MyFTISLAND

[djpri]

[FT INTERVIEW] Allure Korea, January 2018: Rock Chic

<Lee Hongki’s Kiss The Radio> DJ, <Night Goblin> comedian, <Hwayugi> actor and forever an FTISLAND member, Lee Hongki’s delightful days.

Knit top (J.W. ANDERSON BY TOM GREYHOUND), Fur Coat (KYMER)

Top (CALVIN KLEIN), Checked Jacket (PAUL SMITH), Pants (PRIV. SPOONS.CLUB), Fur Slides (EMU SLIDES), Socks (Stylist item) When Hongki walked into the studio, he was carrying a small trunk with a baggage tag. He had just returned from a solo concert in Japan. If this is not the life of a star, what else can it be? Lee Hongki had recently finished a few permanent programs, FTISLAND’s 10th anniversary Europe tour and solo concert in Japan. He is always honest and direct. The only time he hesitated was when we asked what’s his favorite program lately.

“What should I say? I love all of them. I like the radio and <Night Goblin> because I’m close with all of its members and the show is doing well. But I also can not talk about the drama that’s about to air…”

This unique and charming man’s clock is expected to tick away in the new year.

We met between 2017 and 2018. How was 2017?

2017 was really busy. It was FTISLAND’s 10th anniversary and I wanted to spread our name. So I said I’d do everything that calls for me. So I got invited to many variety shows. <Night Goblin> came first and because I found the format to be really funny, I thought it’d be fun. It really is.

Today’s concept is ‘celebrity’s life.’ I asked the stylist to dress you like Elton John and you pull off fur coat really well. For the selfie concept, I saw you take an actual selfie and upload it on Instagram.

That wasn’t a photo shoot. It was a time to take a selfie. (Laughs) When I heard that this is about showing a concept, I said I’ll do it for real. I don’t even really look at scripts. I like facing situations as they come. But that fur coat was super heavy.

Aren’t you too trusting of people? How do you know what’s going to come at you?

I trust myself. I change a lot based on each moment. If the mood isn’t good, I can’t do well. My pictures don’t turn out well. Today was really fun.

This concept was inspired by drama <Hwayugi>. It’s your first drama in 3 years and you are back on a top star role.

I acted a celebrity several times but each one was different. In this drama, I go back and forth a lot but it’s a likable character. I signed up for <Hwayugi> because its synopsis was fun and I worked with Hong sisters before.

What is it like to act a celebrity as a celebrity?

It’s actually hard. I don’t really live like that.

But you’ve seen a lot; admirable and not.

Since I see a lot, I do incorporate them to my acting. I tend to imitate my friends and seniors. First of all, I hate two-faced people. I also don’t like people who don’t listen to others. I can keep talking to those people but if they refuse to listen…that’s too bad. I admire people who are kind of sly but likable at the same time. Those type of people always give back what I give. So I can’t dislike them.

Ha ha. Is someone like that in FTISLAND?

Nope. Not in FTISLAND.

Don’t you have dynamic fans? You have FTISLAND fans, musical, radio and drama fans. How do you interact with all of them?

I’ve always been thankful of my fans so we’ve stayed close like friends. Sometimes, I post things like “I’m going to delete this in 5 minutes but I’ll buy meal for whoever comes here in the nest few minutes!” I really eat with them after that. We argue on SNS. But now, I have drama and musical fans so they all say different things. Some fans say, “I hope you keep acting in dramas. When will you do a musical?” I just have to do well with whatever I do.

I enjoy listening to ‘HONGKIRA’ while driving. Many guests come on the show. You are an excellent host.

Before, it was always about me. I used to think that I needed to be happy and satisfied for everything to succeed. But while hosting a radio show lately, because all of my guests are juniors and younger friends, I found myself changing. I want to make them feel comfortable just like how my seniors treated me. I can be more understanding because we work in the same field. 

Blouse: (YCH), Coat (JUUNJ)

Top (COS), Pattern Suit (SEWEINGBOUNDARIES), Jacket (CUSTOMELLOW), Sneakers (NIKE)

What do you want to say to the rookies?

