Trans: Kim Hyun Joong Interview on Unlimited

Congratulations on the release of the first full album, “UNLIMITED” !

One year has passed since his debut in Japan. Releasing single albums, promoting live concerts and so on, Kim Hyun Joong spent a year at a run. Before he ends this year, he is going to compile the fruits of his activities of the this year into his first full album,

UNLIMITED covering new three songs which is released in December. We had an interview with Kim Hyun Joong to look back his achievement in 2012 and to ask about his plan in 2013.

1/ Look back Japan Debut in 2012

Q: How do you feel the year of 2012?

HJ: This year I could spend close to all of you (fans). Since the solo debut in Japan, I had much support, especially to the second album, “HEAT”. Having an opportunity to receive a song (both of lyrics and song) from B’z, a musician I have been longing for, I could challenge to a rock music, brandnew genre for me to which you gave a tremendous support. From personal viewpoint, it was a specially fruitful year for me. I hope that the first album to be released in December will make a success as well, and thus I will be able to close this year in a fantastic way.

Q: What was most impressive one?

HJ: Your question reminds me of so many things I had experienced in Japan like panorama. I particularly remember guerrilla live performance more than anything else. “Guerrilla performance” means that I show you performance at the venue where the conditions for permance are not satisfied, nor no security is assured. However, I could feel what I cannot feel on the stage. Fans also felt close to me. It is a pitty that I can only see them in a very short time, but I appreciate them for their passionate support they give each time I visit Japan.

2/ First Album, UNLIMIED

Q: Could you tell us about the album concept?

HJ: It is Rock Sound. The songs before “Heat” were mainly dance music, but this time, the new songs consist of live performance instrumentals suh as base, drum, and keyboard. The live rock sound is realized in this new album which is exactly I have been longing for.

Q: What kind of though did you put in the title “UNLIMIED” ?

HJ: Well I thought that I could not stay within the field I had been performing. I always like Rock and I have been thinking of stepping into this genre sometime. Beginning with Heat, I learned about genuine rock sound, and am ready to able to try many challenges now.

I would like to show you my wide music specifications and that is why I put the title

“ UNLIMITED” which means I do not stay within the existing framework.

Q: What are particular in the new album?

HJ: As I have always been communicating to you, there is no change that I want to be your “Only One” However, I would like to go further, not staying at the same place, but in order to continue to show you new style, I will do my best.

Q: The song list of the album seems to be the best selection. How did you choose songs ?

HJ: This first album consists of three new songs as well as those released before. I picked up the songs I am speicially attached to. I also wanted to select what all of you like the best.

3. Your Story

Different from Heat, “ Your Story” is a beautiful ballard , midtempo track. Could you explain about the production process ?

HJ: The original demonstration song of Your Story was a R&B with rap. In order to make difference from an ordinary ballard, I wanted to express a modern-rock feeling in it. Together with Mr. Kim Seong-lr, a basist of Daybreak, the famous modern rock bank in Korea, we presented many ideas, thus creating a completely brandnew song.

In the recording, Daybreak members played a guitar, base, and keyboard which was 100% satisfactory for me.

Q: You will work on MV shooting. What kind of image do you have in mind?

HJ: I will show you a movie with a fantasy taste, which is completely different from the image of the song. It will be the opposite one you will imagine. Please expect.

4. Save Today

Q: For “Save Today” I collaborated with many artists. Mr. Kim Seong-lr was in charge of an overall arrangement of the song, while Mr. Yang Hye Seung of Pia, a popular rock band being in charge of drum and rhythm. Further, Mr. Alex of DOWNTELL, representative heavy metal band of Korea, took the part of guitar performance and its arrangement, which is the core part of this song.

From composition to preparation and the recording, we spent the time most for this song. It was a precious experience for me to be involved in production together with them.

5. I’m Yours

Q: It is a magnicient scale music composition. It is not a straight-forward love song, but there seem to be a hidden message. Is there any hidden message in it?

HJ: In the lyrics of “ I’m Yours “, “ you “ means all of you, fans. The reason I can be here now is thanks to all of you.

Q: In the promotion pictures, you put many tattoo painting on your body. Did you come out with this idea by yourself?

HJ: Yes. Though it is not a real tattoo, but I just wanted to show a different image which I have never shown to the fans.

Q: In some of the pictures, you have a guiar. Was it your own ? You actually played a guitar during the shooting ?

I have a Gibson Les Paul, Fendar Standard and some acoustic-sound guitars.

While preparing for this album, I started a guitar lesson. Sometime in future, I would like to play a guitar suddenly in front of you. Please expect (laugh)

6. Miscellaneous

a) What is must for Christmas ?

HJ: I recommend to spend your Christomas with whom you love and my album^^

b) Next Year Plan

Any schedule has not yet been concrete. I just start Japan tour in January.

c) Objective as musian

Charity concert where I would like to invite the fans from all over the world.

I am not sure when I can realize but I always dream of this concert to express my appreciation to all of you. It will be nice if I could have one in the universe.

Hyun Joong on KBoom Nov&Dec 2012 issue

Pictures of Jingue Fireworks Festival which took place on August 10, 2012 in Tokyo.

Please repost with full credit: lafone0606

＊　日本のブログへの転載はご遠慮願います。

Kim Hyun Joong Calendar 2012-2013

Please repost with full credit: lafone0606

＊ 日本のブログへの転載はご遠慮願います。　

Josei Jishin : 10 episodes by Henecia Japan Staf

A rough translation of Josei Jishin Oct. 16 issue:

Pleas repost with credit "lafone0606"

Henecia Japan staff talked 10 stories about Kim Hyun Joong

1^st episode: He is very calm and quiet. While in transit, he saw videos with iPad.

