MUSIC
Bolbbalgan4 "My strength is being direct"
Bolbbalgan4 will release their new album 'Merry Go Round' through various music sites at 6 PM on the 12th, and will also release the music videos for the double title song 'Snowball' and 'I Can't help but Love' at the same time.
The new album 'Merry Go Round' is a winter album that compares the story created by the constant rotation of horses to a merry-go-round, melting it with the emotions and colors of BOL4. BOL4 participated in writing lyrics and composing all songs, and included various genres such as pop, rock, and ballad in the album.
The following is a Q&A from BOL4. He personally told the story about the new album.
◆ Below is a Q&A with BOL4
Q. This is your first mini album release in about 8 months. How do you feel ahead of your comeback?
A. I always feel nervous and excited before a release, but this time, I think a sense of calm comes along with it. This is an album that gives me a sense of satisfaction because I completed the work sequentially as planned and had fun working with good people. But now that today is the day, I feel more excited than anything else. This is my first December winter album, so I’m curious about people’s reactions.
Q. Please introduce your new album ‘Merry Go Round’.
A. 'Merry go round' is a 'carousel' and was inspired by a 'horse'. In a way, it's a play on words, but doesn't the carousel have a variety of horses and constantly rotate? I wanted to take people on a merry-go-round called Bolbbalgan Puberty, go round and round, and tell them various stories. And 'merry' means 'happy', and I thought it would be great for many people to become the main character riding a horse happily to my song and make good memories after listening to this song.
Q. Please introduce the charms of the double title songs ‘Snowball’ and ‘I Can’t help but Love’.
A. ‘Snowball’ and ‘I Can’t help but Love’ are songs with completely different sensibilities. Although they are conflicting songs, they are each equally attractive, so both songs were selected as double title songs. If 'Snowball' is BOL4's lively and lovely song that everyone likes, 'I Can't help but Love' is a song that gives BOL4's unique emotional, nostalgic and sad atmosphere and a warm feeling.
Q. With ‘Snowball’, you are releasing your third seasonal song this year, following ‘FRIEND THE END’ and ‘Summer Day (feat. Ha Hyun-sang)’. Is there anything you consider important when incorporating seasons into your music?
A. I think the most important thing about seasonal songs that embody the seasons in music is popularity. If a subject as clear as the season is used vaguely, it is easy to be confused as to whether it is a seasonal song or not. Many people use words or lyrics that make them feel the season, such as cherry blossoms in spring and snow in winter. Also, add a melody that is easy and repetitive enough for many people to sing along, or make the format concise. Seasonal songs created in this way seem to linger in the ear and not be easily forgotten. That's why I like to capture memories of those times in songs that come to mind when I think of spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Q. The music video for the title song ‘Snowball’ is filled with pure white winter. Is there a special episode during filming?
A. Since the song 'Snowball' contains a lot of lyrics about snow, we dreamed of snow in November. I felt like there had to be snow in the music video, so I looked for places where it snowed in early winter and ended up arriving in Sapporo. The problem was that although there was snow, it didn't fall. The plan was to film for two days, film in the morning on the last day, and return to Korea. On the last day, heavy snow arrived in Sapporo and everyone cheered. It was raining heavily even after we started filming, and I remember that the director and our staff worked hard while filming with at least 5 centimeters of snow piled up on our heads.
Q. Bolbbalgan4's ballad is receiving steady love, including the creation of a mania fandom. What kind of story is contained in ‘I Can’t help but Love’, one of the title songs this time.
A. The song ‘I Can’t help but Love’ is a story about the most adult love I can give. I thought I could express my love just by staying by my side without saying love. And in order to do that, I wrote the song while envisioning the distant future, thinking, 'I have to become a better person so that I can protect my side.'
Q. Track 5 contains the Korean version of ‘Love’, which was first released in Japan. You recently successfully completed your Asian tour. Do you feel your popularity overseas? I’m curious about your feelings.
A. Actually, I was very worried about the Asia tour. In the countries I've been to before, I was worried that people would remember Bolbbalgan Puberty because a lot of time had passed, and in the countries I was going to for the first time, I couldn't tell if there would be people who liked Bolbbalgan Puberty. But in the end, it wasn't the case. They held a slogan event at every performance and I was so grateful that I cried a lot. One time, there were people gathered at the airport, and our band member said there were fans there, so I looked and there were really fans. He also asked me again, ‘Are you really my fan?’ Seeing people singing along and cheering for all the songs despite the difference in language, I thought, 'BOL4 is also popular overseas!' Thought. I think this Asia tour was really successful.
Q. This time, you participated in writing lyrics and composing all songs. As a singer-songwriter, what do you think are the strengths of BOL4's voice and story?
A. I think that my unique tone and singing style when I sing is a little different from others, and the fact that the tone and development of the story fit neatly while writing songs is also a unique characteristic of me. And I think my biggest strength is that I can resonate with many people. When it comes to writing lyrics, there are a lot of things that are straightforward. I think it's easier to sympathize with and receive comfort in that regard than if I were to talk back. I think that's the biggest reason why BOL4's songs are so loved.
Q. Each comeback presents new music and appearance. What unique charms can we experience in this album?
A. I think this album is about winter. I think there is no season that has both warmth and coldness as much as winter. That winter was captured in this album. I hope you can feel winter at different temperatures by listening to the five stories. Another interesting thing is that since I am 29 years old and this is the last album I released in my 20s, I think you will be able to feel a different charm when listening to it while comparing the emotions with previous songs. In particular, the song 'Love' was written in my early 20s, so you can feel the lively charm of that time.
Q. What was the happiest moment while preparing this album?
A. I was happiest when I started working on the song. I had a promise to my fans, and I wanted to make it quickly and show it off. And the moment I finished working on the song and listened to the master audio, I felt happy with a sense of accomplishment as I thought, ‘I made this album well.’
Q. You are planning to hold a solo concert ‘Merry Go Round’ on the 30th and 31st. Are there any introductions and points to watch?
A. The concert held for each album is a concert that directly shows the album's uniqueness. It is full of fun and emotion as it is a concert that shows stories that we could only imagine through the band and production. The joy of BOL4's concerts is explaining in words the stories that couldn't be told through the album and talking to the audience. Moreover, I think the end of the year spent with the audience on December 30th and 31st will be even more meaningful. I am confident that I will create good memories for you.
Q. Lastly, a word to the domestic and international music fans and Lovely (fandom name) who have shown a lot of support and love.
A. First of all, I would like to say that I am really grateful to the fans. In a way, it was the driving force behind this album. There were a lot of eventful things this year, but every time things got difficult, I got back up again with a word of support from my fans. I also want to repay my fans through music who truly care about me and always hope that I don't get hurt. I will give you the gift of a truly warm winter this winter. love.
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
