#rivalsinterview

→ favorite song of the year? group? show? company? “it’s so hard to pick just one.” she tucks her hair behind her ear. “for me, i think i liked prophet’s ‘body’ a lot. and yoora’s ‘try’. also riko’s ‘hello bitches’. i really can’t choose one.” she laughs. “+82mafia was a good combo, i don’t follow a lot of groups to be honest.” a pause. “i liked reign’s ‘hate’. umm, shows, i don’t know, i like running man.” she doesn’t hesitate for second when answering the last question. “i don’t have a favorite company. they are all the same to me.” → favorite project you participated in? (can be songs, albums, shows) “the solo project i’m working on. i think i’ve put a lot more effort than any other album on this. other my own, mercury’s why so lonely.” → most disappointing comeback of 2016? ”honestly, i haven’t even kept up with most of it, but sparkle’s ‘tt’, i mean the song is catchy but i don’t know, i guess, a song about an emoji isn’t really my thing.” → if you could join one other group, which would it be? company? ”i’m fine where i am, thanks.” she smiles. → if you could create a new group, who would you choose to be in it? company? show? ”i don’t think i would be any good at creating groups, i’d rather not.” a nervous laugh. “i think i company conveying more underground artists would be cool, especially with less strings attached.” → who do you think will win idol project? “i don’t really keep up with it but i’ve seen first hand how hard the girls from ds work and i’m rooting for all of them.”

THIS OR THAT?

Time was starting to feel like it was crawling slowly forward but also going faster than rocket ship re-entering the earths atmosphere. The year was on it’s last month, and Echoes’ debut date was just around the corner. Of course, the group had been preparing since as far as they could remember, but everything started to feel more and more real once they were asked to go through a small year-end interview. 

It was never revealed what the plan was for releasing the interviews between the members. They were barely even know to the public, but it wasn’t Tina’s job to question it. Maybe it was some tactic to give the girl’s practice with interviews, or maybe it would be correlated to their group introduction. All she could do was honestly believe that Echoes’ future fans would be listening to the interview and proceed as so.

Being pulled from her training activities, Echoes’ manager ushered Tina to the interview location. While her nerves were erratic, she kept herself calm with games on her phone until she entered the recording room. As she entered, Tina bowed multiple times when seeing the interviewer. A large smile planted on her face as the man smiled at her and gestured for her to sit. By then, he had already explained how the interview would would as well as a list of the questions so she would never misunderstand him.

“Are you ready then, Tina?” The man asked her before she nodded her head gently. Effortlessly, he seemed to introduce the audio segment, himself and Tina all in one breathe. It was admirable to say the least, and while he continued the beginning statements she sat quietly watching the script get slowly to her questions.

Well, Tina, welcome to the show! It has been quiet a year for music, hasn’t it? What has been your favorite? A certain comeback, group, or show?

“Thank you!” Tina didn’t have to think too long on the question, even before she came to the interview she had been humming the song silently to herself. “Uh, hahah, I definitely have a favorite song from this year. I can’t stop replaying Insomnia’s Back and Forth 30 mins, even just in my head it’s stuck on repeat.” She laughed a bit under her breathe as she spoke. The conversation went on for a bit before the next question arose.

Since you haven’t debuted yet, I’m sure you have been really busy lately with preparing. What was your favorite activity or project this year?

An audible noise escaped between her lips as she nodded at the assumption. Her smiling only growing a bit as she thought over the question thoroughly. “Honestly, I think my favorite thing was doing all the activities with my group members.” Tina’s head tilted as she looked down at the paper, giving another audible chuckle under her breathe. “Maybe that’s cliche to say, but I really do think all the activities this year were my favorite because everything I did with my group was a bonding experience.” The two discussed the sentiment further before talking a bit about Echoes’ debut. Once the talk of debut led to a dead end, because Tina knew just as much as everyone else.

So you mentioned your favorites this year, what about your dislikes?

Ahhh, the dreaded question. Tina shook her head a bit as she let out an uncomfortable sound which slowly turned into an awkward bit of laughter. The interviewer insisted for an answer, reassuring her it would be okay. “Alright, alright. I guess you could say I expected a little more from Crown.” The man pressed on but she refused to really say much more, only trying to clean up from the question. “I don’t really listen to them, but I have heard they have a good number of fans. Maybe they just aren’t my style.” After she spoke, the man moved on quickly, not really discussing her answers.

I know you haven’t debuted yet, but if you had the chance to debut in any other group or company, which would you do? Or would you create your own group and company?

Tina took a good minute with the question, having to think about all the new and old groups within the different companies. As she can to a conclusion, she jumped up from her seat a bit. “Ah, Juno! They have so many members, I mean I am fine with just 4 members but I bet it is ten times the fun and unique with so many girls!” Tina smiled brightly as she bounced on the seat with her words, only resulting to laughter when the interviewer laughed at her. The response moved nicely into the next question with the idea of the two rookie groups becoming friends.

Have you been watching Idol Project? Who do you want to win?

Her response for the question was almost exactly the same as the last as Tina’s head nodded like crazy. “Oh, oh! So right now, I’m stuck between wanting Destiny and Tomi to win. I like them both because I don’t know, Destiny has a unique style I really enjoy but Tomi has that natural sound and vibe to her voice. It’s getting really tough for me to watch anymore though, because I mean, not too long ago I was a trainee and that could have easily been me.” The conversation led easily to discussion of trainee years. Although Tina skipped over the fact that she used to train under Spotlight Productions, it was only implied that she trained before Alpha was formed when she mentioned being a trainee before hitting 12 years old. 

