Source: JayMail Tumblr

Sunday 6pm. Our poor life, having to be at a set on a Sunday evening. What did you do today to end up here?

As soon as I woke up I dropped by the salon/shop to do hair & makeup and had a shoot with a magazine. When it finished I had some time, so I went to learn piano. Next week I will be playing the piano while singing at the GDA. And then I ate and came here.

We’ll be looking forward to your GDA stage. Personally we like you Jay, but we are scared to interview you. Kind interviews aren’t fun. We want to ask some hard/mean questions, but we’re scared of your fans. I hope they won’t be upset with my interview?

Hahaha. There are times when I’m scared of my fans too .

Warn them not to attack me.

Sorry. Even if I do, when they’re angry they are scary.

I know that you’re fans are going good deeds in your name. At a website’s donation page, your fans have donated the most. It is respectful that they do good things in the name of a celebrity.

It’s true/right. I know that too.

I will ask from now. Younger than me by 12 years, I feel like your life has jumped a hurdle. It was a bit hard yes?

Honestly, it wasnt like that. The hardest time in my life was my trainee days. It was hard to adjust when I first came to Korea. Language or food, and the atmosphere and culture etc there was nothing I was used to. And the way they taught singing and dancing was very unfamiliar. Also, at the time, I didn’t hang around/get along with other people. I only have hard/difficult memories of the 1-2 years I spent like that. But after I got through that well, I felt like I could do anything. I was strong/tough. I even worked out alot by myself. In the middle of winter, at dawn i ran 30 times around the field everyday. Even though the dark field was scary.

Then why did you come to Korea?

My mother said she thought it would help my future. I just thought I would try it for experience sake.

But I think you would have dreamt of a perfect/wonderful future.

No. I didn’t have anything like a dream. I just wanted to try it once I guess.

When you first came to Korea, you yourself felt like you couldnt rap or sing. You didn’t have confidence.

I really didn’t have confidence. There was never a time i thought I was good at rap or singing. I was a bit confident in dancing though. I was more skilled than my school friends. I didn’t even sing, i was really bad. Rap was my hobby, but not something I thought of seriously.

But You were really good at singing on ‘Immortal Song’

Just like i improved in Korean, My singing improved cus of practice. I listened to alot of music, sang along to good songs, and wrote songs… so i seemed to definitely get better.

Well anyway, you suddenly returned to USA. I’m curious of your feelings/thoughts then. I feel like you would have felt despair that everything was over.

No matter how hard it is, it’s not over til youre dead. Even if i couldnt be a singer anymore, since i wasn’t dead I tried not to feel any despair. Just because i’m not a celeb, doesnt mean I cant do music anymore right? Since i liked music, I could do it myself.

But honestly, you were the most popular in 2pm. You had to leave that popularity behind.

No~ I think Khun was the most popular

But still, you had reached the top and suddenly fallen to the ground. It must have been hard. I thought you were going to become the 2nd Yooseungjoon. I felt bad cus I thought maybe you wouldnt be able to return to Korea.

More than those worries, I felt hurt that I disappointed my parents and fans, the people around me.

When you were in USA, we were able to find out news about you through youtube and media. It seemed like you had influence in the bboy world in the states.

I’m not famous (for that) because I’m good, but probably because I’m the only person who b-boys out of the singers. I’m in a bboy crew, and if theres a battle I go in it, if theres a concert of performance I bboy, and because I like bboying so much, I practice bboying with the hyungs when I have some time in my schedule. Music and bboying is all the passion I have.

You have close bboy crews in Korea

I’m close with Rivers Crew, Drifterz Crew, Animation crew.

I assume you couldnt do activities in America?

As a singer?

Yes, as a singer.

There were various meetings and alot of people did contact me. But at the time I hadn’t decided which direction I should take, I had no idea. I didnt think like ‘I want to be a celeb again, i want to be on tv’. Although I did think that it would be good If another opportunity presented itself. I just thought I should do what naturally happens/flows. Then I happened to film a movie. I just filmed it cus they let me film with my AOM friends. And then various agencies contacted me, I contracted with SIdus because we fit right/got along. At sidus, there is no special plan that is perfectly set out for me, they said I can do what I want, what is comfortable. So Even my music I made with Aom’s ChaCha which I’m comfortable with. I started work again naturally while enjoying it. And thats how i got to here.

