#defdailyinterview

190117 JELLY March issue 2019 - ALL ABOUT GOT7

Translated by Synesth @coded4d9dc

Translated by Synesth @coded4d9dc

I will probably continue with my singing career. Popularity is bound to fall one day but even so, I wouldn’t be lazy as a singer. Since I know there will come a time someday when my light would fade - JB

Translated by defdaily

JJ Magazine 2019 February issue interview - JB Q&A

Translated by defdaily

Speaking of a boy group everyone wants to make their boyfriends, it’s no doubt ‘them’! THIS SUMMER, GOT7 IS TOO ADORABLE ❤️

✴︎ JB ✴︎

Born in 1994. The group’s reliable leader and mediator. Possessing versatile talent including writing songs and lyrics.

✴︎ MARK ✴︎

Born in 1993. From America. Having a sweet looks, he captures heart with his visual and sharp dances♡ His own style is fashionable too.

✴︎ JINYOUNG ✴︎

Born in 1994. Lately, his activities as an actor have also gained great attention. A person of efficiency and capability,with existence like a mother in the group.

✴︎ YOUNGJAE ✴︎

Born in 1996. Possessing an outstanding singing voice. A boy full of cuteness and easily succumbing to laughters. He has his own sense of humor too and is popular in variety shows.

✴︎ BAMBAM ✴︎

Born in 1997. From Thailand. Cheerful and positive, he’s the mood maker for the members.

✴︎ YUGYEOM ✴︎

Born in 1997. The youngest “maknae” of the group. And also the person possessing real dancing ability with high reputation in KPOP world.

190319 Vogue Korea JUS2 April ‘19 photoshoot & interview 

Translated by defdaily & doobseedoda

JUS2 is a unit of two members who were in charge of intensity in GOT7. This is a chemistry created when JB and Yugyeom, who love R&B in common, were absorbed in creative activities. Their hybridization was completed in a "minimal" state, which is neither strong nor soft. The mini album contains a story called six senses. Starting with the word Focus on Me, Drunk on You, Touch, Senses, Love Talk, and Long Black. It doesn't mean much nowadays to classify music into genres, but there are emotions of Deep House, Slow Jam and R&B in JUS2's music.

The unit's name was bound to be JUS2. It's only JB and Yugyeom, and it's a stage that can only be presented. "Actually, JUS2 means that it's both a performance and a song. We danced, sang, wrote and composed, and did everything." JUS2 is an example of a completely new creation without losing the members' identity in the group and reveal their talents and tastes.

Q. We are curious about the similarities and differences between you two.

JB: Our personalities are similar but our lifestyles are different. I really don't believe in blood type personalities but we're both type A and there is definitely a timid side to us. When you see us in reality we don't seem that timid. To sum it up, we're both timid and not timid at the same time (laugh). Both of us are considerate so we match well in some aspects. Yugyeom is all about 'let's live life having fun'.

Yugyeom: I don't put too much meaning behind the word 'happiness' and I'm a person who often feels happiness (doing little things).

JB: I like enjoying everyday life but I have a compulsion to not let my thoughts and mind slip alway so I tend to think a lot. There is music that we both like and there's also a point where (our styles) meet. I like strong/fast paced music and I also like calm smooth music, I like all kinds of music. Yugyeom likes the strong turn up kind of music and tends to lean towards the strong music.

Q. If GOT7's energy is bright and fresh, what would JUS2’s energy be?

Yugyeom: Jus2 would be having control and restraining yourself. If GOT7's energy is 'attacking' then JUS2’s energy is more like 'holding yourself back'.

JB: If GOT7 were the shooting star ice cream then JUS2 would be the Vanilla ice cream. Soft and smooth. Personally I like JJ Project's album the most. The story and track order contained all of what I wanted to say/include so it's the album I'm most proud of. After that is JUS2’s album which I'm highly satisfied with. Although there is no overall storyline, the theme of sensation was unraveled.

Q. You wrote and composed 'Focus On Me', if you could tell us about the collaboration process.

Yugyeom: We listen to the track and figure out whether to decide the theme first or make the melody first. The theme of FOCUS came up while writing the melody for Focus On Me and that's how it was settled. If anyone can think of a melody while listening to MR, they record it. "This part seems okay" then JB hyung sings it and I try singing it then we keep matching parts.