I always say this. If you are a group, you have to unite first. The most successful member in the team shouldn’t change. But that’s not just up to that member. Everyone needs to help. And that successful member shouldn’t be proud. If you are successful alone, you are nothing.

I can’t imagine you were a nervous type even when you were a rookie.

No. There was no reason to be afraid. I enjoyed everything from the start.

You have an honest image. That can start scandals. Do you have any fear or regret?

There’s nothing I really regret. I get disappointed for not doing it. But I say everything after I think about it. I ask myself multiple times, can I say this? I can, right? 

It’s not easy for a celebrity to be honest.

I sing and act because that’s what I like. But people call me a celebrity for that. But it’s not like celebrities are obligated to follow rules. Sometimes I ask why I did this. But if I put it that way, there’s nothing I can really do. I did try to fix myself. But then I thought I was going to die.

Do you tell your juniors and friends to be honest?

No, I tell them to purify it. (Laughs). I say, I was honest but don’t be like me. I tell them to just be true to their image. For example, I had a junior who didn’t get a break for 2 years. I told him to ask for vacation like “if you give me a vacation, I think I’ll be able to work harder.”

Oh, is that how FTISLAND earns vacations?

No, I pick a date and ask them to not schedule me for anything that day!

I have to ask about musician Lee Hongki. How was the solo concert in Japan? You came here directly from there.

It was a mini live and it was really fun. I had something happen in that past and that made me be afraid of doing things alone. Yesterday, I had 2 shows on a Thursday and 5,000 people had to come to each of them. I was scared nobody would come on a weekday. But the venue was full. I was really thankful. At the end of my concert, I asked them why they came. They said for my song.

That must’ve been heartwarming. Isn’t that the best answer for a musician?

To my relief, they said for my song and I was really happy. So I said, “I can forever sing a song that you want to hear. But if you want beyond that, I can’t promise you. That’s because I could date many people and even though I’ll follow the law, I could party. I don’t really understand a celebrity’s fate. My dream is to be free and I want to live freely. But I’ll sing forever.”

That means you could betray them but never with music.

Yes, I got a long applause (laughs).

You also went on a 10th anniversary Europe Tour, didn’t you?

We went on our first Europe tour 3 years ago and it rocked. So many fans said they couldn’t get tickets so we rented a LIVE house with 300-400 seats and performed for them while drinking. But it’s hard to do a Europe tour because their prices are different. We got to go this time because we said, “we don’t care about getting paid.” We visited 6 countries over 2 weeks. It was so much fun.

You have so many songs now. It must be hard to put together a set list.

We don’t perform songs that the company made. The songs we did when we were young. I make all of our set lists. I think its ridiculous for a company to make it. I imagine how we are going to get to the next song after this, how we are going to rearrange it, how we are going to interact with fans, the mood…etc. I check all of them, discuss with the members and finish the set list.

Where do you think FTISLAND is musically?

We still have a long way to go. I like that music has no end. When I feel like I’ve come to a certain point, I keep meeting more talented people, new sound and new performance. So it’s amazing, fun and I have to continue studying.

Are you sensitive about how your song does on charts?

I don’t care about that. There are songs I don’t care how they do online, and there are songs I want to do well.

It’s not easy to be in a team with same members for 10 years. What’s your secret?

FTISLAND members get along well with each other and everyone is nice. When I was young, my seniors always told me that many bands disband because of their vocal quits. So I decided I won’t be like that. I like performing the most. I really enjoy the 5 of us performing together. So I don’t want to break this.

Do all 5 of you have the same musical direction?

No, that’s impossible. If you listen to our albums, each member has a different musical color. We color it FTISLAND together. Jaejin’s song can turn out different if I sing it. I may be singing them but it’s important to FT-fy them.

What do you dream as a musician?

It’s always the same. To be a ‘rock star.’

What’s Lee Hongki’s rock spirit?

Freedom. Not the rough kind but a peaceful freedom. Peace. I hate being complicated.

