[Interview] Daesung @ EXILE Magazine

:: 27 July 2013

MATSU’s Best Hit Entertainment vol. 61
MATSU (EXILE) will be using his expertise in musicals, movies, dramas and music to communicate with artists from different expertise. It will all be recorded in “MATSU’s Best Hit Entertainment”. 

For the 61st issue, the special guest for today will be Bigbang’s D-LITE!! D-LITE released his first Japanese solo single on the 31st of July. His charm comes from his warm and gentle voice. We will not only talk about his solo single but also his impression of Japan, Bigbang’s 6 dome tour that will begin in November and many more! Remember to read this issue!!

01 Bigbang’s vocalist, D-LITE’s first Japanese solo single!!
Collaborating with world renowned violinist Hakase Taro, with such a glamorous set up, ‘I Love You’ is a golden song that transcends past generations and is a song that never fades away. D-LITE has perfectly covered this ballad song! At the same time, the CD also contains 5 live tracks from D-LITE’s D’scover Tour in Japan ~DLive~ as bonus tracks! In the CD+DVD, there will also be behind the scenes footage of ‘DLive’!

02 It will be the title track for UULA’s TV series ‘I Love You’
Erika Toda, Mikako Tabe and Yoko Maki are collaborating together as the main protagonist for a romantic love story- UULA’s original TV series ‘I Love You’. It has since started on 18th of July (Thursday) and it premiered on UULA. They are all portraying as females whom met with problems in their relationships and how they held on to their strength and did not waver. The director who paints this picture for these 3 ladies are none other than Ryuichi Hiroki, who directed “April Bride”. 

This strong cast will be acting in 3 short love stories respectively. “Want to possess a love that makes both parties hearts flutter”. Although they carry such a thought, they hesitate in front of love. What UULA is trying to sketch is the love that modern women will encounter. 3 ladies frustrating over love and after experiencing pain, they finally get their sweet love. They can feel uneasy with a long-distance relationship, they are unable to walk out of past relationships and they may hate themselves for not believing in pure love…  

These 3 ladies are encountering problems that females face in relationships nowadays. What power will they have to bring them out of this state in ‘I Love You’…? D-LITE (from Bigbang) featuring Hakase Taro for the track ‘I Love You’ elevates the mood of the series even better. Yutaka Ozaki’s classic song, when under D-LITE’s warm and cosy voice and Hakase Taro’s violin melody, will add on another level of gorgeousness to this series.

03 Bigbang, an unprecedented 6 dome tour set by overseas artists will begin soon!
Last year from March to this year’s January, Bigbang held their first world tour ‘Bigbang Alive Galaxy Tour’ in Asia, Europe and South America, where they visited 12 countries, in 21 cities and held 48 concerts where they attracted 800,000 fans. Just in Japan alone, they had 19 concerts in 6 cities including Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka 3 dome where they attracted 45,500 fans. Japan is no doubt the country where fans are most crazy over Bigbang’s charm. The 6 dome tour that fans are waiting for will be held on the 16th and 17th of November, 29th November to 1st of December, 7th and 8th of December, 14th and 15th of December, 19th to 21st of December, 4th of January 2014 and 11th and 12th of January 2014 at Saitama’s Seibu Dome, Osaka’s Kyocera Dome, Fukuoka Yafuoka! Dome, Nagoya Dome, Tokyo Dome, Sapporo Dome and back to Osaka’s Kyocera Dome for their end point. 15 concerts held for the 6 dome tour will attract an estimated of 72,100 fans! A 6 dome tour held by artists (group or solo) is rare with overseas artists and even if we include Japanese artists, Bigbang ranks 2nd after Mr.Children.

Integrating as one with the whole venue using music is exactly the charm of music. –MATSU

MATSU (MT): For this week’s of  “MATSU’s Best Hit Entertainment”, we have invited Bigbang’s member D-LITE san. Please take care of us.
D-LITE (DS): Please take care of me too.

MT:  How long do you think you would be staying in Japan this time?
DS: About a month or so.

MT: Last year we invited V.I as our guest, V.I’s Japanese is very good. D-LITE’s Japanese is very fluent too. About how many times have you visited Japan?
DS: About 22 times? (laugh)

MT: So many times! So awesome!! D-LITE, you have just completed your solo DLIVE tour at Okinawa right?
DS: Yes. It lasted for 3 months and I held 26 concerts in total.

