[TenAsia 10+Star Magazine] Jung Yonghwa - My Twenties is like a ‘Pirate Ship’

Jung Yonghwa - My Twenties is like a ‘Pirate Ship’

Songs written by Jung Yonghwa are full of good energy. The essence of his music doesn't change, it's just the way it's expressed that varies for each song. This is possible because he is someone who wonders "What kind of music would be still liked afterwards?" when going through difficult times, instead of revealing that raw emotion as it is. Though he feels "it's not easy to live in this world," it's not quite easy to sense the numerous hardships he has experienced. We had an honest conversation with he who has put out the music he wants to make with the solo album, "One Fine Day". The conversation flowed naturally like water, without precluding its destination.

Q. What do you think you were able to prove through this solo album?

Rather than “proving” something, I feel like I was rewarded for working hard on the songs. Many of those around me told me they like it. It seems like people like it more than I expected. I will work harder so that I can return next time with better music and hear that I’ve improved even more.

Q. There are two main source of energy for creators to continue making something. Either because the creative process itself is fun, or there is much ecstasy from the public acclaim of your completed product. Which is it for Jung Yonghwa?

Both. I think both of them should be there simultaneously. If I worked hard on something and it continues to yield bad results, I think it’d be difficult for me. If it’s very loved, it’ll give me more momentum to work harder. The optimal condition is that I have fun doing what I do. If it’s not fun for me, I quit it right away. I can go back when I feel like it.

Q. Does the duration of not feeling like it ever get prolonged?

When I’m too tired, yes. I tend to not compose while I’m promoting. Usually I get to work after I finish the round of promotions. I can’t keep writing continuously. It’s not like a song comes out when you press a button, like a vending machine. I’ve written enough songs to make another album, but they need to go with the album, so it needs to be reorganized.

Q. In the case of “One Fine Day” album, did you also combine some songs that were previously written?

Some were newly written, some were revised versions of existing songs. “Checkmate” is a song I had written previously and I’d only worked on the melody of “Mileage”.

Q. Speaking of “Mileage”, in a way, it felt very masculine. Not so much when everything’s put together, but the lyrics like “poop diapers and shower” seemed aggressive in a way.

“Mileage” was written so that the listeners can sympathize in everyday lives. The lyrics weren’t embellished.

Q. Crossing from CNBLUE’s album to your solo album, I had an impression that whereas there was an image of a “sensitive boy” in the Can’t Stop album, there was a sense of “manly composure” or “modesty”.

Right. In a way, CNBLUE’s albums are more decorated. The contents are that way, too. Since I’m not the only one in the activities, I had to think in terms of communal harmony. In addition, I had to consider every little thing, like how people perceive CNBLUE. It can’t help being different from the solo album. Though I varied in the ways I wrote the lyrics for each song in the solo album, rather than being too elaborate with it in my head, I wrote it just as my hand led me.

Q. Do you tend to get inspired by scenery? There are songs that paint scenery as you listen to them, and I think the songs you’ve written are like that, too. Not only do they bring to one’s mind the images of nature like the wind and the sky, the melody seems to also construct a kind of spatiality.

It’s not particularly an inspiration per se, but I like such things. When I’m composing, I try to make it so that it brings back the memory of a certain atmosphere or season. “One Fine Day” is for cold nights, “Can’t Stop” is the season between winter and spring.

Q. I heard you began planning your solo album two years ago. Was there an occasion?

As I continued to write CNBLUE’s music, I thought it’d have more synergy if I could do what I wanted to do. I felt as if I was stuck inside. I wanted to do something hard (rock) back then, too… I wanted to do many things. But now that the time has passed, I came to make calmer music.

Q. Was there a change of emotions between when you first wanted to make a solo album and recently?

There are so many instances of such things. Rather than something specific, there were many difficulties for me musically and personally. But these things can’t be helped. Even I wish to resolve certain things, there are things I cannot solve. It’s alright when time passes. It becomes okay.

Q. It must be stressful.

Though I’m quite stressed out, I can’t express it. Because my job is to bring out sympathy in people and give them good influence. Emotionally, I must hide certain parts. As I make music, it’d be best to instill (natural) Jung Yonghwa’s own feelings instead of the singer Jung Yonghwa. But I try to approach closer to what the public wants. The singer Jung Yonghwa and the genuine Jung Yonghwa are different.

Q. What kind of music do you think will come out of the genuine Jung Yonghwa?

It’d be very sporadic, both the genres and stories. I won’t always live like this (crouching). Sometimes, when I’m annoyed, I’ll be fretting. That’d be the real me. But I don’t want to pour that frustration into music. I wouldn’t like that. So far, I want people to feel good or get healed through listening to my music. When I’m having a difficult time, instead of expressing it frankly in music, I twist it once and think, “What’s the kind of music that would still be good when listened to later?”  

Q. It’s quite amazing. You entered the entertainment industry because of the “ski resort warm guy” photo. Now you’re making your own music.

I had many opportunities to experience music. I learned to play the piano, clarinet, and even classical singing. Although I was always close to music, I didn’t think it’d become my job—though I had downloaded the demo program and made music when I was third year in middle school.

Q. I guess you didn’t become a singer out of luck.

There definitely was luck. When I was in school, I thought Seoul was a distant place. I didn’t even imagine becoming a celebrity. I thought it was a lie when a “person from Seoul” contacted me for casting. I was such a frog in a well. If it wasn’t for that opportunity, I wouldn’ t have imagined.

Q. Ah, I did this psych test related to luck a while ago…

(Even before finishing the sentence) Oh, I really love such things.