How will you be spending 2018?

I’ll have to be busy until I enlist in the army. Now that Soohyun (Kim Soohyun) has gone to the army, I feel like I need to start getting ready for it. I want to be the singer and actor that people can wait for. I want people to ask, “is Lee Hongki done serving yet? I want to hear his song again.” That’s why I plan to work even harder.

How will you describe today’s shoot with 3 SNS hashtags?

First of all, #OffEarly. I had so much fun that it ended fast. And #FurCoat #Allure_MustHave

Knit top & pants (ACNE STUDIO), Pants (NOHANT), Sunglasses (GENTLEMONSTER) *** Cr. Allure Korea + DJ. Pri @tumblr.com ;; Twitter @ChocopieK 

[talitha24-blog1]

Thanks dj prii 😘

[djpri]

[FTInterview] Lee Hongki: “My Life Isn’t A Show For Others”

“I try to do everything I want to do,” said Lee Hongki. Looking back, he has. Because he likes being in a band, you did rock for 8 years even while repeating the process of “fighting, making up and back to normal.”  Because he likes nail art, he published a book on it. Last year, he launched a fashion brand named after himself.  If we were to add another daily story, on the day of this interview, we went wake boarding at 6 a.m. in Chungpyung. The interview was at 2 p.m. “I’m always good at whatever I do with a sense of responsibility,” says he after an energetic day.  Free but respectable, Lee Hongki says: “I love myself.” It was a strong phrase that helped me immediately understand Lee Hongki. 

Q. How does it feel to hear you are a 9-year-old veteran at 26-years-old? Lee Hongki: Urgh, I don’t want to hear it. I feel old. (Laughs). The time flies. It may feel that way because FTISLAND went through some dynamic events. It’s not that we had major problems but the time flew by while we were taking care of internal issues like music. We held countless concerts too. Q. Isn’t making music together fun? Lee Hongki: Of course. It’s annoying sometimes because we run into troubles while practicing and re-arranging music together for concerts. But it’s fun. (Laughs). I think this has that period. In the early days, we are clueless and just do it for fun. But after some time, we get to learn a little, clash and argue. And then at some point, we work really well together. And then when we go up a level, we argue again. Ha ha.

Q. So it repeats every level? Lee Hongki: We keep fighting, make up and get back to normal. Fight, make up and get back to normal. What a band definitely needs is ‘time.’ I think how long you worked together is important. 

Q. Do you want to go solo? Lee Hongki:

Not really

Q. Really? Lee Hongki:

People are always surprised by my response. I’ll be releasing a solo album soon but I had to think a lot about this. I even told our members, “they tell me to prepare a solo album. How am I supposed to sing alone?” Should I be completely different from a band and perform deep ballads or try a new genre like synthpop? I’m considering my options. I’m writing several songs. It’s hard.

Q. Is the date set? Lee Hongki:

This year. I think it’ll come out by the end of the year. It’ll be released both in Korea and Japan. I’m planning to release the same 3-4 songs in both albums and different songs for the rest. So I’ll have to write at least 18 songs. Some songs get done right away and some songs take days. I have a group of friends who work with me like a label. I tell them about necessary corrections when I’m overseas. 

Q. You released single song ‘PUPPY’ in Japan and Korea. Lee Hongki: I originally planned to make ‘PUPPY’ the title song of my solo album but made it into a FTISLAND song because the members liked it. The sound is really great. It’s a super funky song with lots of brass. Funk is in lately. Q. I heard you wrote ‘PUPPY’ after humming in flight? Lee Hongki: “Won’t you rock with me, say bow wow wow.”I wrote it while humming this part. I have several songs I wrote this way. I wrote “LIGHT” from our 5th official album in Korea ‘I WILL,’ because I suddenly thought of its lyrics while drinking with my mentor. I immediately ran to the studio and wrote the melody. It’s a slightly difference for ‘On My Way,’ but I wrote it for our members because we weren’t getting along well at the time. I wanted to tell them that even if we argue, let’s follow the same path. It’s like no matter how many times you fall and whichever path you take, our destination is the same.  

