D-LITE
His nature being revealed via his solo debut album
They were grouped together in 2006 and they officially debuted in Japan in 2008. They are widely popular in Japan and yet their popularity keeps increasing. The Monster Group is now embroiled in a world frenzy, Bigbang. They possesses persuasion that comes from artists. That is because of the members self composed songs and the creativity is shown when they are working as a whole together. They are able to perform naturally instinctively and the ability to prove everything. Thus, although they are “weird, alien-like”, they have overwhelming popularity that can knock one down. In that type of Bigbang, one of their members, D-LITE will be releasing his J-pop cover album, “D’scover” on the 27th of February, to fulfill his dream to debut in Japan as a solo singer. Amongst the members who all possesses some singing skills, D-LITE has exceptionally well singing skills, where he can sing a range of fast songs to ballad songs. In this album, he has a different side compared to when he was in Bigbang, this album overflows with the warmth that D-LITE has. Under the name of J-pop covers, D-LITE used a different way than Bigbang to welcome the song, thus projecting the warmth in the song via his body.
Last year, after the highly successful world tour, group activities has ended up till now, how does he feel working as a solo artist? We will listen to him now.
Interviewer (I): Why are you debuting in Japan with a J-pop cover album?
D-LITE: I always had a good impression of J-pop from the start and I even practiced and learn J-pop songs.
I: When you say good impression, what are you referring to?
D-LITE: In a previous Bigbang album, there are two songs, “Haru Haru” and “Lies” but at that moment when we were producing the songs, I was listening to Daishi Dance san’s music and at that moment it was my first time listening to J-pop seriously. After that, while I was listening to Shibuya-Kei music (sub-genre), I was thinking that “J-pop really has all types of music”. Thus I went to listen to other songs to practice. I personally really like songs that able to make people feel warm and fuzzy. And these songs can be found in J-pop songs and they also contain lyrics that I really like.
I: Compared to the times before you started listening to J-pop seriously, did your first impression change?
D-LITE: Yes it did. About J-pop, during that period of time in Korea, X-JAPAN was the trend, so at that time I had this impression that J-pop was strong rock n roll. I was thinking that “Ahh, so majority of J-pop songs are so powerful”. I didn’t listen to much J-pop songs after that. However, the other genres are entirely different right? Thus I got shocked again. I still feel some impact (laugh). I feel that music is really wide.
I: You had to pick 10 cover songs amongst these wide variety of J-pop songs, how did you choose it?
D-LITE: At the start I received a list of recommended songs, I will listen to the songs and then BEEP! (laugh) Songs that made me feel something immediately were added to another list for listening again. I then marked songs based on its hook and melody, choosing songs that I want to sing and songs that suits my voice.
I: At that time, weren’t you bothered about the gender or genre of the songs?
D-LITE: I was thinking about the specifics of the song so I thought that I will think of those later instead. I still think that how I feel about the song when I’m listening to it the first time is the most important.
I: Oh I see. After listening to your cover songs, I feel that even though the songs have different tempos, you were still able to digest it well and make it D-LITE san’s songs.
D-LITE: Ah, Thank you.
I: How much effort did you put in to make yourself learn and perform these songs by the famous original artists?
D-LITE: About this, I really, felt so much nervousness going on (laugh)
I: Hahahaha
D-LITE: It was really stressful (laugh). I am the sort of style who will start to worry about things before it has happened (laugh). Isn’t the first album most important to all singers? Furthermore, there are already so many fans supporting the original singers in Japan. All these fans have their own memories of that time and smell of the song right? I think that is very important. I have to add my own colours in without destroying the flavor of the original song. When I’m doing that I can’t let people think that “something is weird” and at the same time I have to let them think “this is not bad”. I want to add my own colors in to the songs where the fans of the original artists and songs will also be happy with my colors, to let the song become even better, that is very important.
I: Compared to singing new songs, do you think you need to do something extra to make yourself understand or get used to the original songs? What do you think about that?
D-LITE: Compared to singing new songs, when doing covers, I feel that I have to understand more about my own voice and everything about myself. If not it will change the color of the original singer. Of course, I will still listen to the original song and experience the mood and feeling together. I will then consider if it was me, how would I sing the song. If I feel that I have listened too much to the original song I will stop because I will be imitating the original singer instead. I will start listening to purely the melody of the song and try to create my own voice and mood.
I: Oh I see.
D-LITE: But I will not really notice about the tempo, a slight change will make myself sing in a more relaxed mode instead. At that time I will think “If I change the tempo will it be weird?” I will challenge myself and practice with the new tempo to hear if it’s weird. The whole process was really tiring.
I: So there were some changes with the music? How is it?
D-LITE: I am not quite sure about the re-arrangement with the instruments. Overall, it still centers on warmth. Warmth is the most important thing. Afterwards, I then discussed more about the impressions of the songs. For example, “Powerful Boy” by Sukima Switch was re-arranged by Sasaji Masanori san. The first time I heard it, I immediately saw the image of One piece Luffy.
