allure korea
an afternoon spent with JB
JJ Project's JB, GOT7's JB, the lyricist and composer Def - all of it Jaebeom's various faces. As 2017 came, all those roles started being even more visible. In January he uploaded self-composed songs on the Sound Cloud under name Def., as soon as promotions of came back JJ Project finished, he released a track "Hush", which he composed in collaboration with Primary closer to the end of August. And now he is just about to come back as a part of GOT7. JB, whose year is incomparably packed, has a shining eyes as he is talking about music.
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You have just finished JJ Project's promotions. I'm curious about your thoughts regarding them.
JJ Project came back after 5 years. One month comparing to 5 years is quite a short (period of time). Even though one month is relatively long promotion period, I still feel like it was too short. I also have regrets that we could have done it a little better.
What makes you regret the most?
Starting from the second week (of promotions) my throat condition became worse. Even though I did preparations diligently, because of my throat live sounded shaky, so I was intimidated of singing. I felt like I had to try hard to control my mind.
JJ Project came back after 5 years. One month comparing to 5 years is quite a short (period of time). Even though one month is relatively long promotion period, I still feel like it was too short. I also have regrets that we could have done it a little better.
What makes you regret the most?
Starting from the second week (of promotions) my throat condition became worse. Even though I did preparations diligently, because of my throat live sounded shaky, so I was intimidated of singing. I felt like I had to try hard to control my mind.
I think youth is longing
Key word that went through the whole JJP album was "Youth". What kind of feeling does the word "youth" give to you?
I think youth is longing. Looking back at b-boy days, the thought "How was it all like that back then?" came to my mind. Having nothing and lead by pure will to do it, I entered b-boy cafe and left a message, then I practiced somewhere around Ilsan or Paju, Boramae, once there were a mass competition, I went there to play around and danced in front of people. It was a time, when my heart was burning only for dancing, when I looked only at it and only that worried me. When I think about those times, longing about youth comes. Even though now is still my youth.
So now when you say "youth", scenes of that time came (to your mind)?
Yes. I think those were times filled with the pure passion. If back then dancing was something that worried me, now it's music. Maybe later when I will look back, these days, too, would be a memories of youth. Just because I'm living in this time right now, I don't think it's necessary to regret about present.
I think youth is longing. Looking back at b-boy days, the thought "How was it all like that back then?" came to my mind. Having nothing and lead by pure will to do it, I entered b-boy cafe and left a message, then I practiced somewhere around Ilsan or Paju, Boramae, once there were a mass competition, I went there to play around and danced in front of people. It was a time, when my heart was burning only for dancing, when I looked only at it and only that worried me. When I think about those times, longing about youth comes. Even though now is still my youth.
So now when you say "youth", scenes of that time came (to your mind)?
Yes. I think those were times filled with the pure passion. If back then dancing was something that worried me, now it's music. Maybe later when I will look back, these days, too, would be a memories of youth. Just because I'm living in this time right now, I don't think it's necessary to regret about present.
I'm type that doesn't look back once I made a decision
I have a question similar to "Tomorrow, Today" lyrics. When you are standing on the crossroad and need to choose only one road, do you have lingering attachment to the road you didn't choose?
No. I'm a type, which doesn't look back after making decision. Once in the past I made decision unintentionally. Nothing could be done so I chose one thing and then regretted it. But since I realized that it's already done, I just didn't think about it at all. I am not making choices that I may regret from the very beginning.
Maybe there is something among things you didn't choose, that still left lingering attachment?
When Mom asked me "Do you want to learn taekwondo? Do you want to learn how to play a piano?" I chose taekwondo. If I had known when I was in 6th grade of elementary school that I would make music in future, I would have said piano.
No. I'm a type, which doesn't look back after making decision. Once in the past I made decision unintentionally. Nothing could be done so I chose one thing and then regretted it. But since I realized that it's already done, I just didn't think about it at all. I am not making choices that I may regret from the very beginning.
Maybe there is something among things you didn't choose, that still left lingering attachment?
When Mom asked me "Do you want to learn taekwondo? Do you want to learn how to play a piano?" I chose taekwondo. If I had known when I was in 6th grade of elementary school that I would make music in future, I would have said piano.
If I'm alone and feel like that, I will turn on V Live again
During these promotions, you often did V apps. Now seems like you really got used to it, but why it was that awkward to you in the beginning?
It was suggested to do live broadcasts in the company, but even though I did it before, I haven't done it completely alone. Also since I don't use SNS by myself, when I turn on the V app, people were watching it, but I didn't know what I should talk about. It was awkward, so I started playing my favorite songs. While listening to the songs I tried to talk and naturally it became more convenient for me. Even though comment section was extremely fast, my eyes would catch some in between. So I also read them.
In fact, don't fans like it even that way?
I had a thought that somehow rather than doing something I told to, it's more natural and convenient for me to just turn on the broadcast read comments and talk about them one by one. So I realized that idea once. As JJ Project promotions came to the end, our night V app broadcasts finished, too, but some time when I will be alone and feel like that I may turn on once again.