Q. In this year’s reality program SBS MTV ‘COMING OUT! FTISLAND,’ you said “last year was really hard. I questioned if I should keep this team.” Lee Hongki: It’s great now. We solved all of our problems. We have to make up immediately, but it lasted a while back then. We had troubles build up little by little from living separately. I couldn’t handle everyone just eyeing each other. So I told them directly. We made up on the show too. We did a 19+ show to show 100% of us. That’s why Minhwan got drunk and went crazy that time. (Laughs) Singing and all. That was all real. 

Q. You seem like the type to be loved by your seniors. But except for Jonghun, the rest of the members are younger than you. Lee Hongki: Strangely, my seniors adore me. Even on KBS2 ‘A Look At Myslef,’ I worked really well with Choi Minsoo. But we had a lot happen from the beginning…Ah, I have to go see Minsoo’s concert after this! But I don’t know if I can make it because I’m too tired from wake boarding in Chungpyong at 6 this morning. (Laughs) Q. Why do you think seniors adore you? Lee Hongki: I think it’s because I worked a lot with them since I was young. So I know how to treat the elders but not the younger ones. It was really difficult the first time I met our members.  I’m finally understanding how to treat them. Q. How? Lee Hongki: It depends on the person no matter the age. In Jonghun’s case, he likes someone who opens up first. He doesn’t know how to approach first because he is shy. Minhwan is similar but he becomes honest when drunk. Jaejin has a great sense of judgement. He used to be a introvert but he has changed a lot. Seunghyun is…seriously a psycho. Puhaha. He usually looks like he is good at everything but sometimes, he is super strange. He is extreme. 

Q. Just like when we interviewed you 2 years ago, you still seem to rely a lot on Jaejin. Lee Hongki: I get along with Jaejin. We understand each other. Musically, we are the total opposite but we talk about music the most. Jaejin would call me saying he finished a melody but can’t figure out a melody for sabi. When he plays the code on the keyboard and sends me the recording, I wake up in the middle of the night, replay the melody with a guitar and send it back to him. A song that we finished that way will be featured in our new Japanese single. Just yesterday, Jaejin came by my studio. When I asked him, “why do you leave your studio and come to mine?” Jaejin said, “I don’t want to work alone in a dark room.” (Laughs). He says it’s more fun and inspirational to be with musicians.

Q. How are your music styles different? Lee Hongki: I usually write modern-style songs while Jaejin mostly makes deep ones. Jaejin really likes British rock and minor rock styles. From the start, when we were deciding who can play the keyboard, who can play the guitar and who can play the bass, Jaejin’s standard code was minor. Just yesterday, he played minor at my studio. (Laughs). Jonghun is slightly into major styles. He writes fast, colorful and screaming songs. I like that we can play with dynamic music with many different colors. I think that’s our own advantage. 

Q. Is there music you want to do more? Lee Hongki: From being in a band, I’m so used to band sound. I’ve always thought music must have real instruments. But the guys I’m working with make electronic music. From working with them, I realized that you can make music without instruments. So I’m trying out a mix of the two. I’m really into synthpop lately. Even so, I’m pretty sure my solo album in Korea will be 100% sad. (Laughs).  Q. We only talked about music so far but you seem very talented. Lee Hongki: Nah~ Aren’t I good? Haha. When my friends get drunk, they say this sometimes. “I think you are a real troublemaker.” “Why?” “You make money while doing everything you want and like.” But what am I supposed to? This is the only thing I’m good at. (Laughs). I try to do everything I want to do so I don’t like other people getting into my business. Even though I act on my own, I don’t cross any lines. The company understands this. It’s nice to have more manpower at the company now. The company has so many people they have to watch. So they can’t afford to mess with us. I really like that. Ha ha. As for me, I just occasionally ask CEO Han Seungho for pocket money. We depend on eachother a lot like friends. The CEO always tells me that he understands me. Mm, does he? (Laughs)

