当代歌坛 Zhoumi Interview

当代歌坛

Zhoumi Interview

About China Line

Recently you hosted C-Radio with Jia and Fei, how do you feel?

It was relaxing because it's my mother tongue and the two partners, Jia and Fei, are good friends of mine so I don't feel nervous at all. To us, this radio show has a special meaning. I have know Jia and Fei for more than a year and we always talk about having a show for China Line. Coincidently, MBC wanted to do a program like this. They looked for us and we accepted it. Although the 3 of us are DJs whenever there are guest there, I feel like this radio show belongs to everyone. We chatted like friends, letting others know how it is like to be a Chinese living in Korea.

Are you the head of the China Line?

There isn't really a leader but if you arrange us according to age, I am the first. Hahaha (The manager quickly shifted the conversation back) Ok ok, I was 18 last year. We have different roles in the China Line. Like there will be a member who will suggest for gatherings. That member is often EXO's Tao or Tasty's Big and Litte Dragon. Jia is in charge of communication, she will contact everyone. Every time when we gather, I will lead and start the talk because I am the oldest. Hahaha (laughing again, actually how are you old?). I have been to Korea for 6 years and it was the first time 7/8 of us gathered together for Mid Autumn festival. Just eating with friends like this gave me a lot of thoughts. Alone for so long, finally we can gather together. 

Do you have anything to tell the new trainees who just arrived in Korea?

As long as you are a Chinese debuting in Korea, we are happy to gather with you. I feel that those artistes work overseas are really having a hard time. Like us, who are older hahahaha (laughing once again, stop saying you are old, you are just a big boy), when we are having a hard time we can still bear with it. But those who are younger than us, they will miss home more. Since we have a Line, all of us can take care of each other like family. So we welcome any Chinese artistes who are working in Korea to come join us.

Fast Thinking Musician

Who do you interact with more in terms of music?

Musically, Lay (EXO) chats with me a lot. I only started composing these two years, previously I only wrote lyrics. Lay likes to compose too, he started before his debut. He likes to pull me into his room and say "Hyung, listen to this song I made". At that time he compose mainly on the theme of family love. Something like 'I miss you Mum', so I really can't give him much advice. These few years he has slowly turned right (Turned Right? This kid was probably being influenced by his hyungs), and started composing songs which I can give more advice. Slowly, we started chat more, including the music styles he likes. He is growing up and becoming more matured.

What kind of habits do you have when composing? For example do you write the lyrics first or the melody?

I think, whether a song is nice or not depends a lot on the melody. So when I am composing a song, I will compose the melody first then write the lyrics. What did you ask me just now? (What kinds of habits do you have when composing?) I can't drag stuff. I have a fast personality. Just like when I wrote my book. When I knew that I had the possibility of publishing the book, I didn't sleep for 4 days when I was in Thailand. I wrote it throughout the night, every night, I wrote for like 5 hours. I was afraid that if I drag, I might not want to do this on again on the second day. Basically when the company gives me a song, I will hand it in the second day. I will only give myself one night's time. From 12am when it's deep into the night and quiet, when it's quiet, I can think better without getting distracted. 

How many times did you amend the lyrics the most?

Up till now I have written 9 songs' lyrics. The company seems to approve my lyrics pretty quickly. But I am suspecting if they approve it because they saw that it's written by me. Hahaha.. but actually they did do some selecting. Maybe because I have been with the company for a long time,so I know what kind of feel they want. What kind of lyrics should match this music style. Because we have Korean members so I avoid using hard words. After a long time, I understand more in these areas than people outside (not in the company).

What kind of music styles are you more incline to? Ballads or Dance?

I prefer slow ballads because I think I am most comfortable with that, more relaxed. But I want to try different styles lately. SJM has more fast songs but whenever I said that I want to sing and dance together, Jia and Fei will tease me, they will tell me "Just sing your songs well". I will reply them "Please, I belong to the dance scene". So I am looking for a chance in future to do something awesome to give them a shock. But right now I still do mainly ballads.

Self-Improving Actor

What plans do you have for acting?

Actually I received a role in September but before I join the filming crew, there were some changes so I didn't go for it in the end. However I have not been lazing for this half year. Besides the concerts with SJ and some solo activites, I am also preparing new productions. Hopefully they can be released soon. Because as long as there is an opportunity, I would like to try it out. At first the company assigned me as singer but slowly I get to do MCing, writing and dramas. They are all trying processes for me. If I don't try it, I will not know if I will really like it. After trying, I feel that maybe I can really do this and work harder for it, getting better at this area, to do the role better when I receive a new script. 

