I arrived at Jeonju on the first day of April after driving for two and a half hours. As I was sitting on the park bench, feeling the warmth of the sun while waiting for the phone call, It all suddenly felt like a lie. It felt like yesterday that I had been at Palm Springs, feeling its dry desert weather; or going through the cold, furious winter. It has been already a half a year since I met Jay Park, who has been going back and forth between the US and Korea, preparing for his first mini album and is now living the busiest moment of his life as the release date approaches. It was unknown then when he was going to return to Seoul city, so he was stuck in Jeonju for the filming of Mr. Children.

This is why I descended to the city without hesitation. It was after I had hurriedly searched for a place to eat – learning that he hadn’t eaten lunch – when Jay appeared. The weather was so hot that one could have walked around with his shirt off; but as always, he was wearing his cotton, white t-shirt. We reunited like that, in the southern Korean city, after separating in the Western America.

VG (Vogue Girl): You still haven’t eaten? It’s almost three.
Jay: I woke up late because I had filming until late night. But where in Jeonju is this? (VG: It is near Han-Ok village. It’s the tourist landmark of this city… Looks like you haven’t had the chance to go around much.) The filming lieu is too quiet; must be because it is far away from downtown. There is no sign of human after 9pm…. it’s a bit boring. The waiting times are long and since it’s not Seoul, there is nothing to do and no one to chill with. The waiting room is shared by four people so I cannot dance or work on my album. It feels like I am in detention (laughs).

VG: Then you must not have had the chance to eat bibimbap or bean-sprout rice soup? (Note: These are the Jeonju’s specialty foods)
Jay: No, I have not. (VG: I should have taken you to a bibimbap house instead then!) It is alright. The ribs look delicious! I really love meat anyways.

VG: It’s been half a year since we last met in Palm Springs.
Jay: Already? I didnt think it has been that long because of the hot weather. A lot of things have happened since then. I have been to numerous countries for my fanmeets, filed two movies and m/v. (VG: You also got a few more tattoos. Did you intend to get some around this time?) Of course. It is permanent so I can’t just get them impulsively. I think carefully about where I am going to get it and what I want it to say. The tattooist is busy so I can’t get it any day.

VG: Recently, you performed at the opening stage of Ne-Yo’s concert. What was your impression of him?
Jay: I saw and talked to him before and after the concert; he’s really a cool guy. He has that modesty that only the best have. The other international artists that I have met were overprotected by their bodyguards even when they didn’t need to be. But for Ne-Yo, even his staff were humble. I wanted to ask him to do a collab with me but didn’t know how he would react. But the staff encouraged me and said that he would love the idea; and he did. Since then, we have been exchanging emails and talking on twitter. I learned a lot from him, seeing his stage manners and daily attitude.

VG: April 25th is your birthday. It is also when you are releasing your album. (Note: Reminder that the interview was done on April 1st).
Jay: Yes but it may be delayed one or two days. My comeback stages have been delayed one week. I am not sure how I am going to spend my birthday; my head is full of thoughts about the album. It is the fruit of my six-month’s worth of work so the album is really meaningful to me.

VG: What did you want to show us the most from this album?
Jay: I don’t have anything like that. Perhaps that is possible because I made the album on my own. If I made it under someone’s control, I would have chosen a concept before starting – sexy, manly, cute… etc.

VG: Did you compose and write the lyrics yourself?
Jay: Yes. If I thought of some good beats, I added a melody line to it along with lyrics – if I thought it was good, I proceeded to recording the song. (VG: Are most of the lyrics written from experience?) I imagined a good scene that would match the melody and wrote lyrics. Of course, I incorporated some of my experience in them but all seven tracks have a different style. (VG: Last interview, I remember you saying that you wish to try R&B, dance, hiphop and other various genres. Looks like your dream came true.) Yes. Back then, I only thought about it; I am glad that it came true.

