ESQUIRE Korea Magazine January 2022 Issue featuring JAY B & Jay Park
Jaebeom has joined Jay Bum’s label and now all the two Jaebeoms have left to do is go up.
Q. JAY B, you’ve lost some weight. I notice because I’ve seen many live clips from the radio show you DJ for.
JB: That's right. Rather than having this as the goal per se, I just worked out diligently. There wasn’t any special reason, [I] just did it for [my] health.
JP: No, no. You have to say that you lost weight for the Esquire photoshoot. (Laughs)
JB: (Laughs) Of course, there was that reason too. Really. Hyung and I have the same styling team. The styling team subtly pressured me by saying “Jay Bum hyung is continuing to lose weight.”
JP: I didn’t lose that much though… They said that on purpose.
Q. (Laughs) The “LOTUS” H1GHR MUSIC Remix uploaded to YouTube recently was very good. How did that project start?
JP: There is a hyungnim who is like the Tiger JK of Malaysia. His name is Joe Flizzow and he was the first one to spread rap, music, and hip hop culture in the country. I know him personally and FORCEPARKBOIS’ “LOTUS” was what he sent with the intent of wanting more interaction between Asian rappers. I showed it to the H1GHR MUSIC members and they OK'd it right away. We shot the video comfortably in about one to two hours in the office.“
Q. The reaction to it has been explosive in Southeast Asia.
JP: It must have been fascinating that we made a remix of it. There are many fans of Korean culture in Malaysia. It would have been very new seeing that Korean rappers, Korean artists remixed a Malaysian track. The song is the #1 trending video on YouTube in Malaysia. For us, it’s also meaningful because it was the first track the H1GHR MUSIC family worked on since JAY B and JMIN joined. We’re proud in many ways.
Q. Well, the final product’s lyrics match the melody perfectly. It would be nice to have the song released officially.
Q. Hip hop is a language. How was it for JAY B? You participated in this remix.
JB: I also joined H1GHR MUSIC since I am very interested in hip hop and R&B culture so I of course have a lot of interest in it. I was actually hesitating about whether or not to participate in the “LOTUS” remix. I was going to stay out of it thinking it wouldn't suit me but I later gained confidence and hurriedly joined.
Q. Your lyrics seemed to have lots of fondness for CEO Jay Park. (Laughs).
JB: It’s not necessarily like that. (Laughs). Watching over him by his side, he works so hard. [The lyrics] contain my desire to also work hard like that in the future.
Q. Rock music dominated several decades in the 20th century, and there was an era of coexistence for a while, but now among the common language of music in the world, I think hip-hop is dominating.
JB: That’s right. Hyung and I were both b-boys but even just looking at b-boys, it’s true. Wherever in the world you go, as long as there is an opportunity to dance, people will dance and bond and become friends.
Q. It’s also the music I used to listen to when I was young. Seattle must have been more-so since it was a rock city.
JP: Of course. Because the alternative rock music era of Pearl Jam and others was in that city.
JB: But these days, alternative rock music such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana seems to be coming up again slightly among the younger generation. In my case, rather than liking a specific artist, I listen to a variety on a playlist. But if I were to choose a band I listen to a lot, Oasis?
Q. JAY B joined H1GHR MUSIC in May and soon after that you released an EP. I’m curious as to what you felt during the production process.
JB: I thought, “I could have more fun than I thought doing music.” Actually since prior to signing the contract, I had a lot of concerns about music. But I would say those concerns – should I say disappeared? – through the process of working on music. I witnessed that even while working comfortably with Jaebeom hyung and other people, you can still produce good results. I thought “Ah, my process of working while having too many concerns could be rather poisonous.”
Q. It must have been reassuring to have a boss who had experienced being an idol in the process.
JB: Of course. I asked a lot of questions. If there was anything I didn’t know while working or if I wasn’t sure if I was going in the right direction, I would contact him directly and ask him. The flow is different. The flow of making music as an idol and the flow of making music in H1GHR MUSIC now. I was flustered getting into a different flow so suddenly but Hyung told me “If you adapt and ride the flow, you’ll get used to it. It’ll be okay.”
Q. I was curious about the difference of that flow. JAY B, you are the host of ‘JAY B's R&B' on KBS radio Station Z. I remember when Mirani guested on the show, she mentioned that “Tikita” was originally not the title track but it changed after she talked to the producers. Then you replied "I wouldn't have even imagined that in the past" and then you said "Now it could be possible..." That means the freedom you had when producing music as the idol JB is quite different compared to the freedom you have now.
JB: In no way does it mean that I didn’t have any freedom in my previous company. It’s just that there, I’m part of a group and I have to discuss and make decisions with not only the group but also with numerous staff. And because I was grateful towards them for being the company that discovered and raised us, I also unconsciously had the mindset that I should listen to the company. H1GHR MUSIC is different. I get the feeling that the relationship between the artist and the company is closer to a cooperation.
Q. Doesn’t the relatively free environment feel strange and unfamiliar?
JB: I personally really like it, but I do think there are now many more aspects that I myself have to pay more attention to. To be honest, I was curious and wanted to know more about these things. [Like], what I need to study more about and how to calculate and figure things out in this music industry. After coming here, I got to know about these things in more detail so it became rather fun. When I was in my previous company, there were so many people providing support, and many things were decided and resolved without us even noticing. It was something that I was grateful for at the time, but at the same time I was also curious about how those things were accomplished.
