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Interview:  Junghoon: Hello, I am bassist Lee Junghoon. Nice to meet you. Jongwan: Hi, I’m vocalist Kim Jongwan, nice to meet you. Jaekyung: Hello, I’m guitarist Lee Jaekyung.

Nell had a performance in Taipei a few days before recording, do you have any special/specific feelings about the performance this time? Junghoon: We always feel this when we come to Taiwan, but this time we prepared songs of various different styles to perform, and the crowd… should I say they seemed to enjoy it even more passionately than usual? I think we heard the loudest cheers ever in Taiwan this time, so we wrapped up the show very happily. Jongwan: We’ve been here three or four times. This is the third time in just the last year and I can feel that we’ve become closer with the fans. When we first came, it was kind of a new feeling, seeing each other. So if we say that show had a fresh feeling, now it feels like we’ve become a lot closer. I wonder if that’s why Junghoon also felt more comfortable and reacted more strongly to the cheering too. Jaekyung: I think the fans showed up to the show thinking it would be a quiet one this time, but to make it more fun we prepared some heavier songs for the last half. So then the atmosphere became a lot livelier, and when we ended our song called Mermaid’s Star very noisily… Usually the audience will applaud, but this time there was a good five seconds of silence. So we started wondering if there was some kind of problem, but apparently the fans liked it so much that it stopped them in their tracks, and they were shocked by the sudden heaviness.  Actually, I took a peak at Nell’s socials, where you seemed to have posted about Taiwanese cuisines, have you eaten anything nice in the past few days which you really liked? Jongwan: I’m not lying when I say this; wherever I go and whatever I eat in Taiwan, it’s always delicious. So yesterday… was it yesterday? Yesterday we ate… I guess it’s Chinese food, the roasted duck? It was such a tasty and satisfying meal.  Have the other two members had any dish that left a strong impression with them? Junghoon: First of all I agree deeply with what Jongwan just said. And this morning I went to this huge gym, and afterwards I went to one of those breakfast places. I had it last time I was in Taiwan as well so I knew about it beforehand, but eating it locally again was just so good that I almost inhaled it. What do you eat for breakfast in Taiwan?  Junghoon: On that breakfast menu… what was it? It said omelette, but it wasn’t the kind of omelette I’m familiar with. It was covered in a kind of buckwheat crepe and there was egg inside. I think I ate four of those with dumplings and fried eggs.  Jaekyung: I always eat dimsum when I’m here and that’s delicious too, but I’m not joking, every time I come to a new country I always eat a lot of convenience store food. So since I love Taiwanese convenience stores, I just ate a little bit of everything that was on display there.  Have you eaten anything from Taiwanese convenience stores that left a strong impression with you? Or a product that you saw in the convenience store? (That left a strong impression on you) Jaekyung: It’s really not special at all, but they have triangle kimbap and the exact same egg sandwich I always eat in Japan. We don’t have that sandwich in Korea, so I bought two and put them in my refrigerator, and enjoyed them a lot.  Since Nell is a very well respected band/artist in Korea, which artist that you’ve collabed with left the strongest impression on you? I feel like this topic might be pretty related to Yu-wen’s bias, the kind where she’d wanna continue chatting about it later.  Jongwan: So we have to guess. Who would it be?  Who do you think I would like (from how I look)? That artist was here a few days ago. He’s been here twice this year. Jongwan: A few days ago? Is it Sunggyu? No, it’s not. Who is it?

G-Dragon. Nell: Aaaah. Jongwan: Of course, of course, of course. Collaborations between musicians usually come together unexpectedly easily. You contact the other, say “I have this song, want to do it together?” “Yeah, sure.” The majority of cases come together like that. GD too contacted me like that, I listened to the song and said yes. 

Out of curiosity, are there any Taiwanese artists that you’re particularly interested in? Jaekyung: I like Cosmos People. Last time we met up, ate and drank together and talked a lot. So I’m into them.  Jongwan: If we get a chance, it would be fun to collaborate with them. We did talk about that. It seemed like Jade, the vocalist, wants to sing in Korean. After we met last time, he sent me a DM asking to work on a song together, saying it would be fun. So I feel like that will probably happen at some point.

