-- What's the album concept?
BoA: I'm 31 years old and all the songs in this album have the same theme that is 'choice' of women my age. People make choices all the time in life, but at the age 30, you have a certain amount of experiences and already have settled somewhat. But you also question yourself "Is it ok to settle like this already?" By the way, a lot of female staff around me can relate to the song name "Am I ok like this?" LOL
-- Younger female listeners might find it depressing but for those who have worked for a while, it'd be different.
BoA: Exactly. When you have problems with love, work, and life, there are times when you worry "Am I ok like this?". But that's a worry to shape your life in a positive way. From now on, we will make a lot of decisions and change ourselves. I think the album title is a perfect fit to represent the songs in this album.
-- It's been 3.5 years since last album release.
BoA: Actually, this is the first time that we didn't set a release date in advance. This time, when we have a good song, we work on recording the song one by one. We can work to meet the deadline like we used to of course but since this is the 1st album in my thirties, I want high quality in both song selection and recording.
-- What is a "good song" that BoA should sing in her thirties?
BoA: First of all, I have this "BoA" brand which isn't limited to any certain genre. Whatever genre it is, when BoA expresses it, it becomes BoA. That's what I think I should do. For example, I've always like new jack swing but never tried it. When we did Jazzclub, I was personally very happy. New Jack Swing is the sound of around my birth year. We add trap, a currently popular genre, to it and the result is fun.
-- The MV was released around the end of last year, right? I thought it'd be the album lead track.
BoA: That'd be the case if this was a Korean release. Korean people love up tempo dance track. In Japan, ballads are better received. It might be difference in taste of the 2 nations but personally, I'm grateful of the difference (LOL). For me, I think Japanese language makes ballads sound more beautiful. On the contrary, Korean language has jumps and punches, making it easier to go with the rhythm. These language characteristics might play a role in all this too.
-- You work in Korea, Japan and the US. Are your 'BoA' brand different in these markets?
BoA: Not at all. I did Instagram live the other day. As soon as I started, the vdo is broadcasted to the whole world. It's a borderless age now. There's no point to changing style for each country. I should focus on delivering good performances instead. Now K-POP is popular internationally. They put importance in producing high quality MVs since they are viewed everywhere on earth. I respect the way Japan still cherishes CD culture but from how MV can't be viewed from outside Japan, I think there are some parts where Japan are still not open.
-- You participated on Produce 101 season 2 in Korea last year.
BoA: Seems like many have watched it from Japan. I've got asked a lot about it when I do interviews in Japan.
-- Wanna One is also popular in Japan
BoA: I feel accomplished when they were formed. But I'd like to stay away from producing for now (bitter laugh). It's tiring since I'm also an artist, having to see trainee eliminated one by one is really sad.
-- Your career must be helpful for judging, discovering new talents
BoA: Unlike other judges, I view from a performer standpoint. I also ask the contestants' trainer to expand their strengths. If you look at the program schedule, there's really no time to fix their weakness. So I thought of how to present the contestants in good performance given such a short preparation time. After debut, there would be even less time to practice. So I tried to give them advice from my experience on how to perfect the performance within such constraints.
-- Do you still give advices to Wanna One now?
BoA: No. They are standing on their own feet now. They have to go through trials and errors to grow themselves. I focus on my own performance. But one member of Wanna One goes to the same gym I frequent. So when I find him kinda slacking on TV performance I'd call him out (LOL).
-- You disapprove of others not giving their all while performing. Is it because you have your own philosophy as an artist?
BoA: Artists have to perform the same song hundreds of times. So some might forget the fact that some in the audience might see today performance for the first time. I can't approve of that. I should have focus on my own performance but Wanna One is not a stranger to me, so I can't help but say something.
-- A lot of juniors must want to learn from your experience. Aren't you interested in producing?
BoA: I get that kind of request from time to time but I can't do many things at the same time so I don't consider producing now. I've just turned 30, so I want to pour everything I have to singing&dancing. When I try a new genre, I find "Oh I can sing like this too.". When the trend changes, I would meet a new sound. The sense of accomplishment when I finish a song I find challenging. The list goes on and on and that's why I strongly want to continue this line of work.
-- You still aim high.
BoA: Of course. That's because one day physically I won't be able to perform anymore. Things we can't fight like old age, we just have to accept. When the time comes, I won't ask to perform like I was in my twenties. It might be a good idea to use my experience and start producing then. But for now, I still want to sing and dance.
