[INTERVIEW] Big Bang G-Dragon Pt. 1

The reporters of 10Asia spent three days, starting December 24 till 26, working. It was the weekend that included Christmas. However, who cares about working? During those three days, we watched the performance by G-Dragon (from here on GD) and T.O.P, we interviewed them on the set of their show and took pictures of them on stage. We just feel bad for them having to spend Christmas with the two who said they feel bad for each other. Below are the excerpts from 10Asia's interview with GD.

Big Bang member GD [Chae Ki-won, Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

10: You seem to have some dark bags under your eyes. (laugh)
GD: Yes, I performed all night yesterday as well. (laugh)

10: You have returned to living a busy life. I know that you enjoyed some free time after your solo activities.
GD: I partied hard for about a month or two after receiving permission from the CEO of YG Entertainment [Yang Hyun-suk] as soon as I finished my solo activities. (laugh)

10: Was it the first time having free time since making your debut? What kind of effect did that time have on you?
GD: It was tiring and difficult when we [Big Bang] had a busy schedule but it all disappeared when we were done. (laugh) I think it was a similar feeling to that. Everthing from the past seems like nothing. That is why I had plenty of time to prepare myself for my future activities after figuring things out. That one year, after finishing my solo activities was the first time since making my debut that I got to prepare something. Whether it was to rest or think, I was able to work on something in a leisurely manner during the past year instead of rushing through everything. That is why my confidence for the next album and meeting people grew.

10: I can't find the appropriate word but I guess I should say your attitude has changed?
GD: Yes, my attitude has changed a lot. I became more placid and I feel that I try to understand things more. The CEO told me that I shouldn't always think of myself and that I should try to put myself in the other person's position as well. I began to understand most of everything much better after he said that. Before, whenever we had a busy schedule, I'd say 'Why do we have so much on our schedule' and get irritated about it but I know now that even the smallest things are important. One could say that I am like someone who just recovered from a serious illness. That is why I'm in such great condition and am looking forward to what I'll get to do in the future.

10: It seems like you've achieved a sense of liberation. (laugh)
GD: My mind has become a lot more at ease because I feel that this is what I am supposed to do rather than call it liberation. Others might say that I have achieved huge success but to me it became my stimulus and the process of how I developed. And now, instead of being burdened about how others see me, I want to present them with what I can give them.

10: So does that mean you had cared what the people thought about you?
GD: In the past, I changed many things including the tone of my voice because I was conscious about my job when I was in front of others. Also, I had a different image in front of others versus my friends but now I feel they're becoming similar. That's why I'm more afaid of doing interviews now. I think that breaking that line between myself and as an entertainer and the real me is good but it can become a dangerous thing when doing interviews in Korea. (laugh) Other than that, I don't feel that there is anything to worry about how others see me. It is who I am and I think that the people like me for it and I will continue with it in the future.

10: I think that is why the lyric "Even though I'm short, my girlfriend is tall" in the "Intro" track of the new album is quite memorable. It seems like you didn't want to drag on about what happened in the past and just cleared everything up by saying "Ah, I'm just like that."
GD: It cleared up many things. When I made my debut I was younger and I don't think I thought about what kind of image I was portraying to others. And I began assessing who I was after I released my solo album. I experienced a lot of pain and it was even scary to wake up every morning. When I wake up something happened and another thing would happen. I think that's why I was quite broken then.

10: How did you overcome that?
GD: It takes time. As time went by I realized that I'm a pop singer so whatever my intention was, what the public perceives of it is my doing so it's my fault if I give off the wrong intention. And I thought that it's no use to talk about every little thing that has happened. I wanted to show it coolly through the next album or through words and I just remained quiet because the way I wanted to express my feelings, such as through writing or talking about it, wasn't acceptable. That is why during that time I did my best in what I was doing and put in all my efforts to give a good impression. I now see more people who support me. I think that is how I should go about things from now on.

10: Have those inner changes had influence on your music? The track "Baby good night" from the new album is unlike the other style of songs from your previous work.
GD: Of course. It's because when you break away from the mold the possibilities are endless. While, the artist will produce the same music over and over again if they decide on the style of music. You can say that is the problem of all idol stars and it will continue to become a problem if it's not broken and worsen if they release album after album without resting.

10: That's true. The artist will just coast along if they don't have the time to think.
GD: Yes. I think that the right kind of music is not made once the artist feels that music is work. On the contrary, I will be able to enjoy making music if I am given a year or three months time. I feel that when one is working on music, performing or just having fun that it directly influences the music.

10: So it will be harder from now. You were busy making track after track since your debut.
GD: I lost my confidence during that time. I thought to myself that I can always do my best and I was in a slump once I locked myself into trying to form my own style of music. I heard that rocker Seotaiji and other singers said that they go through torment thinking about their next album. I haven't gone through that phase yet and it may seem pretty cocky to say this at a young age but there was a time where I thought to myself, thinking that there is no guarantee for the next five to ten years if I thought I have come with everything that I can.

Senior Reporter : Kang Myoung-Seok two@
Photographer : Chae ki-won ten@
Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@
Editor : Lucia Hong luciahong@, Jang Kyung-Jin three@