[Interview] Daesung @ TV Guide Person

:: 9 Aug 2013

D-LITE, who has a gentle, controlled voice husky voice which makes people feel its tremor. Using such a voice to perform songs, even if it’s a cover song, the voice will stay etched deeply into the listener’s memory. He who has such a charm, blends his own colors into the song, using an extraordinary attractiveness to conquer his listeners. At the same time, irregardless of Inkigayo or talk shows, D-LITE will always have his smile on his face, bringing up the atmosphere around him and forever portraying a role that makes people happy. How is the real D-LITE like….

PERSON: Your hair color is no longer blondish gold!
D-LITE: When listening to the re-arranged ‘I Love You’, the hair color that came to my mind was either blue or purple. As a part of performing the song, my hair color had to be changed too. When I just dyed it, the color was brighter. As the color has faded, it resulted into such hair color (laugh).

PERSON: How did you feel when you heard that you were going to cover ‘I Love You’?
D-LITE: Yutaka Ozaki is a legendary musician in Japan. Even in Korea, ‘I Love You’ is a golden song. When I was in junior high school, I listened to POSITION sunbaenim’s cover of ‘I Love You’ and from then onwards, I like this song very much. Now that I have to cover this song, I feel happy and worried at the same time. This song has been covered many times in Japan as well, am I able to sing it well? However, as this is an outstanding song, it has evoked my desire to challenge it.

PERSON: I heard that before you cover a song, you will read the lyrics thoroughly to fully grasp the feelings in the song. What can you feel from this song?
D-LITE: I like the entire content of the song lyrics very much; it’s up till the extent that I like each word and each sentence. I have also communicated with Seiji Kameda who helped me re-arrange the song. I told him that I want to emphasize on the courage within the two lovers that even if they were being objected by the world, their love will still go on strongly.

PERSON: Was it tough during recording sessions?
D-LITE: No. The production this time was very smooth. As I already had a very clear impression of this song before, the difficult part was only how NOT to sing it like the original way. Also, I am very honored of being able to have Hakase Taro’s violin performance incorporated into this song because thanks to the violin melody, the clarity of the song is very distinct and I was able to naturally immerse myself into the atmosphere and perform. I did not take much time at all.

PERSON: In reality how long did you take?
D-LITE: About 3 hours or so. Previously when doing “D’scover”, each song took me about 6 to 8 hours. This time round, I really have to thank Hakase Taro and Seiji Kameda.

PERSON: Have you ever personally interacted with Hakase Taro?
D-LITE: As both of us are quite busy, we did not really sit down and talk. However, I feel that we have a deeper interaction between both of us. Although we did not communicate via talking, I was able to feel what Hakase Taro was trying to tell me via his violin melody and this had also led me to completing the whole song performance. In conclusion, ‘I Love You’ is a song by me, Hakase Taro and Seiji Kameda.

PERSON: The next day you went back to Korea to film the PV right?
D-LITE: Yes, it’s a PV with a story plot about romantic love oh.

PERSON: How did you feel about the whole process?
D-LITE: Oh……. I still feel shy

PERSON: Is that because of your first kiss scene?
D-LITE: All that’s left in my memory about the PV is the kiss scene (laugh). I am obviously joking. Acting out a love story is a first for me, so I feel really embarrassed. However, the whole story plot and the song matches perfectly well.

PERSON: It’s a PV that makes people feel gentle.
D-LITE: When I was watching the PV, I too felt the gentleness, the grievances and constrained feeling in it. These feelings have been showcased right up to its detail.

PERSON: Any little stories to share about your filming process?
D-LITE: As I was really nervous about the kiss scene, I done many preparations beforehand before I dared to film it.

PERSON: What are the preparations you have done exactly?
D-LITE: I had to prepare my heart for it and also to brush my teeth (laugh). There wasn’t a single NG during filming… I was a little disappointed (laugh)

PERSON: (laugh) speaking of which, you started your Japan solo activities since last year and your solo tour visiting 20 cities in Japan has just ended.
D-LITE: It’s a tour that I will never forget ever. I learnt so much during the whole process and all the times with my fans has also become my valuable experience. I hope in future, regardless of Bigbang’s or my solo activities, those memories and experiences will be able to put to good use.

PERSON: You did not feel this way in group activities but rather in your solo activities is that right?
D-LITE: Firstly, this is my first time having to hold a concert for 3 hours all by myself. From the concept of the concert, I have already met with countless troubles. Thus, I decided to design the stage with the fans of the concert days. I did my best to reach perfection, and then I will follow whatever that comes naturally and create a stage where it will become memories for me and the fans only. What’s different from other live is that, even the MC will be speaking to the audience just like how bosses speak to guests. I tried speaking to them casually and we talked about fashion and when there are couples, I will also congratulate them and ask if they are going to get married soon (laugh)

PERSON: As you toured the entire nation, which city left you the deepest impression?
D-LITE: I was shocked by the taste of the food in Sapporo. Even the air smelt so sweet. As I originally liked seafood, I ate lots of sea urchins. The fried chicken is good too, once I bite it I feel like “Sapporo is really beautiful”.

