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【GRAZIA September Issue 2016】Interview: BTS’ Suga, Min Yoongi or Agust D 

PROFILE

Name: Suga (Real name: Min Yoongi)

Birthday: 1993.3.9

Debut: 2013 BTS single album <2 Cool 4 Skool>

Hometown: Daegu (that’s why ‘D Town’ often appears in the lyrics)

Hobby: Browse speakers, read IKEA’s catalog

Favorite place: Quiet place

The dish that you’re confident in: Gordon Ramsay style’s steak

Interview

Q: You look dead tired right now.

A: The day before we just got back from Beijing’s concert. Today I was composing until 5am and I thought ‘if I don’t sleep now, l’ll actually die’, so I had a nap and came out. 

Q: Recently (you’re busy that) it’s driving you out of your mind, right?

A: We’re in the middle of BTS’ Asia tour. And I’m planning to release my first mixtape soon. After the concert, I work on my songs and record, even when I come back to Korea, I continue to work on it and record. Aside from the concerts, I’m always working on my mixtape.

Q: How do you compose when you’re abroad?

A: I work in the hotel room. I’d take all the equipment with me. I’ll set up in the hotel room so I could record.

Q: But still, you went overboard to work until 5am.

A: If I didn’t have a photoshoot today, I wouldn’t even sleep and continued to work. My mixtape is in the final stage of composing. I wanted to use all of my beats, so it took longer to finish.

Q: How many tracks are in this mixtape that you need to compose and suffer like this?

A: Technically there’re about 10 tracks, but the featuring part haven’t finished yet, so it’s hard to give a definite answer. 

Q: You won’t be releasing it under the name ‘Suga’?

A: Yes. I’m releasing this mixtape under the name of ‘Agust D’. I wrote ‘DT Suga’ in the lyrics in the past, it’s spelt backwards. DT is my hometown Daegu, or D Town. The meaning is great and it sounds cool when I’m rapping, so when I’m composing with people outside (the company) I kept using this name. And looking at it now, the mixtape will be released in August, so it feels like it’ll have a great result (laughs).

Q: What kind of atmosphere is the music in this mixtape?

A: I made it with the base of hip hop. It has a different feeling with the existing BTS music. It has all the elements that I wanted to do. I’m composing with who or who’s featuring in my tracks, my company doesn’t get involved. There’s no need to consider about the popular appeal/ popularity and I composed without dwelling on the ranking on music charts.

Q: What are the lyrics about?

A: It’ll make people say “oh? did he say that?”, “is it ok to write these lyrics?”. There’re strong and shocking parts. Anyway I wrote all the stories that’s inside of me, so I feel relieved. 

Q: How come you decided to publish a mixtape instead of releasing (and sell) an album?

A: If you say ‘album’, it has a feeling of being trapped in some sort of framework. And if the company does the promotion, I’ll have the pressure of having to be on the Melon chart. Since I just made the music that I wanted to do, I hope those who listens to it will like it. Anyway, those who won’t listen will not even listen to 30 seconds, so there’s no need to advertise and tell many people to listen to it a lot. So I didn’t release as an album, just readily release it free to the public (laughs)! 

Q: Which areas do you usually pay attention on?

A: I love to talk about stories on dream, youth and reality. The social atmosphere is only rushing the people in the 20s in the world we live in. From a young age, they emphasize on studying. The standard of ‘an outstanding person’ is clear. The environment is difficult for people to have their own dreams. But if you’re turning 20, it doesn’t seem like you’re. Now it’s the ‘N포 generation’, where people have to give up many things. The reason why people get discouraged is because they can’t see the future. It’ll be ok, if they see the light and go along that way, but they can’t even see that light so they fall into despair and can’t progress. So, I hope my music can comfort those who listens to it and walk out (of the misery).

Q: Wow, you’re so mature. Is it because you’ve been making music since a young age?

A: I think I was 13 years old, at that time I learnt about MIDI on the computer for the first time. I started to write my own lyrics around that time too. And then, I started to work in a studio in Daegu at the age of 17.