MT: 26 concerts! Usually you are carrying out activities as a member of Bigbang, do you feel weird having a solo tour this time?
DS: As it’s my first solo tour, I definitely feel worried. However, Bigbang and our staff members are all supporting me and it made me feel that all of us are still together even during my solo tour. I have also learnt a lot during the whole process.

MT: During your solo tour, what left you the deepest impression?
DS: I treasure each concert as a gem so I will do all my best for it so the whole tour left a deep impression on me. If I really have to choose, it would be during my encore where I performed my original song “Look At Me, Gwisoon!” Although it’s a Korean song, I still manage to dance with my fans. At that time, I got touched as I broke through music barriers and all of us manage to enjoy music as one.

MT: It is a really beautiful OST. I live for happiness too, so I understand. We can really be one and connect together via music. I think, this is where the charm of music lies at. Then, were there any sudden situations?
DS: Sudden situations…. In every concert (laugh) The truth is, there are times where I was unable to make any sound on stage too. I was also surprised and I panicked. At that time, I will make constant eye-contact with my band members on stage and also the harmony accompaniment and we will go “what to do…” Everybody will then respond to me via playing and tell me not to worry and everything will be ok. And it’s true, because in the next moment, I will be able to speak again!! Although you can’t see it, but it’s really a moment where all our strength consolidates together! It is really unbelievable. I believe EXILE members have met with sudden situations too right?

MT: Definitely, true sudden situations (laugh)
DS: However, sudden situations are also a fun part of live.

MT: Exactly. Afterall, live is real live. Back to the topic, D-LITE released your first Japanese solo single on the 31st of July, covering Yutaka Ozaki’s ‘I Love You’. That’s a really golden classic song!!
DS: Yes. In Korea, it was covered by POSITION and it’s a really famous song in Korea too.

MT: Really?! D-LITE must have heard this song before you covered it right?
DS: Of course!! In Korea, it was so popular that everybody thought that it was a Korean song.

MT: Ey~~~ (surprised)!! I am shocked! However this time, you are collaborating with world renowned violinist Hakase Taro. D-LITE and Hakase Taro’s collaboration was really a surprise. Can you tell us more about your chemistry?
DS: I wanted to collaborate with a famous person since the past. Trying out new challenges and releasing new works.

MT: You are so motivated! D-LITE must have heard of Hakase Taro before?
DS: Definitely. Hakase Taro is a world renowned musician. Being able to collaborate with such a person is definitely my honor.

MT: How did it feel meeting Hakase Taro for the first time?
DS: To be honest, before meeting him, I thought that such a powerful person must be strict and inflexible. But after meeting him, I realize he’s a hearty, friendly and interesting person. As we have a common friend, under the common’s friend interaction, I naturally dispelled any nervousness I had. We finished the piece of work under a perfect atmosphere and it was really a beautiful time.

MT: For “D’scover” and the single this time, you were using Japanese to cover Japanese songs. Were there any difficulties understanding the lyrics?
DS: Yes. To me, the most important thing is to have spiritual resonance. For “heart”, there isn't any language barrier so I have to connect with my heart. As long as I keep this mood every time, I am able to concentrate fully to perform with the song.

MT: That’s a very good thinking, I am also touched. Were there any particularly difficult tasks during the production process?
DS: As I already had an idea and my own thought about the original song, it was hard for me to maintain the balance of the original song’s initial vibe and also to add in my own colors. However this time round, I received Seiji Kameda and Hakase Taro’s help so I was able to finish recording enjoyably.

MT: I had the pleasure of watching ‘I Love You’ MV (looking up at D-LITE), it’s a splendid MV.
DS: Ah!!!!!!!  (lame) Ahahahahaha (laugh)

MT: There is an exceptionally prominent scene  in the MV…. (laugh). Right?
DS: Er, oh….. (sweat)

MT: Thumbs up for that scene~ This MV is really good (laugh) !!
DS: Me too, doing it for the first time in my MV….

MT: (laugh) ??
DS: (softly) the kiss scene

MT&DS: Ahahahahaha (burst out in laughter)
MT: However, while we were immersing ourselves in the scene, it suddenly changed, yet it fits too! (laugh)
DS: Ahahahahah (laugh), I thought it was “good” too! (laugh)

MT: Ahahahaha (burst out in laughter). The sudden change shocked me (laugh). Speaking of that, our good friends yesterday, J Soul Brothers joined in NTV’s 60th anniversary Live “THE MUSIC DAY LIVE presented by ZERO” where D-LITE performed too. Any news about ‘I Love You’?
DS: Yes. Premiere release of news on yesterday’s stage! I was happy performing for 4 songs too.

