[Interviews] Daesung @ CD DATA

::27 February 2013

Music is as large as the ocean is, right now; I am traveling in the ocean searching for different genres of music. I would like to sing songs that I want to sing.

There are 5 different characters in South Korea’s representative group Bigbang. One of them is the main vocal D-LITE who has an outstanding and warm voice and charm. He released his first J-Pop cover album “D’scover” and is currently performing his solo activities in Japan.

CDDATA: When you decided to start your solo activities, did you decide upon producing a J-Pop cover album immediately?
D-LITE: Nope, I did consider producing an original album. I started getting interested in J-Pop after collaborating with DAISHI DANCE for Bigbang’s “Haru Haru”. I did, to a huge extent, feel his passion in music which got me started into searching and listening to Japanese music. Due to that, I found many beautiful songs and the songs and singers I like has also increased. As a singer, I definitely had the thought of “I want to sing that song!” This time, due to the encouragement by the people around me, I thought that it would be a good opportunity to understand the world of J-Pop even better so I decided to produce a cover album.

CDDATA: I heard that you selected these songs out of a list of 100 songs. What is it that you look out for the most when listening to the songs?
D-LITE: What I think is most important is the entire vibe of the song. Be it Korean songs or Japanese songs, this will never change. Firstly, I will have to look at the entire song’s concept then I have to search about the lyrics to do some research and to understand it even further. By doing that, I will be able to get discoveries like “So this song has another side to it” and “This part of the song matches what I think” etc. By listening to the song constantly in detail will make me love the song. For me, being able to get closer to the song’s idea or even step into the world of the song will make me happy.

CDDATA: You immerse yourself into the song very soon.
D-LITE: Yes, when I am singing,i will sing as if I was in that situation before.. Simply put, I take myself as the lead of the song. So I said singing is like acting, you have to step into the song’s script and perform it at once. Thus I have to fully understand the song and to digest it and make it part of me. Since I am singing a cover album, I have to understand the original singer’s color even more and also think about how I want to add my own colors on it. Although I am covering the song, I am still singing it and I am putting in my story, my message and using all my effort, time and passion to finish this production.

CDDATA: In this album there are many songs which are different from Bigbang’s style. Which song in the album is the song you would like to perform with your member?
D-LITE: I think T.O.P is suitable for songs that directly expresses their feelings such as “Baby Don’t Cry”. “Missing You Now” is a song recommended by V.I however the key is too high for him.. if he sings it he might break his limit (laugh). He’s suitable for songs like “Joyful” because it’s a very happy song.

CDDATA: Other than band songs, you are also collaborating with a group of renowned producers. I guess it is good. Were there any suggestions by them that left a deep impression on you?
D-LITE: Rather than saying suggestions, we actually had many discussions. We spent time together researching on music and I have truly learnt a lot during that period of time. I am able to physically experience feelings like “So you guys do still consider these facts and make music with such an attitude!” I think this is a very precious chance.

CDDATA: Which producer left you the deepest impression?
D-LITE: Everybody have their own style and they are all experienced people. Seiji Kameda has a very bright energy, when I’m recording, he will always smile and that left me a deep impression. Rather than saying “Great people make great music”, I think facing music with a beautiful heart, creating beautiful music and allowing people to say “great!” when they hear the music is more important. 

CDDATA: On the 23rd of March you will begin your tour, have you done any planning?
D-LITE: Right now we are still at the preparation stage. This is my first solo tour and my stage will definitely have a different style as compared to Bigbang’s stage. So right now I am looking at different concert videos to learn from them. If possible, I would like to invite the original singers up on stage and collaborate with them. In the tour, I would like to convey the album’s warm to all of you. I would also like everybody to see the passionate performance I have on stage, I will work hard!

CDDATA: Regardless of the songs or the stage, you learn everything with passion.
D-LITE: Not really, there’s a saying in Korea, “People without a good brain will not fail without good energy and hard work” My brain is not very good so my body has lots of scars instead (laugh)

CDDATA: (laugh). But we can feel your strong passion.
D-LITE: If I am not a singer, I may not have such a character. I initially like to laze around (laugh). But there are many people who are waiting for me and this has become my source of power. I would like to respond to those who have been waiting for me and to fulfill their wishes, my sense of responsibility has been pushing me forward.