Q. You’ve been acting too. Are you taking a break this year? Lee Hongki: I said I’ll take a break this year. I was offered a good piece earlier this year but I didn’t do it because it overlapped with our tour. Last year and the year before were so busy. I only had difficult roles…

Q. What was so hard? Lee Hongki: I think it’s harder than imagined to live on a farm for 6 months. 

Q. Ah, SBS ‘MODERN FARMER!’ Lee Hongki: Ah, that was supposed to be a hit. (Laughs). We suffered so much. When real animals like deer showed up…oh man…and the shooting site was super hot during the day and freezing at night. I thought I was going to die. That could be why. We still have a group chat going with ‘Modern Farmer’ team members on Kakaotalk. We all got long really well because everyone except for Lee Honey likes to drink. Director Oh Jinseok, especially, liked drinking. He was really manly so very dependable. Honey is vegetarian. So she didn’t drink and only ate plants. If I was eating stir-fried pork, she would eat mushroom casserole. “Mushroom casserole again?” “(Imitating Lee Honey) Of course~” Ha ha.  

Q. I wanted to ask you for a long time. Do you pick your hair color? Lee Hongki: Of course! No one can touch it. There’s no color I haven’t done. Pink, mint, gold…but this green is embarrassing to go out and about. (Laughs). It looks pretty in pictures but other times, I end up walking around with my head down if I’m not wearing a hat. I didn’t care when I had pink hair! I made my studio-mates color their hair in red and pink. So everyone stares at the three of us when we go out to eat. We are street lights. (Laughs) Q. I think you are able to style yourself because you know yourself well. Lee Hongki: I love myself. Q. How would you like to remember Lee Hongki’s 20s? Lee Hongki: Rather than the 20s, I’m looking more forward to the 30s. It’s all about the 30s for a man and a man. The 20s is a preparation process for the 30s. And because I’m not living to show it to someone else but enjoying my life to the fullest, I don’t have regrets. I don’t want to live colorfully. But I want to live my 30s in style, Q. Would that be the climax of your life? Lee Hongki: That would be in 40-50s. I’ll be a legend when I’m in my 50s! Both as a band and Lee Hongki.  *** Cr. TenAsia + DJ. Pri @Tumblr.com ; Twitter @ChocopieK 

[talitha24-blog1]

Thanks @djpri 😍😘

[talitha24-blog1]

#Repost @koplakhong with @instatoolsapp ・・・ I'm sorry for being so emotional with this #ftisland_x tour in Europe. This concert happens because of campaign made at mymusictaste web. And from all top 7 cities in mymusictaste campaign for #ftisland concert, #ftislandjakarta at top 5 cities campaign, with this all Europe cities. How can I'm not emotional, because we've got nothing now. We made so hard, got so far for this campaign. and at the end it doesn't even matter 😭😭😭 don't be so mean to us @fishandcake We know that FT high price and low demand. But money is not everything. We've got solid Primadonnas here, waiting for 10 years!!! #Primadonnaindonesia deserve for a small concert @skullhong12 @ftgtjhc @minhwan12 @saico0111 @soow456 (at Indonesia)

[djpri]

[FTInterview] Lee Hongki: “My Life Isn’t A Show For Others”

“I try to do everything I want to do,” said Lee Hongki. Looking back, he has. Because he likes being in a band, you did rock for 8 years even while repeating the process of “fighting, making up and back to normal.”  Because he likes nail art, he published a book on it. Last year, he launched a fashion brand named after himself.  If we were to add another daily story, on the day of this interview, we went wake boarding at 6 a.m. in Chungpyung. The interview was at 2 p.m. “I’m always good at whatever I do with a sense of responsibility,” says he after an energetic day.  Free but respectable, Lee Hongki says: “I love myself.” It was a strong phrase that helped me immediately understand Lee Hongki. 

