#mission. subplot

[fttaewoo-blog]

ink,

hyena on the keyboard ep. 2, the writing process

it would be a lie to say that taewoo did not have the lyrics and melody jotted down in a notebook somewhere long before “hyena on the keyboard” ever considered of having him on the show. “it will be okay” was a piece he had been jotting down from time to time, lyrics that would flow into his head after a long, hard day: words he would want to say to those around him, words he wished he could mumble to his mother as he held her close to him, and words he so desperately wanted to hear himself and believe it -- “everything will be okay.”

taewoo doesn't have a usual place to write, instead songs come naturally in quick moments of great genius where his creativity flourishes: it could be in the middle of practice, in the shower, while eating or brushing his teeth, at the salon, or even in the midst of sleep where he wakes to jot down even the weirdest of rhymes. in a way, ryu taewoo was chained to this addiction, never leaving his notebook’s side in fear of forgetting a great line or two before he had the chance to save them in ink (because cellphones, as he has learned over the years, are not that reliable).

he was sitting in the studio at verve that was unspokenly his, pen in hand and notebook open. for the sake of the show, he was told to act as if he was coming up with the lyrics right then and there, when in reality he was rewriting and rearranging things. taewoo was used to being alone while writing -- or at least being alone in his head -- with cameras around, he wasnt avle to be himself, his true, undoctored self. instead, he had to perform for the camera, make things interesting and lively and fun for people to watch (although, he was sure, most of the editing would do that for him anyway). if he hadn't saved this song for an occasion like this, he was unsure if he would have been able to come up with something as good as the song sitting in front of him.

after awhile of trying to look busy, he picked up his guitar that was leaning up against the desk he was at and began strumming a few different melodies (not to see what one fit, just for show because he already had an idea of what to use). it was cool, though, that he was finally getting more recognition in the music industry, even if the show was looking for rookie singer-songwriters to use, even if this was short lived. he would take it, love it, cherish it.

[fttaewoo-blog]

it will be okay,

hyena on the keyboard ep. 1, interview

the fault lies with his grandparents, they were the ones who got him into music, who taught him to play guitar, who showed him the world of poetry, and the ones who said being a singer could save them all.

taewoo sat in the designated chair, fingers molding together in a nervous bunch. this was only his second time filming something without the rest of static by his side; at least the last show he was on (the return on superman) wasn’t as private, personal, and revealing as this. taewoo was -- for lack of understanding the correct emotions he was experiencing -- afraid.

when and what was the first song you wrote?

“the first song?” he repeated the question, mind retracing his musical life up until that point to try and figure out exactly what was the first song (and when). and, if he was honest, he couldn’t truly remember. taewoo had always hummed along to melodies that he made up in his head or made up lyrics to sing to inanimate objects as he was growing up -- it wasn’t strage, none were written down, all were impromptu, nothing was concrete. it wasn’t until an unwavering crush that he actually began writing down lyrics and notes that flow together.

“i think the first song i wrote was in middle school for a -- uh -- a girl i had a crush on; i don’t particularly remember what it was about, though,” and that much is true, he doesn’t remember the specifics. he does, though, also remember writing a song for a school project, but that isn’t as interesting.

did they always like creating music or where they pushed to try it?

that much is obvious: “i’ve always liked creating music and was never pushed, just encouraged by my family.” he smiled haphazardly, reminiscing about the conversations he used to have with his grandpa about making music, learning the guitar from him, and listening to his grandma recite poem after poem. it’s odd, but if he could go back to that time, he would. he would ask them so many questions that he never got around to, listen to so many stories that he was unable to hear. he’d live through every horrible thing he has gone through over and over again just to get more time with them.

where do they get their inspiration?

“really, from anything around me, or emotions i’ve experienced or thought about experiencing,” mostly love, right? that’s the majority of pop songs anyway. and it’s safe to say that he has never been in full-bloom love, but he’s gotten close.

what kind of artists do they wish to emulate?

this was a tough question -- there are so many great artists out there, was he able to pinpoint just a few? “although i really love and respect a lot of senior artists, i want to be seen as someone with my own unique color,” a good enough answer, right? although hyuk oh is a band he simply cannot get enough of (and working with them on a song would be beyond his wildest dreams).

what kind of emotions/feelings should one get from listing to their songs?

“i believe that art is interpreted by the viewer, or in this case, the listener -- whatever someone feels while listening to my music is what they feel, they shouldn’t have to have specific emotions in order to enjoy it,” but he does want people to feel at peace, or loved, or wanted, or needed, or all of the above and then some. because he doesn’t feel those things himself sometimes, and if he could give them to others, then that would be more than enough.