BTOB's Back Again, Makes Own 'Thriller' and Meets With Press via Google Hangout [INTERVIEW]
The ''jack of all trades'' boy band is back to showcase another transformation that is packed with otherworldly performances and uncontested vocal skills. The live performances of ''When I Was Your Man'' are an unprecedented marketing tactic that the fans are responding very positively to and have got them anticipating for the release of the 3rd EP.
The title track, "Thriller'' takes the listeners on a wild roller-coaster ride with a non-stop overload of ominous voice of BTOB decorated with Ilhoon's and Minhyuk's ''shiver compelling'' rap. All of the members incarnate the legendary sound and the thrill that no mere mortal can resist.
For the very first time, fans can expect BTOB's self-produced songs in the EP. "Why'' is a collaboration between GiKwang of BEAST and Hyunsik while the rap-making was contributed by Ilhoon and Minhyuk. Furthermore,''Star'', an autobiographical track, describes the uncertain future of BTOB's trainee years, yet the persistent dream to become a star for all to admire. The rest of the tracks such as ''Catch Me'' & "Like A Crystal'' are easy-listening music that can be played at anytime, anywhere for the general public.
On the evening of 13th September 2013, media from 5 different countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia) were invited to a LIVE press conference with BTOB via Google Hangout.
Let's see what the boys had to say for their latest released album in the excerpt Q&A below:
Q1: What are your thought on your comeback?
A: EunKwang: This is our 3rd EP mini album and it's been almost a year since we released our 2nd album. we worked really hard on it and we feel grateful to be able to do music that we love and also kind of display and showcase what we have experienced for the past year through this album. We very happy to do a comeback.
Q2: The title of your 3rd mini album is called "Thriller". Can you tell us more about the album and also the songs in the album?
A: MinHyuk: The concept for this album is slightly different from previous album as we show masculine images for this album. The title song 'Thriller' is a story of knight that wants to save his love from the darkness. And also our fellow member HyunSik made a debut as the songwriter for the track ''Why'' which he collaborated with BEAST GiKwang and the second song that he wrote all by himself is called "Star". The album is full of dynamic songs and different genre of music.
Q3: What are your future plans?
A: HyunSik: We will do our best to showcase everything we had prepared for the album and after the promotion domestically we had a plan to promote overseas as well. Please look forward to it and hope you give us much support.
Q4: Any words for the fans out there?
A: MinHyuk: It's been awhile since we met our fans, we feel sorry but excited to meet them again at the same time. We would like to return their love and support by putting on a great performances and continue doing our best. Thank you and we love you(fans)
Q5: For this album you took different promotion tactic by releasing the songs through radio station first ahead of broadcast album release. Can you tell us the reason and how do you feel about that?
A: The reason we take different tactic to release our album by singing LIVE on radio is we want our fans to hear it first LIVE before it get broadcast and the response is pretty well and we're very happy for that.
Q6: Which member that you think fits with Thriller's concept the best?
A: Ilhoon: I believe that me and SungJae fit the concept the most.
Q7: Since your album is a thriller concept, what thrill and scares you the most and who do you think is the most 'thrilling' members of the group?
The group members choose EunKwang and ChangSeob as the most 'thrilling' members.
A: EunKwang: For me, I'm such a scaredy cat and got scared pretty easily, I don't dare to watch horror movies and what scares us the most is HyunSik. He (HyunSik) loves making pranks, I always become the victim among other members and as for that I always need to be cautious on HyunSik's whereabouts because whenever I walk down on the street he will appear from nowhere.
Q8: Your 3rd mini album is titled 'Thriller' the same title as King of Pop's Michael Jackson big hit. Is it an homage to Michael Jackson? Do you feel additional pressure that comparison would be made to you guys and Michael Jackson?
A: The title might be the same but we didn't feel any pressure because it's definitely a different concept from MJ's Thriller because our composer actually got inspiration for the song from a movie called 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' by Tim Burton.
Q9: What inspired HyunSik to compose the songs in this album?
A: Actually I wrote the song ('Star') during my trainee years and as desire to becoming a shining star in the future. That was where the inspiration to write the song came from.
Q10: The song 'Why' is a collaboration between BEAST's GiKwang and BTOB's HyunSik. Did BTOB have a chance to compose a song for BEAST's album?
A: If there is any other opporturnity that arise for us to compose again, we would like to return the favor as well.
Q11: Is there any artist BTOB would like to collaborate with?
A: Ilhoon: We definitely have a lot of artist that we would love to collaborate with, local nor internationally. For me maybe someone like Chris Brown, Pharrell and Teddy Riley.
HyunSik: I want to collaborate with Sung SiKyung.
Writer: Nik Tim | Special Thanks: Universal Music Malaysia