VG: So you have never really learned how to compose or write lyrics?
Jay: Never. But I believe that it is better to write with your feelings rather than writing poorly trying to follow the rules. It is more fun this way. There are a lot of professionals around so they can help me with things that I need to work on. I don’t try to be better than them; I just ask for their advice and try to improve.

V.G. : Last time, lyrics like ‘If you are an alcohol then I’m an alcoholic’ were possible because of your imperfect Korean; it really left an impression. Are there any parts like that in this album?
Jay : I don’t know… perhaps. To be honest, I don’t know which parts are interesting. I’m writing them seriously, in my view.

VG: You undoubtedly have a taste in music that is different from fellow singers that grew up in Korea. It must not have been easy to balance the preference of the general public and your own.
Jay: That is why I made the two title tracks close to the mainstream style. Two others are hip-hop and two more are R&B. I put in songs that both the general public and I would like. It would not have seem like my work if I tried to follow the mainstream too much. The best option is to make what I like into what the public like but that is not as easy as it sounds. But the results are pretty good so I am glad everything is going well..

VG: So this album, to put it another way, is like a proof. Something to prove who Jay Park is.
Jay: Proof! That is a good word! Yes, you are right, since this contains my skills and style, it’s like saying “THIS IS JAY PARK”, in other words.

VG: Do you have any regrets about the album now that it is done?
Jay: Normally, artists get their songs, two weeks to practice and then record. I recorded right after the song was finished so I didn’t have much time to practice. I was so curious about how the song in my head would turn out and couldn’t wait. Next time, I will record after I have had enough training. I could have sung better… that is my regret. (VG: Then all your songs are a result of first-time recording?) Yes. Except the title track, “Abandoned”, which I had to change the melody in the middle and recorded twice. (VG: Sounds like an adventure! A perfectionist could never do that.) Personally, I want to do music while enjoying it rather than perfecting it. And I think I do it better if I’m enjoying the moment. That goes for dancing too – I feel better and more accomplished when I dance freestyle rather than a choreographed one.

VG: It looks like you worked a lot with AOM and friends again. Do you ever wish you worked with famous producers?
Jay: The reason why I really wish that this album succeeds is partly because, if it does, then it means that it was purely because of my friends and I. I want to show the people that we are capable and that we have talent. Rather than working with famous producers, I want us to be like that – I want ChaCha to be famous and The quiett hyung to be more well known. I want people to come to us asking to work with them. Of course, I dream of working with artists like Ne-Yo but I don’t think it’s too late to do so after I have done what I want to with the people I like.

VG: The start of your album promotions will be on music shows on national broadcast. So in the end, you went around a long way to return to this stage.
Jay: I’m happy because I think that the fans will be happy. They always asked “when [I am] going to appear on national broadcast”. I think of it as an extension to all the other performances I have done so far. (VG: It must have been a while since you have been to the broadcasting station… and seeing people you missed.) Probably. But I have seen those that I missed outside of broadcasting stations already.

VG: How do you relieve your stress?
Jay: I am not really the type to be stressed out. I can’t even remember when I was last depressed or really angry. I am just enjoying life and doing good these days, hanging out with old friends and hyungs. (VG: You don’t meet new people?) I think it just gets more troublesome if there are too many people in the group. It’s just fun when you chill with a “small group”

VG: You haven’t had many scandals; perhaps it’s because you hang out too much with hyungs.
Jay: Scandals? There were lots of scandals! Oh, you mean with girls. Haha. Well I haven’t really had the chance. If I get a girlfriend later and get “unlucky”, then there will be scandals. Right now, I am just too busy and it would be meaningless to get one; when my mind is freer, I should get a girlfriend. I don’t plan on going public though… but we will have to see.

VG: I remember you saying that you party like a high school kid, ‘eating pizza and dancing at home.’ Do you know how to drink?
Jay: Of course. I just don’t drink lots or often. (VG: What is your favorite drink?) None. They all taste bad.

VG: Other than dancing and music then, what do you do during your spare time?
Jay: Bowling? I’m getting quite good at it now because I go whenever I have spare time. I score about 110! I haven’t gone shopping in two years; I just wear whatever my fans give me as a present and that’s enough for me.