Q. How does it feel to hear you are a 9-year-old veteran at 26-years-old? Lee Hongki: Urgh, I don’t want to hear it. I feel old. (Laughs). The time flies. It may feel that way because FTISLAND went through some dynamic events. It’s not that we had major problems but the time flew by while we were taking care of internal issues like music. We held countless concerts too. Q. Isn’t making music together fun? Lee Hongki: Of course. It’s annoying sometimes because we run into troubles while practicing and re-arranging music together for concerts. But it’s fun. (Laughs). I think this has that period. In the early days, we are clueless and just do it for fun. But after some time, we get to learn a little, clash and argue. And then at some point, we work really well together. And then when we go up a level, we argue again. Ha ha.

Q. So it repeats every level? Lee Hongki: We keep fighting, make up and get back to normal. Fight, make up and get back to normal. What a band definitely needs is ‘time.’ I think how long you worked together is important. 

Q. Do you want to go solo? Lee Hongki:

Not really

Q. Really? Lee Hongki:

People are always surprised by my response. I’ll be releasing a solo album soon but I had to think a lot about this. I even told our members, “they tell me to prepare a solo album. How am I supposed to sing alone?” Should I be completely different from a band and perform deep ballads or try a new genre like synthpop? I’m considering my options. I’m writing several songs. It’s hard.

Q. Is the date set? Lee Hongki:

This year. I think it’ll come out by the end of the year. It’ll be released both in Korea and Japan. I’m planning to release the same 3-4 songs in both albums and different songs for the rest. So I’ll have to write at least 18 songs. Some songs get done right away and some songs take days. I have a group of friends who work with me like a label. I tell them about necessary corrections when I’m overseas. 

Q. You released single song ‘PUPPY’ in Japan and Korea. Lee Hongki: I originally planned to make ‘PUPPY’ the title song of my solo album but made it into a FTISLAND song because the members liked it. The sound is really great. It’s a super funky song with lots of brass. Funk is in lately. Q. I heard you wrote ‘PUPPY’ after humming in flight? Lee Hongki: “Won’t you rock with me, say bow wow wow.”I wrote it while humming this part. I have several songs I wrote this way. I wrote “LIGHT” from our 5th official album in Korea ‘I WILL,’ because I suddenly thought of its lyrics while drinking with my mentor. I immediately ran to the studio and wrote the melody. It’s a slightly difference for ‘On My Way,’ but I wrote it for our members because we weren’t getting along well at the time. I wanted to tell them that even if we argue, let’s follow the same path. It’s like no matter how many times you fall and whichever path you take, our destination is the same.  

Q. In this year’s reality program SBS MTV ‘COMING OUT! FTISLAND,’ you said “last year was really hard. I questioned if I should keep this team.” Lee Hongki: It’s great now. We solved all of our problems. We have to make up immediately, but it lasted a while back then. We had troubles build up little by little from living separately. I couldn’t handle everyone just eyeing each other. So I told them directly. We made up on the show too. We did a 19+ show to show 100% of us. That’s why Minhwan got drunk and went crazy that time. (Laughs) Singing and all. That was all real. 

Q. You seem like the type to be loved by your seniors. But except for Jonghun, the rest of the members are younger than you. Lee Hongki: Strangely, my seniors adore me. Even on KBS2 ‘A Look At Myslef,’ I worked really well with Choi Minsoo. But we had a lot happen from the beginning…Ah, I have to go see Minsoo’s concert after this! But I don’t know if I can make it because I’m too tired from wake boarding in Chungpyong at 6 this morning. (Laughs) Q. Why do you think seniors adore you? Lee Hongki: I think it’s because I worked a lot with them since I was young. So I know how to treat the elders but not the younger ones. It was really difficult the first time I met our members.  I’m finally understanding how to treat them. Q. How? Lee Hongki: It depends on the person no matter the age. In Jonghun’s case, he likes someone who opens up first. He doesn’t know how to approach first because he is shy. Minhwan is similar but he becomes honest when drunk. Jaejin has a great sense of judgement. He used to be a introvert but he has changed a lot. Seunghyun is…seriously a psycho. Puhaha. He usually looks like he is good at everything but sometimes, he is super strange. He is extreme. 

