U-KISS@Learned How to Take Off in Japan (enewsworld interview)There is no growth if you’re afraid of change. New attempts sometimes bring on despair, but we learn from our mistakes, and we mature in the process.
For U-KISS, the few months the group spent in Japan also held a similar meaning. The group stepped into the market with the Korean wave on its shoulders, and became a success as a hallyu star, even starting on a tour through Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Tokyo early March with its First Japan Live Tour 2012.
читать дальшеThe results were greater than anyone imagined they would be. Because of this, U-KISS is feeling more nervous about its first set of Korean promotions in eight months, as the group wants to be more successful in Korea.
Hoon said, “We got results that weren’t bad in Japan and we went through a lot, even having some members replaced, and now it’s time to show a perfected U-KISS. This is an important time for us.” U-KISS now is all set for a much anticpated comeback.
The group’s sixth mini album will be released on April 25. The first single Doradora drew the participation of producer Kim Hyung Suk, and is somewhat different from the music U-KISS showcased throughout its career. It’s different from other idols’ songs, and you can meet a manlier U-KISS that has matured with time.
It’s your first comeback in eight months.
Eli: It’s a new start. Because it’s our first comeback in a long time we want to show more new things about ourselves.
Hoon: This is an important time for us. We got fairly nice results in Japan and we went through a lot, even having some members replaced, and now it’s time to show a perfected U-KISS. I thought while working on the album that it’s time we tried to clear a spot for ourselves. In that aspect, the upcoming album is an important one.
What does the time you spent together in Japan mean to U-KISS?
Soohyun: The members polished their skills in Japan. Of course they got better in song and dance, but also in stage charisma and teamwork onstage. (smile) AJ is studying how to write songs, and this is having a positive effect on the other members, so everyone is studying music a lot.
Hoon: I looked back on my original mindset, and I felt how precious the members are to me.
I heard you had a hard time trying to decide on your first single cut.
Soohyun: We listened to more than 100 songs in Japan. Because it’s an important album, we and our agency thought a lot about it. Japanese fans and our company in Japan will also be watching our promotions in Korea. The song we chose after much consideration was Doradora.
Kiseop: We had a lot of concerns. Should we go for an easy song that’s easy to listen to and sing along with, or should we go for music that’s difficult to listen to but can deliver a great performance? We thought a lot about it, but in the end we chose a song that would let us keep in tune with our fans.
How do you feel about your comeback?
Eli: I’m looking forward to it because we’ll be seeing our Korean fans for the first time in a long time. We’ve polished our stage manners and we’ve become more confident after holding a tour in Japan. I want to stand onstage as soon as possible because I’m confident we can show an even more perfect performance.
You saw a change in member composition.
Soohyun: There were a lot of fans worried over the member change, but we can just say that it’ll be great. Actually, when Kiseop first joined the group he had a hard time, because there were also fans who were against his joining the group.
That’s why when Hoon and AJ joined, we tried to take care of them. We didn’t want to make them have a hard time like Kiseop. Thanks to that, the new members adjusted well and the original members got a chance to again become determined.
You went through a lot of changes, like member changes and Japanese ventures.
Soohyun: At first we were afraid of change, but I think in the end the changes were good. We’re doing well in Japan, and our teamwork is greater than any other time.
Five years have already passed since your debut. What meaning does the title of ‘idol singer’ have for you?
Soohyun: There are good aspects and bad aspects, but doesn’t ‘idol’ mean that you have a lot of talent? I like being called an idol because of that. It’s just that idols have an image that they perform music in a pre-made mold, but U-KISS wants to do its own music, so I don’t think that specific meaning fits us.
AJ: The word ‘idol’ means something different in Korean and English. If we try to build an image that we’re musicians on top of the image of idols, I think that’ll come close to the original meaning of ‘idol’. I think then we’ll be able to become real ‘idols’.
What are your goals for the upcoming set of promotions?
AJ: We always used to say we’re aiming to win first place in music shows, but this time, rather than care for such numbers, we want to show a different U-KISS. We want to open up everything to the public—everything we learned in Japan and everything we learned in our four, five year career. Our promotions in Japan helped us take off.
Where do you believe U-KISS stands now?
Soohyun: In the past we were all children. Of course we still are, but now we’re becoming more passionate toward music and performing while achieving our dreams to become singers. Because we now know how precious the stage is to us, we’ll stand on it with thankful hearts.
Where will U-KISS go in the future?
AJ: Rather than try to foresee the future, we want to become singers that live up to the original meaning of ‘idol’. We want to be in charge of everything from beginning to end, like producing the album and filming the CD jacket and music video. We want to become real idol singers that can lyricize, compose, produce and show off individual talents.source: enewsworld
