[TRANSLATION] Nylon Korea Magazine June 2020 issue: JB's defined taste.
From GOT7’s leader to main vocal and even lead dancer… in other words, he is a multiplayer, and an all-rounder. We were in the midst of preparing the interview, and the editor who was researching JB could already come to know that all that was true even before meeting him. JB, who we meet on stage and on his own personal Soundcloud channel, really does well in everything. We were getting more and more curious about him before having met him. On the day of the cover shooting, we proceeded with the photoshoot first then had the interview after. Watching JB who was in the middle of his shoot, I could see that there are even more things that he is good at. While we talked about the concept and mood for the day, he faintly smiled and answered that he understood. And when he entered the shoot, we heard his answer even more clearly. He wiped the smile that he just had off his face and immediately showed through his actions that he understood what we talked about. In life, opportunities and good fortune are like a random game play but after seeing him we realised that it all came to find him. JB seemed as if he already knew that yet he was never impatient. I hope JB’s intelligent and sexy energy is relayed to Nylonias too.
Due to COVID-19, everyone’s daily lives have changed. How has JB’s life changed?
My time at home has expectedly increased. I play with the cats and sometimes go out for a walk. When I go out, I either go to my studio or even when meeting with friends, we try to choose places that are not crowded. It’s a period of time when we should all be careful so I think that we should do whatever we can.
Were you originally someone who spent a lot of time at home. There is a term “homebody” that reflects those tendencies.
There was a time when I stayed home and didn’t do anything for a few months, but I really felt stressed then. I realised then that being home alone too much isn’t good for you. But of course going out everyday is also tiring physically (laughs). That balance is important and when you’re at home, rather than lying down, collapsing and watching TV, it’s better to watch a film that you can relate to or read a book. I do those kinds of things at home.
When you were younger, you said all you did was dance. It could be a cliche question but what is dance to you? Isn’t the one thing that has been with JB or a long time.
The answer could be obvious but to me dance is something that feels like life and livelihood. Since young, rather than practising choreography that has already been set, it became a habit that I could dance freestyle to music that is being played. I don’t know, to me choreography is choreography and dance is dance, to me there is this distinction.
What standards do you think stand at the forefront of dance?
To me, I also consider nodding your head to music that is playing as dance. I think that’s my reply because I feel that dance is an expression of your current feelings. In the past, something like that happened. When I was walking the streets and suddenly heard a song that I know despite it not being me who played it. Then I would suddenly start dancing. It happened when I was young, but now that I’m thinking about it, it’s a bit embarrassing (laughs)
It seemed like you were enjoying the rhythms of the songs that were being played on set today too.
Music that is my taste played so I was having fun while listening.
To many people, music is a hobby. But for JB that has turned into a career, has there not been times when it has been stressful?
While making music, the times when I can’t seem to create anything are the times (when it is most stressful) or when I had a certain thought or intention while making the song but it is interpreted differently. At those times I think, “Ah that’s not really it?”. Rather than stress, it’s a bit closer to regret. When songs are not coming to mind, I often think, “Why can’t I think of anything?”, “Do I really not have any talent?” too. But you’re making something out of nothing so it can’t be helped that you collapse at times during the process. I also look back at myself. The stress I had at that time couldn’t be helped. I should put up with it.
What do you think about while working on your music these days?
Being unlike myself? That’s the part I pay attention to the most. If a song turns out to be unlike me but not over-exaggeratedly, I think ‘oh that’s pretty good’ and can accept it. I try to avoid songs that are too like myself since it can be predictable.
I thought you would be the opposite and make music like yourself instead.
Because it feels like I’m locked up, so I don’t like that.
Do you think you have shown enough of songs that are like yourself?
That is not the case either. As JB, I’m the type to make songs like myself when making music for GOT7. Rather than myself, it has to be more like GOT7’s colour, so I think about that a lot. It’s not that I don’t like music that is like myself.
You seem to be the type that makes plans to clear things out and get them done.
I also have a spontaneous side. But I generally am the type to make plans. If I set my mind and think, “Let’s do this” then in the end I will end up getting it done.
Many people like JB as a singer. You may not have started with singing from the beginning, but you are now the main vocalist of GOT7 and worthy (of the position). What comes to mind when you look back at yourself as a vocalist.
I like my tone but I also don’t like it. Actually, I do think my tone matches well with bright moods or intense music but personally I think it has lacking points. I think it‘s too strong and bright, so I work hard to balance that out.
Is there another artist’s tone that you think is good these days?
I often listen to Crush’s music, and I envy his soft tone.
When I see JB’s collaborations with various artists, it‘s interesting how a new tone comes out each time.
That’s because I tailor it to whatever is needed each time. Sometimes it’s fascinating to me too, that I express things differently depending on who I work with and how I came to meet them. I think vocal tone can be seen as an instrument that makes the music.
Fair skin and cold eyes, sharp nose and jawline, large build, twin moles. As they say, the image of a simple country boy and a cold city man seem to coexist. What is something people around you tell you is really cool about you?
People around me would never say that. Honestly, friends don’t really talk about what’s cool about each other right? We just curse and get cursed. (Laughs) Well, I know what I think (is cool) about myself.
We’re curious about that too.
Sexiness. Actually it’s more so the thought that I should certainly move forward possessing sexiness.
Is this something you’ve decided that represents you?
If we have to say that, then let’s go with cute sexy.
Aren’t you being too ambitious?
