Tsurubo Shion, Shiroiwa Ruki & Kinjo Sukai talk about the future JO1 They also reveal the production of ATELIER
The highlight of the title track “Born to be wild” Sukai: This time the theme is challenge. The message of “Challenging something does have a meaning” is included for the people who got lost. Personally, I like the part “We will find something beyond the fear”. Everyone has their own barriers and something that scares them, but when you overcome those, you find an answer. The process of taking a challenge is also included in the lyrics, so I think it’s a point of attention. Shion: It’s completely “THE Challenge” lyrics. No matter where you look, there are forward-looking words. Also there are a lot of English lyrics. This became a challenge also for me. There are also quite a lot of raps and high notes and it became a difficult song. If I’m asked about the highlight, I understand how amazing Sho-kun is who always answers this (laughs) Ruki: There are lyrics I like. It’s the parts “Unsteady Reality Shaking fantasy” and “When you open the door everything will be released”. This is exactly (how it feels) when you challenge something. The anxiety and fear arise when you try to do something. You also feel that you are unsteady when you challenge something. So if you take one step, you will be released from everything that held you back and the horizon will expand. That’s why I like those two lyrics which express that. It really became a song that can push forward people who are challenging something. Also the rhythm is something that didn’t exist for JO1 before, It became a song that includes also the thoughts of the us who are also challenging something right now.
What’s the highlight of the MV? Sukai: It’s a really short scene, but when Sho-kun comes out from infinity (laughs) Also, when Junki-kun opens his arms widely and makes a pose that makes me think “Did he become a butterfly?” (laughs) That’s attention worthy! Ruki: I want to see the shooting side of Junki’s scene (laughs) I wonder how it was born. (laughs) I really want to know whether it was the direction of the director or he did it on his own. He seemed quite unsteady (laughs) Shion: I was there, too, wasn’t I (laughs) It was the most impressive part. Also, the camera work during “When you open the door everything will be released” was really cool. It was retaken several times and it looks good now. Ruki: There is also a story in the whole thing. Personally, I like MVs that have a story and this time Sho-kun has the key and goes on a search. Also, there are various items, not only keys, but also Kaleidoscope and glass case. Each one has a meaning. In the case of the kaleidoscope it’s that an unknown world is revealed. I think the items are also special, so you can keep in mind those.
Do you have a song you like other than “Born to be wild”? Ruki: I like “Design”. The melody also has a sexy feeling. The beginning is calm, but gradually it livens up. Also, the choreography fits really well. I think there are various scenes that will make the fans think “that’s cool”. Especially the choreography and the composition of the phrase “I won’t let you go” in the chorus. The MV also became cool! Sukai: For me it’s “Speed of Light”. It has a distinctive dance and the song itself feels different from the other songs of the single. It’s a song with an impact, but also the content of the lyrics “More future than past” for example and the forward looking. Also, it was the hardest fight this time. During the recording, I half cried (laughs) It’s difficult and I couldn’t sing high… I fought with it quite hard, but this part, it became something good, Shion: It’s “Get Inside Me”. It was done by our rap trainer. Because the melody is also rare among our songs. Our teacher also came up with the lyrics. For example, Ruki-kun’s part of “Look in my eyes” is similar to ”Ruki”. I like this.
