On July 19th this summer, a special concert was held in Seoul, Korea. Hip-hop artists gathering for a 4 hours show with impressive line-up !
In addition to the awesome show, here is an interview with the 3 artists of Daze Alive Music : Jerry.K, Rico and Sleeq.
– Hello, can you first introduce yourself?
J (Jerry.k) : Hello, my name is Jerry.k, I’m Daze Alive Music’s Founder. My new album will be out by the end of summer.
R (Rico) : Hello, I’m Rico, the r’n’b singer of Daze Alive and I’m preparing my first EP.
S (Sleeq) : I’m Sleeq, female rapper. My first album will be release by the end of October.
– Who are the artists you get influenced by? And which album are you listening to these days?
R : As for me, I listen to Trey Songz new album Trigga, but also Tasty Money and Keith Sweat.
Jerry.k to Rico : You stay in the same music genre, all love songs. It seems to be your favorite subject !
R : In the album Trigga I really love Nicki Minaj’s duo, how was it called?
J : (search thought his phone) it’s Touchin, Lovin.
R : Oh yes, that’s it !
J : I still listen to Kendrick Lamar and John Robinson & PVD’s latest album in which I worked as a producer. It was quite different from hip-hop because it’s mainly drums but I truly enjoy it. This kind of music makes us wonder about our everyday life and the importance of love, I found it interesting.
S : I keep on repeat Christion Gray’s album School of Roses, for me lyrics are an essential point and his album is great for that, not too difficult to understand for me (as it’s in English)
J : Sleeq is also listening to French artists, tell them !
S : That’s true ! I love the producer Evil Needle and the band Hocus Pocus, I’d love to collaborate with them. I know them since I was a little child and I’m still loving them as much. I just got one question….
Jerry.K and Rico started laughing.
S : How do you pronounce the main rapper’s name in French? It’s 20syl, twenty?
– We say ‘vingt’ which is twenty in French. His real name is Sylvain. “Vain” and “vingt” are pronounce the same. He just reverse his name Vainsyl (20syl)
S : Ok, thank you so much ! I also like C2C.
Pierrot MV
– The track Pierrot was part of your latest album Dope Dyed, and get a high level of sensibility. Did you wrote it in a way to express your own feelings face this situation or was it to spread to precise message, ultimately targeting the Korean society?
J : The lyrics were first based on my own experience with the aim to be more honest with my feelings. As a child my parents always told me not to express them. Then I wanted to share it because I found out that it was common with most of the Korean people.
I also get inspired by a book who encourage youth to live their life freely and as they want to, mostly in light of the economic crisis that the world currently undergo. Our society system is curbing people ideas, this has to change. We must be able to express any of our idea. The Han philosophy, who made Korea a highly developed country in just 30 years has stop and we are now at the same level as European countries. We, also undergo the crisis. Korean people aren’t happy and the society is way too blocked. I would like to convey the idea of freedom of speech to people.
I will also deal with other society subjects in my future album and also a Pierrot remix
– The visual had nowadays a huge influence, and music has definitely become a visual art. With the help of the internet and for your own music, are you shooting MV (Music Videos) because you really consider it a part of your work and like it or because you HAVE to?
J : Music Videos are still too important to promote music, but we tried to add something more by these mean to our sounds.
– Rico , you’ve first start by posting cover songs on your SoundCloud, was it to catch people’s attention and introduce yourself to the audience or, simply, to share what you were doing?
R : The cover songs are like a hobby to me and I can try new things in it, modify as I want and I will keep on doing it. I mostly get myself prepared for my first EP.
– Talking about this EP, will we be able to found previous tracks like Bad on The Bed or Work That or will it be only new productions?
R : The introduction will be Bad on The Bed but the other songs will only be new ones. It will be made up of 5 tracks.
– Have you already set up the release date?
J : I, will tell him.
R : yes….waiting for the head approval !
J : I’m always closing the conversion, I got the last word. A real democracy.
– Your voice is really particular and could easily by assimilated to Zion.T’s voice, you have to choose carefully your collaborations, any ideas?
R : Well, thank you for the compliment, it’s the first time hearing it. I prefer working with men than women, it’s funnier. So, I will say that I want to work with any male artist.
– Sleeq, how is it to be surrounded by (almost exclusively) guys? The current Korean trend is too see sexy dances and pictures in K-pop and does not encourage women in doing rap, how people are understanding your choice?
S : I do as I can but it doesn’t bother me. I still didn’t have a huge career to face some kind of problems with it.
J : For the sexy part, Rico is completing the job.
R : we didn’t push her in any way. But it seems like it mostly me, yes.
– Have you ever thought having international fans, and eventually making concerts there?
J : not at all. I’d never imagine something like that. If someone gave us the opportunity to do concerts overseas, we will do it for sure.
– Thank you and have a great concert !
Everyone : Thank you.
Text & photos : Nabi
Translation Korean to French : Hong Min Jeong
Thanks to : Culture Think and Daze Alive Music
Concert:
It’s now 7pm and a 4 hours show is about to start in a crazy atmosphere.
Compared to other hip-hop shows, the set was quite elaborated with big translucent bubbles and offer a set of lights really interesting and original. In addition, a white rabbit was placed in the center and his facial expressions where changing during the concert. Even the rapper Deepflow point it out as soon as he get into the stage by saying “Tokki annyeong” (Hello rabbit).
All the artists appeared next on stage, and, sometimes grouping by label : Vis Major, Daze Alive, Just Music and AOMG, sometimes solo like Fana, E-Sens and Skull & Haha.
All the performances were true connections with the audience, which was a bit more feminine than masculine (as for the first ranks).
Each artist made a great show and all went with a party feel. A bit to party like as for E-Sens turn to go on stage he must have drink a bit too much and wasn’t far to fall onstage. During the all show the artists were spreading water over the public, so pleasant and really fun !
Each one of them has find his own public but the audience went crazy for Gray and Loco’s entrance !
A sweet memory of Vasco’s part, so impressive and with a strong charisma onstage. I also keep in mind Sleeq, who is incredibly talented when it comes to live performances. As for Cjamm, he’s an excellent rapper with a super strong flow.
In the line-up, 3 Show Me The Money 3 candidates were mentioned: Vasco, Giriboy and Cjamm. No need to say that they don’t need this program at all, they’re all already real artists. Giriboy and Vasco already have several albums, it’s clever that they are true rappers.
My last words will be for Haha, a pure moment of happiness. His joy and energy were filling in each person who attend the show. He jumped everywhere for 40 min !
Text : Nabi