MT: Did the MC speak entirely in Japanese as well?
DS: Yes.

MT: So awesome….Such interaction is good. I heard about “D’scover” previously, but including the single this time, you were able to naturally perform Japanese songs which made us astonished! I love the song “Singer’s Ballad” in the album.
DS: No no, it’s because of the outstanding song.

The most important thing for me is the spiritual connection, the connection of hearts, where language barrier will cease to exist – DLITE

MT: The original song is nice, however D-LITE’s voice is even better. I watched Bigbang’s live before, the power and energy hits right through the heart.
DS: Really?! Thank you very much. But it’s still not enough, I have to work even harder. V.I mentioned before, we will learn more from EXILE’s MVs and dome tour videos. We will have a new performance in every moment, we have to learn hard. Those trainees who wants to become artists has also received strong encouragement after learning from EXILE’s MVs.

MT: Really?! I’m happy! If there is beer now I will really want to have a big sip of it (laugh).
DS: Ahahhaha (burst into laughter)

MT: D-LITE, are there any other Japanese songs you would like to cover in future?
DS: I would like to sing songs that make me feel touched. There are many actually. Although I perform cover songs now that suits my style, in future I would really like to challenge the different genres and styles. I would like to add my own character into different music styles. I would also like to collaborate more with Japanese artists. If only I can collaborate with EXILE one day that would be great!

MT: Yes. I think you will be producing interesting works!! Then, let us talk more about your impression of Japan. Which Japanese dish is your favorite?
DS: I like it all! I like natto, beef teppanyaki… and sushi is a must!

MT: Does Bigbang members go for dinner together?
DS: We go frequently. If the whole group goes together, there is a 90% chance we will be eating sushi.

MT: Oh like this.. Bigbang’s 6 dome tour is about to start in November. It’s the first 6 dome tour by overseas artists, that is really awesome!!
DS: As a part of Bigbang, I’m really happy performing in Sapporo Dome and Seibu Dome for the first time.

MT: Have you begun to think of the concept for the dome tours?
DS: Recently we are all busy with our solo activities so I am unable to meet with all of them…

MT: Like this… Speaking of which, I spoke about the same thing with V.I recently (laugh) “unable to meet with everybody” or something along these lines.
DS: Matsu-san met up with V.I recently?

MT: Yes, we had dinner together. Other than D-LITE, what are the other members busy with?
DS: Leader G-Dragon is still in the midst of his world tour, T.O.P is busy with his movie premiere, SOL is still producing his solo album and V.I has been attending Japanese variety shows recently.

MT: Everybody is really busy. As long as I turn on the TV and watch any variety shows, it seems like I can see V.I anywhere (laugh). When both of you are in Japan, you are also unable to meet up with him?
DS: As everybody is busy, we hardly have times like this…

MT: Eh? Then the relationship between all of you… (laugh)
DS: (loudly) Our relationship is unbreakable!!! We are like family members!!!

MT&DS: Ahahahah (burst into laughter)
DS: (looking like a lonely soul) Matsu san, erm… when did you meet V.I?

MT: It was about the end of May. Both of us were free on the right time so we had dinner together. He was watching our dome performance.
DS: (continue looking lonely) Ah ah… I’m so jealous. I would also like to meet with V.I… Where would V.I be at right now? He has not sent me a single message… (soft sob)

MT&DS: Ahahahaha (burst into laughter)
DS: (loudly) I was just joking!! (laugh)

MT: (laugh). We are nearing the end. Lastly, please speak some words to the readers of “EXILE magazine”.
DS: Ok. To the readers of “EXILE magazine”, I am really happy to be able to interact with Matsu. To everybody in EXILE and related staff members and all my fans, thank you very much. In future, be it my solo activities or Bigbang’s activities, I think we will have lots of chances to meet with our Japanese fans. I hope everybody will continue to support us!! Also, I hope to collaborate with everybody in EXILE!

MT: I would be happy if I had a chance like this too. D-LITE goon, thank you very much for today!
DS: Thank you very much!!


Source: EXILE
Translated by: nakedae@SMILE HOLIC www.dsholic.com

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