Original Article: https://www.oricon.co.jp/confidence/special/50764/
BoA: I'm 31 years old and all the songs in this album have the same theme that is 'choice' of women my age. People make choices all the time in life, but at the age 30, you have a certain amount of experiences and already have settled somewhat. But you also question yourself "Is it ok to settle like this already?" By the way, a lot of female staff around me can relate to the song name "Am I ok like this?" LOL
-- Younger female listeners might find it depressing but for those who have worked for a while, it'd be different.
BoA: Exactly. When you have problems with love, work, and life, there are times when you worry "Am I ok like this?". But that's a worry to shape your life in a positive way. From now on, we will make a lot of decisions and change ourselves. I think the album title is a perfect fit to represent the songs in this album.
-- It's been 3.5 years since last album release.
BoA: Actually, this is the first time that we didn't set a release date in advance. This time, when we have a good song, we work on recording the song one by one. We can work to meet the deadline like we used to of course but since this is the 1st album in my thirties, I want high quality in both song selection and recording.
-- What is a "good song" that BoA should sing in her thirties?
BoA: First of all, I have this "BoA" brand which isn't limited to any certain genre. Whatever genre it is, when BoA expresses it, it becomes BoA. That's what I think I should do. For example, I've always like new jack swing but never tried it. When we did Jazzclub, I was personally very happy. New Jack Swing is the sound of around my birth year. We add trap, a currently popular genre, to it and the result is fun.
-- The MV was released around the end of last year, right? I thought it'd be the album lead track.
BoA: That'd be the case if this was a Korean release. Korean people love up tempo dance track. In Japan, ballads are better received. It might be difference in taste of the 2 nations but personally, I'm grateful of the difference (LOL). For me, I think Japanese language makes ballads sound more beautiful. On the contrary, Korean language has jumps and punches, making it easier to go with the rhythm. These language characteristics might play a role in all this too.
-- You work in Korea, Japan and the US. Are your 'BoA' brand different in these markets?
BoA: Not at all. I did Instagram live the other day. As soon as I started, the vdo is broadcasted to the whole world. It's a borderless age now. There's no point to changing style for each country. I should focus on delivering good performances instead. Now K-POP is popular internationally. They put importance in producing high quality MVs since they are viewed everywhere on earth. I respect the way Japan still cherishes CD culture but from how MV can't be viewed from outside Japan, I think there are some parts where Japan are still not open.
-- You participated on Produce 101 season 2 in Korea last year.
BoA: Seems like many have watched it from Japan. I've got asked a lot about it when I do interviews in Japan.
-- Wanna One is also popular in Japan
BoA: I feel accomplished when they were formed. But I'd like to stay away from producing for now (bitter laugh). It's tiring since I'm also an artist, having to see trainee eliminated one by one is really sad.
-- Your career must be helpful for judging, discovering new talents
BoA: Unlike other judges, I view from a performer standpoint. I also ask the contestants' trainer to expand their strengths. If you look at the program schedule, there's really no time to fix their weakness. So I thought of how to present the contestants in good performance given such a short preparation time. After debut, there would be even less time to practice. So I tried to give them advice from my experience on how to perfect the performance within such constraints.
-- Do you still give advices to Wanna One now?
BoA: No. They are standing on their own feet now. They have to go through trials and errors to grow themselves. I focus on my own performance. But one member of Wanna One goes to the same gym I frequent. So when I find him kinda slacking on TV performance I'd call him out (LOL).
-- You disapprove of others not giving their all while performing. Is it because you have your own philosophy as an artist?
BoA: Artists have to perform the same song hundreds of times. So some might forget the fact that some in the audience might see today performance for the first time. I can't approve of that. I should have focus on my own performance but Wanna One is not a stranger to me, so I can't help but say something.
-- A lot of juniors must want to learn from your experience. Aren't you interested in producing?
BoA: I get that kind of request from time to time but I can't do many things at the same time so I don't consider producing now. I've just turned 30, so I want to pour everything I have to singing&dancing. When I try a new genre, I find "Oh I can sing like this too.". When the trend changes, I would meet a new sound. The sense of accomplishment when I finish a song I find challenging. The list goes on and on and that's why I strongly want to continue this line of work.
-- You still aim high.
BoA: Of course. That's because one day physically I won't be able to perform anymore. Things we can't fight like old age, we just have to accept. When the time comes, I won't ask to perform like I was in my twenties. It might be a good idea to use my experience and start producing then. But for now, I still want to sing and dance.
Original Article: https://www.oricon.co.jp/confidence/special/50764/
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