JB: At the start when I was working on the song and writing the chorus 'focus on me' stuck to me as matching. Since everyone else liked it we decided on it as the theme and wrote the lyrics. The first and second verse were written separately then the lyrics were put together.

Q. In what moments does inspiration tend to come to you?

JB: When I sense if a song's mood is a certain way, I think about what happened in the past or whať's happening now or what I've seen in movies and books. If I get inspiration first then I write it down in my notebook or phone. There are times when I turn songs on and look over what I have written down from the past. And sometimes the lyrics match what you want.

Q. What kind of lyrics do you think are good lyrics?

Yugyeom: the way you listen and the way you write is different. I'm the type to play a melody when I'm trying to write lyrics then I see what matches well in terms of pronunciation. JB hyung pays more attention to the lyrics so lyrics I could never think of came up (from JB). I would be into something else and hyung would come up with lyrics like ”Today you'll raise the white flag".

Q. What is a point you appreciate about each other's dancing?

JB: Yugyeom's dancing line is very clean cut. When he stretches out, the lines are really pretty and it also gives off a modern dance feel. He is the best at peculiar moves with his long legs. On the other hand my dance has more roughness.

Yugyeom: what's funny is, I realised this after watching the music video, that I dance with all my fingers out (?) together whereas hyung is the opposite

JB: (his fingers out together?) Yugyeom really likes this.

Yugyeom: That's what my favorite American dancer always did. It has become a habit.

Q. Yugyeom is always wearing black skinny pants in his Instagram dance videos, is it like a uniform?

JB: Not only when he dances, he just doesn't wear other pants in general. Yugyeom has lots of the same pants (laugh). He likes black skinny pants so much that he wears them even during practice. And he has stage shoes, which are more comfortable than sneakers, so he always wears them during practice too.

JB: For me I need the pants width to be big a little. And I always need to have sneakers on. Yugyeom likes skinny style while I'm the type to like a flimsy style.

Q. Things you talked about the most while preparing for JUS2.

JB: It was 'How should we organise/format the album”. Since it's our first time doing a minimal sound, we wondered if it would go well and we worried a lot about the album. We had lots of public relation meetings too (laugh). Looking back, it was fun. Feels like I've been travelling abroad for a few months. To be honest, I haven't been able to travel abroad much but whenever I travel even for a short time I feel really excited, but rather than an amusement park kind of fun I would feel a calm kind of fun. To paraphrase that, it's similar to the feeling.

Yugyeom: It was really fun. Seeing hyung almost everyday, we also talked a lot. I also liked the times where we would go grab a drink after finishing writing songs. Since JUS2 participated in songwriting and also outfits and choreography so it has lots of meaning. The teasers were also captured freely with a film camera while listening to music. Many new unique attempts were made in the preparation process.

Q. Feels like you have expanded a lot musically. Is there something you do to keep growing?

JB: When I see people I respect or people who are doing well think I should have more thoughts of ’Why is this all I can do'. That's how it works. I think. “Let's have a lot of experiences that will touch me, both indirectly and directly” When I have a chance, I go to exhibitions and think about the agony of the artists. I also wonder how I can use the SNS, which is so full of things, for my development. l once wondered how l could use so much SNS for my development. I take note of places and exhibitions recommended by people, I thought it would be good to get ideas from impressive artwork or videos.

Q. You've been a part of GOT7 for more than 6 years but this is your first time working together with just the two of you. Is there something new you learnt?

Yugyeom: There is no such thing. If I really try to find one, I thought hyung only ate Korean food but he actually likes eating even cream, curry and udon now.

JB: I feel like I've gotten influenced by the other members. I thought my preference for Korean food would never change but I've come to an acceptance point. Last time when we went to Paris, Bambam wanted to try snails. I rejected saying I could never eat snails but it was actually more delicious than I expected. That's the case, I have even eaten snails.

Q. If you were to pick the happiest moment in your day?

JB: When I clean the cats' dung. I see with my eyes that I can do something for someone else. I feel joy seeing the cats in a good shape/image. When I see the bin full of their dung, pride overcomes me as l know (they) have become cleaner.

Yugyeom: I'm the type who likes having lots of schedules but there are times when I become tired physically. I consult with my company and decide on a day off, and the moment I step foot into my house I feel really happy. A break once in a while could be so sweet. I'm happy when I can sleep late after working on songs all night.

Q: Is there anything you've discovered or thought about differently recently?