I: Ah ah.
D-LITE: So I emphasized that I wanted an image along that line. However, isn’t it difficult to show it through music? So, when I was conversing with all the producers, we discussed about many details, for example “the color of the tone isn’t bad” etc. For this, I really sincerely thank VERBAL (m-flo) san, Kameda Seiji san, Matsuo Kiyoshi san and Sasaji Masanori san.
I: Normally as a member of Bigbang, you already stood out quite well. However, this time round you are doing a solo cover album, do you feel any difference between you and the songs compared to how you feel normally? [Difference between how he connects the songs to himself because Bigbang’s songs are all original self-composed songs]
D-LITE: Definitely. Bigbang’s songs are sung by 5 person. For example, it is a story that is told by 5 friends taking their turns speaking about their feelings. During recording sessions, I will sing based on the mood set by the previous member and then I have to pass that feeling on to the next member who sings after me. When singing Bigbang songs, this is the most important thing. But this time round, it’s really a story that is told by me from the start till the end. So when singing, I have to take care of all the turns and notes and it was a little tiring.
I: In “Wings”, it was composed by Bigbang’s leader G-dragon, it really is because G-dragon knows you very well and thus he had this song perfectly suited for you. It is because you, as the singer knows him, the composer very well. However for cover songs, it is very hard to absorb the meaning of the original singer’s intent. How do you solve this?
D-LITE: I think that singing and acting (I’m not that sure about acting) are two similar things. In life, we have to put ourselves in certain roles that a normal person can’t feel. At that time, they will start training to think that “If it’s me, what kind of person would I become”. The same thing goes for singing, when we sing earnestly, we think that it is very good, sometimes, isn’t there lyrics where we cannot relate to it? That’s why I feel that singing and acting is the same. We have to think that we are the main characters as depicted in the lyrics and how will the main characters survive everyday up till now, then sing it out with the feelings inside at the same time.
I: So it is like this. During your live, your solo and when being with Bigbang will be different.
D-LITE: At the start that was the biggest problem (laugh).
I: (laugh)
D-LITE: I didn’t even know what I had to do (laugh). However during singing, as long as one gets into the world of singing, even though we do not do anything, there will be an atmosphere set naturally right? I think it is fine as long as we sing earnestly during the midst of it.
I: So you are handling everything over to music, to let music lead you.
D-LITE: Yes, we will change based on the songs. When I am singing “Singer’s Ballad” and “Joyful” isn’t it entirely different? So I will let music lead me on.
[I feel that it is the most dangerous thing when humans has a fixed thinking manner]
I: Due to your solo activities, the way you perform and the extent of it must have become wider compared to the past right?
D-LITE: Yes, I think that if humans are stagnant, and only in their own box of thinking is a very dangerous thing. For example, Bigbang now and Bigbang during the debut period, whether it’s the songs or position is entirely different. However, when doing something, if we think “we are like this, so it is fine if we don’t try something like that” to decide on things, being stagnant on the spot, whether it is new music or new challenges, we will not be able to produce anything. Thus, we have to make ourselves like transformers and always have an open attitude to anything. When challenging something there will definitely be failure but we have to fight against that worry (laugh) and win against it!
I: (laugh) that’s right.
D-LITE: Because this is a problem that other people cannot help, it has to be solved by ourselves.
I: Oh I see. So, after this experience being a solo artist, what will you be bringing back into Bigbang?
D-LITE: It is something that has not happened yet so I am not really sure. But Bigbang has all along been pursuing our solo careers, to be integrating what I learnt during my solo activities into Bigbang, I think, isn’t this the secret to why Bigbang is being so loved right now? [Meaning solo activities has actually contributed to Bigbang’s success and popularity because of their experiences] Thus, I will also bring back what I felt during the solo activities back into Bigbang.
I: During your activities as a member of Bigbang and as a solo artist, do you sense anything regarding the members changes?
D-LITE: Right now I think that all the members has some changes. Solo and being a member of Bigbang, the way people look at us are different. Me too, when I am having my solo activities, in my heart I think… “so DLITE”
I: Hahaha
D-LITE: (laugh) Real DLITE- is to be the original you. In Bigbang there is bound to be some roles and mood that you set. All the members are like this.
I: D-LITE as a member of Bigbang, is truly different from solo artist D-LITE.
D-LITE: Yes. Of course, I have some form of freedom when I’m doing my solo activities. However, I feel more lonely than free… but now I don’t feel that way anymore (laugh)
I: (laugh) So the characteristics of the group will definitely be stronger.
D-LITE: Yes. Right now, everybody is doing their solo activities, so I would also like to know how Bigbang will be in future after we get back together.


Read more: http://bigbangupdates.com/2013/02/full-trans-of-daesungs-interview-on-japanese-magazine-cut.html#ixzz2MAVw4mSE