Q. This is my first time conducting a psych test during an interview, haha. Let’s try this one. “There’s a party at your friend’s home. On your way, you fell and dropped the cake you were bringing with you. What will you do? #1: Throw away the ruined cake and buy a new one. #2: Eat the ruined cake and buy a new one. #3: Just bring it and say “It’s ruined, but if it’s alright, let’s eat it together.”

#1!

Q. Really? #1 means you don’t consider misfortune as an opportunity, but just as misfortune…

Oh, that’s right. That’s how I am. I mean, fortune is fortune and misfortune is misfortune. Haha. But who would (speaking in Busan dialect) scoop up a fallen cake? Oh, did it fall inside the box? Oh, I thought the cake itself was dropped. Then I would have just brought the box with the ruined cake inside. I wouldn’t buy a new one.

Q. That has a different result. #3 is “A type that turns unexpected incidents and mistakes into opportunities. One doesn’t take unexpected events negatively, says ‘That’s alright,’ and consoles and encourages oneself.”

That seems like me, too. But that means you’re forcing it, hypnotizing yourself. I think I’m a mix between #1 and #3. I think like #1, but act like I’m #3. Because I have to do what I have to do. Is this all you have? We need at least three (laughs). Hmm. It’s regrettable that I didn’t understand the prompt at once. I should have known about the cake box! Maybe I’ll get a tarot card reading.

Q. Do you like tarot cards?

No, I haven’t gotten a reading yet. That’s why I want to try. I tend to get very swayed by such words. Haha. If someone says I’m unfortunate, that seems true.

Q. Then people should say good things to you, so that you’ll think positively about everything.

Right. But even if people tell me that way, I began to not believe in it.

Q. What do you think this year’s fortune is like?

I hope it’s good…I think it’s good so far. I wish it went on this way.

Q. Are you the worrisome type? You seem to be the kind that doesn’t take in everything even when good things happen.

Yeah, I tend to be suspicious of things. Like the psych test, I’m actually #1, but I force myself to think like #3. I try to think positively.

Q. Do you imagine in your head what will happen?

There are things I imagine, but things I couldn’t even imagine would come at me. When that happens, I break those things apart as I go. At such times… rather than asking for someone’s help, I try to endure it by myself.

Q. In MBC’s Radio Star, your agency’s president Han Seongho said, “Yonghwa’s stuck inside his mold.” It seems like you do have an invisible mold that you’ve drawn for yourself, but you’re free inside those boundaries. Have you considered leaving it and deviating from it?

I don’t like deviating. The day after having as much fun as I’d liked, I’m not the type that thinks, “That was great, I don’t regret it.” Rather I think, “Why did I do that? That bothers me.” So I don’t make such things happen to begin with. If I wanted to have some fun, I don’t want to regret it later, but my personality wouldn’t allow that. Instead of “Why did I do that?” I think, “If I was gonna be bothered by it, why did I slack off, why did I do it?” I don’t really feel the need to go outside of what I’m doing, either. Why do I have to? There’s not enough time even when I’m always thinking about (my work)…

Q. I guess even watching a film wouldn’t be a comfortable leisure for you. Your mind will be full of things like, it’d be nice to use this later.

I tend to think that way often. But (to be in this line of work), you must be always sensitive to such things.

Q. Although you think this is “alright,” you might be angry at yourself sometimes for not being able to turn the mind-switch off.

Right. In that case, I just go to sleep. If I’m awake, even when I’m doing something else, it's always on my mind. It’s best to fall asleep. No matter what incident I encounter, it’s okay if I go to sleep. Then all of my thoughts go away.

Q. You’ve turned 27 this year. Sixth  year since debut. In society, if you’ve come this far in your career, your storage of fuel for work starts to show the bottom and it must be refilled. Where do you get your fuel from?

Ah…I haven’t thought of that yet. I just… Still, I don’t think I’ve shown my everything. I’d have to turn 30 to ponder that.

Q. Do you think your 30s will be different from your 20s?

Sigh… I’m almost there, haha. It’s different. I think I’ll have different concerns then. I might be more at ease when working…I don’t know. Time flies too fast.

Q. Is Jung Yonghwa’s 20s sailing smoothly?

My 20s feels like a “pirate ship.” It’s not smooth. I have to fight, sometimes stealing what I need to, sometimes getting things stolen…like on a pirate ship. Sometimes I have to act like a fox, sometimes I have to act like a bear. It’s very difficult. Living in this world isn’t an easy task. In society, being close doesn’t always means you’re all close to them… It’s important to find people who fit perfectly with you, like a magnet. It’s quite difficult to express.

Q. The same poles of a magnet repel each other. Rather, the N pole attracts the opposite S.

I mean pushing and attracting, such characteristics. I tend to distance myself from those I don’t get along with, but even if we keep pushing away one another, sometimes I still have to try hard.

Q. That’s the way it is, in society.

Those things are quite hard.

Q. When that happens, do you express your feelings outside?

No, people usually don’t know. I swallow it and keep it to myself. But I can tell my heart to my friends from school days. Since I’ve met them for a long time… That’s the power of time.

Q. If there's a moment in your life you'd like to capture and preserve, when is it? Whether it'd be happy or difficult ones, you must have a moment you'd like to remember.

-My entire school years. Thinking back now, each day back then was really dull. I went to school every day, and nothing special happened. But everything's become precious now. I don't want to return to those days, but I miss them. At this moment, it's not like I'm someone who can spend ordinary days.

Q. But, compared to many young (singers) who debut after long trainee years, you became a singer after spending quite rich school days.

That period's helping me, not just in music, but in all areas of my life. It's gratifying. There certainly are advantages to starting your music career early, but there are many advantages from having spent that time. I'm glad...that I spent all those years before (debut).

Q. If it wasn’t for those times, what would Jung Yonghwa be like right now?

I'd be in big trouble (laughs).

Original in Korean: http://justjyh.com/xe/240974?l=ko