more on a 2009 tour"

Newsflash!
6 years = nearly a decade

[kyokomurasaki.livejournal.com]

I didn't even catch that, hahahahahahha. I guess they're kind of right.....?

[veryimportantu.livejournal.com]

i hope they comeback to san fransisco omg

[olive-101.livejournal.com]

i'm pretty sure KPOPME is going to bring epik high and bangtan to canada. they've been "hinting" (https://twitter.com/KPOPME_CA/status/578379756023992320) on twitter

[kyokomurasaki.livejournal.com]

Hmmmmm. I know SubKulture (https://www.facebook.com/subkultureent?ref=br_tf) is doing Bangtan's U.S. dates but it seems kinda unlikely to me that they'd handle a group like EH. Don't know about Canada though; you may be right.

As far as U.S. shows go, the only promoter I know for sure has worked with YG artists before is Powerhouse because they did Big Bang's Alive tour. IDK if EH would necessarily go with them though since their shows are probably smaller scale (for fanciness if nothing else.)

[olive-101.livejournal.com]

Haha yes, I know that Subculture is handling BTS (I was willing to commute).

I'm rather surprised to see KPOPME talking about EH too but they were hinting at a YG artist coming :P I'm not entirely sure either tbh since KPOPME's previous events were a lot smaller ex. Eric Nam. I wonder if they'll manage to reach an agreement for a concert but I sure do hope so :)

[frequency.livejournal.com]

hope "us tour" means more than four cities

[yuukihitohira.livejournal.com]

I still remember the 2009 NYC concert so so clearly. It was the first Korean music-related thing I went to and it remains one of my favorite concerts ever.

I really hope they go to a lot of cities so more people can see them!!

[angela-derp-otp.livejournal.com]

are u serious I went too lol. It was seriously good, I saw them recently in Japan and they have grown so much, I hope they tour the US again with the same set they did in Japan, it was really amazing.

[yuukihitohira.livejournal.com]

NO WAY, I swear, even 6 years later, I'm still finding people that went to that concert. It's so crazy.

Where were you? Me and my friend were too excited so we waited 8 hours in line and were like...third row of people from the stage until about halfway through Epik High's set when my friend got elbowed in the stomach and almost passed out (thanks, that lack of AC for about an hour once they let us in ~_~). That said, we still enjoyed the rest of their set and we both were screaming along to "Fan" at the end in the back lol

[ellessun.livejournal.com]

an upcoming U.S. tour ("We're going to hit as many cities as possible, you're going to find us somewhere nearby") >> I'm going to hold you to that! It would be awesome to see them perform, so here's hoping :)

[angela-derp-otp.livejournal.com]

If you have the chance to go seriously just go.
If the set is anything like their Japan/Korean concerts its totally worth it.

[chibi-rei.livejournal.com]

Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago

please

I'd even take Minneapolis

[agoongprincess.livejournal.com]

lol no one will ever come to minneapolis but probs chicago. i'd totally be there for both shows tho

[szhuns.livejournal.com]

I will definitely attend one of the East Coast shows, just release the dates and I'll be there

[hyemint.livejournal.com]

nearly a decade ago when the group hit New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and more on a 2009 tour

what is this skewed perception of time

anyway i need this to happen real soon and i need it in atlanta

[kyokomurasaki.livejournal.com]

same same same

[tommy50702.livejournal.com]

Good for them. I like their HAPPEN ENDING mv.

[agoongprincess.livejournal.com]

nearly a decade ago being 6 years?!?! lmao check yourself, nearly a decade is 8/9 years