Q: JAY B’s recent album ‘SOMO: FUME’ was the first album released after the two of you have joined hands. You mentioned it contained the meaning, “I want to be not a consumable but softly and naturally permeate into the general public.” I felt that the “consumable” was a metaphor about idols.
JB: It doesn’t exactly have that meaning. My personality itself is that rather than aiming for that one big “bang,” I tend to do things persistently. It was meant to emphasize that “[I] want to subtly and naturally seep into the public.” I think releasing an aggressive album that conveys this great ambition of “I moved companies and I’m going to show it all” just because it was my first album just does not suit my style.
Q. You’re not the type of artist to shout “Hip hop… I have come.”
JB: I have thought about this. Releasing an album is something that consumes an artists’ emotions and skills. But I hope it will not be something that disappears after being used but be a process that can be “recycled.” For example, the music I create can influence someone and turn into positive motivation for their day and they can come back to be when they get exhausted – something like that?
Q: Wow… the recycling of inspiration, I guess it’s something like inspiration that is sustainable.
JP: It’s difficult, right? That’s how he explained it when I asked too…
JB: I don’t think you understood it at that time.
JP: I didn’t understand it back then. (Laughs) But I understand it now listening to it like this.
Q: The songs JAY B uploaded as Def. were also very good.
JP: I think it was through these personal projects that [he] came to enjoy containing stories and connotations into albums. Actually, SOMO:FUME was also derived as an extension of such works and came out as one of JAY B’s projects.
Q: It's been quite a while since JAY B entered H1GHR MUSIC now. I'm curious about the work you’ve released and your thoughts on the reactions to your work.
JP: I actually worried a lot. He has been an idol for seven years. You can't say it was a short time. We've also been active in the hip hop scene for 10 years. We’ve done one-time projects exchanging features with idols and such, but it is my first time properly signing a contract with someone with an idol background. It was a first for both us and JAY B. In addition to GOT7, JAY B was engaged in personal music activities such as Def., and especially because he had ingrained in him the "ready-to-work-hard" attitude that idols have as they go through a training process, he fit in well with us. He knows how to write and compose songs, and when I gave him a task, like “could you dive deeper into this,” he immediately catches on and executes it easily. And my standards for music in this aspect are quite high. JAY B's work was so high-quality that nothing bothered me.
Q. It seems that the CEO approves.
JP: I would have said something if I didn’t approve. (Laughs)
Q. What about you, JAY B?
JB: I think it was good as an album that started in the hip-hop R&B scene that I was always interested in. I don't want to coldy turn my back on the advantages I have and the fandom I have as an idol. I think I did a good job because it was the result of carefully considering those various aspects. Of course, there are shortcomings, but I can always grow in the next album.
Q. I thought it was such a waste of your vocals to be singing while dancing. Because they’re high-quality vocals that should be appreciated while listening.
JB: Aigoo, thank you so much. (Laughs) I actually started with dancing…
Q. Come to think of it, both of you started as b-boys, but why are you so good at singing? (Laughs) In addition, JAY B is hosting a radio show. I think it says a lot. Being a radio host is possible only when you have a good attitude and character toward people.
JB: Ah, really? I always just thought, “I should recommend good music that I know.” That was just all…
JP: Of course. Radio hosts have to face a lot of people, so there are times when you have to tailor towards them and listen to them carefully.
Q. You even invite guests. CEO, you should make an appearance.
JP: Should I go on there when my album comes out…?
Q. Do you have any plans to?
JP: I should. I should release something next year. In fact, I haven't released any songs with my name this year. They were all for advertisements or collaborations. The one I released with Wiz Khalifa recently was also a collaboration.
JB: It'd be nice if he wants to be on our radio show, but he's so busy....
Q. You also have to release soju next year.
JP: I even wrote in my lyrics that I would release soju in 2021, but I couldn't.
JB: That’s why you have to be careful when you write your resolutions in lyrics. (Laughs)
JP: (Laughs) As I was even thinking about choosing yeast with a traditional distillation method, the flavour and alcohol content were only confirmed barely two weeks ago.
Q. I decided to name this issue’s name 'Jays go up' (Jay Park, JAY B) so I want you to talk about each other's future.
JP: JAY B is the type to work hard and diligently on something. He’s not the type to show off or flaunt. He just calmly and silently works hard to do what he has to do. People like this don’t blow up at once. As his hard work accumulates, he will become a recognised artist at some point.
Q. I also got the vibe that he’s a solid, sturdy person as soon as I saw JAY B.
JB: Ah thank you, but would I be able to talk about Hyung’s future?
JP: Say it’s retirement. Say my future is retirement. (Laughs)
JB: But you’re not going to retire. He always talks about retirement but I don’t think he’ll retire. I think he’ll continue to do music, and even if it’s not music, he’d do something related to it. Maybe produce idols like he mentioned earlier. I don’t know him too well but I can say this. He will always be a rational person, and no matter how high he goes, he will be the most humane person out of everyone there.
JP: And then I’ll retire. (Laughs)
May contain slight inaccuracies.
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