[INTERVIEW] Big Bang G-Dragon Pt. 2

Published on 2010/12/29 | Source

Big Bang G-Dragon [Chae Ki-won, Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

10: That was why I felt bad about "Heartbreaker". While you did a thorough job on perfecting a single idea with " Lies ", that same process was missing in "Heartbreaker" giving a likely reason to doubt even if it wasn't a plagery. I wonder if things could've turned out different if you had more time.
G-Dragon: That's when I realized that I will always need much time for preparation. I used to compose songs on the spot, as if pulling things out of a vending machine but now I can't bear to stand before my fans with music made in such a way, and it also affects my attitude on stage as well.

10: That's what I thought as I listened to "Heartbreaker Part II" participated by Flo Rida. Part II was created with more understanding toward music than the earlier version, analyzed and re-combined to give a new flow and Rhyme. It would have been awesome if the earlier version had come out like Part II.
G-Dragon: Most people turns the conversation to Flo Rida whenever that song is mentioned together with the issue of plagiarism but that wasn't my intention to begin with. What I had in mind was to show local musicians can stand equal to musicians from abroad just like I was doing rap alongside with Flor Rida in the same track. It's like what I wrote in the lyrics "I shall not kneel anywhere". But because of what happened beforehand, the reviews I received at the time, both good or bad, weren't properly focused solely on music which is quite a pity.

10: The rap at Part II was very interesting, the way you divided its flow in short units and confronted each sound with rap. You created a perfect beginning to end flow within your given part.
G-Dragon: I did the rap as fast as I could (Laugh) When I did solo album I took my time deciding on arrangements that fit the role of title track. But this second time, where my part came before the Flo Rida's part, I decided that I got to show everything within the short time frame so I filled it with strong, diverse elements.

"I wish lyrics alone can sound like a good writing"

10: I believe all those thinking to compose that single piece have helped to widen your horizon for both understanding and composing music.
G-Dragon: I gained more freedom in some aspect. But each feeling is different: the times I work as a member of Big Bang and the times I do my solo album. But the more I work, the more I feel like I'm learning and maturing at the same time. I wouldn't know the consequences of album I produce now but the feelings I gained from this present experience will be reflected on future albums of Big Bang. Because both other Big Bang members and I will notice the way the music matures, this will again be a great help down the road.

10: Your lyrics seem to have changed in part, too. In the recent album I got the impression that you went deeper into yourself rather than expressing yourself aloud to the public.
G-Dragon: Just like movies that contain various stories in genres of comedy, thriller, horror and more, I concentrated on the aspect of story-telling for lyrics. I wanted them to sound like an actual story with or without music. I wanted a clear plot for them. I guess it's the influence of all the foreign raps with stories that I grew up listening to.

10: The track "Nightmare" in the latest album seems to best reflect your point. Just by closing my eyes I can actually visualize a person who runs and then flies during the early part of the song. It has that flow of rise from beginning to end.
G-Dragon: That's right. That's the kind of impression I was hoping to give to those who listen to "Nightmare" with their eyes closed. I wish to compose a kind of music like shown in the film "Inception (2010)" in which the final part turns out to be either a horror or fantasy depending on the individual. I put particular effort there so the ending could be anybody's guess.

10: I'm not sure if it's because this is solo track but "Nightmare" seems to be the piece that makes the most obvious display of your characteristics, the sharp changes between parts. I could detect almost four different levels of changes. The style is similar to that found in " Lies " and "Heartbreaker" whose music both has beginning and end marked by sudden of sound in between. Is there a reason you prefer this style?
G-Dragon: It's one way of showing what my music is like, wholesomely, to the public. These days people can make ring tones out of certain parts of the song they like. Melodies of such ring tones are usually chosen among the song parts that have the strongest impact, which usually happens to be chorus part of the song. And because people these days decide on music just with few listening, the chorus part with strong impact became even more important. Of course, you could say a song is already a hit if many people remember it by its ending chorus alone. But I want all parts of my song to be remembered. This is my way of composing a song that can be remembered wholly, by giving twist and turn at every corner and evoking different story.

"Now is the real beginning".

10: It seems like you have just gotten over a certain stage in your life.
G-Dragon: Entertainers should come forth to address the public. In my case I had to both create and sing the song on the stage. I came this far thinking this is probably the only thing I can do but I guess I was burdened by the fact that everything went public.

10: Last year in particular, no doubt, as everything linked to GD became an issue.
G-Dragon: Yes. Under such circumstances I became more wary and lonelier. But after going through all that, doing my music and waking up to new things I believe I can now take things with more ease. I think I can show 100-percent real me through this latest album.

10: It seems like this is the real start.
G-Dragon: It is. It also seems like I have been building up on my experience all along and this feels like my true beginning. It is same for Big Bang.

10: So what would you like to do at this point? From the track "High High" you wrote that life is about one lucky shot but in reality it was your consistent effort in music industry that got you this far.
G-Dragon: Wait, I don't think I've come across my lucky shot yet (Laugh)

10: Really? (Laugh)
G-Dragon: This may sound a bit snobbish but I don't think I've achieved anything yet. It's still a long way ahead and I don't think I've shown anything of a lasting impact - still in the process of building it up step by step. I'm sure this is what all the other members of Big Bang are dreaming of, too, the opportunity to strike something really big someday. (Laugh).

G-Dragon [Chae Ki-won, Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

Big Bang member G-Dragon performs to audience.

G-Dragon [Chae Ki-won, Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]