Taiji's Interview of the magazine [MIDI AND SOUND]
-Trans. By YoungwonTaiji-

*SOA: MIDI AND SOUND

SOA: Hello, Mr. Seo Taiji! I'm so glad to meet you..

Taiji: Hi, I'm glad, too.

SOA: This magazine is a computer music magazine for the professional musician, who is working on music right now and for the amateur who wants to be a professional musician. I'm so glad to have a conversation with most remarkable musician in Korea, whose name is Seo Taiji, which means you.. haha..

Taiji: I'm so glad to be here because this magazine is for the musicians...

SOA: From now, let's talk about things which amateur musicians are curious about. For addition, these questions are from the homepage of this magazine.

Taiji: Yeah...

SOA: There were so many people who were asking for the gear and main sequencing program in your new album...and...what gears do you want to buy later on? For guitar, you used 6 strings when I watched TV but it was impossible to figure out other gears.

Taiji: I almost didn't use MIDI system. Actually for hardcore rock music, I didn't need MIDI system. For
recording or sequencing program, I used PROTOOLS and other few programs.

SOA: I'm curious how you start when you write a song.
I've heard that you are working on the bass first, and I'm also curious about your instruments and what instruments you want to buy later on.

Taiji: It depends on each songs but usually I'm working on the Guitar riff for the first. For the next, I'm working on Drum Asaa part and I make vocal for the last. I don't think I'll buy other instruments for now and now I'm into hardcore rock so I don't need synthesizers like what I said a minute ago...but...I have TRINITY from KORG...(He'll be adding TRITON-RACK soon.)

SOA: When I listen, well... I think you used samples a lot and it still sounds new...but how have you been working from your 5th album? I'm curious about your general working style. What vocal effectors did you use in the song 'ULTRA MANIA'? I'm also curious about who is your favorite group and favorite music style. What is your opinion about the difference in mixing in Korea and the states?

Taiji: Long time ago, I made my first album in the worst background. When I was working on final mixing, I controlled the volume of every single instrument because I didn't have mixer and I only used SM-58 microphone from SHURE. But strangely, I used samplers, haha. Sampling was not that popular way at that time somehow. I got a sample from CDs and LPs but I actually used LPs more than CDs.
In my new album, I worked everything by myself at home. I only worked in a studio for the DRUM SAMPLLING. I planned to record DRUM as a real but I couldn't find the feelings that I wanted to find so I sampled it and then sequenced it to complete. Everything was done at home.
I don't think there is a big difference in a quality of the sound in Korea or the states. I really don't think it is only possible to make a good music with spending a lot of money. It is important to plan and complete music through a lot of mistakes. There is nothing special about voice effector. I just used harmonizer, or reverve processor, or delay which are very familiar. Nowadays, I like hardcore pimp rock group like KORN, TOOLS, COACHAMBER, SLIPKNOT, etc and I listen to them a lot.

SOA: We've got an article "Seo Taiji, have more guts" in our homepage, and we think it's problems between journalism or copying rumor on you which can be pressure on you in a cultural view or a musical view. We're curious about your opinion about journalism and the pressure on you.

Taiji: You guys know that I have many things to say about journalism..
Right? (Smiling) And...I don't care about what journalism saying...I'd rather answer through music than
against or attack directly the pressure on me or those saying.
I'd rather speak through music than talk. Somehow..important thing is the final...right?

SOA: I'm curious about how you are going to spend your money which was earned as a musician.

Taiji: I've got the same question from reporters last time...but please do control your interests on my private thing...I'll use well.. (Smiling)

SOA: How did you start music and what was the instrument that you bought for the first time?

Taiji: I guess...actually musicians have started music in a similar way. I started music because the word "Group Sound" sounds cool and electric guitar looked cool so I bought it.
At that time, probably I bought second handed guitar with paying $15. I think that was 1984.

SOA: Are you planning to be a producer or pick-up a new face?

Taiji: I think I'm not there to talk about it yet.

