Archive for the ‘Interview’ Category

Article/Interview: K-Pop Sensation 2NE1 Dresses Up in Jeremy Scott, Givenchy, and Balmain for Complex

15cdecastro2ne1complex

If you haven’t noticed, we love K-pop girl groups. They’re perfectly groomed by their labels’ respective training regimen, and know exactly how to tingle our hearts with sugary croons. Their cutesy antics and dazzling appearances also help a great deal. But often times, their actual talents as singers and performers come into question. High heels and coordinated mini skirts can dazzle a fan base only so far.

YG Entertainment’s girl quartet 2NE1 (a play on “to anyone”) breaks that mold. First appearing on the scene in 2009 with the label’s male counterpart Big Bang on a skull-drilling song “Lollipop,” the girls quickly rebounded on the disputed hype with a thumping club single “Fire.” Equipped with air horns, loud streetwear aesthetics, flamboyant rapping, and free-for-all choreography, the group stood out immediately in a market clustered with fembots. Thanks to the self-titled EP’s release, 2NE1 instantly became a hot commodity in the emerging K-pop market. With a successful follow-up, the official debut LP To Anyone, raking in 120,000 copies in sales, and each of the five singles selling an average of two million downloads, the clique of CL, Minzy, Dara, and Bom became international superstars. Psy who?

Aside from their great range of musical outputs, the group’s known for its excellent styling. While a typical K-pop girl group settles for schoolgirl uniforms or scantily clad dresses, 2NE1’s stylists deck out the members in a wide range of clothing from Brooklyn streetwear brand Mishka to French design house Balmain. This soon caught the attention of designer extraordinaire Jeremy Scott, as he personally set off to provide collaborative adidas Originals gear for the group, propelling 2NE1 as K-pop’s most recognized style icons.

Back in August, during their New Evolution U.S. tour, Complex captured 2NE1 in their finest wardrobes. Jeremy Scott sent us his Fall 2012 collection, and the girls brought in their own Givenchy and Balmain fashions.

Check our fashion photoshoot out in the thumbnails above, and read the next page for our in-depth interview where the girls talk about their upcoming ventures into the U.S. market, solo career ambitions, and how they stand different compared to other K-pop acts.

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Article, Interview, Photos

Interview: Yang Hyun-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment – Part 2

Only “relevant” parts of the interview were uploaded. Highly opinionated comments are welcome. Let us all just refrain from posting unwarranted and bashing comments.

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 To satisfy both the public and die-hard fans, don’t you have to control the artists’ output? Isn’t that the way to get support from the mainstream and stay creative at the same time?

Yang: I think I am qualified enough to make comments to my artists about dancing because I trained as a dancer. After Seo Taiji and Boys disbanded, I studied harmony and midi for six months and that’s how I came to compose Jinusean’s “Gasoline”. I soon realized, though, that I’m not so gifted in writing music, so I decided to stop doing that. I’m knowledgeable enough about it to have discussions with my artists thanks to the experience. I can coach them about performing on the stage as I have a lot of experience from my days of Seo Taiji and Boys.

It is true that I dropped many other things, but I could never give up communicating with artists and creating music itself. On top of those, I’m very hands-on about the entire process of managing trainee artists. It’s not just what I love doing, but I know I can do it better than anyone else.

 I heard you still take part in sound work. You also played a role as a mixing engineer on every YG album, including PSY’s “Gangnam style”.

Yang: A few months ago I was in charge of Epik High’s latest album and modified it three times (Laugh). The most important job I do in the company is judging what sounds good. I keep going until I am 100% satisfied.

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Interview, Photos

Video: Music Choice Interview – “Primed: 2NE1”

Yay! Finally Dara speaks in English in an interview! ❤ Love her english! 

Source: 5an1ty@YouTube

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Interview, Videos

Article: MTV – 2NE1 Bringing K-Pop ‘Girl Power’ Stateside With will.i.am-Assisted Debut

2NE1 Bringing K-Pop ‘Girl Power’ Stateside With will.i.am-Assisted Debut

Korean girl group talk to MTV News about paving their way to Stateside success.

As demonstrated by the undeniable success of overnight sensation Psy and his “Gangnam Style,” Korean pop music, otherwise known as K-pop, is certainly making its mark on American culture. And Psy isn’t the only one making a name for himself, as K-pop girl group 2NE1 (pronounced “twenty-one”) may be the next on the horizon for crossover success.

In just three short years, the group — CL, Dara, Minzy and Park Bom — has sold 27 million digital downloads, was voted MTV Iggy’s Best New Band in the World in 2011 and had their first American performance at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

MTV News recently caught up with 2NE1, and after sharing some surprising secrets about themselves, they revealed that they have been hard at work on their English-language debut album with none other than will.i.am.

“We did a lot of studio sessions and we’ve been working on some songs, but we are waiting for the perfect song, the magical song,” CL said. “It was really fun and [will.i.am] invited us to his house studio and we just had fun making music and talking, just like we do back in Korea.”

2NE1, who are currently on their first ever New Evolution global tour, admit that they don’t have a timeline of when their debut album will be released, but CL said they hope to release “at least a single” by the end of the year. “I really want an English version of our song or whatever it is to have people connect to it,” she added.

The group, which credits the Spice Girls and TLC as their girl group influences, have become sensations in Korea for their eclectic style, impressive rap skills and catchy songs.

Yet, they aren’t the only K-pop girl group gaining attention, Girls Generation and the Wonder Girls have also exploded onto the scene, but according to 2NE1, there is no competition between the different groups since they all bring something different to the K-pop scene.

