[INTERVIEW] Lee Hi’s Interview with Yonhap News: “What I have is only my voice”
“Ha” means for a long time, “Yi” means happiness, together Hayi means “happiness for a long time”. Hayi has experienced many happy things in the past 1 year.
This is the story of a girl who got 1st runner up in last year’s SBS Kpop Star.
When K-pop Star ended, Lee Hi signed a contract with YGE company. She debuted last year October with “1,2,3,4” and it placed #1 in all major music charts, showing her successful debut. Now, she once again has her songs placed in top positions in all music charts with her debut album “First Love”.
We met Hayi on the 11th and she was wearing a big coat and a pair of sports shoes. Except for her dyed blonde hair, she looked just the same with any teens.
She is a kid like this who was able to belt out jazz and blues tunes with her matured voice, which is why her album was being praised and compared to as “Korean Adele” by Billboard.
Lee Hi answered humbly, “To be compared with Adele is really an over-compliment for me. Adele’s voice is very expressive. I am still a rookie, it is more important for me to sing with only a style that belongs to me.”
Compared to her previous performances for “1,2,3,4” where she was carrying a strong stare, this time round, she is singing with a crescent shaped eye smile.
BELOW IS LEE HI’S INTERVIEW:
You performed your comeback stage on K-pop Star 2 yesterday (10th), do you feel that you have really became a true singer?
Lee Hi: The judges (Yang Hyun Suk, Park Jin Young, BoA) were all in front of me again, I felt very nervous. I was unable to make eye contact with them. It is a different type of nervousness as compared to being a contestant. I was like this as well during last year’s debut performances, compared to feeling “wow, I am really a singer now”, I felt more interested in my surroundings, I felt a little blur and confused.
It seems like you lost a lot of weight?
Lee Hi: I lost my weight during practice, I am actually concerned with my weight. When appearing in music programmes, the other singers are all taller and slimmer, so I felt really small. I want to show that I am really exercising and I want to do self-management seriously.
You seem like the most successful one amongst those who has debuted via audition programs.
Lee Hi: Previously, I thought that once K-Pop Star S1 has ended, everything will have ended as well, however it is actually just a starting point. That is the most important competition in my life. The company grasped my special points very well, and they created songs that the public liked, which is why there is such good results. What I have is only a voice that is not supposed to suit my age, the company helped me find my other charms. Although my music is different from other idols, and some people might find it weird, however this could be the main reason why people would want to listen to me.
What is the reason behind choosing YG amongst all the other companies now?
Lee Hi: I was the first runner up, I did not have the option to choose between YG, SM or JYP as that is a right for the champion. I wanted to go to YG badly, but YG came to me first as well. It has been close to a year, I have never regretted choosing YGE.
YG provided you an apartment?
Lee Hi: As my house is further, so the company provided me an apartment as my dorm. I am intending to stay in the apartment with my mother. The company actually does not focus on training for me so much. After attending music lessons, I will then learn piano which is required to compose songs, it is different from the other trainees. After learning how to compose songs, I want to become a singer-songwriter. Dance practice is still tough for me right now.
Your album this time contains mainly jazz and blues; do you normally listen to songs in this genre?
Lee Hi: My elder sister’s profession involves vocals and different instruments and she recommended songs from all genres to me so I am interested in jazz and blues normally. I particularly like soul from blacks, I know that I suit music like “Mercy”, which I performed during K-Pop Star S1. Also, Yang Hyun Suk boss has also introduced many unnies who are good at doing music of these genres to me, so I have learnt a lot. Also, “One-Sided Love” lyrics are actually my one-sided love story during middle school period.
Are there any differences between Yang Hyun Suk in K-Pop Star and in the company?
Lee Hi: He is totally the same. I take time to warm up so I am still feeling awkward, haha. However, no matter when is it, he is still very caring and detailed. He is like a father who is kind but awkward around his children. He tells me often that when I am on stage, I have to show the audience my most natural and comfortable image.
In the album, Tablo helped to write the lyrics. The help from the same company’s artists has attracted attention. Did you learn anything from the seniors in the company?
Lee Hi: The seniors really perform as though they are playing while on stage, which is something I am still lacking, so I will learn while watching. Tablo sunbae gave me many suggestions and advice during the recording process. About Big Bang’s TOP, I still like him as a fan. My friends are all curious about YG’s artists, and they think I am very close with them, but it is actually still awkward for me, haha.
What are the type of songs that will be released on the 21st March for the second part of “First Love” album?
Lee Hi: In general, it is the same as part 1. However, in part 2, “Rose” the title track has a different style. “It’s Over” is a song that matches my age which portrays my cuteness while “Rose” is a song that is more mature and heavy.
Do you feel like venturing overseas just like your senior in the same company, Psy?
Lee Hi: Psy sunbae is really amazing. Before debuting, when I see foreign people jamming to Psy’s songs, I feel really proud being a Korean. If I have the chance, I would want to stand on a world stage too. I think I have to learn English seriously before doing that. I am very satisfied with my name now. When I was young, my father gave me this name. I was being teased because of my name, now I think my name is easy to remember and has simple pronunciation; this name seems to be of help to my future events.
What type of singer would you like to be?
Lee Hi: When I was young, I regarded Beyonce and Rihanna as my idols, I will watch their videos frequently. Although I change idols often, it is also because of Beyonce and Rihanna that I want to be a singer. I would like to be somebody’s idol in the future.
Source: Naver
Translated by: nakedae@flyhayi
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