Q. Just like when we interviewed you 2 years ago, you still seem to rely a lot on Jaejin. Lee Hongki: I get along with Jaejin. We understand each other. Musically, we are the total opposite but we talk about music the most. Jaejin would call me saying he finished a melody but can’t figure out a melody for sabi. When he plays the code on the keyboard and sends me the recording, I wake up in the middle of the night, replay the melody with a guitar and send it back to him. A song that we finished that way will be featured in our new Japanese single. Just yesterday, Jaejin came by my studio. When I asked him, “why do you leave your studio and come to mine?” Jaejin said, “I don’t want to work alone in a dark room.” (Laughs). He says it’s more fun and inspirational to be with musicians.

Q. How are your music styles different? Lee Hongki: I usually write modern-style songs while Jaejin mostly makes deep ones. Jaejin really likes British rock and minor rock styles. From the start, when we were deciding who can play the keyboard, who can play the guitar and who can play the bass, Jaejin’s standard code was minor. Just yesterday, he played minor at my studio. (Laughs). Jonghun is slightly into major styles. He writes fast, colorful and screaming songs. I like that we can play with dynamic music with many different colors. I think that’s our own advantage. 

Q. Is there music you want to do more? Lee Hongki: From being in a band, I’m so used to band sound. I’ve always thought music must have real instruments. But the guys I’m working with make electronic music. From working with them, I realized that you can make music without instruments. So I’m trying out a mix of the two. I’m really into synthpop lately. Even so, I’m pretty sure my solo album in Korea will be 100% sad. (Laughs).  Q. We only talked about music so far but you seem very talented. Lee Hongki: Nah~ Aren’t I good? Haha. When my friends get drunk, they say this sometimes. “I think you are a real troublemaker.” “Why?” “You make money while doing everything you want and like.” But what am I supposed to? This is the only thing I’m good at. (Laughs). I try to do everything I want to do so I don’t like other people getting into my business. Even though I act on my own, I don’t cross any lines. The company understands this. It’s nice to have more manpower at the company now. The company has so many people they have to watch. So they can’t afford to mess with us. I really like that. Ha ha. As for me, I just occasionally ask CEO Han Seungho for pocket money. We depend on eachother a lot like friends. The CEO always tells me that he understands me. Mm, does he? (Laughs)

Q. You’ve been acting too. Are you taking a break this year? Lee Hongki: I said I’ll take a break this year. I was offered a good piece earlier this year but I didn’t do it because it overlapped with our tour. Last year and the year before were so busy. I only had difficult roles…

Q. What was so hard? Lee Hongki: I think it’s harder than imagined to live on a farm for 6 months. 

Q. Ah, SBS ‘MODERN FARMER!’ Lee Hongki: Ah, that was supposed to be a hit. (Laughs). We suffered so much. When real animals like deer showed up…oh man…and the shooting site was super hot during the day and freezing at night. I thought I was going to die. That could be why. We still have a group chat going with ‘Modern Farmer’ team members on Kakaotalk. We all got long really well because everyone except for Lee Honey likes to drink. Director Oh Jinseok, especially, liked drinking. He was really manly so very dependable. Honey is vegetarian. So she didn’t drink and only ate plants. If I was eating stir-fried pork, she would eat mushroom casserole. “Mushroom casserole again?” “(Imitating Lee Honey) Of course~” Ha ha.  

Q. I wanted to ask you for a long time. Do you pick your hair color? Lee Hongki: Of course! No one can touch it. There’s no color I haven’t done. Pink, mint, gold…but this green is embarrassing to go out and about. (Laughs). It looks pretty in pictures but other times, I end up walking around with my head down if I’m not wearing a hat. I didn’t care when I had pink hair! I made my studio-mates color their hair in red and pink. So everyone stares at the three of us when we go out to eat. We are street lights. (Laughs) Q. I think you are able to style yourself because you know yourself well. Lee Hongki: I love myself. Q. How would you like to remember Lee Hongki’s 20s? Lee Hongki: Rather than the 20s, I’m looking more forward to the 30s. It’s all about the 30s for a man and a man. The 20s is a preparation process for the 30s. And because I’m not living to show it to someone else but enjoying my life to the fullest, I don’t have regrets. I don’t want to live colorfully. But I want to live my 30s in style, Q. Would that be the climax of your life? Lee Hongki: That would be in 40-50s. I’ll be a legend when I’m in my 50s! Both as a band and Lee Hongki.  *** Cr. TenAsia + DJ. Pri @Tumblr.com ; Twitter @ChocopieK 