PERSON: Have you eaten the other specialties of each city that you visited?
D-LITE: Yes I did. I think that Nagasaki’s udon dish is very interesting. But because the noodles are so chewy it felt like mochi. I will then think of eating it until my whole stomach is full of it, incredible right? (laugh)

PERSON: I heard that you were still actively training your muscles in Japan, did you have a good work out?
D-LITE: Muscle training is a must every day. In Japan, once I have time I will go to the hotel’s gym. Normally I will also do light exercise for about 10-20 minutes in the room.

PERSON: Why do you want to work out?
D-LITE: I don’t really know why, but I just keep doing it….. Sometimes when I am working out I will think “why am I running now?”, “how did I first started it?” or questions like this (laugh) I guess this is because of my trainee times where exercising was part of the daily routine. Right now, it has become something like a habit which I will do every day. It is not to practice until I have defined abs but rather, my goal is to “Look slimmer while wearing clothes, having meat when removing clothes”.

PERSON: You do understand Japanese well (laugh) Now, can you talk about your goal in future for solo activities?
D-LITE: I would like to charge forward with my fans. Just like friends, no matter when it is I wish they were near to me, we will create memories belonging to both of us. It will be great if I can build such a relationship with my fans!

PERSON: While your solo activities are continuing, Bigbang tour will commence soon in Japan.
D-LITE: In the first half of the year, all of us are busy with our solo activities so the time spent together as 5 is very little. It seems like it’s our growing period now. I believe when we put all these experiences together, we can become a better and newer Bigbang. Thus, I am also anticipating the dome tour.

PERSON: You had a world tour last year as well; I guess all of you must have spent more time together then.
D-LITE: Yes. Last year “thanks” to the world tour, all of us were stuck together for a year. This year “thanks” to our solo activities, all of us have more personal space now (laugh)

PERSON: Your grasp of Japanese language is really good (laugh)
D-LITE: The truth is, I am really happy when all 5 of us are together.

PERSON: It has been 7 years since Bigbang’s debut. You guys have experienced countless activities and encounters. Are there any changes in Bigbang’s relationship?
D-LITE: In these few years, we have experienced both bad and good. It’s because of these experiences that Bigbang is able to be more harmonious and united. Although it’s something you can’t see but the truth is that all of us has become as one. At my most difficult times, it’s also thanks to the members that I am able to walk out of it; I think all of you feel this way too. Right now, although we don’t say it out, however we have already reached the point where as long as we look at each other, we will be able to understand one another. Ah, maybe not yet (laugh) However, teamwork like this is really good.

PERSON: In D-LITE’s eyes, what type of people are Bigbang members like?
D-LITE: G-Dragon is an outstanding leader and when he is working, he puts in 100% focus. To ensure that Bigbang produces better quality works, he is also strict on us. However when we go out to play in normal days, he is just like a normal elder brother, I love him a lot. V.I is the maknae so he loves to do aegyo. In our eyes he’s a very cute younger brother but starting from last year, he changed a little. Although I do not know why, he seems to mature like an adult now. The music he listens to, the music he wants to produce has also changed. I am looking forward to his future activities. For SOL, from the past till now, he is my good elder brother who will listen to what I want to say. He is gentle, generous and very cool. His performing skills and living conditions is just like an artist. He loves music the most. For T.O.P…. I don’t really have anything special to say (laugh)…. Although he is the eldest, he is the one whom we can joke about like this (laugh). He is generous and it seems like he is able to accept anything you do. His rapping skills are definitely superior. But what I am most impressed about him is still his acting skills. In “71: Into The Fire”, he completely changed into another person. It’s very professional and I respect him a lot.

PERSON: How is D-LITE like?
D-LITE: Oh~ Hmm, how am I like…. I am not sure too. I think I am a person with many sides like a chameleon. When my mood is good I am very cheerful and when opposite, I will have a darker side as well (laugh)

PERSON: You totally do not let people feel that you have a darker side to yourself.
D-LITE: When doing music, I will become very pure. I don’t really go out privately; I will normally just stay at home. I am also shy. Although people say that I look like I have lots of friends, but in truth is, I don’t.

PERSON: What do you do at home?
D-LITE: Nothing special… (laugh) I will watch movies, watch TV, play lego etc. One day will just pass like this unknowingly.

PERSON: This is unexpected. Amongst all these things, what do you treasure the most?
D-LITE: The friendship between humans. Work is naturally important but in the end, as a human, friendship is still most important.

PERSON: Then, tell us about the big or little happy things that happened outside of work.
D-LITE: Outside of work… The little happy things that happened would be when I complete a small lego model. The big happy things would be when I complete the big lego models (laugh). Back to topic, when listening to music, I will think of many things. When I re-arrange my thoughts and play with lego, it is a happy time for me because I get to heal myself.

When the interview ended, we saw about 10 pieces of lego work done by D-LITE in the manager’s phone. “Lego= happiness” should be this I guess. From social interaction, I can see the other side of D-LITE. When interacting in the interview, I see another new side of him and this makes people want to understand him more – he is someone who makes people feel unbelievable.

Source: TV Guide Person
Translated by: nakedae@SMILE HOLIC www.dsholic.com