Now in the process of releasing his second studio album Coup d’etat, G-Dragon, 25, of the five-member male group Big Bang held a press conference at the CAIS Gallery in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul on Sept 9. G-Dragon spoke freely on his recently concluded world tour and his mini-albums that are sweeping all sorts of music charts. On a sidenote, the ‘G-Dragon Space 8’ exhibition will open at the CAIS Gallery on Sept 10. A total of 88 exhibits including pictures, clothes and props used during the world tour, and other items will be shown for eight days at eight hours a day.
Q: What do you have to say about your first solo world tour?
“Now the tour’s over I’m busy promoting my new album. I decided to hold the exhibition because, well, my tour’s over and my new album’s coming out and I thought I might as well do it. The exhibition may be lacking in some ways, but I hope you’ll understand that this is my first time and mistakes do happen. Anyways, I hope everyone enjoys the exhibition.”
Q: What elements did you emphasize in this album?
“That depends on which album you’re talking about. I gained a lot of musical greed over the years. I learned a lot by working with other artists. In the mini-album that’s already out, I emphasized the ‘hip hop feel’. But in the studio album has a lot more room so I just loaded it with whatever I wanted to put in it. I tried to put in a wide range of music from what you’d expect from world-class artists to what you’d expect from a YG newbie.”
“Now the tour’s over I’m busy promoting my new album. I decided to hold the exhibition because, well, my tour’s over and my new album’s coming out and I thought I might as well do it. The exhibition may be lacking in some ways, but I hope you’ll understand that this is my first time and mistakes do happen. Anyways, I hope everyone enjoys the exhibition.”
Q: What elements did you emphasize in this album?
“That depends on which album you’re talking about. I gained a lot of musical greed over the years. I learned a lot by working with other artists. In the mini-album that’s already out, I emphasized the ‘hip hop feel’. But in the studio album has a lot more room so I just loaded it with whatever I wanted to put in it. I tried to put in a wide range of music from what you’d expect from world-class artists to what you’d expect from a YG newbie.”
Q: You chose an unusual way of releasing this album in three parts. Why did you do that?
“I always try to find new methods to promote my albums. This time, this is my new method. I release the music online in two parts, and then I put songs that I never released online in the album. The reason I’m doing this is because people’s interest in music has fallen. So this method is an attempt to draw people’s attention. Only a couple of the songs may become hits or the entire album may fail to sell well, but I made these songs over a period of two years and each and every one of them is precious. That’s why I chose a distribution method I thought would be effective in spreading awareness of my songs.”
“I always try to find new methods to promote my albums. This time, this is my new method. I release the music online in two parts, and then I put songs that I never released online in the album. The reason I’m doing this is because people’s interest in music has fallen. So this method is an attempt to draw people’s attention. Only a couple of the songs may become hits or the entire album may fail to sell well, but I made these songs over a period of two years and each and every one of them is precious. That’s why I chose a distribution method I thought would be effective in spreading awareness of my songs.”
Q: What happened to your work with Missy Elliott? How did you get in touch with her and how did you two work together?
“I first made my own version of the song; I didn’t think about Missy Elliott. The “Niliria” track was completed last year. As you all know, that’s based on a Korean folk song. Then I looked for someone to work with. I looked for a woman because I’m a man. I looked for someone who’s been doing this for a long time, not someone who’s just becoming famous now. I was always a fan of Missy Elliott. Thankfully, she was quite willing to work with me. At first we didn’t meet, and we communicated by e-mails and phone calls. You see, she was taking a break from work for personal reasons, and she worried a lot, too, because this was her first featuring job in quite some time. But the result was great. We performed together in the US just a while ago. I was honored and learned a lot.”
“I first made my own version of the song; I didn’t think about Missy Elliott. The “Niliria” track was completed last year. As you all know, that’s based on a Korean folk song. Then I looked for someone to work with. I looked for a woman because I’m a man. I looked for someone who’s been doing this for a long time, not someone who’s just becoming famous now. I was always a fan of Missy Elliott. Thankfully, she was quite willing to work with me. At first we didn’t meet, and we communicated by e-mails and phone calls. You see, she was taking a break from work for personal reasons, and she worried a lot, too, because this was her first featuring job in quite some time. But the result was great. We performed together in the US just a while ago. I was honored and learned a lot.”
Q: Why did you decide to hold an exhibition? Why is the number ‘8’ the concept of this exhibition?
