Ever Wander

Six years into their career, B.A.P is in a state of flux. The Korean boy band got its start in 2012 and has spent its entirety swept up in highs and lows with immense popularity in their early days followed by a series of issues, including a lawsuit against their company TS Entertainment, before finding their way again with their impactful approach to K-pop.

The past few months have vacillated in tone for B.A.P, with 2018 seeing the band further evolve artistically through a variety of self-written solo tracks and their Forever tour. But it also saw some of the band’s bleakest moments, as leader Bang Yongguk opted not to renew his contract with TS, while member Kim Himchan faced a number of sexual assault charges, one of which the group would address when they sat down with Billboard to discuss the state of the act in 2018 while in Philadelphia for their U.S. tour.

Billboard: How has B.A.P changed since you toured in the U.S. last year?

Zelo: We had our own solo songs and our skills have increased. We’ve been able to communicate with fans really well.

Youngjae: We’ve been touring every year, and always enjoy seeing the fans. Each year, the feelings are different. We, B.A.P and [our fandom] BABY, have known each other for a really long time. We’ve been loving each other, and we think about our relationship a lot.

How is this year different from different tours?

Youngjae: Firstly, because [former member Bang] Yongguk couldn’t come with us it is different. Secondly, because many fans are thinking that this could be our last concert the emotions are different. Fans have been asking us, “Is this the last concert tour?” We’re not sure, but we’d like to keep doing it every year. The fans have made this a really emotional tour for us.

Himchan: We all have to enlist and serve in South Korea’s military soon because of the national draft, so that’s why people are concerned.

Youngjae: We’re going to miss our fans but will serve well.

How does it feel that you may not see your fans for a while?

Daehyun: Enlistment isn’t an immediate occurrence for most of us. [22-year-old youngest member] Zelo especially, because he’s so young, has a couple of years to see the fans [before he must enlist.] We promised during the show that we’ll be back next year so…

You recently had a lineup change. How has it been performing without Bang Yongguk?

Youngjae: We have a lot of pressure on us but we are trying to fill in Yongguk’s space on stage, and we have talked a lot and rethought the set list. We’ve been trying our best to cover up Yongguk’s lack.

Daehyun: It made for better opportunities since we have to fill in Yongguk’s space by fleshing out our own roles and places.

Himchan and Zelo performed many of Yongguk’s lines during the concert. What was that experience like for the pair?

Himchan: I’m having a hard time, but especially with the songs from the earliest days of our career the raps are really hard. I’m trying to change the raps so that I can suit them better. I can’t match Yongguk’s style 100% since I’m a different performer. But I’m trying my best to fill that spot.

You guys have spent much of 2018 doing solo tracks. How has it been focusing on that?

Zelo: We always try to make new music our own way. We always aim to release music that fans love, and reply to their feelings for us. We’re trying to show what we can do to the best of our ability, and the solo songs have been able to help us do that. It’s been really refreshing.

What are you trying to show your fans through these solo songs?

Daehyun: We are trying to show our personal abilities, our vocal skills, the genres that we like. We want to show how differently we can express different types of music.

Nowadays, members are playing a major role in songwriting. How do you approach the creative process?

Zelo: I have written a lot of songs since I started in the industry when I was very young. I think that music will become my legacy. I’ll try to find a way to always communicate with fans to the best of my ability. I have a lot of things to say. I’ll try my best.

If you had to write a song right now in this moment, what would it be about?

Zelo: That I’m happy.

I hope they mention his struggles he had to overcome as a child being raised by a single parent, and had to essentially live on welfare for part of his life. 

I hope they mention that despite the opposition, he dropped out of school and got a GED in order to invest himself fully in his music. 

I hope they mention the years he devoted as a trainee before debuting and consistently ranked as one of the top vocalists from the time he was signed. 

I hope they mention his on-stage charisma with Shinee and as a soloist that captivated audiences for almost 10 years. 

I hope that they mention what he was able to crossover from being an idol to being an artist, and a singer-songwriter at that. 

I hope they talk about how his feat was unprecedented and all of his music has been subject to critical acclaim and praise across the board not just in Korea, but also recognized by Western critics and publications. 

I hope they mention that he wrote and composed not only for SM and himself, but for other artists outside of the company, creating collaborative ties that helped to facilitate SM’s investment in such collaborations musically with the start of The Station. 

I hope they mention his years as a radio DJ on Blue Night becoming an outlet for him and his skills, and for helping to appeal general audiences to take notice of his work despite the bias against idols. 

I hope they mention his skills as a poet and writer for contemporary literature with his novel Skeleton Flower: things that have been released and set free, which also received commercial and critical success. 

I hope they mention how he released 4 solo albums (with 1 to be released posthumously) in the past three years while still promoting with Shinee as a group in between. 

I hope they mention his four series of sold-out solo concerts in those three years, each of them artistically diverse and marvels. 

I hope they mention that he broke away from his “assigned” image in order to be true to himself and to his fans. 

I hope they mention that he put his career on the line to advocate for education, LGBTQ+ rights, mental health awareness, and anti-discrimination for minorities.

I hope they mention that he never hid his emotions, and his lyrics came from the depths of his soul and touched countless others.

I hope they mention his undying love for his family and his members.