“Korea right now is so passionate about music and about performing. I think people feel that, people really feel the energy and passion, and I think that’s what’s different,” CL said. “I love the fact that its girl power right now. It’s all girl groups that are rocking K-pop right now so I’m happy about that and I respect that we all have different characters of the groups.”

Credits:

Source: MTV

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Article, Interview

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Interview: 2NE1 for Fault Magazine

Aside from the gorgeous pictures taken for FAULT Magazine, the girls also had solo interviews about their thoughts on their tour, their musical and fashion influences, fans’ support, future plans etc. Check out their interview and solo pictures!

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Article, Interview, Magazine

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Video: Wall Street Journal Interview with 2NE1 and Lee Hawkins

Wow! Finally, the Wall Street Journal interview of the girls with Lee Hawkins!  Not gonna lie, I wish Dara, Bom, and Minzy said something other than their names, but I think CL did an awesome job. ^^ Gotta love all the DaRin/ChaeRa going on though.. ^^ CL keeps on bringing Dara in her answers. XD

K-Pop Group 2NE1 Discuss Breaking Into the U.S.

The second video is just a cut off the first one, at the last part. ^^

K-Pop Group 2NE1 Discuss Their Reality Show – Interview Excerpt

Credits: 

All four members of K-Pop Group 2NE1 — CL, Minzy, Dara and Born — talk with Wall Street Journal “Business of Celebrity” show host Lee Hawkins breaking into the U.S. and other markets with their new global tour, New Evolution.

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Interview, Videos

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Video: Vibe TV – 2NE1 Talks About Why They Love Their Fans, Crossing Over, and More

2NE1 TALKS ABOUT WHY THEY LOVE THEIR FANS, CROSSING OVER, AND MORE

PSY isn’t the only K-Pop star going global.

Hailing from South Korea, girl group 2NE1 is also crossing over to the mainstream. Already considered pop sensations in Asia, members CL, Minzy, Dara, and Bom recently stopped by VIBE’s headquarters in New York City for an exclusive interview. Acting as the official spokeswoman for the group, CL opened up about their new projects, fans, fashion and more.

“We’re 2NE1, and we’re from Korea,” CL tells VIBE. “We’re this girl band with great music. All our fans have great energy and that’s where we get our energy to perform. They know how to have fun with our music.”

Currently, on tour, the girls of 2NE1 already have received praise from both music and fashion icons, such as Swizz Beatz and designer Jeremy Scott.

On their fashion: A lot of Cavalli, vintage Versace. We love mixing stuff up. It’s like the outfit for “I Love You,” our latest single. We like mixing stuff up even in fashion, music, everything. We like mixing the past and the future. Jeremy Scott is a good friend and we love his stuff. We’ve known him for like three years now, since we started, and he knows us so well so he actually designed all the costumes for our tour this time and we love it.

On working with Swizz Beatz: Actually, Swizz is a good friend of our producer Teddy, and he will stop by our studio and have some music for us and everything. I mean, it’s all about collaborating. Music has no boundaries.

On their style of music and A$AP Rocky: love A$AP Rocky. I love his music, and I love his style.

On making music in English: I would love to do that. At least a single in English so more people could connect to our lyrics. People already do enjoy our music even if it’s in Korean but I would love to do an album in English or at least a single.

Credits:

Source: VIBE TV

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Interview, Videos

Audio: Aziatix’s Flowsik Mentions Dara On “Love Sick For Flowsik”

I love Flowsik’s voice! And the entire interview is just so worth listening to. He’s such a sincere and cool person. ^^ But we’ve outlined the parts where he mentions Dara. ^^ Thanks to everyone who tipped this in!

Love Sick For Flowsik 

Credits: 

Around 17:15

We all know you’re head over heels for Sandara from 2NE1, what will you do if she asks you for a date and where will you take her?

If Sandara asks me on a date, where would I take her to? Hmmm. Well, right now, we’re in Korea, and I still don’t know this place well. I’ll take her to Taipei, so my friends (he mentioned names) can take care of her for me. I’ll be like, hey Sandara, do you wanna go to Taipei? And she’ll be like, sure. Alright, alright. Then I’ll call Nicky right after, and I’ll be like, hey Nicky, could you take care of her for me? Nicky is a superstar out there, so there’ll be nothing to worry about. I’ll just ask him for a few favors and I’ll tell Jeff from Nachi, hey can you get the boat ready? Can you get the yacht ready?

Around 20:05

Interviewer: Actually, that’s cute. Instead of being smooth and slick, when guys are kinda nervous around you, it makes them seem more genuine, like they genuinely like you.

Flowsik: I hope Sandara thinks like that too. (laughs)

Rap part around23:35

Shoutout to all the young girls and the noonas, Sandara Park and last night, I dreamt of Kim Yoona.

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Audio, Interview

Video: K-Pop – Korean Band 2NE1 on a World Tour and an English Album

When CL said that they have a lot of songs in English that just didn’t come out as a single or in an album, I squealed. XD

K-Pop: Korean band 2NE1 on a world tour and an English album

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Interview, Videos

Video: Showbiz 411 – K-Pop: Korean Girl Band 2NE1on How the Band was Formed

Again, I am ever so thankful to Teddy for writing “Pretty Boy,” and for getting the idea to let Dara, CL, Bom, and Minzy sing it. Without this start, 2NE1 wouldn’t have formed, and we’d have seen them do solo careers, and we’d be deprived of our fearsome foursome. Kekeke! ^^ 

K-Pop: Korean girl band 2NE1on how the band was formed

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Interview, Videos