May 17, 2014

[TRANS] Oricon Style - JUN. K


Jun. K, who is rising with absolute popularity as 2PM member and lead vocal, releases his first solo album ‘LOVE & HATE’ as Jun. K (From 2PM) this time.
Even in 2PM, he’s a writer, who also composes songs and shows his great talent, and produce the whole thing for this time project!
His strong persistence in music, sharing stories about love views through his journey in music until now.



Rather than pressure, I enjoy it! Be filled with my experiences and thoughts




You released your first solo mini album ‘LOVE & HATE’ on 5/14 as Jun. K (From 2PM). How did you feel?

First of all, it had been 12 years since I started working on music by the time the album release was determined. I thought that to be able to release my own solo album itself is a glorious thing. I dealt with the details in the album of how to express what kind of music Jun. K does, or what kind of artist Jun. K is.



Don’t you feel pressured?

Rather than pressure, I think I enjoy it more. Whether it’s because the passion of the music I’ve kept on collecting until now, or that this is a given chance to be able to express the music I’ve wanted to express until now...

I think this is a really good opportunity and I really want to work hard in order to optimize this opportunity. 


Although you directly wrote and compose the tracks for this album, you are also doing activities for tour and album as 2PM, it seems to be a very tiring schedule.

It was really tiring. But as I have been continuously doing tiring schedules as 2PM until now, I think I was already trained for it ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

This time I carefully made it until the extent of giving my every idea on the composing, mastering, album jacket design, music video concept even the outfits. Even I myself was that busy, I wanted it to be well done ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ


The reason of ‘LOVE & HATE’ as the album title, is there any theme you’re going through?

‘LOVE & HATE’ is a phrase I had come to think of since 5, 6 years ago, I thought if I ever had the opportunity to release a solo album someday, I’d like to make it with that theme. 



It’s an extremely interesting expression to me, as I give various ideas... I got ideas there for the track and illustration, music video and the jacket. Based on the things I’ve felt and the moments I’ve taken note eversince I was born until now, I’m thinking to put all of them into this album.



The thing you took notes?


When I thought of an idea, I directly wrote it in my handphone memo. I wrote the ideas I got for jacket, lyrics, music video, design, etc, by dividing them into each category.


It feels like Jun. K’s only treasure-chest-phone.


And also, when a song melody came into mind, I even directly recorded it. I also put ideas of songs in my phone. That’s why I always need it and bring it around.


It would be a big problem if you lost you phone.


Rightㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Thats why Im always doing back-ups well.






Getting suport from my parents, my existence – everything I have experienced are connected to the current time




Casually thinking, you’re engraved in this project, but is there an opposite case when you’re focusing on writing songs? 



Yes. Generally speaking I start and go to make music starting at midnight.

But I can rarely continue to work on it until 6 in the morning. That’s why I work from 6 until 12.

It will be important to prepare things starting at midnight.


But, just, it’s not like I do that for warming up. I’m always going to work and start at midnight but I think I can barely do until 6 in the morning. I myself don’t know why it’s like that though.

We wont know such thing like biorhythm.
Until now you have came to show a strong individuality throughout 2PM’s songs or your own solo songs.
Is there a difference betweent those songs and these one in the album.

Although I don’t divide those two things significantly in my consciousness, I think the music I want to express through my solo activities is different from the music that suits 2PM.

Because 2PM is an extremely powerful and manly grup, of course the songs that fit that image are made.

As I’m trying to define what kind of music my own only solo is, it’s difficult to express it and I don’t know how to reflect it to the fans as well.

Based on the black music which I’ve simply come to like all the time until now while learning and being influenced from, I managed to finish the album by mixing the elements R&B and HIP HOP, Gospel, JAZZ, etc which are derived from it.


It’s an album with enjoyable colorful sound even as Jun. K builds a personal view of the world
Rather than anything, we can feel Jun. K’s earnest heart and passion about music... A start when you composed songs, when did you start working on songs?

From my first year in High School.  I never thought that I would enter a high school which was the most prestigious school in Daegu, but even I worked hard for the exams, there were still more people who did better than me until I thought that no matter how hard I tried by studying, I wouldn’t ever be able to compete with those people.

Because I was thinking seriously then, “If I kept studying as it is, what will I become 10 years later...’
While I was at it through a great anxiety about the future, my will to do the things I want to do the most grew out.

At that time because I had my interest on music, I bought classic vocal books and found the materials through the internet, all awhile listening to other singers’ music, I started learning composing by self-learning... 
Starting from the 3rd year, I made self-composed songs little by little while getting a hold of composing program genuinely.

So through that decision of effort, Jun. K’s current project exists now.



