Page 70 - Rolling Stone - India (December 2019)

The Mix

I think it’s probably the was really hard’—so this I think that people can very interesting way for
latter, it’s probably much song in itself has been in relate to it, understand me to connect with fans
more of a slower gradual some ways, a cathartic where I’m coming from. on a literally a brand new
process. Thank you for experience for me to kind You’ve always been platform, brand new way.
listening to it, I’m so glad of get through it. But I very honest and open It was a lot of work to
that you like it. I think think overall I’m at a much about your opinions figure out and I’m glad it’s
for this album… it wasn’t better place right now than and perspective on life doing well, but we’re just
so much of like a ‘this is a few months ago. and I feel that has a lot trying to figure out a way
the sound we’re going That’s wonderful to to do with the immense to make sustainable. One
to go for’—it was more hear. Because seeing all success of your podcast thing that I’m still trying to
like let’s pick and choose the work you’re doing K-pop Daebak. Why did create is a better feedback
what’s right. That’s why including making music, you want to start this loop with fans. Like, where
we also speak back to why touring, your podcast– podcast and what do you can we congregate and
Before We Begin is such a we’re on the outside and feel is the most important where can we write more
fitting title because it’s me don’t see your everyday thing it contributes to messages and where can we
trying to figure out what world. So often as fans I the global conversation communicate better?
that ‘Eric Nam sound’ is. guess we wonder about around K-pop? Jimin Park has
It’s just a matter of really our favorite artists and The podcast is actually launched her own
experimenting and writing celebrities, if you’re doing the idea of my younger podcast, so has Epik
all sorts of different things okay beyond just what we brother [Eddie Nam.] I High’s Tablo—how
but I think at the same glimpse on social media. always thought about it, important is it for artists
time, we live in a day where Honestly, it’s a lot. I but I didn’t get around to to take these initiatives
musically people aren’t think part of it is as a solo doing it so he set it up for themselves to get involved
confined to a single genre. artist in Korea… it’s really me. I just feel like there’s in the global conversation
Pop has become a mix of so hard because there’s so such a global community their fans are having?
many different things and much competition. Not of K-pop bloggers around You know, as creators
I think I wanted to embody only like musically, but the world but [the and artists, our goal and
that through this piece of just when it comes to like international community] our job is to reach as
work, the breadth of genres [idol culture] and stuff. is still largely underserved. many people as possible
that I like and am able to I’ve always been weirdly It takes a lot of effort for through music or through
do. stuck in the middle of fans to go in and subtitle our content. For a lot of
You’ve mentioned that everything. I’m not an and caption Korean TV people in the world audio
in addition to the theme idol, but a lot of people shows and everything is still the best way of
of love and relationships, see me as an idol. It’s a to whatever language. consuming content and
“Love Die Young” is also very weird place that I ASC (English K-pop talk so, in many ways, it was
about one’s relationship have my own niche in. I show After School Club) this missing piece that
with their life and think part of where the did so well in its early needed to be filled and
passion, and you wrote stress came from is… for years because we were nobody was doing it. So
it at a time you were years, I’ve been doing speaking to K-pop stars for us finally be able to
facing burnout. Have you everything. It’s a lot of in English and in a way fill that void… I think it’s
managed to find more of a things to juggle. But it that people could relate a great opportunity and I
balance now? was just kind of a tipping to on their own. So I felt think the fans appreciate
It’s kind of the cycles point where I was actually like that was a void that it. I have another one
of life and everybody just so tired, so exhausted. I could potentially help that’s launching very
goes through dark points. So it was important to be fill and create more of an soon called I Think You’re to work here in India. I
Luckily for me, it kind of able to verbally say and international community Dope which features don’t think a lot of people
came out through the form admit that I am tired, around K-pop in that sense. conversations with (New know this about you, so I
of a song. I’m learning to that I need a break that I think the other thing is Jersey producer) Jeremy definitely need the whole
be more intentional with I need to change things just providing some sort of Zucker, (Irish singer) Gavin story!
my time, trying to take care around. Also, I feel that context and maybe some James, (American singer- And I will give it to you
of my health and really redefining success is explanation for certain songwriters) Gallant and all! I was in Hyderabad for
spending time where it important because for things that people might Alec Benjamin. It’s not a two or three months in 2011
matters more for me. I some people, by some find interesting about the K-pop podcast, but is kind as part of a social fellowship.
think just the nature of my metrics, I may not be industry itself. It’s also of about whatever I want We were supposed to
job and like the daily things successful but for me, in important to recognize that and has cool interviews and be helping low income
that I have to do… I’ll never my mind, my perspective… things are always changing discussions. I enjoy doing schools for education and
be at a place where I’m I’m incredibly successful. and moving, especially in this stuff. I enjoy talking development. I ended up
completely comfortable. I’ve done everything that terms of media. From Vine to people and being able to leaving to be on the TV
But it is important to be I wanted to and I will to Facebook, to Instagram share it with other people show (Star Audition:Birth
able to have that discussion continue to do that. I and Twitter… there’s trends around the world. of a Great Star 2) but I think
and to be open about it think it’s important [to of things dying out. I felt On that note, I recently India is a very beautiful
and say, ‘I hate this,’ or ‘It talk about this] because like podcasts could be a learned that you used place. There’s just so many

70 | Rolling Stone | December 2019