[talitha24-blog1]

😊😊😊

[djpri]

[FTNEWS] FTISLAND ‘Over 10 Years’ Chosen As Gangnam Beam Show BGM

FTISLAND’s powerful rock sound will blast Seoul’s Gangnam district every day.

FTISLAND’s agency FNC Entertainment featured FTISLAND’s new album ‘OVER 10 YEARS’ tracks as the background music for Gangnam Beam Show. The Beam Show featuring FTISLAND will take place every night from 8 to 11 along a 570m stretch of ‘Street of Light’ from Gangnam Station to Sinnonhyeon Station. For 10 minutes at the top of each hour, FTISLAND’s music, including title song ‘Wind,’ will blast to a fantastic light show. FTISLAND’s image and music video will also play on media poll LCD screens.

^ Media pole LCD screens FTISLAND is the first artist ever to feature their music and video along Seoul’s iconic ‘Street Of Light.’  *** Source: Herald Pop + DJ. Pri @tumblr.com ;; Twitter @ChocopieK

[djpri]

[FT EXCERPT] IZM Blog: Super Rock Great Meeting

Finally Able To Quench A Little, Their Thirst For LIVE Stage In Korea I was personally most curious about FTISLAND. There was no doubt about their skills since they have been regularly performing LIVE in Japan, but I didn’t know about their overall mood and completeness. Overall, they were already a completed band. Their setlist excluded all of the hit songs in Korea and only included songs from after their 5th album and songs released in Japan; it was full of confidence and ease. While they presented a breathless energy with ‘Pray,’ they called for audience participation with ‘Champagne’ and lead the mood without any major difficulty. Having a popular frontman like Lee Hongki was also a charm. But what made FTISLAND really shine was members’ perfect collaboration. From ‘Identity,’ and ‘1,2,3,4′ to ‘Orange Days’ duet with Spyair Ike. I believe it was also a meaningful time for FTISLAND because they got to perform their Japanese songs. When it came to being able to explode at moments notice, FTISLAND was much more talented than any other group. Their stage went beyond my expectation and made me hope that they get more opportunities to share their music in Korea.  *** Cr. IZM + DJ. Pri @tumblr.com ;; Twitter @ChocopieK 

[djpri]

[PRI-LOG] Rapper Dindin: Hongki Is Really Manly

“He is among the most awesome people I know. He is really manly.”

That’s rapper Dindin talking about FTISLAND’s Lee Hongki. On MBC Every1 ‘Video Star’ aired on July 11th, Dindin praised Hongki’s loyalty.

Dindin said he and Hongki are really close and they often go out drinking after their radio. One night, they went drinking with a group of friends in Hongdae. After their get together, Dindin was sending people home in a cab. That’s when he said a really drunk person came up, slapped Dindin in the back of his neck and shoved him, telling him to get in the cab. 

Dindin thought the person recognized him, so he responded carefully. But the drunk person pushed him into the cab. Dindin didn’t know what to do. 

Hongki then stepped up and told him, “you are doing well lately. You have many on air schedules and shot many commercials already, so just go home. I’ll take care of this. Go home.”    

Dindin said he was also worried about Hongki since Hongki is also a celebrity and he didn’t do anything wrong. Hongki went up to the drunk person, held his hand and said, “I think you had too much to drink. That guy went home now so you should to.”  Like that, Hongki took care of everything. *** Cr. DJ. Pri @tumblr.com ;; Twitter @ChocopieK