Q: As a part-time job?

A: Yes. Instead of saying I started to make music at a young age, it’s more appropriate to say I started to work at a young age. Just like that, I composed songs, wrote lyrics and arranged songs. People sees me and say that I was active in the underground scene, but actually I was just making music in Daegu. When I was working in the studio, I arranged songs or made beats and even sold them. Then I naturally started to rap and did performances.

Q: How much did you earn?

A: Nothing. 

Q: You said you were working though.

A: That’s what it was like to work there. Usually we don’t have any income. Working in the studio, it was difficult to pay for food and transport. In front of the studio, there was a Chinese restaurant that sells Jajangmyeon for 2,000 won, if I walk down further, there was a place that sells Janchi guksu for 1,000 won. I worried about it everyday. If I eat the 1,000 won Janchi guksu, I could get the bus and if I eat the 2,000 won Jajangmyeon, I’d have to walk 2 hours to get home. Even though it was tough, I want to make music so I endured it.

Q: Do you still contact those who you’ve worked with back then?

A: There’re many people who gave up music. A hyung that said: “I like music but I lack the talent”, he set up a hip hop musician management. There’s a hyung who works in an ordinary company and there’s a hyung who operates a meat restaurant (laughs).

Q: Do you think you have the music talent?

A: I don’t know about the talent. But I’m very sincere when I’m making music. I actually live half-heartedly (laughs). But with music, I won’t allow myself to be half-hearted. If you’re going to start, then you do need to your best.

Q: Is there a musician that you want to work with?

A: Kayne West. When I was in high school, there was a time where I got a hip hop festival ticket and went to see it, instead of getting paid. The main artist was Kayne West and I can’t forget the impact. He performed a song called ‘Power’, and the level of it was so different to the performances that I’ve seen back then. It wasn’t music, it was purely art. It’s Kayne. There’s no need for words, because anything he does, it’ll become a trend.

Q: What’s your goal as a singer?

A: From a young age, I’ve listened to a lot of music which carries hopeful messages. I don’t know what was so hard for me at the age of 13 (laughs). I want to make that kind of music too. I want to hear people say: “this friend makes such touching music”. Although it’s hard to achieve that (laughs).

Q: So, what’s your goal as a human Min Yoongi?

A: I want to become a good person. But how can you become a good person to everyone? That’s my greed. At least I want to be an honest person that doesn’t lie. So, I’ve been trying to live my life like the lyrics that I wrote. Even after 10, 20 years, I can hold my head high to my lyrics.

Q: Aside from music, is there any other field you’re interested in?

A: I’m really interested in fashion, but I’m more interested in music equipment and sound equipment. So I read a lot of foreign magazines and I often read equipment reviews posted on the community. It’s lucky that our company has the mics and many equipment like the converter which are difficult to purchase in Korea. While we have overseas schedule, we bring back all sorts of equipment. 

Q: I’m kind of surprised.

A: I’ve worked in the studio for a long time. Now, I do all the recording, mixing and mastering. People asks: “why are you doing that?” (laughs), but making music like this energizes me and it’s fun.

Q: I thought you were going to say fashion.

A: Of course I’m really interested in fashion. In the old days, I’d pay attention on trying to make myself stand out with fashionable accessories, but now I’ve changed. I want to look cool even wearing a plain 10,000 won t-shirt. So recently, I’ve been wearing simple clothes, which is comfortable for me. 

Q: You’re a rapper but you don’t have any tattoos.

A: When I was young, I really wanted to have one. But as I turned 20 years old, I didn’t want to any more. Recently, I heard that Pharrell Williams is removing his tattoos and saying that he doesn’t even know why he got it tattooed. I might want to do something else in the future. I want to do charity work, it might not look good so I’m refraining myself.

Q: If you’re getting a tattoo, what and where do you want it?

A: A dot on my toe. 

Q: What did you say?

A: I’m trying to minimize the visibility, but I don’t know yet. I could change my mind and tattoo my whole back next year (laughs).