It was suggested to do live broadcasts in the company, but even though I did it before, I haven't done it completely alone. Also since I don't use SNS by myself, when I turn on the V app, people were watching it, but I didn't know what I should talk about. It was awkward, so I started playing my favorite songs. While listening to the songs I tried to talk and naturally it became more convenient for me. Even though comment section was extremely fast, my eyes would catch some in between. So I also read them.
In fact, don't fans like it even that way?
I had a thought that somehow rather than doing something I told to, it's more natural and convenient for me to just turn on the broadcast read comments and talk about them one by one. So I realized that idea once. As JJ Project promotions came to the end, our night V app broadcasts finished, too, but some time when I will be alone and feel like that I may turn on once again.
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Soon your comeback as GOT7 is scheduled. Can you briefly introduce album's concept?
First of all, it has an extremely fresh feeling. Both songs and visuals.
What do you anticipate from those promotions?
How much people would like our music. I hope they would like all songs.
What is the most interesting part of album preparations?
Since we are continuously thinking of what we should do to make a good album, it's the process of realizing ideas from your head. It's like you are building lego - piece by piece. Writing songs, choosing photos, right until writing thanks to notes in the end of the album - collecting it one by one is the most interesting part. Like that, once everything put together and unique color of the album is cleared I'm content.
When comeback time approaches what thought comes to your head the most?
Hope that once we walk in people, who have been waiting for us, would be satisfied with the song and performance. Besides that the biggest desire is for (people) to be curious about listening to the next song and how it will turn out. I want to be a singer, whom people are waiting.
First of all, it has an extremely fresh feeling. Both songs and visuals.
What do you anticipate from those promotions?
How much people would like our music. I hope they would like all songs.
What is the most interesting part of album preparations?
Since we are continuously thinking of what we should do to make a good album, it's the process of realizing ideas from your head. It's like you are building lego - piece by piece. Writing songs, choosing photos, right until writing thanks to notes in the end of the album - collecting it one by one is the most interesting part. Like that, once everything put together and unique color of the album is cleared I'm content.
When comeback time approaches what thought comes to your head the most?
Hope that once we walk in people, who have been waiting for us, would be satisfied with the song and performance. Besides that the biggest desire is for (people) to be curious about listening to the next song and how it will turn out. I want to be a singer, whom people are waiting.
Since the long time ago I thought that I'd like to sing my own songs and I had a lot of interest in singing
"Hush" was released as a part of Primary's latest album. What is the difference between leading the whole song alone and singing your parts inside the group?
You must fill the stage with only your energy. That's why you focusing even more on details. Also the pressure of making mistake. When I sing in a group my part generally is less than 16 words. But when I sing the whole song alone, it's 3 minutes 30 seconds or even 4 minutes. That's why when you make mistake it's more obvious. In any case the thing that one person fills the song with only his emotions is appealing.
If during early debut days thing that came up to mind (when it comes to JB) was dancing, now seems like you gradually moved to vocals.
When we debuted we were focused on the point of dance group, that's why changing the focus was a hard thing. When it came to artistic abilities, if I needed to show what kind of person I am and what I'm good at, rather than singing I had done b-boying a lot. But since the long time ago I thought that I'd like to sing my own songs and I had a lot of interest in singing.
When it comes to vocal, what do you think is your charming point?
I still have no idea. When I had determination to clear the expression up, mostly I learnt the points I'm lacking at. That's why I'm practicing even harder. Until I didn't have clear idea (of my charming point), I used to think that I just have a good tone. Moreover people around me say a lot that my tone is good so seems like I settled for it.
You must fill the stage with only your energy. That's why you focusing even more on details. Also the pressure of making mistake. When I sing in a group my part generally is less than 16 words. But when I sing the whole song alone, it's 3 minutes 30 seconds or even 4 minutes. That's why when you make mistake it's more obvious. In any case the thing that one person fills the song with only his emotions is appealing.
If during early debut days thing that came up to mind (when it comes to JB) was dancing, now seems like you gradually moved to vocals.
When we debuted we were focused on the point of dance group, that's why changing the focus was a hard thing. When it came to artistic abilities, if I needed to show what kind of person I am and what I'm good at, rather than singing I had done b-boying a lot. But since the long time ago I thought that I'd like to sing my own songs and I had a lot of interest in singing.
When it comes to vocal, what do you think is your charming point?
I still have no idea. When I had determination to clear the expression up, mostly I learnt the points I'm lacking at. That's why I'm practicing even harder. Until I didn't have clear idea (of my charming point), I used to think that I just have a good tone. Moreover people around me say a lot that my tone is good so seems like I settled for it.
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When your self-composed song is shown to the world, what is the most important thing? Self-satisfaction? Or you mostly pay attention to fans and public response?
