PART 1:
“That we’re scary. When people say that, we find it funny.”
The powerful girls have returned even more powerful. We’re talking about the 4 member girl group, 2NE1.Breaking the stereotype that girl groups must be pretty, rather than musically talented, like the tough girls they are, plunging themselves into the unpopular genre of music in Korea, hip-hop, and have once again stood in front of the public, this time with even more powerful music and visuals than from the ‘Fire’ days.
One day before the release of their first full length album, ‘To Anyone’, these tough girls had paid E-Daily SPN’s office a visit. The female employees working at the office who waited for 2NE1 were even more thrilled (than the males).
They had arrived with almost no makeup on and dressed in their day-to-day outfits however due to the image that they have built since the moment they debuted, it was still possible to feel their ‘force’. Entering into their 2nd year after debut, they can still be considered rookies. However when you feel their ‘force’, they are a girl group that definitely catches one’s eye.
More under the cut.
Q: It’s been a while. How long has it been?
▲ One year. Since we rested for so long, I’m a bit worried about our live performances. That we might tense up. I’m half nervous, half excited. (CL)
Q: 2NE1 saying that they’re nervous doesn’t seem to match them well. What’s the reason?
[continuation under the cut]
▲ No matter what, I think that it’s because we want to show ourselves to fans as even better than before. Due to our greed to meet our fan’s expectations, it can be quite burdensome, to say the least. (Dara)
Q: There are three title songs, ‘Clap Your Hands’, ‘Can’t Nobody’, and ‘Go Away’. It seems like your schedules will be pretty jam-packed?
▲ As we would make one song by one and listen to them, we liked them all, and so we felt that it would be a waste to only have them as side songs. We had said that it’d be great if we could present all three on stage however somewhere along the way it was actually decided on doing it like that. It seems like we’re planning to show a different song on each music program. Rather than seeing it as a tough thing, since we’ll be able to perform several different stages, it seems like it’ll be exciting. (CL)
Q: Since it’s your first full length album, it seems like there’s a lot of fans anticipating it. What kind of songs are in the album?
▲ We put a lot of effort and time into preparing for it. Although the genre can feel a bit unfamiliar, ‘Can’t Nobody’ is a song that we prepare for this year during March and April. ‘Clap Your Hands’ is a popular hip hop style song which 2NE1 can play around with during performances. ‘Go Away’ has a lovely melody like ‘I Don’t Care’, ‘It Hurts’ is an R&B song. As you can see, this being our first full length album, we worked hard to fill it with a variety of different music. (CL)
2NE1′s first full length album, ‘To Anyone’, is loaded with a total of 12 songs including five songs that were previously released (You and I, Please Don’t Go, Kiss, Try to Follow Me, etc.) as well as a ‘Can’t Nobody’ English version. Several up-and-coming producers participated in this album, including the one that CL calls ‘papa’, Teddy (2NE1 even points him out occasionally as the 5th member of 2NE1.), e.knock, who is better known as KUSH, choice 37, PK, etc and have collectively perfected several different styles of music. Being their first album, they diligently introduced the new album and expressed their self pride.
Q: ‘Can’t Nobody’, as well as ‘Clap Your Hands’ both have have a stronger, more powerful feeling than ‘Fire’. As a result, don’t you think that a stereotype will develop that “2NE1 seems to have a strong personality”, “They seem scary”?
▲ We express our style strongly, through makeup, hair and fashion that matches with our music. As a result, ever since we debuted, we seemed to have obtained a very powerful image unintentionally. Although ‘I Don’t Care’ was more endearing, ‘Fire’ was originally very tough, and so our strong image did not disappear. However we find that image funny. It seems like that kind of look matches 2NE1. We’re gonna be tough this time too… (Laughs)
Q: Is it too much to anticipate a girly concept from 2NE1?
▲ Doesn’t it seem like it’ll be tough? Even though we’re not young girls, there are some times when we want to appear feminine as well (Laughs)
Q: We heard that while you were in the US, you produced music with Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am. It seems like it was a valuable experience, and influenced you, while preparing for your first album.
▲ This year, from April to June, we spent 10 days in the US and England recording . We didn’t stay for long so I don’t think you can go to the extent of saying we changed, however we felt a gap. In order to perfect the songs, we would sometimes record even more than 10 times, however will.i.am would finish the recording within one or two attempts. It was like thinking about each and every moment’s emotions more importantly. While recording with him, it seems like our speed at recording has sped up a bit. (Park Bom)
Q: What is 2NE1 anticipating for the activities this time?
▲ There’s nothing we want especially. It’s just since we’ve been resting for so long, we want to return to the stage soon. My body is itching. I really miss our fans a lot too. Since we prepared really hard for this, I want to have just as much fun with the fans. (Minji)
Part 2:
2NE1 has become a topic, having worked with US hip-hop group, Black Eyed Peas’ leader, will.i.am and expressed their true concerns about debuting in the US.
In a recent interview, 2NE1 had revealed, “Debuting in the US is something that anyone dreams about”, “However we don’t want to rush it. We want to debut with music that can well reflect 2NE1′s style and prepare perfectly, even if it takes 5 or 10 years.”
From April to June, 2NE1 had visited LA in the US and London in England in three rounds, each for ten days.At those places, they would meet will.i.am and worked on 10 songs in preparation for their debut in the US.
Q: How was your first meeting with will.i.am.
▲The first time we met him, he saw our clothes and shoes and said we looked pretty, in addition we were also surprised that he was humming to the ‘Wassup’ part in ‘The Leaders’. He seemed very real and friendly. I don’t know if it’s okay to say this but he was a really cute person. (CL)
I’m a Black Eyed Peas Fan, so being able to meet the leader and producer, will.i.am was an honor. He’s a very cool person, and I was able to feel an ‘aura’ that was particular to him. (Minji)
Because I was shy, I wasn’t able to talk a lot to him, but my first impression is that he was very unique and cute. Like us, he seems to have a side of him that’s 4D-like as well. (Dara)
Up until we met him, since he was an extremely famous person, I was very nervous however since he was so playful, we became close shortly after. (Park Bom)
Q: What’s will.i.am’s style of producing?
▲ Will.i.am finishes recordings in 1~2 attempts. Rather than doing it 10 or 20 times to perfect it, it seems that he thinks that the emotion expressed during that moment was more important. And as a result, we finished recording faster. Having recorded 3 times with will.i.am it seems like we’ve become faster at recording now too. (CL)
While watching him next to his side, while he writes lyrics or plays the piano, I would think ‘This person seems to be completely absorbed in music’, creating a deep feeling within m heart. As expected, I want to be a person crazy about music. (Minji)
Source: Nate
Translated by: GEE@ygladies.com
Post by: Emy@allkpopstarzz