“At first the exhibition was meant to be a fan service, a chance to show my fans pictures they had never seen before and props they had never seen from up-close. As for the number eight, I was born in 1988 in the eighteenth day of the eighth month. It’s like a superstition for me. I always liked that number. I always thought a lot about it. The exhibition is also divided into eight sections, by the way.
“At first the exhibition was meant to be a fan service, a chance to show my fans pictures they had never seen before and props they had never seen from up-close. As for the number eight, I was born in 1988 in the eighteenth day of the eighth month. It’s like a superstition for me. I always liked that number. I always thought a lot about it. The exhibition is also divided into eight sections, by the way.
As for the number eight, I was born in 1988 in the eighteenth day of the eighth month. It’s like a superstition for me.”
Q: Your second studio album is doing well; anything you want to say?
“I worried a lot about this album. I usually don’t get stressed but I was stressed about this one. I was obsessed with the thought that I had to show something new. Ultimately, a lot of people supported me and I thought ‘let’s try again’. I was happy the initial reactions were positive. On the other hand, now I have an even greater need to give new satisfaction to my fans. I think this is a task I have to solve on my own.”
“I worried a lot about this album. I usually don’t get stressed but I was stressed about this one. I was obsessed with the thought that I had to show something new. Ultimately, a lot of people supported me and I thought ‘let’s try again’. I was happy the initial reactions were positive. On the other hand, now I have an even greater need to give new satisfaction to my fans. I think this is a task I have to solve on my own.”
Q: What do you think is your ‘style’?
“Producing isn’t just about the music. I’m the one who stands on the stage, the one standing before the audience. So I always pay attention to my own songs. I always worry about the style. To use the old proverb, I speak lightly and like playing. Of course, I’ll have to fix this as I get older, but for now I think it’s just right for me, like a well-fitting set of clothes. I think this is my style.
“Producing isn’t just about the music. I’m the one who stands on the stage, the one standing before the audience. So I always pay attention to my own songs. I always worry about the style. To use the old proverb, I speak lightly and like playing. Of course, I’ll have to fix this as I get older, but for now I think it’s just right for me, like a well-fitting set of clothes. I think this is my style.
To use the old proverb, I speak lightly and like playing. Of course, I’ll have to fix this as I get older, but for now I think it’s just right for me.”
Q: You have a peculiar way of singing and your juniors are following your way. What do you think?
“I’m also influenced and inspired by other people’s music. I’m proud my juniors are being influenced by me. What’s best is to listen to other people’s music, be influenced and inspired by that, and make it your own. If you only try to follow what other people are doing, your audiences will lose interest. My juniors and friends who are preparing for their debuts should remember this.”
“I’m also influenced and inspired by other people’s music. I’m proud my juniors are being influenced by me. What’s best is to listen to other people’s music, be influenced and inspired by that, and make it your own. If you only try to follow what other people are doing, your audiences will lose interest. My juniors and friends who are preparing for their debuts should remember this.”
Q: What and who were you inspired by?
“I was inspired while touring the world; while speaking; walking down the road. I was even inspired by the weather. I’m pretty sensitive. I don’t miss these things and I always right them down. I take these memos back out when making my albums. By the way, my “Crooked” MV was inspired by sculptures and I tried to show that inspiration in the set. Also, I watched a lot of youth-related films, and that’s why London is the background.”
“I was inspired while touring the world; while speaking; walking down the road. I was even inspired by the weather. I’m pretty sensitive. I don’t miss these things and I always right them down. I take these memos back out when making my albums. By the way, my “Crooked” MV was inspired by sculptures and I tried to show that inspiration in the set. Also, I watched a lot of youth-related films, and that’s why London is the background.”
Q: Why is your album titled Coup d’etat?
“My goal is to continually break myself down and leap ever higher. I always ponder ways to achieve this goal and that’s why Coup d’etat is the title for this one. I suddenly leaped up; I suddenly made my songs. Of course, anyone may interpret the same music in their own way. I enjoy monitoring what people think about my music.”
“My goal is to continually break myself down and leap ever higher. I always ponder ways to achieve this goal and that’s why Coup d’etat is the title for this one. I suddenly leaped up; I suddenly made my songs. Of course, anyone may interpret the same music in their own way. I enjoy monitoring what people think about my music.”
Q: Any last words?
“My concert and album are finished. Now I plan to work on my activities. I’m sorry for having so little to show when you’re all so interested in me. I say this everytime, but I really will work harder and harder.”
“My concert and album are finished. Now I plan to work on my activities. I’m sorry for having so little to show when you’re all so interested in me. I say this everytime, but I really will work harder and harder.”
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