SOA: Who was the drummer from this album and the last album? or is that a programming? If it is programming, What kind of Drum module do you use?

Taiji: At the first time, I recorded with a <FEARFACTORY>'s drummer in a live version but I couldn't find the feelings that I want, he is very famous drummer, though. So I sampled it and then sequenced it to complete like what I said before. I could get the feelings that I want because I sequenced it by myself. It
was bit complicated and at least I could satisfied little bit, but not a hundred percent of course. Like what
I said, except drum sampling, I worked at home by myself.

SOA: Are you thinking of yourself as an artist or as a musician? There are some fans who are curious about it...

Taiji: What is the difference between that?

SOA: Well...I guess it is <Do you think there is a depth in music which can go through into the human's deep soul?> or <Do you have something to talk or feel through music?>

Taiji: Such a hard question! Well..If there is no artistic depth or if there is no message that I want to transfer, I think it is impossible to be a musician. I also have messages that I want to transfer through music and it depends on situations but I think the feeling of music itself is more important than the lyrics. I'd rather think of it together with music and lyrics than separate them.

SOA: What about the drummer? Did you pick him up for your new album or did you used to be with him? If he has been in the other bands, what band did he come from?

Taiji: The drummer is for my new album. His name is Heff and he was a drummer of <BOLT UP RIGHT> which is underground band. Now, my band is a project group so he is a temperate member. Before he comes to Korea, he was such a famous drummer and also played for KID ROCK's opening band.

SOA: What kind of things did you study for your music? Codes...or MIDI technology, other musicians...etc... Before you debuted or until now how do you study...? I guess there might be some episodes when you studied by yourself. I think you use Korean very rhythmically and this is just my guess, okay? I guess you usually use rhythm from pronunciation itself not like compose the melody first and write lyrics or write lyrics and compose the melody. If it is right, what is your know-how and give some advice to amateur musicians, please.

Taiji: At the first time as a musician, I studied codes. I can't ignore the studying itself but personally it wasn't that helpful. For me, copying and practicing my favorite musicians was more helpful.
Well...for lyrics, I do care a lot but there is no special know-how. Well...studying music...there was no big
difficulty when I studied by myself. There is no memory for difficulties that I had. It was just happy to study and do music.
Of course, I'm happy until now.
But during the time as Taiji Boys, other background was pretty tough but I was happy because there were fans who always have trusted me.

SOA: There are fans who are curious about when you decided to be a musician and steps that you had been passed. How many instruments can you play? You were starting as a bassist but why do you play
the guitar from Taiji Boys?

Taiji: I started playing the guitar with $15 guitar like what I said and I connected the speaker from an audio then I practiced.
It is little bit funny story. I didn't know how to play the guitar so I played the BASS with the guitar(Smiling). I started because I just liked the guitar but I practiced the BASS so it can be starting the BASS and the Guitar. Now for me, playing the guitar doesn't mean a lot. I play any instruments if I like
and if it is helpful to music. In this album, I played everything by myself except scratch. Of course I played the BASS, too.

SOA: What instruments do you have now? What is your favorite instrument and what is your main instrument?

Taiji: I can't tell you (Smiling ^ ^) but if telling you is necessary,
I like TOYABAS BASS Guitar for the best.

SOA: Do you compose song first or write lyrics first?
Where do you get your ideas for the lyrics?

Taiji: I write my lyrics for the last. I really do not care to get ideas for the lyrics. I write lyrics that I usually can think in my usual life.

SOA: What do you think about the bassist TAIJI in X-JAPAN? There was saying that you got a motive of your name from his name.

Taiji: I've got the same question before. There is nothing between his name and my name. At that time, I listened to X-JAPAN's music but I didn't know the name of the BASSIST.
When I was in SINAWE, I wanted better name than my real name so I mixed my favorite letters.

SOA: It is a question for nowadays. There were many gossips among the journalism right after you came back to Korea about your music is too Japantic. What do you think about it?

