FIRST LOOK August 2020 Interview with The Boyz

Interview with Jacob, Juyeon, Q, & Sunwoo

 

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Q: You won the survival program <Road to Kingdom>, where seven talented boy groups participated in a competition. How does it feel finishing this long journey?

→ Q: "Even when we were just starting the program, I had lots of concerns and doubts like, 'Will we be able to finish this safely?' 'Will we be able to run forward to the end with plenty of strength?' But in the blink of an eye, we were already standing on the last stage. I felt relieved, and I also felt really proud because we received good results. I think the bond between the members grew stronger, and it feels like we've improved a lot more."

→ Sunwoo: "I have experience preparing for and doing evaluations with the members during our trainee days, but this was my first time doing activities while being pitted against other teams. Personally, have experience doing the survival program <High School Rapper>, and rather than focusing on how nervous was, I knew to some extent (what to expect) and how much could be gained (through a survival program). Because of that, I think my attitude looking forward was also somewhat different. I had lots of expectations about how we might have changed once the program was over, and I also thought it was a good opportunity to look back on ourselves from an objective standpoint. I also think that it was a time that made The Boyz stronger in many ways."


Q: Many people said that The Boyz would take the throne (in 'Road to Kingdom'). How is it? Is it a result that you expected?

→ Juyeon: "We were so happy and thankful that we won, but honestly, before starting, no one amongst us nitpicked over the rankings. Rather than being tied down by rankings, our first goal was to "leave behind legendary stages that will become the talk of the town every time". We thought that if we worked hard with that resolution in mind, good results would also follow. But we even won, so we feel very satisfied."

→ Sunwoo: "When watching the other teams' stages during the first round, │ thought that it'd be really hard to win. They showed stages that were so amazing to the extent that they made everyone's jaws drop. So our members resolved together, 'let's work harder for our preparations'..."


Q: What do you think is the reason you were able to achieve good results?

→ Jacob: "I think our storytelling was good. We created a story from the first stage to the last, and connected them closely together. We kept having meetings where we got together to come up with ideas and concepts, and we poured all our efforts into drawing up a single narrative. From the Hwarang concept to the thieves, revolution, the moon, chess, and so on each had different material and subjects. And of course, we paid careful attention to the song and dance, as well as the expressions and gestures we did onstage. Because we created a full story for <Road to Kingdom>, I think people became interested through that and looked upon (our performances) well."


Q: Because there were many parts of your performances that stood out, it seems like there would have been a lot of pressure on the members who were in charge of main roles. In that aspect, we wanted to gather the "performance members" here today in one spot and hear your words.

→ Q: "Honestly speaking, there was a lot of pressure. As the main dancer, I felt lots of responsibility for holding the center and leading the members well. Because we have many members, we have the advantage of being able to decorate the stage in diverse and plentiful ways. But to that same extent, it means that even just something small going wrong will lead to everything falling apart. Even when it felt difficult, tried to gather more strength and console the other members. But they all did their best, no, even more than that, so I felt very thankful. There were many times when I felt touched because the members showed how even when things got more tiring, they'd care for each other and come even closer together."

→ Sunwoo: "Seeing as we have many members, we can't help but each to have different thoughts, standards, and abilities. I think that it's thanks to the hyungs that stood at the front and reliably endured those differences while guiding us, that we could achieve good results. I had a great desire to do well, but during times where things didn't go well as planned, it was because I was doing it together with the members that I could believe in and follow them. While monitoring the stages, I felt proud of the members, and also looked forward to what we would do next."


Q: Our expectations while watching over The Boyz has become very high. There are many people that will make sure to search for and watch The Boyz's performances in the future.

→ Juyeon: "There is a feeling of pressure regarding having to continue showing a good and more improved image, but I also have plentiful confidence that we will do that well. Using <Road to Kingdom> as a scale, you'll be able to meet a The Boyz that have upgraded to a level higher. At the Dream Concert a few days ago, we showed off 'Checkmate', the song we did for the final round, for the first time after the program. We performed it without stage props, with just our own colors to create a stage with yet a different color. More people than expected liked it and cheered for us by saying (the stage) cool. We want to keep this mindset of taking on new missions, and meet everyone's expectations."


Q: We thought you'd be resting with no worries, but it turns out you've been practicing without end. You've probably been racing forward fiercely and busily since debut, but your energy always seems to be overflowing.

→ Jacob: "Even got a period of rest recently. Each of the members got to engage in their hobbies, so, we received vocal and dance lessons, and are in a stage of self-development. I've particularly been enjoying working out. For all the members, even if we get free time, I don't think anyone lazes around. We always have a strong desire to do something, and it feels like our goal as well as our happiness to keep working to show a good side of ourselves for our fans. Even if we' re busy and it's tiring, I like continuously searching for new things (to do)".

→ Q: ''I think I always receive and gain strength from being amongst the members every day, not just power onstage. There's nothing really in particular, but we chat with each other and fit together and play well, like a class of friends in high school. We enjoy (being together) while sharing small things with each.

→ Juyeon: "Recently, we've been preparing and presenting the contents called 'A to Boyz'. Each member prepares and shows their process of development through a video, for something that they particularly like and are interested in, such as singing, rap, dance, and so on. I want to express and draw out our diverse colors through many different methods."


Q: If you were to say something you haven't been able to say before to the members gathered here today, or to the members (in general)?

→ Sunwoo: "Normally, I really don't say things with bias (in favor of the group). I don't see things better (about the members) or think that they'll definitely do well just because we're on the same team. But speaking objectively, I genuinely think these hyungs are cool, and I believe that they'll become even more special as people in the future. I wish for them to believe in themselves and to express their own colors even more boldly."

→ Jacob: "Sunwoo's rap has something that grabs your ears and draws you in right away. The moment Sunwoo uses his voice, it feels like the quality of the song increases drastically. And when I watch Q and Juyeon dancing, I somehow just become happier. I feel proud and happy just because of the fact that I can stand onstage with them. I resolve to work harder so I can continue to stand side by side with them."


Q: You are experiencing a period of time that is more meaningful that any before. Near the end of this year, what words would you like to hear from other people?

→ Juyeon: "Since we are still newer artists, I think we are a group that has a dream of 'rising' meaningfully. I want to work harder so that amongst the many teams that are leading Kpop, we can be called the representative group that is most eye-catching, and a group that can lead the next generation."

→ Q: ''I want to hear the words, 'The Boyz did everything during 2020'. The fans recently talked about 'DDD', and they said it means 'Everyone has become a Deobi (The Boyz fan).' I wish for even more people to discover our charms and 'DDD' (become Deobis), so that we can give and receive a good effect with each other."

(*T/N: 'DDD' is the title of The Boyz's title track, which is also spelled as the acronym ㄷ ㄷ ㄷ in Korean. The phrase 'Everyone has become a Deobi' is spelled in Korean as 다 더비 됐어, with each word in the phrase starting with the ㄷ character so that it matches up with the song title's acronym).

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(translated by @dearhyunjaes)
scans cr. @mulberryyz


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