The concept video series “ATELIER” also became a hot topic. Kinjo-san sang “GO'' solo in Korean, Shiroiwa-san danced together with Kawashiri-san, Sato-san and Mamehara-san and Tsurubo-san performed a rap together with Ohira-san, Kawanishi-san and Kimata-san. Sukai: (The question is) why was only Kinjo alone, right? Shion: We all competed and only the first place was alone (laughs) Sukai: Please add “that’s why!”(laughs) Shion: In advance we were asked what vocal, dancing and rap do. Some have been assigned while others said what they wanted to do. Sukai: Around the time of the 2nd single and the 1st album, I thought about what I wanted to challenge. During the remote conferences when I talked directly to the staff, they told me “sing” there. So when I sang it, I decided to try it. So, I was alone. Ruki: Because I wanted to shoot singing, rap and dancing, I was told to decide what I wanted to do (the most). It was like I didn’t ask about the content and slowly decided. At first, I wondered what I should do. I also had the feeling that I wanted to challenge something. The rap teacher was kind, so I was tempted to “Let’s do rap” and I wanted to try singing with Sho-kun and Junki and I also wanted to do dancing. In the end I chose dancing, but it was really difficult… Besides, we did it at the same time as the production of the 3rd single.It was completed in a span of 2 or 3 days. JO1 hasn't done dancing in one cut yet, so I was really nervous. When everyone watched it, they said “It’s cool” and I was truly happy. Personally, the rap was really good. It’s sly (laughs). There was singing, video and movement in the rap. The costumes were also very cool. Sukai’s Korean was also very good. When you hear only that, he seems like someone who can speak Korean (laughs). It feels like he practised a lot. Sukai:The response from Korean people who heard it was great and I’m glad that I did it. I didn’t think of creating something like a new song like the rap group did (laughs) Because I thought they would use the beat of our song, it's new. Ruki: In that case, we should have added a melody to our dance, too (laughs) Shion: (laughs) but it was quite hard. The written lyrics were trial and error. In fact, I thought I should have joined Sukai (laughs) Sukai: I thought of (doing) “Go” full and I do the vocals and leave the rap to Shion, but then Shion went to rap (laughs)
Since last year you have continued to appear at Korean events and programs like MAMA, M Countdown and KCON, but please tell us your honest thoughts about this. Shion: I’m thankful that we appeared on various things. But honestly, it hasn’t sunk in yet. Ruki: Some time ago, someone who appeared with us at a schedule told us “it’s amazing” that we won “Best New Asian Artist” at MAMA. Also, recently, when I talked with an old friend, he told me “You won at MAMA”. By winning, the view on JO1 might have changed. Of course, I also have watched MAMA before becoming a member of JO1, so once again I thought of it as an honour. Sukai: In this one year, we got a lot of awards. I feel it was thanks to JAM and the result of the hard work each day. Also, what made me happy the most recently was to appear on “M Countdown”. When we said goodbye to the stylists, they said “I also styled a lot of famous Korean artists, but I feel proud of working with JO1. I’m sad that we can’t meet.” They were older, but they gave warm words to young people like us. He didn't just say it in front of everyone, he said it in private. He didn't just say it in front of everyone in an expected way, but he said it in a way that felt private. That’s when I realised we made it.
The future aim is? Shion: The aim of both the group and the staff is “to make the best performance as a boys’ group”. I want to move forward towards this. Ruki: Our aim as a group is decided by talking to each other. Furthermore, we also appear on music shows, but I want us to become a group that makes you think “If JO1 appears, I have to watch it.”. That’s why I want to make a performance that has an impact each time. I want to impress people who haven’t seen JO1’s performances yet so much that when they happen to watch us, they think “what are those guys!” and catch their eyes. It’s that I hope we will be able to do performances which are different from other artists. Sukai: The final goal is to conquer the world as Japanese people, as a Japanese boy group. I feel it’s really hard to stand on that stage. I don’t think it’s possible to say “Now, I’m coming.”. We still have some areas where we are still lacking. I would be happy, if not only us, but also JAM would support us in archiving this.
There is also a live tour planned for the winter this year. Shion: It’s long awaited. It’s settled that we will do our best (laughs) Because I believe we are here because of performances. I want to do it soon. Ruki: Live and online, I think there is a huge difference. If we just did in Tokyo, there might be people who can’t come. I’m happy just that we are seen. An artist is only there because there is an audience. When there is no audience, besides doing it seriously, it’s not different from a rehearsal. I want to experience it soon. Us becoming excited and livening up. I want to be on fire soon. Sukai: I don’t know whether I can say this, but I want to bath in the voices of the screaming fans (laughs) There is something that can’t be conveyed if it’s not live, so I’m looking forward to that, too.
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