It's Always a Good Time!!

Mono’s meaning

Words that use the prefix mono, such as monopoly and monodrama.

Monochrome; 흑백 (Black and White) words that use the prefix mono, such as monopoly and monodrama

What he wanted to concentrate on: Releasing the pent up energy in his body. He didn’t want to prove himself after all, just because he desires that, doesn’t mean people recognise him in the way he wants anyway. So he simply did what he wanted to do

Namjoon got rid of the name “mixtape” because there was no particular need to, because it’s popular to release tracks in the form of a playlist on Soundcloud recently, and also because each of the rappers released one each.He believes that people don’t listen to albums through anymore; the focus is on the leading track, and people pass over the B-sides, skits, intros, outros. We live in a life of ‘instants’, like instant food shoved in the microwave. 

Rather than the simple catharsis one song brings, the catharsis that a playlist/album brings when listened to in order is so much larger. Only then can there be true recognition of it as an artwork. His dream therefore was to release a properly created album with a proper form. And from there, he wanted to write hooks well - and from there, wanted to create a good song. So he saw the forest before the trees. After that, to create a good album in its entirety.

Namjoon recorded the tracks in 2-3 days. It was done quickly, since he couldn’t record while overseas. Namjoon says he’s not going to say much about each track, especially any sort of analysis. What he hated most in school was analysis of poetry, understanding the poet’s context and reason for writing. After all, that might’ve not been the reason anyway.

TRACK 1: TOKYO It was already given to him with the title. The title was perfect already. Donghyuk wrote the song, a friend of his since 10th grade. It’s the first time they’ve worked together in this way; D as the producer, RM as the artist. D doesn’t usually have him listen to songs, but he did for this one. And Namjoon  thought it was really good. D suggested that it would suit RM, and RM pounced on it. D said there needed to be whistling, and so they set up the recording in his studio. It added a dramatic effect. RM on Tokyo: “When you listen to it, it’s a lonely song. I mean, it is for me.”

TRACK 2: SEOUL RM wrote the lyrics in bits and pieces over a month. He began with the hook. The verse took a year. He kept searching for what he wanted to say, the words he wanted to use (2017 Summer). 2017 August: worked on it as a whole. Right before mono was released, he re-did it thrice. When Honne worked on it, they had to rerecord. It took a long time for him to find the right tone, a careless/thoughtless tone. It’s a song he holds very dear.

TRACK 3: MOONCHILD RM assumes we would link it to 4 o'clock, but in fact, work on Moonchild began first in 2017 February. Moonchild is for those who like the night more; for those who are unable to breathe in the daylight due to work or such. “People like me. I don’t put that much weight in the night [anymore]. But I made this song in a time where I believed the night set me free.“RM actually brought someone in to sing for Moonchild, but it’s the only track that failed in that regard. As a result, he ended up singing.With a laugh, he says that we might’ve been like “Why is he singing so much!” It wasn’t what he’d hoped for. He’d done the demo, and so thought he might as well. Verse 2 particularly took a long time; this too took around 2 years.

TRACK 4: BADBYE RM worked on this one from early 2017 too. He was really into the harp back then, but it’s changed a lot. eAeon was brought in from the beginning. RM says he was one of his hero when he was young. They met in a bar a year ago, but RM saw him recently to ask specifically for this song, saying “this song won’t work without you, it has to be you.” Thinks it as an important bridge for the later tracks of the playlist. He wants to say another thank you to eAeon hyung, for this song wouldn’t have worked without him. He’s sad that he couldn’t request him for a longer song.

TRACK 5: UHGOOD “This was supposed to be Reflection.” It’s a song that Bang PD and he both really like. It’s a heartbreaking song for him. The drums in the beginning were too bright, so he requested for another version. He did the recording all over for a calmer feeling. “I like the title so much, I really liked it. Rather than saying it’s pretty, it was appropriate. It holds a lot of emotion.”                              

TRACK 6: EVERYTHINGOES This is the track he wrote in the 3 days when he had to return from BV1 early [because he lost his passport] – not that it only took him that time. He says that these lyrics are the mantra (주문) that he wants to say to himself.Just the mixing took 6 hours and the producing over a month. RM wants to say a deep thank you to Nell since he worked on this track too - truly some of his heroes. He hopes that this song can be a comfort. Because sometimes, rather than emotional or logical words, a hug means more.  

TRACK 7: FOREVER RAIN RM wondered how to use the word ‘rain’ that an artist is allowed just once. [He’s saying that it’s an oftenly used word.] It was made in a time when he was really obsessed with wanting to do everything for a track, from the beats, lyrics, everything. RM wonders “will there be a time I am able to write something that touches me?” He wants Forever Rain played at his funeral. He doesn’t think there can be a song that’s more him than this

Namjoon doesn’t know when he can have us hear his next project, but he’s already begun the 1st. He wanted to release something he’s not embarrassed of, unlike his mixtape RM. He wanted to make songs that people would remember a long time. He would like if there is even one song from the playlist that we remember in the winter. For there are certainly songs that we can’t forget, that are in our life’s playlist.

1. Getting your self esteem from others.

2. Constantly attacking and putting yourself down.

3. Thinking that others are better than you.

4. Expecting things to not turn out well.

5. Living in the past.

6. Fearing the future.

pearl: if you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

sails: describe your perfect partner.

lighthouse: how much makeup do you wear?

shells: would you prefer to be a vampire or a werewolf?

mermaid: most embarrassing moment?

turquoise: weirdest dream you’ve ever had?

waves: favourite season and why?

breakers: would you ever consider getting married?

seafoam: describe your ideal summer vacation.

rain: if it were possible, what exotic animal would you keep as a pet?

sunlight: least favourite song?

marine: would you ever consider plastic surgery?

sea glass: what do you consider to be your best physical feature?

storm: do you like piercings and tattoos? Why or why not?

boardwalk: who is your favourite fictional couple?

coral: if you had to describe your personality as a food, what would you be and why?

nymph: old-fashioned or modern decor? 

seawater: scariest movie you’ve ever watched?

siren: in a fantasy setting, would you be a warrior, rogue or mage?

tempest: your favourite Pokemon?

tropic: what is your least favourite thing about your appearance?

aquamarine: describe your dream date.

brine: gold or silver?

tidal: what is a colour that best describes your personality?

azure: what is something that you do that makes you happy?

fog: describe where you think you’ll be in five years.

coastline: what is your favourite flower?

shallows: what is your typical Starbucks order?

voyage: what are your favourite names?

shipwreck: do you have an OC? If so, describe them.

cerulean: do you believe in true love?

shoreline: if you could become fluent in another language, which would you pick and why?

tsunami: describe a dream outfit of yours.

riptide: are you introverted or extroverted? Are you happy with this?

when your jokes are too advanced +

Like, me and my sister went to a museum, and they had an extra exhibit of butterflies. But it cost £3. So we sighed, walked past, then stopped. We each had £3. We could see the butterflies. And we did it was great. We followed it up with an ice-cream as well because Mum and Dad weren’t there to say no.

I was driving back from a work trip with 2 other people in their early 20s, and we drove past a MacDonalds. One of the others went “Aww man, I’d love a McFlurry.” And the guy driving pulled in to the drive through. It was wild. But it was great.

I went to a park over the weekend and I was thinking “Man, I’d love to hire one of those bikes and cycle round the park.” It took me a few minutes to go “Wait, I can hire one of those bikes!”