Japanese Haru Hana Magazine Interview with MAMAMOO (TRANS)

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Q: How do you feel about promoting in Japan for the first time?

Wheein: We all like Japan, and we have travelled here privately before. However, since we do not have much opportunities to meet fans like this, I am very happy.

Hwasa: Although it is slightly different from rookie days, it feels like going back to the beginning.

Moonbyul: There are many fans that I have seen for the first time, and there are also fans who cried when they saw us. I hope there can be more chances for us to meet fans like this.

Solar: Because I’ve liked Japanese anime since I was little, I familiarized myself with the Japanese culture very quick. Although I am nervous, I am very happy to be able to promote in Japan like this.

Q: What motivated you guys to become singers?

Wheein: I became naturally invested in music due to my mother who works with art. I really like singing and dancing, so I started practicing hard since middle school.

Hwasa: We all got put together through passing auditions. Wheein and I were in the same class in middle school, and carried the same dream ever since we were at our hometown. One time, we told our parents we were going to Seoul for auditions together. But actually, we lied as we went there to play. (laughs)

Q: If we talk about Mamamoo, we must mention your adlibs during performances on stage. The SBS Gayo Daejeon performance was really great!

Moonbyul: That was Solar’s and my idea. Although I wasn’t able to show the best during the broadcast, Wheein’s part is worth to watch.

Solar: Because I look like Sechskies’ Kang Sung Hoon, Wheein pointed at me while saying “Our team has a Kang Sung Hoon too”. (laughs)

Moonbyul: As for me, I referenced BTS’s “DOPE” in my rap. I am good friends with Jin, so I messaged him a few days before the show. After the performance ended, Jin told me gratefully, “With such a grand line-up, I am very happy that you referenced us.”

Hwasa: Our strength is to utilize adlibs to perform freely on stage. Even with the same song, we will deliver a different performance each time. I am glad that people are able to enjoy our performance every time, not only once, twice or thrice, with new set of expectations.

Q&A Session

Q: Other than rap and vocal, what are the other members’ role?

Wheein: I am the secretary. For example, if we have to leave a message under the name of Mamamoo as a team, I am always the representative to write it.

Hwasa: Wheein is in charge of aegyo (cuteness). There is a sense of cuteness in her that makes people want to take care of her.

Wheein: Yes, that’s it. (laughs) Hwasa is the “guide-to-good-food”. Every time we go eat, Hwasa is the one who looks up delicious restaurants.

Hwasa: I am the type of person who cannot tolerate hunger. (laughs) Rather than knowing where to eat, I am just good at quickly searching for good food around.

Solar: Moonbyul is the one who is first at anything. She is always the first to do makeup and hairstyling. She is a stable person. Even when she has to wake up early or is tired, she is always first to get up, and then she rests after getting her makeup done.

Moonbyul: Solar is the organizer. It isn’t the type of organizing where you tidy your room, but she “organizes” in order for Mamamoo’s schedules to be carried out smoothly. She is good at leading the members.

Q: Mamamoo is very popular among females. What do you think is the secret to this?

Hwasa: Why is it so? Maybe because we give people a friendly image. We have many songs that directly reflect female’s perspectives, and that probably created some sort of sympathy.

Solar: I think so too. Majority of our songs reveal the emotions of females that cannot be expressed usually. Especially through Moonbyul’s rap, the emotions are expressed more directly, which touches female’s hearts. Also, when Moonbyul raps with strength and energy, rather than guys, girls make these “Ah~~~~~” screaming sounds. (laughs)

Moonbyul: As females, we also want to hear others call us cute, but we really don’t know how to dress ourselves. (laughs) But then our fans tell us that they like it the way we are.

(Reporter: Are there any other compliments on you guys?)

Wheein: “Very handsome.” (laughs)

Q: Is there anything you are interested about the Japanese culture?

Wheein: Fashion and food. There are many good Ramen restaurants that I often visit at Itaewon in Korea, so I have wanted to try Japanese Ramen for a long time already. I am looking forward to it.

Solar: I really like dramas and anime. We really love “Spirited Away”. I also liked “Gokusen” before, and watched the entire series.

