[Interview: GQ Korea July 2014] Taeyang: “To Me”

“To Me”
Editor Jang Woo Cheol

Taeyang has released his new album <Rise>. The title song ‘Eyes, Nose, Lips’ has not only maintained the top spot on domestic music charts for a long time. It is also doing well on international iTunes charts. In Japan, he will soon be conducting a multi-city concert tour. As a solo artist, he is experiencing what can be described as success, more so than ever. And yet, Taeyang said, “I don’t have much to say. If possible, I didn’t even want to do interviews this time.”

Do you remember the texts we exchanged the morning of the album’s online release?
Yes. “This is the way you did it? Congratulations.”

GQ’s Jang WooChul talks about Taeyang (131111)

GQ Editor Jang Woocheol was a guest on the Nov 11 broadcast of Lee Jin’s MBC radio show “The Morning Opens the World.” The guest chooses a topic of the day to discuss and JWC decided to talk about Taeyang :

[Translation] Jang Woo Cheol’s “Here and There” : Dong Young Bae’s Spring

“Here and There” is author Jang Woo Cheol’s  first book; a collection of his thoughts, anecdotes, poems and images that he recorded over the seasons. He also included some select interviews including artists Lee SoRa, Kwon Bu Min and Taeyang among other personalities who have made an impression on him. This is the 5th time Jang Woo Cheol has interviewed Taeyang at length, the previous 4 times were for GQ Korea (of which JWC is an editor). The previous interviews are an insightful journal of Taeyang’s growth over the past 4 years and their obvious rapport and chemistry makes for great reading each time.  This latest interview is no exception.

Dong Young Bae’s Spring
Born in 1988. Also known as Taeyang

You’re wearing a cap. I figured you’d be wearing a cap.
Yes, I finished late last night, but instead of going to sleep, I went dancing and just woke up before coming here.

[Interview] Taeyang; GQ Man of the Year

Relaxing after the photo shoot.  Having removed the luxurious fur coat, Taeyang saunters over to us.  The editor and the photographer are in the midst of talking about a delivery crisis that occurred due to traffic backed up by a state function on November 11^th.  The bonsai pine tree that was to be used for the shoot almost didn’t make it in time.  After listening quietly, Taeyang murmurs, “Why do they make such a fuss…” Having never been one for acting up or posturing – in a Korean mainstream music scene where, nowadays, it’s hard to even distinguish Idol from Ah-ee-deul [children] – Taeyang is stubbornly walking a different path.  Rather than insisting on a certain concept, he has the belief that he’s doing what he wants.  Rather than mindlessly complaining about the state of the music scene, he shows the determination to triumph over its weaknesses.  Rather than flaunting insistently, he has the maturity as a singer to sometimes just keep quiet.

GQ Interview – “Rather than trendy music, I want music that’s faithful to the basics”

*Fantastic interview, by editor Jang Woo Chul, grab some popcorn cause its a LONG read.

In the January issue of GQ magazine, we had an interview with Taeyang titled “A boy doesn’t cry”. In that, he had said he would be releasing an album “soon” however it was released almost 7 months later. Also, the title of the album is not “Real” which he first revealed, but changed to “Solar”. We met with Taeyang again.

[Interview] GQ Korea Interview with TaeYang: January 2010

Boys Don’t Cry.

by WooChul Jang, Editor

Zero pretensions. 100% Real. Like a rock, a mountain range and the sun afar. TaeYang, who is soon to release his first full album, does not stop to cry. He does not pace or hesitate either. Because his performances alone speak loud and clear. A GQ interview with TaeYang, an unusual teen idol who possesses both sincerity and instinct.

TaeYang is an unusual teen idol. He is larger than life and free only within the boundaries of what’s “real,” which is defined by himself. When he asks, “I should just do my thing, right?” that is what he sincerely feels. What kind of an idol cares about sincerity?