VG: You are only 25 yet you sound and behave so maturely.
Jay: A lot of people worry about me. They think that I went through too much for my age. But what made me become mature was actually because I had to live away from my family in Korea when I was 18 – I had to be responsible for myself earlier than other people. That’s why I feel the need to be responsible for my family more than others. I think a man who can take care of the people around him is a real man. Jang Hyuk hyung is like that. He’s a good man and a good actor.

VG: What do you think you’ll be doing when you are 30?
Jay: I have no idea. Five years is not a short time. I did not think that I would be living like this now when I was 20. It hurts my head to think about things I have to do, let alone the future. I do think, however, that I need to work out more as I age. I feel that my stamina has really decreased these days. Before, I used to work out before bed but now I just fall asleep right away (laughs).

VG: Ah yes. I remember you saying that you don’t set goals.
Jay: No I don’t. I think it’s best to let things flow the way they are supposed to. Trying my best. Enjoying life. I don’t think further than that. But I do plan what I am going to do next. I am thinking of going for the American stage next year. I have an agency in the states as well; I also already have a lot of songs made by working with producers. So I think, after this promotion, I’ll be going to the US more often. But I’ll focus on my activities in Korea this year. I want to satisfy my fans who have waited so long for my Korean activities first. I will try for US after I have shown the kfans my style of music.

VG: You will have more advantage over other Korean artists; you know the language.
Jay: Mm… I’m pretty confident in some areas. Perhaps the “American style” is more natural since I grew up listening to American music. I can try fresher and a wider variety of things there than in Korea.

VG: In the end, wasn’t it your dream as a musician to perform on the US stage? You could think of all this (hardship) as a quick way to realize your dream.
Jay: Perhaps. But that’s not important. I just want to work with the musicians that I admire and perform with them. Mostly, I want to show that Korean artists can succeed in the Us. (VG: Around what level would you consider “success”?) Mm.. Ne-Yo or Usher? (VG: Wow high expectations!) Yeah. Gotta reach that level. I’m looking at this as a long-term. It’s not gonna be easy.

VG: Which song do you think the people would like the most?
Jay: That is what I am most curious about! (Here, he began to speak faster) I think about it everyday – which song will gain the most attention. When I’m working, I do it because I enjoy it but to be honest, I always consider what the fans would say. I imagine it sometimes: the fans would say that this is sexy, they would say this is manly, I hope they say the lyrics are cute. I want the fans to know that they are another part of this album. I can only make music if I have fans.

VG: I heard you already have eight tracks for the next album!
Jay: I’m going to release a 2nd mini album this year. I’ll release singles in between too. (VG: That’s a different tactic than coming back, resting and coming back again.) These days, people don’t really listen to songs other than the title tracks on a full-length album. But I am too attracted to all of my songs; that would make me very sad. What is the good in leaving it for later? I want to show them all,one at a time.

During the entire interview, Jay answered within three seconds. Regarding the recent ‘apology’, he said intelligently, “it’s of course my choice and decision so it’s my apology” and emptied a whole bowl of rice while munching on the ribs. He even finished a cup of rice drink (shik-hae) for dessert. As we exited, Jay, suddenly realizing that he had an hour to return to the filming set, said “let’s go bowling.” He punched in the address of the bowling place in the GPS without hesitation and spoke again: “want to hear my new song?” Listening to the title track that was yet to be revealed to the world, my heart beat madly, in the spring sunshine. After the song ended, my eyes watered; I got a feeling that… everything was going to go well for him. I became curious about what sorts of choreography he would dance to this and what expressions he would make to the camera on the stage few weeks later. “You have to watch. I won’t disappoint you.” We ended up not going bowling due to heavy traffic. But did that matter? Thanks to that, we promised to go bowling another time and do a photoshoot. Though it is unknown whether it will be in the states, Korea or anywhere else in the world.

SOURCE: DC Gallery; TRANSLATOR: Lydia@JAYPARK.NET
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