I think my experiences are all connected to the current time. Honestly my parents opposed when I was going to take music as my path in the beginning.


That’s why, I left for an event like festival in order to persuade my parents and received a prize there and I was able to gain my dad’s trust little by little.

That’s how I got the permission for music lesson, and I got my parents’ support by then, that the current me exists now.


It’s because you didn’t only talk about a mere dream, but also properly showed a result that they’re persuaded.


But in the beginning when I left the festival, the gifts I received had pleased them.



The prizes I received was the products generally needed by families such as kimchi refrigerator, rice cooker, television, stuff like that ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ




Full of energy and passion is Jun. K-ness!




When did you start playing piano?

I have never learnt piano from anyone else. Because I had a small piano at home, I practiced while learning chords on my own.


Hearing such stories, seems like Jun. K is one to explore anything on his own.

It’s because my parents, especially my dad, strongly opposed music.

Although he gave me the permission for music lesson, he opposed to working in this field even until the moment I was going into the company for training period.


But now you’re dutiful towards them.

I’m happy if it’s so.


Please tell us if you have any thoughts on songs or any episode during the production.


Even ‘LOVE & HATE’ is based on HIP HOP, it contains various elements starting from R&B until Blues piano session, it’s a song I made while worrying about the popularity appeals and the balance of individuality. 
You’ll be able to listen the new song with the tones that there was not until now.

Aside from that, I think you’ll be able to feel JPOP elements in ‘NO MUSIC NO LIVE feat. AI’ in which Japanese powerful singer, AI, participated.

For ‘With You’, the R&B feel is greatly strong, and it also has Gospel feel, the most cheerful track in this album.

It took 1 hour time for the melody of this song, a track which the quickest to make in this piece of work.

In the later part of the song, there is a saxophone sound can be heard, which is not a real one, I put my effort to make it similar to the real one for 8 hours.

I gave it a listen to a saxophonist and got a reward of him saying ‘This is really not a saxophone play? I didn’t know!’

And for ‘Mr. Doctor’ I think it’s a track that was done from the best mastering with hip hop number packed with humor chord.


There’s a line of <I’m a Kungfu Panda of droopy eyes> and <Running for music my dream, I want to make everyone in the world to be more addicted> etc
What is the meaning of the numbers <77-143-00> that expresses only Jun. K in everywhere?

NO LOVE can also be expressed through the numbers and as for what kind of meaning it has, I’ll leave it to everyone in the world.

One thing these numbers can say is directly myself!


Right. And also grand ballad tracks with piano melody, the impressive “REAL LOVE feat. Lang Lang” and “Writing A Letter” as expected are possible only from Jun. K.

I showed this song for the first time in Korean (lyrics) during Budokan Live in 2012, it’s a song I made when my dad passed away

It served the special feeling for the end of my onelife’s first solo album.


It’s a touching ending.

Then amongs ‘LOVE&HATE’ lyrics there is a part of <It’s me Jun. K>, <Don’t forget your own self>
Your own thoughts on Jun. K-ness, solo artist Jun. K’s charm is?

If you say Jun. K-ness, it’s being full of passion and energy. You need energy whether to work or to play right. I want to give good energy to my surrounding at all times.


The album jacket is also full of energy.

And again, because everyone helps me to find my charm as solo artist Jun. K, I hope everyone will also come to play at my solo live.




If it’s a woman he doesn’t want to miss out, he thinks to express his feeling




In the lyrics of ‘With You’ you expressed <Even with a glance I know you are my destined person>
Is Jun. K also one to fall at one glance?

Rather than being drawned to her appearance, if the feeling is good then it’s better.

Your point in liking a woman, what kind of charm do you see in a woman?



A person whose face is cool while she laughs. A person who can learn the situation wisely is my ideal type.



You also said a similar thing in an interview during your debut days.


It doesn’t keep on changing.



Jun. K is really fashionable though, fashion that you wish from a female partner?

Shorts and tank top. But anything is good as long as that fashion suits her.

Even so, for me, rather than loose style, I like fitted style like skinny jeans as it is feminine.



Of course a cool person is also good but above that, a kind person is good.


If a female who is always on your mind showed up before you, what kind of action would you take?


I’d be embarrassed. (Shy laughs)

But as she’s one I really don’t want to miss out, if I think about it, I’d express my feeling. By saying “Please give me your phone number” ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 

Because I think love is a thing when you believe in each other, I like a partner who can build such relationship.


Through this piece of work, we’re also able to feel such thoughts or faith from Jun. K. In the end, please say some message.


As it’s an album made with me participating in everything, I hope many people will give it a listen. Please fully feel Jun. K!

Source : Oricon
Korean translation credit to 왓탐번역노예즈@whattimeisitnow.net

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