B1A4 Japan Web Magazine Modelpress interview

5 member boygroup B1A4 had an interview with modepress. Last year October, they revealed that they shifted label to Universal, had a press conference in January, and released their first single with Universal "You and I" on 8th March.

What are their thoughts on this new journey? We also got a chance to look at the member's overflowing charms.

Their group name was made by putting the fact that they have 1 B type member and 4 A type member together, it also consists of the meaning "Be the one, All for one", to work hard together for their dreams. & their reason for changing label is to fly one step higher than they are at now.

Leader Jinyoung received KBS Male rookie award, and got acknowledge as an actor as well.

It is their 6th year in Japan, and they have been on various media.

What kind of group is B1A4?

Q: Even though you are known in Japan, but kindly introduce yourselves.

JY: I am leader Jinyoung. I also does the producing for B1A4. I'm not sure about myself but you can say that the members have kind personality. I am also doing acting as my individual activities.

CNU: I meddle unnecessarily into other members together with Baro, I am the eldest, I am CNU. Even though I am born in the same year as Jinyoung, because I am the eldest, I care a lot about the members. For B1A4, making our own songs is also our work. I am also in charge of writing and composing songs. As for individual activities, I am doing musicals.

SD: I am in charge of the main vocals, I am Sandeul. Even though Gongchan is the youngest, but because of my baby face, I hear people around me saying "Ah~ so you are the youngest". For individual activities, I do musicals, acting and go on variety shows.

BR: I am in charge of rapping. Also, B1A4 is made up of 1 B type guy and 4 A type guy, and I am the B type guy. I also like to play around the most. There are times when I tease the members but these are just display of affections. (laughs)

GC: I am Gongchan, B1A4's youngest. Even though I am cute like how a youngest should be, I have my manly side too. I have a sweet voice slightly different from the hyungs, My hobbies are games and listening to the hyungs talk.

 

New feelings after changing labels

Q: You announced that you changed labels in January and released your single in March. How are you feeling?

JY: As we changed label, the staffs who supported us changed, the environment changed too. But the fans stayed the same and gave us support. We feel motivated as we are off to a new start.

GC: There are a lot of fun things even in the new environment. I hope B1A4 can be more known through this (label).

Q: How was the new environment? Have you gotten used to it?

SD: I am afraid of unfamiliarities but I am slowly getting used to it. Since we are starting new, I have to do it!

CNU: I am happy that the staffs are treating us nicely. We will work hard to pay to gratify the anticipation that the people have for us.

The thoughts for the first single "You & I" after switching label

Q: You & I seems to be a cheerful song that match the fresh start. 

JY: Thank you. You & I consists of the energy that BANAs give for us to fly forward. It is a song that is about the thankful heart for the love that BANAs give us.

Q: This song is written and compposed by Jinyoung, please let us know if you have any interesting episode while writing this song.

JY: The lyrics contained my feelings and I wrote it preciously. Be it the sound or the music arrangement, can our voices to come alive when we sing, and can the fans be able to sing along, I focused on those parts. As I make the song, there are a lot of things that I think about or find it important.

SD: I thought about how to have fun with fans when we sing this song during the concert. I especially want to sing the chorus with the fans. Also, it would be great to give attention to the scene where we are making pizza in the PV. You & I have a meaning of doing things together, making it together, fighting together. All these can be seen in the pizza making scene so I think it is a very important portion. 

Coupling songs are Blue Moon & Choo Choo train remake

Q: Blue moon is a song written and composed by CNU, what kind of feelings did you have while making this song?

CNU: As this is our first single after the switch, I want to be able to put in as many of our colours as possible. I want to make a song that is different from You & I and Choo Choo train.

BR: Even though this is a heart-broken song, I feel that the title shows a "cold and lonely" image. When we sang this song, we paid a lot of attention to the pronunciation of the Japanese language. As we want to sing a song that is filled with our hearts, we worked hard on our pronunciation.

Q: Starting from EXILE, many artist have remade ZOO's Choo Choo Train, including yourself. Why did you choose this song?

SD: It is a song that we like a lot, and we want the fans to be able to sing it along with us during the concert, so we chose to remake it.

GC: When they showed us Choo Choo train, we were worried if fans could sing along and have fun with us. But because we are able to sing this songs together with fans, we want to show this song even more.

Active schedules in Japan! Concert in June!
Q: Not only in Korea, but you guys are actively promoting in Japan too. Are there any time you find learning Japanese language difficult?
BR: Now I am getting used to it, I find it fun too.

GC: Even though we got stuck for 5 years. (laughs)

CNU: It was hard when we first debuted, but I think we are slowly becoming proficient now.

Q: You will be having concert tour in June! Please tell us your resolution.

BR: We will work hard! We are preparing new performances.

JY: It will be very fun and we are also looking forward to it. We are preparing performances that fans can have fun together, you have to come!

GC: During promotion, we went to about 4 to 5 places, but we want to visit more fans. As we are able to meet a lot of fans during the concert, I am looking forward to it.

SD: Just thinking about how the fans attending our concert are smiling makes me very happy. In order not to let you down, we are working hard in preparing! I hope we will be able to see BANA's happy smiles during the concert.

CNU: To us, to be able to meet our fans, that is the happiest thing. During this tour, we are able to go to various place so I am very happy. I hope that we will be able to go to even more places, and work hard to meet even more fans.

We are working hard for our dreams! What is B1A4's dream?
Q: Your group name contains the meaning "we work hard towards our dream together", please tell us about your dreams or thoughts about your future.
JY: I want us to be famous in Japan. I also want to do a concert in dome.
SD: I hope that our songs will not only be listen to by k-pop fans, but I have a dream that our songs can be listened to by all music lovers.
GC: I want to be able to attend Kōhaku (year end song festival). Up till now, the only Korean artists who have been on the show are BoA & DBSK. I feel that it is very cool and proud of. I hope that we can work harder and it would be good to be able to go on Kōhaku like the seniors too.
BR: I want to be able to receive an award like Japan Record daesang. In Korea, in Japan, in all parts of the world. I hope to be able to receive such awards.
CNU: The 5 years were we have been promoting has been very precious. I feel that be it in Korea or in Japan, this is just the start. I want to be able to always remember our starting heart. I also want to be able to meet a lot of fans.

- Thank you -

The 5 shining members who has just switched to a new label and start anew. As they try to answer the interview questions without the help of the interpreter, we could feel their professionalism. Even though it has been 5 years since they started their promotions in Japan, these boys who things that "this is just the start" aims for the highest place. B1A4 who are heading straight moving forward, carrying a warm heart, their thoughts and visions will come true as they achieve it with their fans.

PLEASE TAKE OUT TRANSLATIONS WITH FULL CREDITS.
Korean translations/ Original article