[TRANS] 130305 f(Amber) = MyDaily Interview Part 4/4

On March 16, 2013 By hearteumiIn f(Amber), InterviewsLeave a comment

Amber, “Nowadays I Hold Aegyo Battles with Sulli”

f(x)’s Amber calls her SM Entertainment sunbae singer BoA “nuna,” updates her SNS virtually every day with pictures of this and that, and squabbles with her older sister over Pokémon cards. Though they may seem trivial, as I interviewed Amber we shared stories which can’t help but be special to Amber.

– You’re tall.

“People think that I’m about 163cm tall, but I’m the second tallest in f(x).”

– Your legs look long.

“This is a secret, but my legs are long because I take after my dad. Haha. On stage the other members wear heels a lot, but I wear really high platforms. The air up there is better.”

– Your Korean skills have improved a lot.

“Not yet. The members tell me that it’s still clumsy and Victoria unnie is really good. I think I’m still better at informal language. Formal language is a little awkward.”

– Who are you close to in SM Entertainment?

“Sunny unnie, Key oppa, and Kangin oppa dote on me a lot. And Jonghyun oppa, Donghae oppa, and I are the SM dinosaur line.”

– You’re close to BoA too, right?

“Yes. That’s right. I’m close to BoA unnie too. Truthfully, before “NU ABO” I hadn’t bumped into her very often. But then we rode a plane together for an event. BoA unnie passed by me so I thought to myself, ‘Ooh! A renowned sunbae!’ But all of a sudden after we got off the plane, as she left BoA unnie said, ‘Amber! Call me nuna!’ from behind me. I was so surprised, but since then I’ve called BoA unnie ‘nuna.’ We contact each other often. BoA unnie is really fun.”

– Among the f(x) members, you especially utilize SNS a lot.

“I purposely make an effort to use it a lot. Fans send a lot of messages so I can’t read them all, but I still want to converse a bit more closely with fans. Because I want to show how f(x) spends time when we’re not standing on stage through SNS.”

– Not too long ago, f(x) fans gathered their strength and delivered a donation for children with cancer.

“I was really proud. I wanted to make a donation at least once in my lifetime too, but because the fans did so first I was very proud. Personally, it’s nice when fans give us presents but it makes me happier when they donate to good causes like that.”

– Aren’t there fans who want to see a feminine style?

“There are. Truthfully, I think that I’ve become a lot more feminine after debuting. Before, I didn’t even know how to remove makeup so once I washed my face with regular soap and went through a lot of trouble. Lately I’ve developed an interest in skincare. And truthfully, I used to not have any aegyo. I developed it as I lived in Korea. Nowadays I hold aegyo battles with Sulli.”

– You were squabbling over Pokémon cards recently on Twitter.

“It’s a cartoon I have great memories of from when I was young. It’s a cartoon I woke up early on Saturday mornings to watch. So I collected a lot of cards, too. But my mom tried to give away my Pokémon cards to someone else. Fortunately, I told my older sister and with good timing she saved my Pokémon cards. They’re hidden above my closet, so I don’t know how my mom found them. If I don’t have Pokémon, I can’t live.”

– You draw well too, right?

“Rather than being good at drawing, I just like it. I’ve received a lot of presents like sketchbooks and drawing tools.

– What music outside of f(x) have you been listening to often as of late?

“I really like UK singer Ellie Goulding. I like Bruno Mars’s album too. And I listen to SHINee’s music often too. Since music is my line of work I try to listen to all kinds of music.”

– Do you have a personal goal?

“I want to become an original singer. A singer who can do a variety of music. I want to become a type of singer that has yet to be seen up until now.

Source: MyDaily

Translation: 0wonhee @iheartfx.com

[TRANS] 130305 f(Amber) = MyDaily Interview Part 3/4

On March 13, 2013 By hearteumiIn f(Amber), Interviews1 Comment

Amber “Emceeing Show Champion with Eunjung is My Good Fortune”

“It’s fun.” This is what f(x)’s Amber said frequently throughout the interview.

I was surprised when I heard the news that she would be emceeing cable channel MBC Music’s music program Show! Champion. The worry of “Will she be able to do well?” came first as Amber, who came from the US, is the member who is the least fluent in Korean among the f(x) members. And although she has become much more fluent than she used to be, a question mark still seems to appear on the middle of her forehead when the word “elegant” comes up.

