Seo Taiji, "
I do young music because I have passion"
Cheerfully greeting, Seo Taiji appeared at the interview place. " I'm spending 12 hours every
day, from 3PM to 3AM, on practicing for the local tour concert,
which is scheduled to start from mid November", he said. As I put a recorder on the table, he said, "Without it, I would talk much more freely", so I had to turn it off. I gave some uncomfortable questions, for example, questions about the reason why he hid himself so completely for long time. Q. There are divergent appraisals of your new album. Someone comments that it is neither novel nor innovative. A. I didn't hear all the responses yet. (With a look like that the comment is dubious) I tried to show something new, for my?People say that my music is similar to Korn's, but if one is a musician who makes music of this genre, it will be very hard to get no influence by Korn. Rather all foreigners I met commented that it's new sound. Q. You seem to have much confidence in your music. A. Yes. I think this album is my best one. Sometimes I also can't believe that I who was born and raised in South Korea can make such music. (Mr. Seo seemed to worry that his word would be misunderstood. He explained again, "I don't mean that I'm superior. I mean that our environment is too poor to do leading music." Q. Many people say that the lyrics are hard to hear. A. It is because the sound is so
strong. Often the lyrics are buried. Q. The song named "Tank" is banned from broadcasting because of the word 'fucked up'. A. That's stupid. I don't like to put slang in the lyrics, too. I admit their own standard, but I think they need more practical one. Q. Do you have any special reason to choose hardcore music? A. The key of this music is energy. Often I appreciate that I can express my energy through it before I'm more aged. I think this music is 'abnormal', in the positive meaning, because I can find and convey something like that others never think or unique feelings through this music. . Q. But there are divergent opinions about the popularity of your new album. How much do you consider popularity? A. The important thing to me is
doing the music that I want to do, and that is new music, the music
standing on the edge. Without passion, it's impossible work. I don't
think that I have to make easy-listening music for everybody. Q. Some say that doing teenagers' music in your late twentieth is not proper. Also some say that you are too rich to do the music containing complains and resistant spirit. A. (He answered as if he cannot even understand.) I love young music. So I do it. Your age is not the matter; your passion is the matter. Why do they relate money and music like that manner? I think the idea that one has to be hungry to do music is childish and crude. Although groups like RATM, who do music for resistance, exist, I don't think that every musician should become a campaigner. Q. There have been group sounds in this genre in South Korea. (Nobody noticed them before. Notes by trans.) When you came back with hardcore music, everyone says 'hardcore' blah, blah (as if you are the only musician who does hardcore. Notes by trans.)?Some feel bitter for this situation. A. For that part, I'm getting undeserved blame. Comparing to the situation before my retirement, underground groups made big progress. Now it is yet start-up stage so that they are not properly noticed, but they have enough potential. I think that an idea like "I'm a poor underground musician, but you are a rich man?" is somewhat wrong. In my position, I want to 'go together' with them. The important thing is to convey your music to the masses. The broadcast is problem, too. Because it never releases music of this kind, general people can't even recognize it. Q. Do you expect hardcore music to be a major genre? A. No, I don't. But it would have big rise. If you desire a big sale, you can't do this music. Of course I want to care the marketing because I hope that many people would listen to it. Q. Some reproach you for caring about marketing too much. A. At this time, I did what I wanted to do without considering marketing. So I didn't show what I didn't want to show, although people who saw that with prejudice would misunderstand it Q. I am troubled with objection
e-mails or phones whenever I wrote A. I think it's on the dangerous level. I hope that they will understand that other opinions can exist. Q. What do you think about your fans who cut classes or don't care their own life to see your concert? Sometimes they seem to love your music only because 'you' do it, not loving the music itself. A. I would tell them that just enjoy the music and don't stick on me. Waiting for your favorite person or favorite concert and enjoying the concert like crazy can be interesting experience, if you do once in a while. But it's not good if you do too often. I hope that people will be more interested in strange music through my music. Contrary to his effiminate appearance, he said without reserve during interview. He seemed to be full of confidence saying that the advance into America, and Japan is close at hand. It seemed evidently that he refuses preconceptions, prejudice, and fixed ideas. Trans. by earendel and redsnow
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