Q: What kind of accessories do you like?

A: Rings, bracelets, necklaces/chains, watches, I like everything. Not long ago, my dream was to buy an expensive watch. Men are like that. Having a luxury watch is the measure of success and it also represents that person’s identity. But at one point, my greed disappeared completely. If I wear the watch that I like, will people call me a ‘cool person’? I thought that it could cause repulsion. I think that it could bring bad influence to someone so I became cautious about it. 

Q: It seems that you’re also very interested in charity work.

A: The media uses ‘how skinny are you’ as the standard of beauty and cause a heated issue. But in the other parts of the world, there are people who has nothing to eat and dying because of hunger. Shouldn’t we pay more attention on that? I think if I become someone with a great influence and an honorable person, then people might focus on that area.

Q: Now how close are you with the ideal person that you have in mind?

A: 10%? There’s a long way to go. I must be cooler.

Trans: KIMMYYANG Source

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Pablo Picasso, Femme aux mains jointes,1947-1948.

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Frederic Edwin Church  Aurora Borealis from Bar Harbor Maine, 1860

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“Skull prepared for sorcery.” 1910. Papua New Guinea. Source.

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Buddha of Bamiyan in Afghanistan before its destruction in 1992, Photo by Steve Mc Curry

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The more desserts the better

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A thatched cottage in snowy conditions, Lustleigh, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, Great Britain.

Contributor: Nigel Hicks / Alamy Stock Photo

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Help me save this wilderness! Learn more about this forest, and my mission here ! Donate through paypal: [email protected] or Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/ccnaturepreserve

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some of my art, mostly from this year. several of these originals are available <3 find prints of my work on  etsy // find me on instagram

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🖤energy and self care talk🖤 a friend asked me today about protecting personal energy, especially in relation to toxic or demanding people. i’m at my most creative when i’m in a good way so i’ve made it my business to practice self care. this is a bunch of things that work for me. if you take it as advice please be wise about which parts may benefit you✨😊🌿 . in my experience the place of truth when it comes to relationships is not heart or mind but the gut 😬 . most human situations contain at least a seed of absurdity and often a whole forest so if you can see that and laugh you’ve come a long way. . some people are so toxic that any energy exchange with them should be avoided, meaning focus all your work concerning this person on cutting and cauterizing emotional ties + protection. abusers thrive on engagement. it’s helpful to see ill behaviour as rooted in hurt whether it is malicious or just energetically draining. i’ve found that in the latter case it can be helpful to love people from afar. when you are having a good day and feel that you can do it from the heart with little or no ego involvement send them warm energy or a loving thought. totally silent true forgiveness matters and is healing for both parties as well as the planet. definitely challenging. . when things are calm around you carefully, without judging, locate the places within yourself where you carry anger and hurt. send love, warmth and forgiveness to those places. visualising helps! conjure a warm glow with your inner eye and send that glow where it is needed, whether that’s a physical, emotional or intellectual place. . ritual and objects of protective power. magical working is highly personal but it can be as simple as choosing a piece of jewellery, a stone or a bead and imbuing it with intent. visualize a clear dome or bubble around you. affirm that you allow only the powers that love you and wish you well to come through. make the surface of your dome reflective and affirm that it will keep all negativity out. hold your chosen object as you do this and then carry it with you as a reminder and source of strength. . hope this may be of use 💖ps. i forgot my best advice: drink tea ☕️

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hi friends !

so i have a confession and a story today, but a reminder first: there is still time to enter my giveaway, and thankyou thankyou to all of you who already did, i’m overwhelmed by your shares and kind words. it means so much ❤ any hoodie or sweater from raintower is part of the first prize so go to take a look at my previous post :) wearing our ‘dom’ hoodie here with pocket and extra large hood, a personal fav as it’s perfect for hiding in and roomy enough to layer. ok, confessing now: being engaged in sustainable fashion as a cause feels so weird to me!!! i never saw this for myself to be honest, i always thought i’d just be a painter and illustrator. i love clothes and always made them for myself but how i got to where i am now is a strange journey.