But when I actually watched the broadcast, rather than being worried I thought “She’s doing well,” and the image of beginner MC Amber, who was sweating with nervousness as she held a small script marked with Show! Champion and traded dialogue without a pause with fellow MC Eunjung of T-ara, who stood next to her, was fun. Amber spoke with embarrassment.

“My speaking is still clumsy, but I had wanted to try emceeing if the opportunity arose. Whenever I’ve appeared on broadcast until now I’ve kept quiet because I wasn’t confident in my Korean, but I also wanted to confidently speak on broadcast as I emceed. But words that mix in Chinese characters are as difficult as ever. I keep reading the script until it becomes comfortable to read and try to memorize it. But it’s still a lot of fun.”

When she came to Korea, she learned as she attended an academy. f(x)’s Luna, Krystal, and Sulli stuck by her at all times and kept her aware through dialogue. When she emcees, Eunjung is her partner and teacher.

“I have a jinx so that if I discover a mistake while monitoring myself, I think of the mistake I made as being bigger than it is, so I listen to the opinions of those around me instead. So I’m always exchanging conversations with Eunjung unnie about whether I’m doing well. Eunjung unnie revises the scripts to make it easy for me to understand and lets me know about a lot of things as she says, ‘Amber, try it once like this.’ Eunjung unnie debuted around the same time. Afterwards we got along closely, and I welcomed it when I heard that we would be emceeing together. It was comfortable since unnie knows me well too, and to me it was a good fortune.”

She has a bet going with Eunjung about not making mistakes while emceeing. It is 50¢ for every mistake. “Unnie has paid about 50¢ and I’ve paid about $2.00. Haha. Because there is a fine I have to work harder!”

Though she feels happy when junior idols approach and greet her when she emcees, she said that she was a little sad about having become a senior, commenting “I want to go around like a kid forever,” and stated that “Nu’est’s ‘Hello’ and Crayon Pop’s ‘Bing Bing’ are catchy,” in regards to songs sung by junior idols that are to her liking. She said that having to stand still and watch over other singers’ performances as an MC after singing and dancing on stage was “awkward” and boasted of a temperament fit for live broadcasts, unlike a beginner MC, as she said “It’s difficult, but I’m working hard to become better. And broadcasting live is more comfortable than recording.”

Source: MyDaily

Trans by 0wonhee @iheartfx.com

[TRANS] 130305 f(Amber) = MyDaily Interview Part 2/4

On March 8, 2013 By hearteumiIn f(Amber), Interviews2 Comments

Amber, “I Passed the SM Audition by Singing, Not Rapping”

“My dream was to be a scientist. Or an environmentalist. Becoming a singer felt like a far away dream. A dream that was out of my reach.”

f(x)’s Amber, whose dream was to become a scientist and who strolled around the streets of LA in pajamas and enjoyed playing basketball with friends, was a boyish girl like her current image. “I really liked music. I was in a band at church. My position was drums, guitar, vocals, and so on. I’ve done street performances too. I liked rock. My friends liked hip-hop so I listened to it a lot too.”

Amber, who wasn’t nitpicky over music, approached the dream that looked far away through SM Entertainment’s global auditions in 2007. Though as a rapper I think she is the best among current SM Entertainment’s female singers as her rap abilities are fresh and excellent, unexpectedly it was her singing ability that was the reason she passed at the time. “I passed SM’s global auditions by singing. Rap is something I naturally came to do. I liked it when I was young. Though not of a perfect hip-hop rap style, I liked Linkin Park and followed along to Eminem a lot too.”

If you listen to the song “Beautiful Stranger” from f(x)’s second mini album Electric Shock, which is reminiscent of a dark image, Amber’s heavy rap which penetrates beneath Krystal and Luna’s high vocals leaves an impression. Amber also said that she likes this song, and added “Gangsta Boy” and “Ice Cream” as f(x) songs she likes.

Then she defined f(x)’s music as “A genre you can’t define.” “Even a familiar melody will change if you put our voices over it. We can sing diverse songs because the voices of vocals Victoria unnie, Luna, Krystal, and Sulli are so different from one another’s. An already existing song becomes an entirely different one if we sing it together.”