But it was a bit of a surprise/unexpected that you chose Sidus. It is a place that doesnt have sufficient systems for a musician like jyp,sm,yg.

I dont know about other agencies, but there isnt a system like JYP. And the only singer is me. But i’m satisfied.

I didn’t hope to make alot of hit songs and come out on tv alot, I’m happy that they give me freedom. If i make music i like, then i can enjoy it alot more on stage. Having someone force me “this is your song! so sing it”… it’s not a way that suits me.

Maybe it’s because you bring in alot of money (for Sidus)?

Ah, now? I probably dont make as much as you think. And since I dont come out on tv alot.

Is there a reason why you dont come out on tv alot?

When i first returned to Korea and released an album, i only did music programs and couldnt come out on variety shows. It’s because I was in the middle of filming a movie. it was a bit unfortunate. Though i did come out on ‘Immortal Song’ later. Right now, i’m preparing performances and my album so theres no time.

When is your album coming out?

Early February. Its my first official album. If i can be on tv, I will come out alot. And do promotions etc.

Please intro us to your new album. Did you compose?

I did alot.

Who produced it?

I did.

The song ‘Demon’ was produced by Teddy RIley. Was the producing by the famous Teddy riley a bit different?

After experiencing producing overseas, it was very different to Korea. I worked with Justin Timberlake’s producer ROb Knox. As soon as he came into the studio and met me, he greeted me and straight away tried to find out my personality and what type of music styles I like. After that, he made the music. Then straight after, this singer songwriter came in and made a melody to the music Rob Knox made, and wrote the lyrics. I listened to it and finished recording straight away.

It seems like a song that was completed naturally and organically. It feels like the 3 people who made and sang the song matched well. Whats the title? I really want to hear it when the album comes out.

I dont think I can say yet…

The magazine comes out in mid January.

Ey~ then i’ll just say it. its a song called ‘I Love You’. 2 versions – Korean & English- will come out.

The album you released after returning to Korea was leaked.

Yes. It did.

You better be careful maintaining the new album. DId you catch the culprit?

The person who leaked it that time, was apparently a 40-something caucasian in America. It was impossible to go all the way to the states to catch him. Obviously we didnt.

You filmed a movie in Korea. but ‘Mr Idol’ didn’t succeed. It didnt seem like a movie that would. Why on earth did you choose it?

The director and that side’s boss (???) had a meeting. And I got a request that they wanted to work with me. I wanted to try acting. and because it was a dancing role, i thought i would have little pressure. I participated because i thought it was a good opportunity to learn about acting. Regardless of its success, it was a good experience.

Did you hope for success?

I didn’t expect/hope for it to be a big hit. Of course it would have been good if it did.

At the premiere, Didn’t you feel embarrassed/shy by seeing yourself on screen?

If it had been a cute role, and if I had to do embarrrassing acting like saying “Honey~~” to a girl or something probably.. but it was a role with nothing to be embarrased about. he hits people… it was thought sort of tough role. It wasn’t embarrassing.

Do you think you have some potential in acting?

No, I think i’ll need alot of lessons.

Are you going to keep on acting?

For now, i want to concentrate on the album and dancing. I dont think about acting at all right now.

You have alot of tattoos. I thikn they would have a meaning.

There are some that represent my boy crew, the microphone and symbols are because i like music. And theres a heard, with the words family, music and friends inside.

I saw a character tattoo during your shoot. what is that?

it is myself. There is a korean flag and seattle (the space needle) around it.

are you going to keep getting tattoos?

I dont wish to get them all over my body, Ill probably do just one arm.

who does your tattoos?

A noona called SanLee at Tattoo Korea

Are they all done by tattooist SanLee?

About 90%. She is really good.

You dont have any done in the states?