JB: On the way home after producing yesterday, the taxi driver took a wrong turn and we ended up at Yeouido. Looking out at the buildings through the window, this thought came to me. Within those buildings, people may be fighting or happy but the buildings seen from within the taxi only just look beautiful. I thought maybe the world looks more beautiful if you see it from a distance instead of up close. I thought we too might need some distance in our life as well.

Q: Is there anything you've discovered or thought about differently recently?

Yugyeom: I have always thought this but recently there's something that I've felt more strongly.I must really love music a lot (laughs). I would go crazy if I don't listen to it. If lI'm not listening to music, it feels like I have to and l'd keep thinking about the music I want to listen to. I've been producing songs lately and they've been very healing to me. Listening to and making good music in itself is a source of healing to me. So l realised once again. Ah, I must really love music.

Q. Do you feel the stress of writing while listening to music you like?

Yugyeom: not at all. I've never had such thoughts. There's a song I'm into lately. I really like Travis Scott's Can't Say' so l keep listening to it and watching the music video.

Q. JUS2 will have a world tour in April. GOT7 also proved themselves through a world tour too. What is the meaning behind world tours.

JB: It is like the result of one's efforts. Something that tells me how hard I've tried. An album allows me to witness the response to my agony/thoughts and a world tour allows me to experience that response.

Q. JB you've been uploading mixtapes on music sites for a few years now. How did this experience influence JUS2 work?

JB: I think it made me want to try doing what I really like. In fact, when you make music and keep storing them and going back to edit them, that way you won't have any results. Even if I get a beating (get punished) let's just show them!' that kind of mindset. The fans liked it but people around me reacted coolly. They said I put too much strength in it. I'm also considering different formats. Using the name Def. I wanted to differentiate between me who is in public and me who likes hip-hop R&B. Def. means the best with a full stop after it, ending it with the best. I wanted to convey the meaning that it's only over after I do my absolute best. Moving forward, of course l'll work hard doing the things I'm doing but I really want to show the image of me doing the things I like.

Q. What you want to achieve through JUS2.

JB: Music site ranking was not our goal. "Leť's show a fun and cool different colour”, let's show a completely different image from GOT7 were our goals. Actually even now I'm satisfied. As much as the album was well made, I like it/feel good.

Translated by haetbitmark

Translated by haetbitmark

Formed barely five years ago, GOT7 already has numerous Korean and Japanese albums under its belt. This is no easy feat considering the amount of music the band has written on top of going on promotional tours and performing concerts. If passion were not fuelling the group on this strenuous journey, that fire would have been snuffed out sooner than later.

Curious to know more about this seemingly infinite fountain of fervour, Men's Folio scored an opportunity to work with its magnetic leader, JB. Perhaps no other GOT7 member might embody the intense passion other than JB a check on his CV reveals his extensive past projects from acting to music  production.

"I want to be known as someone who can show various works in different areas of art, not in a specific area. I hope to try different things, tell the stories I want to tell, while producing something fun and cool," shares JB. It is this endearing curiosity for life that sees the multi-hyphenate throwing himself headfirst into his various projects.

One would think that with JB's success, his focus might be somewhat macroscopic, but we had a first-hand experience of the immense dedication that he pours into every activity- this cover shoot included.

The discussion started with the clothes that he wanted to wear. JB arrived at the set, took a look at the rack of Spring/Summer "19 assortment, and went straight to work. Naturally, JB exercised his preference, but being the cover star of the season's most important issue (our 200h issue, no less), I wanted to showcase his versatility, and we continued to refine the creative process.

The pictures that you see in this feature are a pleasant departure from his usual style, born from the spirited collaborations between all the creatives involved. JB sat down with the crew to sift through all the images and handpicked his final choices. The intensity of the collaborative process was heightened during one of the selections when JB turned to me and asked for my preference. I replied, and then his affirmation came in crisp English, "I think so too. I like that too!"

No amount of words can express the type of joy that can be experienced when various creative minds come together and agree upon a collaborated final product, especially when that brilliant mind is from someone as passionate as JB.

Perhaps attributing all his success to passion alone might be a tad excessive, but positivity in JBs life is definitely present. During the cover shoot, fellow band member Yugyeom expressed his desire to be present on set to encourage JB, even though he was not involved.