It’s just my own thoughts. (Laughs) In the past, I would have replied with ‘being free’. I thought that being myself without hesitation was a strength. But these days, it’s more of a point that I have to fix rather than a strength. In reality I’m a very free-spirited person, but I don’t think that is the right personality for celebrities or public figures.
Did something happen that might have made you feel that way?
I like being honest. But even I think I have a personality that can be misunderstood easily. Like peers my age, I sometimes talk without a filter when I’m excited. But I’ve been thinking, “Don’t we need to manage our image?” Not a lot though. (Laugh)
You seem to be free-spirited, but with rules and such, you seem to be disciplined and have firm standards.
I always upkeep my own line/standard. I’m not always on the clouds. It’s the same for myself and also my friends around me, even for the members, if they cross the line, I am the type to calmly tell them “don’t you think maybe you shouldn’t say/do that?”.
You seem to be the type to say “that’s not it” right away when something is wrong.
Well, I think if I wait to say something, they might feel worse about it. So I’m the type to just say it right there and then that we should be more careful.
I’ve seen an interview in the part where the GOT7 members did not hesitate to say “JB is our leader. There is no other candidate.” But to be honest, being a leader, you can’t not have many burdens and responsibilities.
(Laugh) In the past that was the case so I used to get a lot of stress, but nowadays it’s not the case. Now everyone takes care of themselves and they’re all reliable. At some point, I started thinking that continuously saying “Let’s do this” and “Let’s do that” is starting to sound nagging. I don’t want that so unless it’s something that needs to be stopped, I don’t say much. Once I was really out of it so I asked Jinyoung to take care of team matters, he did really well so I’ve been leaning on Jinyoung a lot since then.
It feels like a president and vice president.
Nowadays I’m the vice president. (Laugh). I reinforce what Jinyoung says, I don’t interrupt and pretend to act like the head of the group.
Since GOT7 is a team of multi-national members, it would not have been easy to agree on things because of language and cultural differences.
The members are all very good at Korean, so there have never been any times when problems arose due to language issues. When we talk about our opinions, we ask, ‘Okay so how do you want to go about this?’ And then we go with the majority. This method is the most simple and fair.
Outside of your role as JB in GOT7, is Jaebeom the type to lead in friendships?
Not at all. In a friendship group, there’s always that one person who’s so quiet you don’t know if he’s there or not, right? That’s me. (Laughs) If you call for me, I’ll go out and have fun. But I’m not the type to go “ya~~~” to lead and start up the mood. (My character) is a character that disappears quietly after having fun together.
The latest mini album received a great response. It ranked No. 1 on iTunes music charts in more than 50 countries around the world. Domestic music charts and record sales were also overwhelming..
Out of ambition, I did hope it would be better. It is important for my name and the team’s name to be more known, however I hoped our music would reach more people.
Looking at GOT7 onstage, everyone thinks you are a group that stands out with your performance.
We can be proud of that. It’s the thing we pay most attention to since we’re in GOT7. Now we also have some years of experience, so I think our skills should live up to that too. I thought that it’s a time when the team shouldn’t simply be releasing albums. I think we have to work hard so people go “ah great” when watching our performances.
Previously when we were doing the shoot, there was a cut that was a little revealing. Do you work out? There was a time when you were chosen as GOT7’s rep for having a “good body”.
These days I’m intending to start exercising again. And I usually don’t take things such as nutritional supplements, but I’ve come to think they’re important so recently, I stopped by a pharmacy to buy a variety of vitamins and probiotics etc and I eat them every morning.
Was there something that prompted that or did it just come to mind?
I’ve had a lot of interest in fashion, but I don’t really pay a lot of attention to my looks. I’ve come to realise recently that how you look is also part of fashion so I want to take better care of myself. (Laughs) My body is the type to get big easily when I exercise so instead I tried to just lose weight by not eating. But I felt that my condition was starting to get out of control too so I told myself, “Ok, let’s combine (what we’ve done previously) with exercise as well and create a healthy body!”
How long have you been taking nutritional supplements for?
It’s barely been a week. (Laughs) I’m not sure if it’s because of my mood, but I already feel like I’m getting healthier. I woke up at 9 this morning. But I didn’t feel tired or anything, I felt so refreshed so I’m starting to believe more and more in the magic of nutritional supplements.
When we were talking about charms; you mentioned the term sexiness. What does JB think sexiness is?
How do I say this. Rather than forcibly thinking ‘I’m fatal’, true sexiness comes out in a natural situation or moment. Also when someone is working hard on what they do. I am also working hard on my job, and I especially pay attention to the atmosphere created by lyrics or songs. I think that sexiness comes to be when you naturally get caught in that kind of place.
Then what do you think being cool is?
When someone acknowledges their own weakness (problem) and knows how to take that in. Even if they can’t fix it straightaway, they think about it once more, and are able to say ‘I’m sorry’ or even discuss the issue more. That’s what I think 'being cool’ is.
Honestly when someone hears words that aren’t very kind, even though in your head you know what you should do, sometimes it’s hard to control facial expressions.
On the contrary, when hearing such things, if it was me I’d say ‘I fully understand what you mean. But to be honest, it doesn’t feel good.” After acknowledging what I did wrong, I am the type to honestly express how I feel at that moment. Then I ask for some time if I need it or find the cause (of why I feel this way).
You seem to be someone that hates ambiguity.
But there are times when I act ambiguous too. Despite hating things like that. (Laughs) Sometimes I think ‘Am I this hypocritical?’ And have a hard time because of it, but again I guess everyone is like that in a way.