Since the members shared that they’ve been in Taiwan quite frequently and that the new MV was also filmed here, is there a particular reason why you chose to film it in Taiwan?  Jongwan: I feel that the cities are colorful somehow. I don’t know if it’s due to the air or the humidity, but somehow they have a unique color. There are times when it feels melancholy in a way, but on the other hand it also feels clean. The music we’re about to release suits those two things very well and it wouldn’t be easy to capture that in a video in Korea. That’s why we decided to record it in Taiwan.

The term “Taiwan sentimentality” has been trending lately, even very ordinary streets where Korean artists have visited attract many fans for photos. Do you three have any idea of what your own “Taiwan sentimentality” is? Jongwan: Good question. Jaekyung: I’m taking pictures absolutely everywhere here. Of my face. And sometimes the members. I think it’s true as you say, there is a specific Taiwan sentimentality. Even when it rains, there’s this cool feeling like you’re watching a movie, so no matter where you take pictures it has that Taiwan feel.  Jongwan: Green is very different here. Taiwan’s green, like trees and such… It’s hard to explain, but it feels very different from Korea, Japan or other nearby places. 

I hope Taiwan can bring you three some inspiration! To write a song with “Taiwan sentimentality”. Jongwan: We’ll work hard. 

Lastly there is an important date we have to announce, tomorrow 11 nov, is the bassist Lee Junghoon’s birthday, would you mind sharing your birthday wish? (singing Happy Birthday in Korean) Junghoon: Thank you. For a birthday wish, we have schedules tomorrow, so if those could be removed… I’m happy enough that we’re able to appear here and I’ve received birthday wishes like this. And you prepared the birthday song in Korean too. That means a lot to me, so thank you. 

How was my pronunciation? Junghoon: I think you’ve lived in Korea before.  Maybe in a previous life.

Next we will test the telepathic bond between the three members who’ve been together for more than 20 years. We’ll have 10 questions total, those who get less than 5 correct will have to try a *special* Taiwanese drink! Those who get more than 6 correct will get to try some classic Taiwanese cuisine!

Question 1: which member is the most petty?  Junghoon: Jaekyung Jongwan: Jaekyung Jaekyung: X Junghoon: Didn’t we get it right at this rate?  Jongwan: What’s with him (Jaekyung)?  Jaekyung: I’m probably not right about myself, the members are. I don’t think anyone’s stingy in this band, including myself, but…  Junghoon: Now he’s suddenly talking a lot. Jongwan: Thinking about it, I don’t think Jaekyung has treated me to anything in the last 15 years.  Jaekyung: I suggest the convenience store, my treat. The most expensive thing there. 

So tomorrow is Junghoon’s birthday, will you treat him to dinner?  Jaekyung: Yes, sure. Jongwan: His cheeks are trembling though. 

Question 2: which member is late to rehearsal/practice most often?  Junghoon: The answer came to me immediately.  Junghoon: Lee Jaekyung Jongwan: Lee Jaekyung Jaekyung: Lee Jaekyung Jaekyung: Suddenly I’m the main character. 

How late is he usually? Jaekyung: I think late enough to get fired from the band.  Junghoon: He’s right at the edge of being kicked out. But he knows himself that he is late, and you know how it says on the GPS how bad the traffic is? He’ll take pictures of that and say “look how bad, this is going to take a while”. Because he’s sorry, of course.  Jaekyung: At least there’s that.

Question 3: if you had to pick one person to bring with you to an uninhabited island, who would you pick?  Junghoon: Kim Jongwan Jongwan: Lee Jaekyung Jaekyung: Kim Jongwan Junghoon: I had the same thoughts as Jongwan (t/n: guess they were cut?). Regardless I don’t think I’d hold out for very long and just die. I like being alone, so I thought maybe I should just have alone time before I die, but Jaekyung’s physique is good, so maybe I could eat… So maybe I could enjoy the scenery for a while and then die. But then, there’s this Korean idiom that goes “better to die a glutton than be a hungry ghost”, and Jongwan is good at food, so I thought, alright, let’s ask him for food and eat as well as possible for at least a few days and then die. 