No. I feel uneasy. If you’re not certain about your tattoist you feel uneasy. I was introduced to Sanlee. Its good to get them all done by the same tattooist.

But what is that there? On your left and right hand knuckles (??) there are scars. They look like scars from fights

No. I just hurt myself (laughs).

Then why do you laugh? it’s a bit..

I really didnt fight. I tend to get alot of scars on my hands.

Before when you were changing clothes, you said you dont like to look cute. You wore a hat with a pompom (the puffy ball) during the shoot. You must’ve hated that.

I dont like to appear cute. Honestly, i look young. I dont like to over-exert that image. I like to look cool (*sort of means.. manly cool). I also like playful/jokester/prankster looks too. But I can’t look cute. I dont like that sort of thing.

Then are you ok with sexy concepts, that expose your upper body?

If you tell me beforehand, then i dont feel pressure. But if, like today, I dont know about it, its not that great.

Why didnt you know (about today)? They sent the plans

But i didnt know. I didnt prepare. I regret eating pizza last night.

The sweatshirt youre wearing now has a picture of seattle. is there a particular brand you like?

No. I wear whatever i like. The shirt im wearing now is a local brand from seattle. its a present i received from a younger friend who owns it. i think its about $20. I think its pretty. because its seattle.

You like Seattle that much?

I like Seattle. I was raised there, all my friends are there, i have alot of memories.

Is there a place to visit?

Its good because i have memories… actually, its pretty good as a city too. Belltown is good to go to, chinatown is good too.

What is the first album you ever bought? do you remember?

One i bought myself? Im not sure, but i remember buying albums when I was in 4th grade. i think i bought Mase and p diddy from the Bad Boy label, Tupac, Dr Dre. and in 6th grade i bought usher’s My Way, and bought Brian MckNight, Brandy.

Are there any famous artists who you think arent that great?

Hmm.. not sure.

Is it hard to say?

it’s not that. To be honest, I think famous people are all famous for a reason. Theyre people with special talents. Even if they cant rap, they have a good feel so people like them, even if they cant sing.. i cant sing either. But i think people like me because i have my own feel/style. I think there is a reason for everything.

Not that reason alone, i think there are other various reasons why you became famous

I think i became a bit known for my abs

Youre also famous for being cute

For being cute too? I think it’s because I wasn’t that good at korean on variety shows and seemed a bit inarticulate

Ah , and i think i got a bit known for dancing too.

How do you persevere when you become involved with unfair situations?

I try not to regret or feel like ive been unfairly treated, no matter what happens. Even if i feel like its unfair, I cant undo it right? If i experience something like that, i try to learn something from it. If i keep doing that, i will become a better person. growing/developing by myself is most ideal.

While doing music, is there anyone you’ve ever felt jealousy towards?

I was/used to be jealous of Big Bang. They’re very cool, and I liked the music they were doing. I’m envious now too. The music they do is similar to mine, but Big Bang is very famous, and alot of people listen to their music dont they?

Jay, you’re famous too.

Well, not me.

Are there any words that famous people like jyp or teddy riley have said to you that you keep in your heart?

I dont have (anything) like that. I realize and learn things by myself through life.

By yourself? It seems like you’re fighting through alone

Thats right. I think for myself and follow through with that. The thing I think most importantly is not to be greedy about money. I’ve never been greedy about money. When people around me become greedy about money, something always happens. Things that aren’t good.

When was the last time you called your mother? What did you talk about?

My mother is in Korea right now. Mother, father, younger brother, dog are all in Korea.

I’m just asking (out of curiosity), are you in a position supporting your family? (Note: I think the interviewer is asking if Jay is the one financially supporting his family)

Yes, otherwise there’s no reason to earn money.

Isn’t it difficult?

Are we (financially difficult) in trouble? No, we’re okay.

I mean, don’t you feel a load on your shoulders? (note: alot of pressure about supporting his family)

No. I feel very happy that I can help my family and people around me. That’s why I’m earning money. Otherwise, I dont need to earn money. It doesn’t matter.