[INTERVIEW] Big Bang member Taeyang - Part 1

Taeyang [YG Entertainment]

A song is the language through which a singer expresses his emotions. Or at least 20 years ago, this was such a natural thing that it was embarrassing to say so. But these days, this is embarrassing in a different sense. Nobody is sincere when it comes to singing these days. When a certain tone of vocals becomes popular, that immediately becomes the trend, and numerous business-related issues will be linked to a single song. Even when the press spoke of 'four-second singer' or 'removing the MR,' the focus of the debate was on how well the singer sings, not what those songs are trying to deliver.

In the midst of that, Taeyang says his songs are his way of speaking his heart. This singer, currently one of the most successful idol singers, convinced the interviewee that singing is the way he delivers his emotions rather than it being his job or something that he likes to do. And it did not come from the fact that he was an idol who wanted to be acknowledged as a musician or an artist. Rather than considering music a noble ideal or something difficult, he regarded it as his way of communicating with the world. So how did he come to accept music as his language? 10Asia spoke to Taeyang who said he found his confidence through his first full-length studio release "Solar."

10: You're still busy these days, right? (laugh) Having to promote "I'll Be There" while preparing for your concert as well.
Taeyang: Yes. Things are hectic these days. (laugh) I'm going to try to promote "I'll Be There" up till the concert takes place.

10: You said on SBS variety show "Steel Heart" that the LED that Girls' Generation used for their concert stood out the most for you. (laugh) Will you be using it for your concert?
Taeyang: Oh, I'm not sure yet. (laugh)

10: Is there anything you tend to pay more attention to when it comes to concerts?
Taeyang: I'm paying attention to everything. (laugh) But most of the songs from my latest album are ones that I haven't shown to the public before so I'm paying a lot of attention to those. There's a flow to the songs in this album so I'm trying to figure out how I can show that flow in the concert.

10: Like you said, it seems like there is a flow to your album this time. But I think that flow splits at track number eight "After You Sleep." The flow up till track seven and after "After You Sleep" are very different. I heard you re-did the album so did the songs up till track seven come after that?
Taeyang: The songs up till track seven were actually the songs that came out after I decided to re-do the album. Last year was a very tough time for me. In terms of both my emotions and the situation. But the conclusion I came to was that if I don't open myself up, it would be difficult to deliver my emotions through music. I would sort of be closed off from the world? So the output I got thereafter, from the first to seventh track, came after I started doing music after opening myself up completely.

Taeyang [YG Entertainment]

10: You've said several times that 2009 was a hard time for you. Was there a particular reason for this?
Taeyang: How should I put this... While being a singer for three years, I was going on stage all the time, keep preparing new albums, and not have enough time but make this [album]. And after repeating this life, I felt that I was doing this without feeling much about it rather than doing it because I wanted it. That was 2009.

10: Such a situation is unavoidable for popular musicians but I'm guessing you felt more pressure over music itself compared to other people.
Taeyang: That's why I had a hard time last year. Being too serious about such issues made me shut myself from others. As time passed, I was doing music for consumption while not being happy about it, and I had a very hard time because of that. Then at a certain point, I realized I can't be like that. And then I opened myself up which is when I started to see things outside what I had been seeing, and that's how I was able to make this album. I wouldn't have released an album if I hadn't been able to do that.

10: Have you become able to do music for yourself rather than music for music?
Taeyang: That's the answer I found. I did music because I needed to become happy. But it turned out I myself wasn't happy anymore because I kept worrying over such issues and I was becoming someone who relies solely on music without having any other life.

10: Why is music so important to you?
Taeyang: This was how it was from the very beginning but to me, doing music in itself is very important. There's a part of me that is extremely shy when it comes to expressing something or showing my emotions to people. Since I was young, if I feel something I would keep it inside me and think about it deeply. And music was important in that it helped me feel those emotions. There were many times when I was moved and felt emotions through music rather than by meeting people. Because I could feel or express many emotions without having to experience them directly. That's why I do music, I can express my emotions the most when I'm on stage, and show myself as I am to the fullest.

10: Is that why tracks one to seven changed? Because what you express through your music changes when your emotional state changes?
Taeyang: Yes, my mentality had changed. It had been difficult to do that before but I gained the confidence that I can make whatever kind of song my own so I think that enabled me to do music that is different from before. What helped a lot while preparing this album was that I think I found where my heart lies while going through hard times. That's why I re-did the album. I kept thinking I couldn't produce something good like this. And I think such thinking resulted in the creation of the album you see today.

10: And I think you've become able to express your detailed emotions through music. In previous albums it felt like you were good at pulling off the songs but this time, it seems that you are creating the emotions. Even with just "I Need a Girl," the vocals is so important that the song could change entirely depending on for how long or short you hold your note or how high or low you sing it.
Taeyang: This could sound abstract but I think a large change is that I've come to be able to sing and feel the more detailed parts to a song. And I've become more certain that when I sing a certain song, I need to sing it so that it goes with my style. that's why the vocals have larger weight this time and I paid more attention to the singing. I have to control everything with my voice. I used to pay a lot of attention to rhythm or sound before but now I concentrate more on the feeling that my voice gives off.

Senior Reporter : Kang Myoung-Seok two@
Editor : Lee Ji-Hye seven@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@