2NE1’s Interview For L’Officielle Hommes

2NE1 and Will.I.Am have already worked on a dozen songs for a year, wherein 10 are already finished. They had met with each other in advance of the group’s American debut.

We will ask a few things about working with Will.I.Am. How is it working with him and what is the progress of your American debut album?

2NE1: Making an album doesn’t only mean that we record a few songs and then that’s that. We work with a dozen songs, different kinds of music, where only a few of the songs make it into the album, while the others don’t get included in that particular album, but later are included in another album, there are cases like that. We are constatnly continuing to work hard to make a better album.

During that time when you and Will.I.Am worked together, there are surely some interesting things that happened. Can you please tell us some of those?

Minzy: When he came, the weather in Korea was really cold, and Will asked to be taught was is “cold” in Korean, then he kept on saying “chuwo, chuwo (T/N: er, cold)” and it was fun seeing him follow.

Sandara: Will is really interested in fashion. He always looks at our shoes and says “That’s dope!” then he asks where the shoes were bought from, and looking at him during those times, he was really cute.

Bom: The first time we worked together with Will, it was very nerve-wracking but will was very playful. I was inside the recording booth, but the monitor had a different sound coming out. I was upset I got it wrong, but it turned out that Will was just playing.

CL: When we went to WIll’s house, and ate food that he made himself, and talked about music and shared some memories, that was a very precious moment for me. Specially we enjoy James Brown and R. Kelly, that particular taste we had in common.

2NE1 already has big brothers you work closely with in Korea, and then this time, working with this particular person whose level was a bit different. Is there a definite point of difference that you can pinpoint?

Minzy: Will is just crazy about music. Like, his whole life is all about music. I think that’s all that I could say?

Sandara: The first time we worked together with him, we were curious as to what style he had. He’s already a really famous person, one who we like and respect as an artist, and the level of tension at the thought of working with him was really high, but at the same time, we were really happy. Recording with him was really fast, like in the blink of an eye, and you’re done, it was really shocking but awesome too. It’s really great.

There’s a significant overlap for Will’s solo album and your work time together. Was it difficult with the time and distance restraints?

2NE1: There were times that it was certainly a tight fix, but every time we meet up with Will, it’s always a happy moment, and there’s always joy in our hearts. When we work together, we feel like we grow musically, so with that in mind, our situation doesnt seem to be difficult.

Expectations with 2NE1 rose high significantly when you won America’s MTV music network’s MTV Iggy. Is there anything that you can be sure of showing during your advancement into the US market?

2NE1: We always feel free on stage and we really enjoy it and play. So instead of showing something special, we’d want to see that the audience enjoys our performances, and we believe that we enjoy it more when we see them enjoy.

Sandara: 2NE1 hasn’t tried a lot of overseas activities just yet, so we haven’t gotten a lot of opportunities to know how it feels. But last year, when we played at the stage for MTV IGGY at the New York Times Square, the atmosphere was really exciting! Rather than confidence rising, we could feel passion rising up inside our bodies.

YG Entertainment, other than settling on the local market, has taken an advantage of things like iTunes, YouTube, would you take a more active approach, and what was your first reaction to this?

Sandara: I think it’s a bit too early at this point to say exactly where I stand at this, but personally I think that I want to be more active in Korea also, to show more locally.

Minzy: Personally I think that communicating through the internet is really important as well.

In Will.I.Am’s concert, maybe Britney, Justin Bieber might come, could we see 2NE1 come there as well?

2NE1: Wouldn’t that day come too in the future? Because 2NE1’s color changes from time to time, we’re like iguanas that change colors ever so often, there’s always variety. We’d be very happy to have that honor. Not only us, but we also think of that day when Korean singers would be able to spread world-wide.

On March 28th your full Japan album would be released. With this in mind, is your American album also on its process to being released too?

2NE1: Nothing definite is for certain right now. But we are really excited also for the outcome and the performances, it’s a process that we cannot help but undergo. However, there might still be a bit more time needed before we can see our American releases.

During MAMA, it was a beautiful performance with Will.I.Am. CL must have practiced it a lot. How was it performing with him?

2NE1: Because of some circumstances during that time, there wasn’t a lot of time for practice. But CL was really cool on stage despite that and we are very proud of what she did. To see those three great artists having fun on stage, with their swagger and rhythm, it was really great. It was as if all of us were performing on stage.

Credits:

Source: L’Officiel Hommes Korea
Transcribed by: My Minzy @ DC2NE1 gallery
Translated by: BlackjackBelle@OhDara/ SlaveTranslator@WeLoveDara

T/N: Ack, started translating this at 5:00AM. Mianhe you guys, but my brain doesn’t work this early. An d it was a bit long. So.. Dying. Keke! Skipped breakfast to finish this, so I’m off to get something to eat. Ciao!