CDDATA: Oh I see. Then, this album is named “D’scover”. What have you discovered in the process?
D-LITE: I guess my biggest discovery would be the world of J-pop. I’ve met the unknown future, I’ve listened to many good songs and I had time to feel their charms. Now that I think back again, it is indeed a series of events that have been great. These are precious experiences that helps me to grow.

CDDATA: Have you thought about changing the songs to English or Korean and introducing it to overseas audience?
D-LITE: If there’s a chance! However I feel that there are some Japanese songs that have to be sung in Japanese so that the feelings can be conveyed properly. Nothing can make me happier than the encounter I have with J-Pop and allowing me to discover its charm!

CDDATA: If you have to rate your album, how many points would you give upon 10?
D-LITE: Um…. About 9 points? There are still many songs that I want to sing and I want to discover more great songs and understand them better.. The remaining 1 point is kept for future use!

<3rd page>
1. Sunny Hill
- It’s a song that you will get pumped with energy once you listened to it. It’s suitable to be a wake-up song in the morning so I guess everybody agrees with me for putting this song as the first in the album.

2. Love
- The content of the lyrics are similar to what I’ve thought, it’s a song that tugs at one’s heart. I had the thought of playing the guitar and singing this song so I tried practicing it however I realized that the melody is so difficult that the teacher will strum it wrongly at times too so I gave up (wry smile)

3. Singer’s Ballad
- This is not a song in the song list but it’s a song I encountered while searching for songs online. For the MV, I invited Han Sa Min director who have collaborated with Bigbang for many MVs. So I hope all of you will notice the song’s MV.

4. Powerful Boy
- At the start I was listening to Sukima’ Switch other song named “Kaneda” and I was a little frustrated after selecting the song. However after considering the fact that I want to let my fans get high during my concert, I decided to choose ‘Powerful Boy’ instead, so everybody, please get excited together!

5. Hello
- For my last production changes, I came to Japan again and I went to Ayaka’s concert at Yokohama Arena. I saw how everybody sang together with ‘Hello’ and the entire venue came together as one left a deep impression on me. The image that time made me decide to sing this song.

6. Joyful
- This is a style that I wanted to sing in the past and now my wish has come true (laugh). I learnt about Ikimono gakari after the song “Blue Bird” and when I listened to “Joyful” I was very surprised because of the wide range of their music so I developed an interest in them.

7. Like Overflowing With Kindness
- When I first heard JUJU san’s and JAY’ED san’s collaboration stage of “If Tomorrow Comes” my goosebumps appeared. This song allows one to feel that winter has passed and spring is coming so I like it very much.

8. Missing You Now
- Bigbang’s V.I told me to listen to this and it’s a song he highly recommended. The song itself is strong and powerful and MISIA’s voice is also great. When singing this, I felt very uneasy especially during the climax part because the key is really very high (wry smile)

9. The Flower Bud Of My Dream
- Remioromen is a group I personally like very much and I love many of their songs too. When I heard this song in their album, in my mind there is always a scene of Sakura dancing along with the wind and that view is unforgettable so I chose to challenge this song.

10. Baby Don’t Cry
- During the Love&Hope Tour, I already wanted to do the Japanese version for this song. For the lyrics, I tried to keep it with the original meaning and I feel very happy when everybody understood what I was singing.

11. WINGS
- This is a song where I received lots of energy during the Alive Tour so it’s a song that I have to record in my album. During the tour I was lifted up and flew in the sky while performing. Back then when I was flying I did not think it was scary but now when I think back, I do not understand why I could do such a thing.

12. Tonight is Boogie Back feat. Verbal of m-flo
- Staff members told me that this is representative hip-hop in Japan. This is a song that made me troubled due to the huge title that it carries. However VERBAL san remembered all the ideas I was thinking about and in the end, I think that the finished product is very good.

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