2^nd episode: He loves dancing so much that he sometimes steps even in a narrow elevator. We also feel that he is very dertermined to do what he once decided. This summer, KHJ was very busy with Heat promotion (2^nd single in Japan) as well as the new drama (City of Conquest) shooting in Nikko/Kinugawa for the two weeks. He repeated return trips between Korea and Japan. As soon as he arrived at his hotel from Haneda, he immediately started a vocal lesson or had a meeting with the teacher of acting skill about City of Conquest.

3^rd episode: During May – July, he was also hectic with Asia FM to visit 8 cities. He cancelled his after-event party in Japan, directly going to dance rehersal to prepare for Asia FM. He has never shown his hard efforts behind the scene to the fans. Though he said “ I cut back body fat to 7%, but I still have to work harder “ in a light way, he was on a very strict diet to reduce his weight by 10 kilos.

4^th episode: During his stay in Japan, he only took low-fat milk. Even on the occasion of dinner at a Korean restaurant, he did not eat meat, but had only vegitables.

5^th episode: It is well known that KHJ loves Ramen, but he also gave up ramen. On August 10 when he visited Japan for Jinju Gaien Fireworks Festival, he had low-calory “zaru soba “ ( Japanese noodles served on a bamboo draining basket with a dipping sauce) at Fuji Soba in Roppongi.

6^th episode: He is full of challenge spirit, loving to show something new to his fans. He cared about the reaction from the fans to “ Heat “ performance which was the first time for him to sing and dance with the bank.

7^th episode: On July 3, he had a hand-shake session at Odaiba to celebrate the release of Heat album. He was touched by the fans in a long que even in the heavy rain. So he decided to repay to the fans by Guerrilla live at Tokyo. He proposed this idea to us.

He said “ I would like them to enjoy live performance, but it is not easy in a big-scale event venue as there is a distance between the stage and the audience. I would like to go closer to the fans “

8^th episode: Guerrilla live was held at Osaka on July 7 and Nagoya on July 8. According to the Henecia staff, he was scheduled to return to Tokyo on July 8, but he proposed to drop by Nagoya to meet with his fans in Nagoya when he stayed in Osaka. Therefore, staff rushed to Nagoya on the same day (July 7) to look for event venues in the midnight.

9^th episode: The next day of the joint concert with Naoto Intirami, his succor-mate, Hyun Joong had pains in his throat in the morning. They once considered to cancell “the invitation event of Heat album” scheduled on July 15. But as he was so determined to do the best what he was able to do with that condition, they decided to carry out the live. After the temporary treatment at the hospital, he was on the stage of the daytime session. His eyes were brimful with tears, being filled with love to his fans.

Now Heat ranked No.1 at both of Daily and Weekly Oricon chart, making another record of over 200,000 copies. According to Henecia staff, “ In the fan board of the official club, Henecia Japan, fans wrote to aim to win Platinum Disk (the award to be given to the sales of 250,000 copies) “

10^th episode: Once Kim Hyun Joong talked about his dream, the Dome tour. But he talks about another dream to Henecia Japan staff. “ I would like to have a live in a small venue where I have never visited. I can feel a sence of unity with the audience better in a small venue and they will enjoiy it as well “

Choa No.15 KHJ at Jingue firework festival

" Ladies dressed in yukata (cotton casual summer wear kimono) are so beautiful !"

On Aug. 10, Jingu Firework Festival, one of Tokyo's summer features took place, where

ten thousands of fireworks lightened up the summer night sky. Kim Hyun Joong (26 years old)

appeared on the live stage of Chichibu rugby stadium, starting from the most recent song,

" Heat ". He performed the total nine exciting numbers for 40 minutes, which would

be another memory with his fans this summer.

❤❤❤❤❤

" Are you ready ? "

With his shout, pearl green lightsticks shaked all at once.

Green light emerging out of the twilight looked so fantastic!

With excitement after young girls idol group, SKE48's performance remaining on the stage,

Kim Hyun Joong's live began with " Let's Party ", a up-tempo dance number which

changed the Chichibunomiya rugby stadium to concert hall.

" We have really many people with us here today. Can you hear me well ?

In July, I released my second single album, " Heat " in Japan. Thanks to this

album I am very happy that many people became to know me "

Then he sang heartily " Heat " , he won Oricon Weekly No. 1 for the first time.

Big drops of sweat was falling down from his forehead.

" It is very hot today. I feel so hot by myself (actually he said " achui " a sort of child

word ^^) Today I can see many ladies dressed in Yukata. Very beautiful !"

＊ He said in an interview that he say a fireworks festival in Tokyo Bay Area when

he used to live in Tokyo. With many girls dressed in Yukata, he was impressed that

the firework festival was a sort of beautiful summer festival, being a part of traditional

culture.

At the venue, many girls were dressed in Yukata which brought a chaste breeze.

Hyun Joong seemed to have fun, different atmosphere from an ordinary live stage.

" This sumer, I encountered " Heat ", having many promotion activities in Japan .

Thank you all the fans for your great support "

With hectic schedule due to a new drama "City Conquest" in which he takes the

male-lead, it is hard to expect his live performance again within this year.

He closed his live with " Heat ". He sang the total nine songs.

" Seeing fireworks together with you at the end of this summer, I am happy to have

another memory " He also enjoyed the firework festival. It seemed that in his

heart, a big flower of firework in the night sky was engraved on one of his summer

memory pages.

In the mini column: Kim Hyun Joong's donation to the charity institution.

Kim Hyun Joong, a very busy guy with Asia Fan Meeting Tour (visits to five countries

starting from Singapore in May), and drama shooting of City Conqueest in Japan,

gave donation of 50 mil won to the charity institution in Korea as he knew that his

fan club donated 10 mil won. He gave his donation on August 3 to the same

institution his fan club did.