Moonbyul: For a period of time, I was really interested in the hotspring [at Yufuin Floral Village]. Because Solar visited there before and it seemed fun, I went afterwards. Just a few days ago, Hwasa went as well. (laughs)

Hwasa: I actually just went there two days ago. (laughs) I had so much wagyu beef~ If I go overseas, the food never really fits my taste. However, Japan is the only place with food that fits my taste, so I really like Japanese cuisine! Also, lately I have been enjoying Junji Ito’s horror manga. Honestly I used to not favour horror things, but after reading reviews of it I decided to read it and I was shocked. So I went and bought the entire series.

Wheein: I was most shocked by the fact that you bought the entire series to read. (laughs)

Q: What is your ideal type like? What kind of person will you become when you are in love?

Wheein: I like people who are romantic and sentimental. If there is someone I like, I will only look at that person. (laughs)

Hwasa: I am the type who is dedicated too. No tactics, but just expressing everything in my head. When I was little, I longed for a romantic love, and I liked men who carry a slight aura of danger. But now I prefer someone who is bright and humorous.

Solar: Me too! Someone like Yoo Jae Suk sunbaenim and Jung Hyung Don sunbaenim.

(Reporter: What about Eric Nam, whom you partnered with on “We Got Married”?)

Solar: His personality is really good and he is very gentle. He has good manners and is a very nice person. But because he is a heartthrob, if I had to date him for real, I don’t think I could tolerate it. (laughs)

Moonbyul: I like someone who is fresh and polite, a very honest boy. It will take me a long time to fall in love, but once I do, I will only think about that person.


Session where they have to introduce each other

Hwasa, according to Wheein: She surprisingly looks like a kid in private. For example, she is easy to be cheated. She looks like she knows everything, but turns out she does not know anything. For a Hwasa like this, I discover new things every time.

Wheein, according to Hwasa: When I get to rest, I enjoy going out and travel or something. But in Wheein’s case, she is at home playing with her cat and resting. We have areas in common but also not in common, that’s why we are this compatible. We’ve known each other for almost 10 years already~

Solar, according to Moonbyul: She is like a vitamin, with a healing kind of presence. She gets along with me gently like a friend, and understands me the most. Without Solar unnie, I don’t think I will be able to come this far.

Moonbyul, according to Solar: She is a very dependable kid, the group’s driving force. I am the youngest at home, so in the beginning, it was very difficult to take on the role as a leader. But with Moonbyul’s support, I was able to do well. She is a buddy that I can share everything with.


Knowledge to become a MooMoo

#KimDoHoonCEO

(Tell us something about you and Kim Do Hoon CEO)

Moonbyul: Kim Do Hoon CEO is like a father who gave us each our individualistic colours. When we go off track, our CEO brings us back to the right track.

Wheein: During trainee days, our CEO often allowed us to sing demos as a way of practice.

Hwasa: I would practice until dawn during trainee days. Our CEO would stay up and compose until very late too, so we would listen to songs together at night. I really like old hit songs, so our CEO would recommend me many good songs.

#MooBoong

(Your lighstick is a radish! What led to this?)

Wheein: It is because there is Moo in Mamamoo, which means radish in Korean. When we still haven’t had the official lightstick yet, our company gave fans each a radish doll. Since then, fans even brought real radishes. (laughs)

Hwasa: Our fans designed that lightstick!

Solar: It’s called “Design By MooMoo”. There were many occasions when we used our fans’ designs. We also performed on stage with outfits that our fans designed.

Moonbyul: And the baseball cap. (laughs)

#MOOMOO

(What leaves you the greatest impression when interacting with MooMoos?)

Solar: Our fans are very fun. I am very happy that we get along well. During ISAC, they even wore radish masks. Although they looked like ghosts from afar. (laughs) Among the fandoms of other Korean groups, MooMoos are pretty popular!

Moonbyul: I am happiest when I hear compliments from other singers saying “Mamamoo’s fans follow the rules really well”. With MooMoos’ presence, I feel more reliable. A feeling that makes me feel that I can do anything. I am always thankful.

Trans by tgc.
Chinese Trans cr. Guarding Star (Weibo)
http://media.weibo.cn/article?id=2309404067873952776702&jumpfrom=weibocom&lfid=2302832169099637&luicode=10000370

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