Thursday 18 July 2013

[INTERVIEW] MeRadio's E-mail Interview with B.A.P

B.A.P’s greatest challenge is … stripping?

Text: Joelle Chong

Korean power rookie boy band B.A.P, made up of leader Bang Yong Guk, Him Chan, Dae Hyun, Young Jae, Jong Up and Zelo, embarked on their B.A.P Live on Earth Pacific tour, which took them to the U.S., Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, in May, after putting up their first solo concert in Seoul back in February.

Come August 8, the six-member group will be meeting with local fans at B.A.P Live on Earth Singapore (the final stop for their Pacific tour) held at The Star Theatre, The Star Performing Arts Centre.

Prior to their arrival, B.A.P spoke to MeRadio.sg in an exclusive email interview in which they talked about their greatest challenge faced during the concert, what they missed most about Singapore and their future goals.

MeRadio.sg is proud to be the official Music Portal for B.A.P Live on Earth Singapore.

B.A.P Live on Earth Singapore
Date: Aug 8, 2013 (Thursday)
Time: 6PM
Venue: The Star Theatre, The Star Performing Arts Centre
Tickets: S$108, S$128, S$148, S$168, S$188 (excluding S$3 SISTIC surcharge)

Q: B.A.P held your first solo concert in Seoul only one year after the group’s debut. Were you initially worried that you had big shoes to fill?

Bang Yong Guk: I think we looked forward to it more than feeling worried, because we had dreamt about having our solo concert even before our debut. The opportunity came much earlier than expected, so we felt that we should show what we've got and not disappoint our fans, so I guess we weren't too worried.

Q: What do you feel is the most challenging part of the concert?

Bang Yong Guk: When we were preparing for the concert in Seoul, the biggest challenge I faced was revealing my abs on stage. I made a promise that I'd reveal my abs if we won any rookie award, so people were looking forward to (the revelation of my abs) before the concert. Many thoughts were put into the preparation (of my segment), because I had to keep the promise.

Q: What is your favourite part of the concert?

Him Chan: Personally, my favourite part of the concert is the encore. During the encore, we could go nearer to and interact with concert-goers, who supported us, after showing them our confident performances. I always feel good and happy whenever it's the encore.



Q: In one segment of the concert, Bang Yong Guk performed with Him Chan, Dae Hyun with Young Jae and Jong Up with Zelo. How did you decide on the pairing?

Dae Hyun: We had a few meetings with our staff when we were envisioning the unit performances, before deciding on the pairing. We put in a lot of effort to come up with units that have the best synergy together.

Zelo: I remember marvelling at the final decisions, because we were divided nicely according to our ages. Thankfully, the fans loved our performances.

Q: With your concert in Singapore set on August 8, what can fans expect of the concert?

Jong Up: We’ve prepared a lot, especially our music. From the songs in our albums to our self-composed tracks, and the stage setup, concert-goers will not be disappointed.

Q: Since Singapore is the last stop of your Pacific tour, would you be preparing any surprises for the fans?

Dae Hyun: B.A.P's comeback and the concert in Singapore fall in about the same period, so I wonder if fans would be the first to see our transformation. It’d be interesting.

Q: B.A.P recently released a new track ‘Coffee Shop’, which is different from the group’s usual strong and powerful image. Why did you choose to release this track first out of all the three title tracks?

Young Jae: ‘Coffee Shop’ is a jazz song that shows B.A.P's maturity and charisma as men. We hope to show fans a different image that hasn't been seen previously.


Q: Could you share with us something about your upcoming album?

Bang Yong Guk: We are confident of this album, which has three title tracks. It is an album that shows a different side of B.A.P, while maintaining our usual personality. Much effort has been put into the production of this album, so please look forward to it.

Q: You’ve been to Singapore previously. What do you remember most about Singapore?

Zelo: We came to Singapore with our seniors Secret for a fan meeting last year; the most memorable experience was going to the beach at Sentosa where we played together and the scenery was really beautiful. I hope to go there again.

Him Chan: We also ate chilli crabs when we were there. We're all looking forward to having it again.

Q: When B.A.P first came to Singapore last year, you mentioned that you would like to win the Best Newcomer award and you’ve fulfilled that, having won up to 14 rookie awards across the world. What are your goals next?

Him Chan: We're really happy to be able to reach our goal of winning the Best Newcomer award. Our next and final goal is to "conquer Earth". We would like to grow as singers who are loved by music fans throughout the world. You could see B.A.P Live on Earth Pacific Tour as part (of the process to achieve our goal).

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Bang Yong Guk: We've talked about this between ourselves. It would be good if we could produce music as B.A.P till the end. We've only debuted for a year; we are confident five years down the road, you will hear more mellowed music from a more matured us. Therefore, it would be nice if B.A.P is recognised as artistes five years later. Please continue to keep an eye out for us, as we will work harder. Thank you very much.

Source: MeRadio
 

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