G-Dragon's interview for 1st Look

[kotetsu.livejournal.com]

G-Dragon is setting new standards in the Korean pop music scene. This article delves deeper into what he thinks of fashion, music, being a musician and the Hallyu Wave.

The generation of dancing singers and idol groups began in earnest in 1990. Even in it’s short history, there is bound to be somebody who would bring about a radical change. Someone who would bring about change similar to what Seo Taiji and the Boys, Deux, and H.O.T brought to the table in terms of music and choreography. If we were to pick someone now, that would be G-Dragon. This l’enfant terrible, who is Big Bang’s leader and a musician in his own right, is now 24 years old. Admittedly, his start wasn’t all that different from what other idols went through. At a tender age, he was selected by an entertainment agency and went through exhaustive trainee preparations in wait of his debut. However, G-Dragon doesn’t just sing and dance, he composes the songs and calibrates the fashion and attitude to match each song. As a producer, he also actively contributes ideas for the choreography, stage set-up, and album artwork. This is the reason why G-Dragon and Big Bang cannot simply be labeled as mere idols.



“The environment at YG and the modus operandi at YG has made me who I am today. At YG, familyship is a very strong concept. Because we are all so close, it feels more like we are playing together rather than working. Whenever we say, “We’re going to make a hit song!” or “This song has to be great!” and resolve to work on it, it doesn’t work out well. Instead, the songs that hit us after we drink or fool around together come out the best. Even on our rest days, we hang out at the office fooling around and making music. As a result, we end up making much more songs than other people, and having a wider bank (of songs) to pick from.”

However, G-Dragon has been referred to more as a fashion icon than as a musician these days . There are times when gets mocked for his bold and adventurous fashion choices. Jung Hyung Don of Infinity Challenge occasionally dresses up in intentionally gaudy clothes and pits his fashion against G-Dragon’s fashion on national TV. There have also been webtoons "FashionKing" making fun of his fashion choices.

“It’s all very interesting. As someone who watches Infinity Challenge, I have to admit that I enjoy the program. I found out about FashionKing only because my fans told me, but I’ve yet to take a look at it. The name itself sounds very interesting. If my name keeps coming up even if I do not do anything, as a singer, whether it is good or bad, it essentially still is publicity.”

G-Dragon who has as much passion for fashion as he does for music has recently made plans with his friends. “Whenever I go overseas, I find really interesting shops and meet really fly people. But it seems like I have yet to find a place like that in Korea to introduce to people when they come(to Korea). I want to create a really cool space with my (really cool) friends. It won’t just be a business that merely sells clothes and items. I want to create a cultural space where people can see, feel and learn the street style that exists in Korea right now. It will be the kind of place where everything is fascinating and worth a look, from interior, to music, to products. We are taking time to prepare and are on the look out for the perfect opportunity.”

Fashion aside, he is also working on his second solo album. “I’m preparing my solo album right now, but because we have schedules (for endorsements and events) in Japan, preparations are moving along slowly.” According to him, his first album "Heartbreaker" was the quintessence of G-Dragon. From start to end, inside to out, G-Dragon poured all his energy into :Heartbreaker" and made an album that is entirely his through and through. (tl;dr: treated it like it was his baby)

After "Heartbreaker>", G-Dragon was no longer just an idol, he was thought of as a producer and a musician. “I think of the albums I make as diaries, such that when I listen to them in the future, I will be able to think ‘Ah, I had these thoughts, these kinds of thought processes, this sort of energy at this particular age.’ To me, every album has a special meaning. But truthfully, when I listen (to the albums) now, I feel immature and embarrassed. It feels like I was blindly putting my energy into something I didn’t know much about. The album this time around will probably have a slightly more mature feel than the previous one.”

Additionally, G-Dragon added that unlike the first album that was a mix of various genres and styles, this album will focus on hip-hop, a style he is most confident in. “I think that all the good music has already been put out. What’s crucial now is how well they are arranged and put together. Having said that, both Korean and foreign artistes nowadays seem to be experimenting with music rather than try to classify them into different genres. This album has a lot of hip hop elements. Previously, there were slow-tempo songs and pop songs, but this time all the songs are enshrouded in a hip hop base so that the moment you listen to it you will think ‘Ah, this is hip hop.’ “

The way people interpret words changes in accordance to the shifts in society. In the past, musicians merely had to write songs and flaunt their vocal skills in order to survive, but this has changed. Nowadays, to be labeled a ‘musician’, one must be able to control everything from music, fashion, visual to stage performance. “The singers that were active when I was dreaming of being one showed such cool sides. Back then, I thought to myself, ‘I want to live like them.’ It’s still cool even now when I look back on their stages. I don’t think there exists a musician now who is as cool as those seniors. Therefore, I want to be a model example. In light of this influx of new singers and the songs being produced for them, it would be good if I could become the yardstick for music quality. You can say its my dream.”