I felt that with f(x)’s absence of eleven out of twelve months, a one-month promotional cycle is too short. Perhaps it is because nowadays girl groups make you dizzy with the overuse of comebacks and closing stages throughout the twelve months, but f(x)’s hiatus periods feel long and distant. When I brought up my dissatisfaction with such hiatuses, Amber spoke of f(x)’s indefinable music. “We need a year of preparation time. Because we must have fresher and more unique music for the fans and the general public to listen to, I think that preparation period is absolutely necessary.”

Even in the midst of preparing for a new album, Amber said that she juggles studying how to create songs and come up with lyrics. It occurred to me that a day may come when composer Amber’s song is included in f(x)’s album, and the voice of Amber, who doesn’t want to become trapped within the boundaries of being a rapper, once again sounded sincere. I want to become a person who uses her voice. Whether it’s through rapping or through singing, a person who uses her voice. I want to become a singer without an assigned title who creates a diverse voice that makes people go, ‘Oh, Amber does things like this too?’”

Source: MyDaily

Trans by 0wonhee @iheartfx.com

[TRANS] 130305 f(Amber) = MyDaily Interview Part 1/4

On March 7, 2013 By hearteumiIn f(Amber), Interviews3 Comments

Amber, “Rumors of Dropping Out? f(x) is Family”

It was 2010. Amber disappeared from f(x)’s stages. Soon, rumors claiming that she would drop out of f(x) began to circulate. The rumors grew fat as it fed on people’s whispers, then rumors of discord among the f(x) members were added in. Their fans, who repetitively waited while fearful of the rumors, referred to that period as the “time of endurance.”

I met Amber three years later in 2013. She was tall and her face was small, and she appeared wearing a knit mixed with bold blue and orange stripes. She said “I don’t have a business card,” with a face full of playfulness when I handed her mine, then slipped her hand forward saying, “I am Amber.” Amber’s laugh was so bright and big that I couldn’t see her eyes.

Two years ago in 2011. In the end, there was no dropping out for Amber. Amber, who had been away from the team due to an ankle injury, returned from the US and the complete five-membered f(x) took first place on a music program ranking for the first time since their debut. Because it was a result which was forged as they overcame rumors of members dropping out and discord among the group, f(x) cried after receiving their trophy.

Amber likes to play pranks on the f(x) members. So when f(x) is gathered together, the area is talkative and overflows with the sound of laughter. “If someone starts to play a prank on one person, then we all start to play pranks on each other like a domino effect. We don’t know how to stay still. I play pranks frequently on Krystal and Sulli, and Victoria unnie pranks Luna the most. But it’s no joke once Luna gets into the ‘feel.’ Later on there are times when we speak frankly amongst ourselves in a mix of Korean, Chinese, and English.”

The members call f(x)’s oldest unnie Victoria “Vic umma.” “Vic umma” has settled the colors of the members, which are each different from one another’s, into one f(x), and Amber has cherished the dongsaengs. Amber boasted, “They’re all pretty and cute,” and came up with the nicknames “puppy” for Luna, “princess” for Krystal, and “little brother” for Sulli. The eyes of unnie Amber sparkled as she spread her boastings about her dongsaengs.

There is no way that five young and immature girls who gathered and spent five years together didn’t fight at all. What is important is the process of reconciliation, and Amber brought up “misunderstanding” and “understanding.” “At first there were misunderstandings between us because of differences in culture and language. However, as we’ve spent over five years together, now we members understand each other’s feelings well. If I’m sad over something, the members will come to me first to comfort me and say, ‘It’s okay.’ We have telepathy. A telepathy, so that we know even if we don’t say.”

When I asked her about 2010, which was when the rumors of her having dropped out were circulating, she said, “I laughed. I went, ‘But that’s not it, it’s because of an injury.’ But the rumors kept growing. But I left it alone. Because I can just show people when I return later.” I also asked her when her happiest moment was as she promoted as f(x).

“When the members all rehearse together before a comeback, that’s when I’m happiest. Before, when we were trainees preparing for debut, our members didn’t rest and continued to practice singing and choreography. But now when we rehearse choreography together before a comeback, even when it’s hard we become happy when we think back on the memories of those times.”