Taiji: Journalism is funny when they say it is too Japantic or so.
I really don't care about it. For example, I didn't listen to Japanese music when I was in the States because
I wanted to study the music in the States.

SOA: In this album's jacket, there is Dawin Star(with 6 edges). I guess you might had put it in some reasons...What is it?

Taiji: Is there? Is there a Dawin Star? I didn't know that.

SOA: I'm curious about the mixing engineer JASON ROBERT. You worked with him from 3rd and 4th album. How did you work with him and what albums did he work?

Taiji: He worked for CYPRESS HILL, HOUSE OF PAIN, SUGAR RAY, GUNS'N ROSES, etc...albums. I worked with him from 3rd album by introducing from someone whom I know. He is most warmest, and
very human person among the people that I've met in the States.
I personally like him very much. He is excellent and I think he is very suitable engineer for me.

SOA: In this album, there is the song called "COPY". I've heard that you took it from sample CD without any arrangement. I'm curious about this song. What reasons made you to put this song in your album?

Taiji: This is very popular way for the hardcore album in the states.
Hardcore music makes ears tired when you listen 3 tracks with high volume in a time so I made it for resting your ears. The title means that I can't agree with COPYING-RUMORS.

SOA: Your music was rooted in ROCK music from the beginning and from the solo album, it sounds like more rock. Aren't you interested in Techno music which is booming nowadays? If you are, what kind of Techno music do you like and listen? Who is your favorite techno artist?

Taiji: I'm really interested in Techno music. I don't have plan for that but I listen them a lot. At the beginning as Taiji Boys, I had been crazy on Techno music. Even now, I use a little bit of Techno music style in my music. I like popular techno artist and I listen to them.

SOA: I've heard that it is really hard to be a musician as a woman. Female singers are more active nowadays compare to years ago but there is no one to be called as a MUSICIAN. I'm curious about your opinion.

Taiji: I can't understand the question. If you have ability, I don't think there will be any problems. I think there is no difference between female and male in music at least you have abilities.

SOA: I'm curious that you really studied music all by yourself. In our homepage, many people started music after inspiration by you.
What do you want to say to them who still have loving heart and full of respects?

Taiji: Thanks a lot. I studied music all by myself.
There was no big difficulty. I wish you guys to study music harder and try harder.

SOA: In this album, what is your secret of the guitar sound? Well.. You do everything by yourself...Where do you get the idea of a song and what thing do you record for the first? The most curious thing is what program and system you used for the first and where and how did you learn that?

Taiji: The guitar sound is top secret(Smiling). Even in the States, there are many books called "SETTING OF INSTRUMENTS"...but those are fake! No one tells you all of own know-how. I'm sorry. Like what I said, I make the guitar riff for the first.
Instruments, Programs, etc...I learned all by myself.

SOA: I'm curious you finally can get the music that you planned when you started. I mean...if you planned..does it work out just like what you planned? Someone who asked this question said music comes out in different way compare to what he planned when he planned for the first time. Please tell us about the music in Korea and in the States.

Taiji: Actually I think there is none which can be worked out perfectly just like you have planned. If it worked out like 90%, I can say that is really satisfied situation. I try hard to make it to be the highest satisfaction. Well...frankly, my album can be not that great album in the States though many Koreans love it. The level of music in the States is so much higher than ours.
It is hard to compare it together. We have to recognize the truth. Frankly, time in the States was time for studying higher level of music and recognize the difference in level. I think the most important thing is trying the best.

SOA: How long time do you spend for one song? I know it depends on songs but there were many people it takes more than a day or so.

Taiji: Taking more than a day? HaHaHa!! I worked for this album like two years. Well..it can be I took like four months for a song. After going to the States, I rested for a year and I worked continuously.

SOA: I've heard that you have composed like a hundred of song. Is that true?

Taiji: Of course that's not true. Frankly I worked on 14 songs for this album but I put 7 songs. Oh...one hundred? No, that's not true.

SOA: Okay, for the last, give some advice to readers.

Taiji: Do music with full of passion.

(Trans. By YoungwonTaiji)