At an age where he is busy nurturing his own capability and trying to comprehend the entire music circle, working hard at seeking his place in society is a surprising matter that doesn’t seem befitting of his age. However, the mature introspection doesn’t stop here. Korea is receiving a lot of attention for its music and fashion through the Hallyu Wave and G-Dragon feels like he has a sense of obligation to this.

“Right now, Korea is doing well and people are watching us. It shouldn’t be thought of as a short-lived craze, instead it should thought of as a opportunity where we can boldly show the world the our music. All the musicians should muster their force, show the best side (of Korean music) and form a major music market similar to that of Japan. We might stand a chance at taking the lead in the international music markets. This is a very good opportunity and I’m worried that we might lose it.”

This is one of the reasons why G-Dragon is taking his time with his solo album preparations. He wishes to make an exceptionally outstanding album and establish even higher standards in Korea’s music scene.


firstlook | Honeybrambles
Well his talk of Japanese and solo work is obviously delayed and what not now. If you give this a read it's pretty interesting. Bolded parts I liked. Pictorial

Comments

[sunshine2163.livejournal.com]

i'd still tap that...g druggin and all =]

[idk-ok.livejournal.com]

I'll wait however long it takes for a Hip-Hop album without all the slow flowery pop from Heartbreaker tbh. Yesss.

[kotetsu.livejournal.com]

ia. as much as i like that album i wanted it to be more hip-hop-esque. after all he's a rapper and i didn't feel there was much rapping.

[ryrita.livejournal.com]

lol. If its pure hiphop, No one buy it.

[idk-ok.livejournal.com]

Except for all the people who will.

[johnnyquest89.livejournal.com]

I'll give it to big bang members. Even though they're a idol group they don't really give generic answers and actually sound like they know/give a fuck about what they're doing.

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

Other companies don't allow their idols attend interviews without their manager being there to approve every question and answer. Plus of course YG idols are encouraged to be more involved with their music compared to idols from many other companies who have to run from one variety to another.

[crazyxcami.livejournal.com]

HIPHOP Album...I'll wait for you<3 T___T

[crisketch.livejournal.com]

when the fuck is Just Another Boy coming out v.v

[0ddie13.livejournal.com]

I will be patiently waiting for that album.

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

I hope they don't postpone his album too long! *covets*

[paladinfever.livejournal.com]

GD is so awesome. he can think so deep.

[nimco.livejournal.com]

"If my name keeps coming up even if I do not do anything, as a singer, whether it is good or bad, it essentially still is publicity.”

well baby you got your wish

[prdarkstar.livejournal.com]

Heartbreaker was a great album but I'm definitely glad to hear he won't be doing one like it again. I want to see what else he can do beyond that and even his collab with TOP. It's a shame we won't be getting it any time soon.

[ring-rie.livejournal.com]

good luck!

[naturalhonee.livejournal.com]

that pic is my favourite one from the 1st look photoshoot

[t-domination.livejournal.com]

faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawkgjs;ldkjgsl;gd dammit man now i gotta wait even longer for this so called hip hop album ;__; heartbreaker was a legit awesome album but damn i need more leaders less hello in the next album okay GD?

[laeryn.livejournal.com]

I really like how he expresses himself. I'm tired of reading idols repeating the same prefabricated answers made up back at the company by their managers to play it safe. It's good to know there are idols that are this involved with their music and their world and that really have opinions on the things around them.

Ugh, GD, I just hope you were being honest about this album having more of a hip hop feeling bc that's what I was looking for in your album, and I didn't find it.

Plus:

I want to create a cultural space where people can see, feel and learn the street style that exists in Korea right now. It will be the kind of place where everything is fascinating and worth a look, from interior, to music, to products. We are taking time to prepare and are on the look out for the perfect opportunity.

I'd like to see this, tbh. You've got time, GD, it'll be a while before I go to Korea, so keep working on it! lol.

[curlylooks.livejournal.com]

How much more mature do you want your album to be darling.. Heartbreaker is mature enough..well for Korean (cultural ministry or shit i dont even remember the name).

[crisketch.livejournal.com]

Actually, he meant maturity in terms of experience vs experimentation with musical styles :'>