M◉‿◉JE · @merzore
17th Aug 2017 from TwitLonger
170809 Jessica on Star News for her 10th anniversary interview
Singer Jessica (Jessica Jung, Jung Sooyeon, 28) recently welcomed her 10th debut anniversary. She was part of Girls’ Generation (SNSD) 10 years ago, but she’s just Jessica now. From being a member of Korea’s renowned girl group to the ‘SOLO Jessica’ who has been active since September 2014, her outlook on her 10th anniversary should be special.
Throughout the interview, Jessica constantly evades and avoids all topics regarding SNSD (be it intentional or not), but finally relented and answered a question related to SNSD: “Even though there were many difficult memories, SNSD was both a precious fate and existence that signified my younger days. It was a wonderful period to me that cannot be erased. How can I forget? I’ve been through both good and bad (during this period).”
Jessica will be releasing her 3rd mini album <My Decade> on the 9th to celebrate her 10th debut anniversary. The album includes title track <Summer Storm>, and also a song <Starry Night> dedicated to the fans who have given her their unwavering support over the past 10 years, the album has a total of 6 tracks. She participated in the music and lyrics for the previous album, showcasing her musical talent to us. Jessica will not only be participating in those for this album but also the entire production of this album, showing us another side of ‘artiste Jessica’.
This interview with Jessica was conducted in July this year at Coridel Entertainment.
Q1-You’ve debuted for 10 years and have been an active member of SNSD for the most part, how does it feel welcoming your 10th anniversary?
J: I’m quite satisfied. Even though it’s my 10th anniversary, how should I say this, time flies, it’s unbelievable. Fans told me: “Oh yeah, you debuted in 2007 but it’s already 2017 now” only then did I remember. Firstly I feel very at ease, I can really feel the support from my fans now that I’m doing solo activities. I’m really very surprised! Their fan support for me at NASDAQ - New York Times Square really shocked me, they told me it’s the first time to have an advertorial of such nature to be shown on this billboard. They wished me a happy 10th anniversary and also promoted my 3rd mini album through this fan support. I feel especially at ease and motivated everytime I think of my fans. This is why I’m releasing this album earlier than planned, just 8 months later.
Q2-Your 10th anniversary title track <Summer Storm> reminds us of the memories we once shared with the person we loved, performing a song about farewell calmly.
J: Speaking of 10th anniversary, I don’t think it has to necessarily be a congratulatory song. There is a song <Starry Night> in this album that commemorates the 10th anniversary, it’s a song based on my memories with fans and also relays my thank yous to them. Apart from the title track that fits the 10th anniversary concept, I also wanted to present the more mature side of myself. <Fly> and <Wonderland> are cheerful songs that bring hope, so <Summer Storm> has a different vibe. But <Summer Storm> is not a sad song. The melody is sweet, but the lyrics are the opposite, it has a special color. I want to sing my favorite song beautifully. Summer reminds people of happy upbeat songs, but doesn’t it rain in summer too? <Summer Storm> brings meaning to complicated emotions, and the feelings after a farewell, those feelings that linger, it’s all included in the song.
Q3-Do you encounter complicated emotions whenever you’re in love now?
J: I wrote the song imagining the breakup with a boyfriend (laughs). I have a lot of tears lately, I cry mostly when I watch movies, and I was indirectly inspired by that. I experience capricious emotions, to put it bluntly, is it anxiety disorder? Wanting to become someone with an abundance of emotions, you like (him) yet you get angry, and then start to miss (him), this is the feeling I wanted to portray.
Q4-The lyrics talk about farewell, but the melody is cheerful.
J: I actually wanted the contrast to be even greater (laughs).
Q5-Let’s talk about the song <Starry Night> that you wrote for fans.
J: I choked up as I was writing it, not sure what will happen when I sing it (live). I can’t be emotional when I record. The first time I heard the playback I was already a little… my mom cried when she listened to it too. Let the past remain as memories, we have things to look forward to in the future, it signifies a sky full of stars on a summer’s night.
Q6-Is there a moment that left the deepest impression over the past 10 years?
J: No matter what you say, it has to be when I first debuted. Because everything was a first for me, all the firsts in life are unforgettable. My solo debut was unforgettable too, because they were all my first time so they left a deeper impression. It’s the same for when I had my debut solo and when I first debuted.
Q7-Were there any hard times over the course of 10 years?
