Epik High exclusive interview with KpopStarz Japan Part 2

Check out Part 1 HERE

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◆I saw an article that said, during recording, you were told not to use the YG studio. Why was that? Please explain.

TABLO：EPIK HIGH is always making EPIK HIGH's independent music. So the CEO was worried that, when we work in YG studio, we may get influenced and produce "YG sound." So we were asked to use outside studio to work within EPIK HIGH alone.

◆From EPIK HIGH members' view, what is "YG sound"?

TABLO：More than "YG sound," when musicians work together, they get impacted by each other and grow similar. We and BIGBANG are close like brothers, so the CEO was worried that two groups may become similar in atmosphere, and perhaps gave such instructions this time.

◆Not to give an objection, (Laughter) but this time SOL from BIGBANG and WINNER members have joined EPIK HIGH's recording as featured artists this time.

TABLO：Even the featured artists were cooperating according to our direction. We asked thme to sing matching to the direction of EPIK HIGH. Arrangements and MV creation are all done with our ideas. This time, by recording in an outside studio, we could create music in an environment that we desire more than before.

◆Through the recording of album SHOEBOX - Japan Edition, what was most impressive?

TABLO：SOL [Taeyang]！

MITHRA：BIGBANG's Taeyang.

DJ TUKUTZ：He is such an energetic person!

TABLO：EPIK HIGH's best friend. (In Japanese) Tomodachi! &Tamagocchi. (With rhyme)  

MITHRA：(Bitter smile）

◆Does SOL understand what EPIK HIGH wants to do?

All members: Yes.

TABLO： In the past, he has joined my solo album. We always get along, and it's very nice.

◆What kind of request did SOL make in this time's recording?

TABLO：He didn't make any special request. Just by simply listening to the songs, and being told "please do as you like," he sang in a perfectly fitting way.

◆Are there other impressive episodes?

TABLO：Two songs - "Happen Ending" featuring Lee Hi [JAPANESE MIX] and "Spoiler" ft.Taehyun (from WINNER)[JAPANESE MIX] - have choruses in Japanese. These songs have different people for ft. than when we published them in Korea. These songs were loved in Korea, but when we made them for the Japanese edition, it was impressive to work together with different artists than before. 

CONTINUE TO PART 3

[Text: Kiyori Matsumoto / Photo:Akiya Uchida]