From this gesture, it can be seen that GOT7 is a very tight-knit group. There are even upcoming plans for both JB and Yugyeom to launch a subunit called JUS2. We asked JB where he sees himself five years from now. "I will be older, so I will continue working on music, and if my body allows, I will dance. Still working but hoping for an easy-going and optimistic life." There is no doubt that passion courses through JB's blood, and there seems to be no stopping him from achieving all he desires. For all we know, we might see him on our cover for our 250h issue.

What have you been busy with recently? 

JB: I'm super busy nowadays. I have been busy working on my unit album and preparing for activities and tours.

The Korean Wave is one of the most influential trends in the world right now, and you have fans across the world regardless of language barriers. What do you think about this trend?

JB: I think the Korean Wave is a very good thing. It is great and meaningful to be able to share our culture. In addition, I realise that I want to learn various languages, and I believe this is a good opportunity to share the Korean language.

What do you think makes good music?

JB: I am still not sure. I had prior experiences when songs that I really liked and considered good were received as "so-so". Also, some songs that I felt questionable about were very much liked. I contemplate over the definition of good music every time. However, right now, I think good music is when an idea has been precisely expressed, and the listeners could sympathise and be comforted by the music at a certain point of time. However, I also think we should not be overly focused on the listeners.

How would you describe your singing voice?

JB: When I was young. I didn't really have an idea about my voice colour. When people around me talked about what's a good voice colour and what is not, I could not easily agree with them. Thinking about it now, I think I like the voice colour if I like listening to it. I think it is good if one can express things in his or her own way since each voice colour has its unique charm.

Therefore, I used to ask myself if my voice colour is nice. I just thought that if my voice colour is nice, it is a good thing. However, as I learn more in-depth about music, I feel that I like my voice colour lesser and lesser.

We understand that you are a frank person. How do you think this personality serves you in life?

JB: When I was young. I realised that being frank and straightforward could hurt someone else's feelings. However, I am really an honest and frank person, so it was hard to change… Nowadays, ifI need to be honest about things in a bad way, I just keep quiet for the sake of the other person. Ijust don't tell the person if he or she is correct or wrong.

However, for things that I cannot let go and for the benefit of the other person, I think of the best possible way to talk to that person in an honest and gentle manner. And so, it is hard for me.

If you were not a celebrity, what do you think you would be doing?

JB: Probably a normal person. What would I be doing? I think I would have continued music and dance as a hobby. I would have done something I could do in the area of art.

As a singer, how is fashion important to you?

JB: I think fashion is important as it makes singers stand out; I think it is one of the important factors. It is important to create an image for a singer, andI believe fashion helps in doing so.

As an artist, how important is social media to you?

JB: To me, it is a medium of communication with my fans. I think it is an opportunity to share about my personal preferences, which I think is important.

The theme of this 200h issue is "Big". What is your biggest dream?

JB: To live happily, freely, and be carefree.

How about your biggest fear?

JB: I'm worried that I'm going to stop. I want to flow continuously, but it feels like I will be stuck somewhere and have to stop at some point.

What is your biggest achievement so far?

JB: I think my biggest achievement is writing GOT7s title song. In my opinion, my team's (voice) colour was well aligned with the title song I wrote. However, I'm still working hard for greater achievements. In your opinion, what are the most important principles in life? Being honest with yourself and having conversations with yourself often.

More at https://www.mens-folio.com/47262/leading-pack-jb-march19-issue/#esLJGjS7HfoBS6OB.97 

Translated by Synesth @coded4d9dc

MEMBER PROFILES

JB -> Born on 6/1/1994. Blood type A. 179 cm. Reliable leader of the team. Lately he has transformed into a well-loved character who is often messed with by the dongsaengs.

MARK -> Born on 4/9/1994. Blood type A. 175 cm. Came from America. He’s usually quiet, but is very powerfull on stage.

JINYOUNG -> Born on 22/9/1994. Blood type O. 178 cm. The mediator of the group. He is good at Japanese.

YOUNGJAE -> Born on 17/9/1996. Blood type B. 177 cm. He earned the nickname “Otter” (Kawauso) from fans thanks to his adorable looks.

BAMBAM -> Born on 2/5/1997. Blood type B. 174.5 cm. He’s from Thailand. He holds a strong preference to fashion to the point being called “Dandyism leader”.

(T/N: The Japanese word “leader” used for Bambam in this case often implies gang leader or the best one particularly in a field among a group)

YUGYEOM -> Born on 17/11/2997. Blood type A. 182 cm. Maknae of the group, but he sometimes sets up pranks on the hyungs too.