Question 4: which member cares most about negative comments from fans? Junghoon: Lee Junghoon Jongwan: Lee Jaekyung Jaekyung: X  Jongwan: Why do you keep putting X? You should at least put one of us.  Junghoon: It’s all relative anyway. Jongwan: I myself don’t care much about negative comments. Junghoonie at least also doesn’t care enough for it to sway him. And Jaekyung, he’s always trying to…  Junghoon: Accept. Jongwan: Accept other people’s opinions. He’s very sympathetic? He’s very sympathetic. And if he ends up seeing something negative, I think he does care about that. Not to the extent that it hurts him, but I think out of the three of us he’s the most likely to care about those kinds of external things.

Question 5: if you guys didn't do music together, do you think you would still be friends with each other?  Junghoon: X Jongwan: O Jaekyung: O Jaekyung: Oh, what!  Junghoon: No, if I can explain… The others met as friends first and then started making music, but I met them as bandmates first and then became friends with them. So I’m thinking that if we didn’t start making music together we wouldn’t have met in the first place. But if we’re connected somehow then of course we could have met in other ways too, though it’s also possible we wouldn’t have. 

Are the other two members a bit disappointed? A bit sad? Jaekyung: I’m thinking he won’t actually be treated to dinner today. 

Question 6: I think this is a challenging one you have given them, which Chinese word would you want to learn most? Junghoon: Musician Jongwan: Happiness Jaekyung: Romance Jongwan: Thinking about the fans yesterday, we’re so glad and happy to be able to perform here in Taiwan, and I hope the fans are happy too.

Question 7: Do you think your own band is a bit “trying to be cool”? Be honest!  Junghoon: X Jongwan: X Jaekyung: X Jaekyung: Wow. I was hesitating a bit. 

Question 8: Waking up early or staying up late for creative work? Junghoon: Night Jongwan: Morning Jaekyung: Night

We have to clarify early/morning isn’t just after midnight. About what time in the morning?  Jongwan: 11:30? 11-12. 

But that’s noon! He means that it’s morning whenever the sun is out. Jongwan: I think the best time to do it is about 30 minutes after you’ve woken up.

Question 9: Do you prefer music festivals in the summer or the indoor live/performances in the winter?  Junghoon: Winter Jongwan: Winter Jaekyung: Winter

Ah, is summer too hot? Jongwan: Right.

Question 10: If you ever film another MV in Taiwan would you choose the mountainous scenery in Jiufen or the coastal view of Kenting? Junghoon: Jiufen Jongwan: Jiufen Jaekyung: Jiufen

Since you only answered 4 questions correctly, you’ll have to try out a special Taiwanese drink as we said earlier. Like what people usually drink in Taiwan, bubble tea? No bubble tea. It’s called bitter tea (camellia oil tea/ tea seed oil tea?) It’s good for your body and your throat. Junghoon: Jongwan should drink all of it. Jongwan: It smells great.

Cheers! Happy birthday! Jongwan: Happy birthday! Junghoon: Thank you! (drinking) Junghoon: It’s good. Jongwan: It’s not bad.  Jaekyung: (pretends to throw up) Jongwan: It’s really not bad. Jaekyung: I can feel myself becoming healthier.

Let’s still let them try other dishes. I’ll introduce these to you, those 3 boxes on your right are well loved by k-stars, they're called little puffs (like cream puff, profiterole). There are 3 flavours, strawberry, milk and chocolate. The dish in the middle is fried potato balls, a street food from the night market. And to your left there are sun cakes. Since Jaekyung will have to treat them to a meal, let's just choose one to eat, or else they might get too full. Junghoon: (picks sun cakes)

That’s unexpected, I thought you’d choose the little puffs or sweet potato balls. Why did you choose it? Because it’s right in front of you? Or because it looks the most expensive? Junghoon: I like the character. Jongwan: The aftertaste of the tea really lingers though.  Jaekyung: Am I the only one spilling? I feel like you’ll have to clean up after me so I should just eat this later. 

Nell: TVBS, hello, we are Nell.  Jongwan: We’re so happy to be able to have such a good time every time we come to Taiwan. We’re preparing good new music, so once it’s out I hope we can have fun once more at the concert hall here in Taiwan. Until then, take care and be happy.