[translation] Interview with Hitchhiker - from Solo Artist to SM Entertainment Composer. 10Asia, September 2014

Again, instead of doing a myriad of other things I should be doing, I came across a very interesting interview that 10Asia did with SM Entertainment's resident composer, Hitchhiker. I already knew that he was formerly known as Jinu of modern rock band Roller Coaster (with the lovely Jo Won Sun and enigmatic Lee Sang Soon - perhaps most well-known now as the husband of Lee Hyori), but I didn't know much else about him. Then, when he dropped the puzzling video for his "Eleven" few days ago, I was completely, utterly fascinated by the whole deal. What is this disturbing sound? What is this modern art gallery art video aesthetic of the music video? What was this song that people were claiming as the Illuminati's trap? In the interview below which I have translated, he explains and makes sense of a lot of things behind the bizarre project. Among other things, like how Brown Eyed Girls' "Abracadabra" came to be, or how he became an SM composer.

Some highlights from the interview include: how he created the music video for "Eleven" by himself; the disturbing ababa sound in the song being his 3 year-old daughter's voice; how if Krystal, or any other SM artists, weren't so busy, we wouldn't have this gem of a track...

Check out the interview below the cut.



Oh! Hitchhiker! Who are You?
Hitchhiker interviewed by Kwon Suk Jung for 10Asia, September 19 2014

[translation] "I'm Not Drunk" E-Sens, GQ Korea, September 2014

Despite being behind on all the other things I could be doing right now, I got really into this recent interview E-Sens did with GQ Korea and decided to translate it for all the E-Sens fans out there. Or any international Korean hip-hop fans, really. He brings up a lot of interesting points - from Show Me The Money 3 to what he thought of Swings' comments on him. (Spoiler: E-Sens pretty much tells Swings to shut the hell up and mind his own fucking business.)

I also learned a lot about E-Sens as an artist and a person - definitely surprised me to find out that he actually doesn't like his hit "Poison" at all. (Ironic, because I think it's one of his best.)

He offers a lot more insight into his upcoming first official solo album, Anecdote, which does not have a set release date yet. But he's said that it'll be out by the end of the year. I'm just praying that it'll live up to the expectations, because through what he's said from this interview, it sounds like the best thing he'll ever put out.

This is a long interview, and a rather rambling one at that, so it may not make sense at times. Please do let me know if you want clarification on certain parts.

“I’m Not Drunk”
E-Sens, interviewed by Yoo Ji Sung for GQ Korea, September 2014

E-Sens has returned solo. He may like alcohol, but he isn’t planning on getting drunk on fame.

Rest in Peace, EunB

Go Eunbi. 1992-2014. 

I don't know how to word this post - I've never been good at these things. But I just wanted to take this moment to mourn the death of EunB of Ladies' Code.

EunB, along with her Ladies' Code groupmates Rise, Sojung, Zuny, and Ashley, and staff members, were in a tragic car accident. Rise is in critical condition. Sojung has also been very injured, with the other members and staff with minor injuries.

This was a really hard blow to me as I've been rooting for EunB and Ladies' Code since their beginning. Although EunB wasn't my immediate favourite member in the beginning, I loved the group as a whole very dearly, and I greatly appreciated her shining presence in the group. In my memories, she will always be the adorable, hardworking, bright individual who showed tremendous improvement with every release. I loved watching their music videos as they came out - anticipating EunB's scenes the most because her facial expressions got exponentially better with each video. She was a joy to watch on tv with her bright personality; she wasn't called Eunvitamin for nothing. She had a beautiful voice. Sojung and Ashley seemed to have more lines most of the time but EunB always stood her ground. It felt like she was just beginning to get more lines, too. I wanted to hear more from her. And for some odd reason, I've always pictured EunB to be the one to go into acting. Even now I can picture her acting in dramas - she could've been that really terrible idol actor, initially. But as EunB has always shown, she'd get better and better.

Ladies' Code's "Hate You" was one of my favourite songs from last year and I still listen to it frequently. And EunB's bridge in that song was what made it so great for me. EunB was the charming point of "Pretty Pretty".

Ladies' Code easily makes my top 5 favourite girl groups... Every comeback got me extremely excited because I knew they had the potential to gradually get bigger and bigger to be one of the top girl groups one day. Even with their latest comeback with "Kiss Kiss" - I enjoyed the song and was disappointed that it didn't get as much attention as it could have, but that only got me more excited for their next release, because I had utter faith in them to come back stronger. They always have. They've never had a absolutely terrible release.

I'm praying that the remaining members make it through this hardship. It's so difficult to believe what has happened. I don't know what's going to happen from here, and I am terrified. I hope and hope that Rise will hang on and persevere, because I want to see her smile, to hear her awkward but incredibly cute accent again. I don't know how hurt Sojung is but I desperately want her to continue singing with her phenomenal voice. I want to see Zuny's beautiful eyes when she smiles and to hear her improve with each song. I want to see Ashley's outgoing personality shine on TV. But then, I'm probably being selfish and greedy. I don't know if any of this will be possible anymore. But for now, I can only hope, and believe that these ladies will pull through.

My deepest condolences go out to the girls and the staff members, and their friends and families. And I want to give a huge hug to the other Ladies' Code fans out there. Let's keep on believing in them, like we always have.

And - to Eunbi. Thank you so much for all you've done for us. This is painful to say goodbye to you but I hope you're in a better place. Rest in peace.