J: It seems like my body get exhausted easily, it’s like I can’t present my best. But that is something everyone will definitely experience, watching the younger friends follow the same footsteps, it was all due to ignorance last time (during the younger days). Taking a step back to look at all the achievements concealed all the tiredness, but looking back now makes me realize how tiring it was! It was tiring mentally as well.
Q8- What has changed the most over the course of 10 years?
J: Because I was 19 (when debuted) then, it seems I’ve gradually matured. I tend to be more experienced than people of the same age because I started working earlier and experienced social life earlier. The conclusion is I’ve matured in more ways than one. The endurance and patience required in the entertainment industry and also show restraint on things that should stay (hidden), you know right~
Q9-What does it mean to show restraint?
J: Never to speak your mind, and not be the first to react when someone says something (inappropriate).
Q10-Isn’t that what every celebrity experiences?
J: It’s like this in Korea, but not in Hollywood. They speak their mind, whereas we have to conceal a lot, and it seems like it’s necessary to behave like that. This is what I learnt the most in 10 years.
Q11-Was there a period that made you realize this?
J: It’s not that we can’t speak, but you need to be very careful (of what you say), it’s how I always feel.
Q12-You’ve been an idol for 10 years, you are almost 30 years old (Korean age), are you troubled over your idol image?
J: On the contrary, I can make music comfortably now instead of focusing on looking younger. I’m working hard on making music that suits my face and personality. It’s not like I’m working hard to discard my idol image, that seems kind of hard for me, I’m still troubled by it. It’s not like I change because I want to change, but it’s a natural and gradual change. After all, I can no longer be like TWICE right~ (Laughs).
Q13-Do you feel old?
J: Nope, I didn’t even feel that 10 years have passed.
Q14-You’re almost 30 years old now but you still don’t feel it?
J: I look forward to my 30s. I always felt I was getting older when I was in my 20s, there are people who thinks “you guys are no longer like before” when they hit 25. Times have changed, women in their 30s shine the brightest, and they seem to be more tactful and skillful at this age.
Q15-Younger hoobaes keep debuting one after another, do you feel burdened?
J: Looking at friends who were born in the 2000s, I just want them to succeed, it must be hard for them! Being clueless, although everyone experiences this, but this is the time for them to shine! TWICE is great, so pretty! I like TWICE very much, but I don’t think I can manage if you want me to do TWICE’s music. TWICE-chingu are so pretty, I will just look over them as a fan. My mood is exceptionally good everytime I see them. Seeing them look up to their unnies (seniors) as they train hard makes me happy. There are also soloists who see huge seniors as role models, because they anticipate their future as they watch their seniors instead of their siblings, so I need to do even better.
Q16-Do you have a 10-year plan for your future?
J: I used to follow the agency’s plans and work frantically. How many albums you need to churn out yearly, I was overwhelmed with work. Now I can work on my music comfortably and release them at my own pace once I’m ready. Rather than “quantity”, “quality” is more important now.
Q17- Talking about marriage, do you have a 10-year plan?
J: I personally just want to live my days filled with laughter. Like travel more, try new things. I haven’t been to a club in Korea and I went to one lately. It’s not like I have an innocent image but I have pretty good self-control so far. I just want to have a couple of drinks with my friends and there’s nothing wrong with that right? When should I go if I don’t go now? I want to live my next 10 years without regrets.
Q18-So was it fun at the club?
J: I have been to a club in Las Vegas, so I didn’t feel much when I went to the club in Korea. The DJs in American clubs are very famous people too. I have only been to clubs in Korea when I was working. It’s my first time going to a club just to have fun, it’s not too bad. I only realize “oh so it’s like this” after I have been to one, “youngsters these days have fun like this”, and became aware that it’s not my style.
Q19-Do you have a bucket list?
J: Krystal and I have talked about this, we want to finish what we want to do, and leave something behind. We have never been on a reality show so we agreed to be on one when they invited us. Our common topic these days is “let’s go” to wherever we want to go, it’s our dream to take a vacation for at least 1.5 years. I was in Italy recently, and was treated to a homemade dinner by a local couple, little details in life like these make me happy.
Q20-Krystal is acting now, what about you?
J: I will when an opportunity arises, the Chinese movie I starred in was released last week.
Q21-Your meet-up with Stephen Curry was very eye-catching.
J: I didn’t manage to meet him when I attended his NBA game previously even though my agency liaised with his team. So I was hoping to meet him when he comes to Korea, and here he is. We had dinner together, I also met his wife, we drank and had fun, and it was delightful. The Curry couple is very cool and pretty, they also seem very loving.
Q22-You have started on your Asia tour?