What kinds of roles do you want to challenge next?

I want to try out lifestyle dramas. Those that mothers like to watch. Recently I am watching 'Let's Get Married'. Considering my looks and age, it may be a little too early to try out this kind of drama. But I really got lots of feelings from that drama because the actors really did it very well. The script was good too, I feel like getting married with someone after watching it. This is the influence that the actors of that show gave me. I don't know if it is possible but I really want to try out lifestyle dramas. Actually I wanted to try doing the bad guys because I think my looks especially suits it. Those kind of cool bad guys with fire in their hearts but looks cold on the outside. But after watching 'Let's Get Married' I think it's a challenge too to act as a normal everyday peasant. I can make myself look uglier but if that doesn't work then I have no idea how. (But you are unable to convince others that you want to get married) But look at Gao YuanYuan, she is so pretty and she gives people the impression that she doesn't want to get married... yet she doesn't look awkward in that show. (Even after the manager and I made fun of him, he is still persistence with doing a life drama).

Editor's note:

Zhoumi brought along a youthful looking coat but the photographers ignored it. In the end that coat didn't make it to appear on screen. During the interview, Zhoumi persistently wore it to show a bit of pity and protest.Till the end of the interview, he still wanted to try shoot some pictures with it.

 

Zhoumi's interview with iQiyi

Click here for the interview video

Zhoumi: Thailand trip was a personal schedule, so I booked the air tickets and the transport myself. The funny thing is I often play with the fans there. The local fans in Thailand. They were surprised because normally I go to Thailand for work or performances. I don't understand Thai, so for example when I was in Pattaya, I can't find a taxi so I had to take the Tuk Tuk. It's like a motorcycle and I need to tell the driver the location. But I didn't know how to so the fans took me to get a Tuk Tuk and told me which places to go to and brought me to eat seafood. But I have to pay for all the expenses... hahaha... I was really happy, it's a rare chance to get together with them.

MC: Does the company staff knows about this?

Zhoumi: No.. but now they do.. cuz they are right beside me right now.

Zhoumi: After cutting out the shape of the photos, and then cut out the sides following the shape of the photos. I stick them on layer by layer. It's all done by hand. I think it still look different from a computer generated one. And I think the method is very simple. I gave everyone an idea in this book. If you want to make a book like this, it's not that hard. I drew a comic strip at the end, I drew it myself, teaching you how to cut and stick them together. You can make one of your own, it might not be for Thailand, it might be England, London, a travelogue of your own. 

Zhoumi: I wasn't the kind that got promoted highly by everyone when I debuted.

MC: You are famous now.

Zhoumi: I don't feel that I am famous now too.. hahahaha.. I had more anti-fans when I debuted. I am not sure if you know the situation, maybe you don't know. I was added into an already matured group so many people opposed me. I think many singers will not have an experience like this but I treasure this process. Because it makes me appreciate the fans I have now. You may not treasure these things if they come too easily. When you don't have it, you will want to work even harder to show everyone. I can't say that I am doing very well now but the process of doing it was a self-helping. I hope that I can spread this energy to everyone, that is if you want to do something, work hard for it.

MC: Zhoumi mentioned that the Korean ent companies paved the road for their artistes well. Even if you are lacking, you can still make it up by working hard. Compared to releasing albums, it's harder to find a personal style.

Zhoumi: (Recounting how he met Victoria) There is a basement in the company, the practice room and we were practicing our dance. Suddenly a company staff told me that a girl from China is coming, her name is Song Qian. But Koreans doesn't speak with tones so she pronounced Song4 Qian4 as Song4 Qian2 (Giving out money). So I thought, why is her name 'Giving Money', it's funny. 'Giving Money' to SM. So I went to take a look at her. My first impression was this girl has big eyes. She didn't have make up on and had some pimples. But I can feel that this girl should look good on cameras and she will be pretty with some make up on. We didn't chat much though. She was a little timid and shy. She was the only one who was the same age as me among the trainees. I debuted 3 or 4 months after she arrived. We had some interactions, because she can dance better and I sing better so we will share experiences with each other. Like she would tell me how to dance better and I taught her singing, we became closer like this.