If it's about mixtape I upload to my SoundCloud, then it's 100% self-satisfaction. If it's about official release like GOT7 songs, then it's 70% self-satisfaction, 30% public response. If response is good, it means what we did wasn't pointless and this thought makes me content. Feels like it was worth the hard work.
What is a good song for you?
My opinion is still unstable. I think good song is the one people can sympathize to and that talks to their heart, but I also have thoughts that good song is the one I fulfill with sincerity and put my everything in writing it. What if someone decides to judge my song, he would think about the former, right? But I think that I must be satisfied with it by myself, too.
If it's about mixtape I upload to my SoundCloud, then it's 100% self-satisfaction. If it's about official release like GOT7 songs, then it's 70% self-satisfaction, 30% public response. If response is good, it means what we did wasn't pointless and this thought makes me content. Feels like it was worth the hard work.
What is a good song for you?
My opinion is still unstable. I think good song is the one people can sympathize to and that talks to their heart, but I also have thoughts that good song is the one I fulfill with sincerity and put my everything in writing it. What if someone decides to judge my song, he would think about the former, right? But I think that I must be satisfied with it by myself, too.
I do think I'm capable of making songs for other singers
Recently there are more idols, who produce songs. By any chance, don't you want to make songs for other singers?
Though there are songs I think of and write for me and GOT7, I also write (not releasing) a lot of songs in usual days. I am not that greedy to decide for which team I want to produce songs, but I do think that I am capable of writing songs for other singers.
When you write lyrics where do you usually take inspiration from?
Half from the experience. Half from imagination! Directly or indirectly situations I went through come to surface, that's when I catch the emotions that become a main plot. Words and expressions are stuck inside my head and imagination.
Is there a subject or a topic you often write about?
I write a lot about love stories. But I also try to write not only about it. I want to make different stories. When it's a song for official release mostly it's about honey love but when I compose for myself it's about breaking up and the pain after it. Write and sing about the feeling of revenge seems to be even more suitable for me.
Songs you usually listen to and the final version of songs you compose are similar?
Half-half. Sometimes I write something similar, but sometimes I don't. When I write songs on usual days, it's mostly songs I want to sing based on my preferences. But when it comes to composing for GOT7, I think about not my preferences but what kind of songs GOT7 will do well.
Though there are songs I think of and write for me and GOT7, I also write (not releasing) a lot of songs in usual days. I am not that greedy to decide for which team I want to produce songs, but I do think that I am capable of writing songs for other singers.
When you write lyrics where do you usually take inspiration from?
Half from the experience. Half from imagination! Directly or indirectly situations I went through come to surface, that's when I catch the emotions that become a main plot. Words and expressions are stuck inside my head and imagination.
Is there a subject or a topic you often write about?
I write a lot about love stories. But I also try to write not only about it. I want to make different stories. When it's a song for official release mostly it's about honey love but when I compose for myself it's about breaking up and the pain after it. Write and sing about the feeling of revenge seems to be even more suitable for me.
Songs you usually listen to and the final version of songs you compose are similar?
Half-half. Sometimes I write something similar, but sometimes I don't. When I write songs on usual days, it's mostly songs I want to sing based on my preferences. But when it comes to composing for GOT7, I think about not my preferences but what kind of songs GOT7 will do well.
I want to be an artist whose songs people understand with their heart and whose songs they wait for.
During rest time you compose the songs, too?
Usually I have work so even during the rest time I need to compose. When I say that I need to go and work on songs even during rest time, a lot of people think I'm living a tough and hard-working life, it's not like that. If there is something I want to do, I will have to do it even during rest.
What did you do to develop such ability?
Nothing in particular just the work I do, because it's interesting. Cause I created and keep updating Sound Cloud not for additional profit. The atmosphere of composing with other people is full of joy, when you are totally immersed into creating something and when you look at the final result, the content you feel - I like it.
Is there something you want to achieve as an artist?
I want to become an artist who makes announcement about new song and people anticipate it. And, even though I'm already trying to live honestly, as an artist I'd also like to do everything honestly without lies like I do now. Improving from the musical point of view is important but I also want to be an artist whose songs people understand with their heart and whose songs they wait for.
Usually I have work so even during the rest time I need to compose. When I say that I need to go and work on songs even during rest time, a lot of people think I'm living a tough and hard-working life, it's not like that. If there is something I want to do, I will have to do it even during rest.
What did you do to develop such ability?
Nothing in particular just the work I do, because it's interesting. Cause I created and keep updating Sound Cloud not for additional profit. The atmosphere of composing with other people is full of joy, when you are totally immersed into creating something and when you look at the final result, the content you feel - I like it.
Is there something you want to achieve as an artist?
I want to become an artist who makes announcement about new song and people anticipate it. And, even though I'm already trying to live honestly, as an artist I'd also like to do everything honestly without lies like I do now. Improving from the musical point of view is important but I also want to be an artist whose songs people understand with their heart and whose songs they wait for.