J: My tour began in Taiwan, it was very fun. Taiwanese fans are always very welcoming and amazing. It has been a year since my last FM and I was really happy. The FM itself was a “Summer Storm”. The typhoon was so serious even the signboards collapsed, many fans still came under such circumstances, and there were many young fans too. Many parents came to fetch the fans after the FM, I really want to thank them and am very touched. So I must see them more often. My songs are in Korean but they managed to sing along. Hong Kong and Japan are my next stops, I will go there at least once before the year ends.
Q23-Do you care about album sales and charts? Your former group yielded very good results, your solo results is quite good too.
J: I don’t quite understand the charts these days (laughs) even though I should care about them, but I don’t understand them. It seems like it depends on luck as well. My album release date coincides with <Show Me the Money>, so it’s just too bad. But I do listen to top hits since they’re interesting.
Q24-The trend now is to have someone featured in your album but not yours, any special reason?
J: Isn’t it good to be special (laughs). This album is for my 10th anniversary, the album name is <My Decade> so there is no way to do this with someone else.
Q25-How long have you prepared your album for?
J: About 4 to 5 months.
Q26-Any plans to release an original English song?
J: There were initial plans. Even though there isn’t an English version this time but there were plans. I want to release original English songs on international sites, I have English lyrics written by myself and others as well.
Q27-What is the difference between writing English and Korean lyrics?
J: The Korean language is more convenient to me, because I sing in Korean often. To use which sentence at which part of the song, I am very accustomed to it now. English is slightly more complicating, because it’s not just the grammar that matters. My team in America had a headache over this. You don’t phrase it like this in English (when writing lyrics), is something I hear often.
Q28-Did you produce the whole album by yourself this time?
J: Of course. I participated in the selection of songs too. The MV script is prepared by the director after numerous meetings. There isn’t anything that didn’t go through me, from mixing and recording, to the album jacket design, I participated in all. My team must think I’m very troublesome (laughs).
Q29-You have a predetermined image as “Jessica”, did you shed some of your previous image for the title track <Summer Storm>?
J: I wanted to showcase more of my personal colors and charms for my first solo debut. My makeup has changed a lot too, it used to be fake lashes and eyeliner must be like this, blusher! Contouring! Everything must be obvious, it’s more natural now. I want to appear more comfortably, and people will feel more comfortable when they see me. There used to be deliberate fixed poses for photo-taking too, whereas I just pose naturally now. It seems as if I’m shedding a certain image bit by bit.
Q30-To Jessica, “just like me” means?
J: I don’t really want to completely shed the image that people associate me with. As I showcase more of myself, I want to hear words like “oh she also has this sincere side to her personality”, “she has such a natural side to her personality”. Such words put me at ease. “She became more gentle and easy-going” it will be great to hear such words.
(Her staff who sat with her for the interview suddenly laughed and said “she really changed a lot”, “she’s different from last year”, “you can feel the most change in her daily life, but she is still a perfectionist when it comes to work. During recording, she even knows when her breathing sounds are captured.”)
Because I’m a perfectionist, so I’m very meticulous when it comes to work. It took 5 days to record the title track this time. We will record again and again whenever I’m unsatisfied. We worked well together this time, so the entire recording process was very comfortable. There were previous instances where I was unsatisfied and simply scrapped the whole thing.
Q31-Any plans to attend broadcasts for this comeback?
J: Fans seem to like it, I want to attend too! Actually we’ve had a meeting and even set the recording date already….. So it’s something I will do (laughs).
Q32-You won’t participate in musicals too?
J: I will participate when I am given the opportunity but there are no such plans now. Musicals are tiring, it will be great to receive a suitable role.
Q33-What does SNSD mean to you? (It’s a 10th debut anniversary question)
J: It was a precious fate we shared when I was young, it was a precious existence wasn’t it? To me, it is a beautiful existence that cannot be erased because I went through everything, the good moments, the difficult times, and more.
Q34-Say something to your fans.
J: (Closed her eyes for a while) It’s so mushy. Hahaha. (Jessica became teary-eyed) Thank you guys for always being there for me. Ah this is so embarrassing (laughs). Even though there are many words I haven’t said, but I’ve expressed it in <Starry Night>, just treat that as my sincere confession.
-End-
Original article: Star News on Aug 9, 2017
Chi-Trans: julieyuyu from gooread.com
Eng-Trans: @merzore (Please take out with full credits, thank you)
Source 1: http://m.star.mt.co.kr/view.html?gnb=news&no=2017080711401914067
Source 2: http://www.gooread.com/article/20123321901/