Alright, so next we’re gonna do a speed round. I’ll list two things and you pick your favorite.

After she agreed, the interviewer set the timer and began counting down before throwing quick questions at her.

TNT or Empire?

TNT.

Cute or Girl Crush?

Girl Crush.

Reign or Nova?

Reign.

Bubbly or Dark?

Bubbly.

Juliette or Mercury?

Mercury.

Ballad or Dance?

Dance.

Insomnia or The Triple Threat?

Insomnia.

M!Countdown or Inkigayo?

M!Countdown.

Hydra or Crown?

Hydra.

Variety Show or Talk Show?

Variety.

Sparkle or Juno?

Juno.

Company Concert or Solo Concert?

Company.

Iris or Aura?

Aura.

2nd Gen Groups or 3rd Gen Groups?

2nd Gen.

TRAXX or Legacy?

Legacy.

Single or Mini Album?

Single.

Favorite song of the year? Group? Show? Company?

"For favorite song, I’m going to have to go with Legacy’s Fire. That was a tune, and the dance is addictive and gets everyone hyped. It was a blast to listen to at shows, and I wonder what they’re going to do with it when it comes to the end of the year shows. Group? You mean besides my own? Probably B.O.W. or TRAXX. Girl group would be the obvious answer of Juliette. Shows, I honestly don’t pay much attention to. Favorite company is obviously my own.”

Favorite project you participated in? (Can be songs, albums, shows)

”I really love our current comeback, The Eye. I think it’s very well done, and the dance is something else. All the guys are great, and when we combined everyone’s vocals, dance, and the little bit of rap we did, it turned out amazing.”

Most disappointing comeback of 2016?

“I gotta say it’s Reign. I don’t know, I just expected more out of them, but they just had the same exact sound as their last four comebacks. They gotta do something different to get people hyped for them.”

If you could join one other group, which would it be? Company?

“I would have to say Helix. They’re great dancers, and I really miss having some of the darker concepts. Though ours weren’t nearly as dark at theirs. I don’t think Gemini has had a banned video before, but don’t quote me on that. And I would probably say Alpha Records just because I’m interesting in composing and they have a lot of their idols that do that for their groups.”

If you could create a new group, who would you choose to be in it? Company? Show?

“Oh geez, I would create a girl group, honestly. Just throw together all of Idol Project, PLEASE. The fanboys (myself included) would just drool. Forget the competition, let’s just have a giant girl group.”

Who do you think will win Idol Project?

“Am I biased in saying any of the DS girls? Yes? Too bad saying it anyway.” 

TNT or Empire?

“TNT. There is just something about the way that they got to where they are that is amazing. I also think their songs are refreshing and really different from what the rest of kpop is doing.”

Cute or Girl Crush?

“Girl Crush. I like the sexier side of girls, rather than the pink and bubblegum. Though there are times I prefer the bubblegum. It really depends, but more often than not, give me sultry looks and dance and I’m set for life.”

Reign or Nova?

“Nova. Besides the fact that they are my precious juniors, I think they are refreshing. Wonderful girls, 10/10 would recommend.”

Bubbly or Dark?

“Depends. For my group? Dark. For girls? Bubbly. For other boy groups? Depends on the group.”

Juliette or Mercury?

“I think we both know the answer to this question. Both. I love them both. I’m not picky with my girl groups.”

Ballad or Dance?

“Are you not talking to the main dancer of Gemini? Dance! Where else would you get to see me do body rolls on the floor?”

Insomnia or The Triple Threat?

“I really don’t have a preference. I don’t pay enough attention.”

M!Countdown or Inkigayo?

“Honestly most days I have no idea which stage I’m on.”

Hydra or Crown?

“Hydra my adorable little juniors. Give them lots of love because they deserve it all.”

Variety Show or Talk Show?

“Variety. I don’t have to talk as much, and they usually just make me dance to Gee.”

Sparkle or Juno?

“Juno. Liar Liar was such a BOP.”

Company Concert or Solo Concert?

“I actually like both. Company concerts are really fun because of the collaborations, but solo concerts are great for when you feel like crap and need a pick-me-up.”

Iris or Aura?

“Iris. You can always hear Ice Cream Cake at the most random times in the Gemini dorm. Usually when someone is showering.”

2nd Gen Groups or 3rd Gen Groups?

“I love them both. They bring so much to the table that it would be impossible for kpop to be where it is without either.”

TRAXX or Legacy?

“Legacy. I’m a secret fanboy. I’ve been following them closely since their debut.”

Single or Mini Album?

Favorite song of the year? Group? Show? Company?

Favorite project you participated in? (Can be songs, albums, shows)

Most disappointing comeback of 2016?

If you could join one other group, which would it be? Company?

If you could create a new group, who would you choose to be in it? Company? Show?

Who do you think will win Idol Project?

THIS OR THAT?  -  Please be sure to give a short explanation for each choice!

TNT or Empire?

Cute or Girl Crush?

Reign or Nova?

Bubbly or Dark?

Juliette or Mercury?

Ballad or Dance?

Insomnia or The Triple Threat?

M!Countdown or Inkigayo?

Hydra or Crown?

Variety Show or Talk Show?

Sparkle or Juno?

Company Concert or Solo Concert?

Iris or Aura?

2nd Gen Groups or 3rd Gen Groups?

TRAXX or Legacy?