i realised about five years ago that in order to make a living as an artist, full time and sustainably (as opposed to on and off, when things went well ;) ), i could try creating things to sell besides artwork/prints. t-shirts, for instance. so i started doing research and realised there was literally no way at that point i could print my art on shirts without supporting sweat shop labour and harming the environment. it doesn’t take much reading to be convinced that the textile industry is destructive in the extreme and that mother earth cannot support us doing this. 

so i decided to take all of it into my own hands and began recycling textile, sewing and dying it myself. at first it was just a little side project but it took off and got SO bloody difficult. steep learning curve is an understatement ;) i’m often a little cloudy in the head and i forget things easily, especially boring struggles … but i lay awake last night thinking about the first two years of raintower and how i often wanted to just give up because i couldn’t seem to survive and keep up with demand while adhering to what i consider simple, basic ethics. i still feel that way sometimes so if my clothing line disappears you’ll know why 🤣 i also had to find ways of explaining to customers that with natural dyes and recycled material the look of garments will vary a little. pre-loved energy of second hand clothes but made to fit you. wonderful as that may be it is not what shoppers are used to. i struggle with communicating just how much effort goes into this operation and how important it is to me. i’m not schooled in copywriting, activism, pr, social media, business. english is my third language. 

i would like to give a little shoutout here to lovely maimagi who has a large following on youtube, featured my products lately and did a wonderful job of explaining some of these concepts. thankyou :) something she said in the video opened up my eyes a little: the fact that she knew of me and just one other brand who were on this level of sustainability and ethical production throughout. she also gave this smart tip for shoppers: brands that source ethically will shout about it. this goes back to what i wrote above, it’s a huge challenge so if you’re doing it, you’re probably gonna let people know ;)

we need a movement that goes beyond privileged folks who use ‘ethical consumerism’ as a virtue signal. this isn’t about that vanity: it’s about millions of workers in garment factories, compromised eco systems (yes, organic fibers are culprits too, not to mention fossil fuel synthetic fibres which are on the rise), the chemicals that leak into our environment, the animal habitats lost. there are a lot of small designers — we are in this together and i love and support you. small scale/handmade/uses organic fibre and therefore more ethical is wonderful. but fully sustainable, helping in closing the loop - like a thrift shop! - is a different thing. what we need is systemic change, paradigm shift, thought shift. it’s daunting but i look to changes in history and find hope. 

we can do this and we are all part of it…ethics and sustainability are not buzzwords (looking at you greenwashers), they are important concepts and part of a bigger picture — if the same simple thought (not causing harm is more important money or self realization) seeped through all human endeavour we would have a beautiful thing going. we’re on our way but if my contribution requires me to step out of my comfort zone and saying ‘i do this well’ and ‘i wish more people would take a serious interest’, then so be it. i don’t wish to congratulate myself as a virtuous human because this is pretty basic stuff. it’s just that our current system has a vested interest in blinding us to it and numbing our natural compassion. i make many mistakes and i’m always working on bettering myself but i do good on the sustainability/ethics and i wish for that to be seen. hear that universe? ;) i’m truly and humbly grateful for all my customers and followers who allow me to stay creative. love you and love where this has taken me. thankyou for reading!! (and stay critical, stay punk ❤✊🏽✊🏻🐾). for more details on how we work with recycling please visit our info pages on raintower.se. i’m gonna go back to painting dragons now, something i always saw myself doing ;) xoxoxox

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快晴だと気持ちも穏やかで背筋がピシッとしていつも億劫な事が簡単にできる。…気がする。 「たましい犬」2001 #カノートモカズ #tomokazkano #アート #美術 #芸術 #art #artwork #絵画 #painting #ドローイング #drawing #skech #oilpainting #油彩画 #油絵 #アクリル画 #acrylicpainting #acrylic #抽象画 #abstractpainting #イラスト #illustration #動物 #animal #画家 #artist #japan #dog