Amber’s voice was excited all throughout the interview. It appears that her Korean, which had been clumsy, is now passable enough for her to express most of her thoughts nimbly. Nevertheless she mumbled a bit, as though a few words were still difficult, but there was one thing she said with clear pronunciation and without a moment’s hesitation to select a word or organize her thoughts. When I said that the members all seemed to be close, this was Amber’s response. “f(x) is family.”

Trans by 0wonhee @iheartfx.com

f(Luna)’s MyDaily interview~

On October 31, 2012 By hearteumiIn f(Luna), InterviewsLeave a comment

f(x)’s Luna sat down with MyDaily’s reporter for an exclusive interview. She discussed her ongoing passion, musical career and family, as well as her transition from a celebrity to student life. The following is an excerpt of the interview between Luna and the MyDaily reporter:

The interview had to be scheduled after 5pm because Luna was busy with schoolwork. She will come as soon as she finishes writing her exams. Prior to the interview, I searched on the web to learn f(x)’s Luna better. Soon I realized that Luna has a twin sister. Whenever I encountered f(x)’s stages I thought, “Where is Luna getting all that energy from?” Her powerful voice and performances did not match with her size at all but to think that there is one more Luna in the world? Wow. It was truly amazing.

When the clock hit five, Luna appeared at the meeting place, “Good Afternoon!”

How did your exams go?

“Hm… I think I did okay (shy laugh)”

Do you mind me asking about your grades?

“It is a bit personal.(Haha) I am doing great. I receive many As too!”

You have a twin sister. Does your sister look exactly like you?

“No not quite. My sister weighs a little more but is much prettier than me.”

I heard that you use public transportation to school. Is there a special reason for it?

“Before, I used to take subway to school but I take bus now. My father once insisted me to take the bus instead of subway. At first, I didn’t like the idea because subway is much faster. Then my father said if I want to learn the geography of a country, hopping on the bus is a better alternative. So, if I wake up early for school, I take bus and study the region. I enjoy busing now. It’s quite fun.”

Though wouldn’t your family be worried? Luna is a celebrity and people notice you right away.

“Actually, no they are not worried at all (Laugh). My father is a highly spirited person. He always says, ‘At your age, the best way to learn is to experience everything yourself!’ He wants his daughter to be competent and strong. My grandma is the only worried one in the family.

People do recognize me on the street though they don’t come up to me. I think it is because I’m usually busy doing something. The crowds are respecting my personal space.”

You starred in “Legally Blonde,” and in KBS2 “Immortal Song,” you performed a few musical themed stages. Do you enjoy musicals?

“Acting in ‘Legally Blonde’ was so fun and interesting. It opened up the opportunity for me to act as a musical actress on the stage. If I have the chance, I really want to act in a musical again. It was really fun. (…) Up till now I’ve never thought IS2 was my own stage. I’m a member of f(x). On IS2, I had the opportunity to let people know about me, but wasn’t it also an opportunity to let people know about our members? That’s why I felt even more responsibility. The precious thing about it was not the stage where only I stood out, but the stage where I could show f(x) to more people. That’s why it was precious.”

You starred in a drama before. What would be the main difference between singer, musical, and drama?

“All three have one thing in common. They all require voices. I use my voice to sing and act. The core difference is on the voice delivering strategy. So when I first tried to simply act for a stage, I didn’t really understand the phrase ‘All arts are one.’ Now that I do, I want to learn more on delivering my voice to the audience.”

Was becoming a singer your childhood dream?

“Yes, since young I wanted to become a singer. When I was young, I watched singers performing on TV. I followed the steps and sang along. I realized that I feel most happy when I sing and dance.”

How did you meet SM Entertainment agency?

“Few years ago, I made my first appear on TV in the program called “Truth or Dare.” I was just very lucky. Because of the show, I was able to enter SM Entertainment as a trainee. I have always admired SM Entertainment singers especially BoA!”

Finally, how are you doing at school? Are you getting along with your classmates?

“Because I am a celebrity, I had a hard time getting along with other students. One day, I opened up and told my honest feelings in class, ‘I am not different. I am a student and I go to school just like you. I want to learn and create valuable memories in this class. Please help me.’ Shortly, other students approached me and held my hand. I think they understood my honesty. Since then we all became close friends. I was glad that I could open up.”

What did you want to do when you become a grown up?

“I already accomplished all of them! The first thing I had in mind was to travel across Korea. My dad, sister and I packed up our bags and traveled the country for three nights. The other one is enjoying my university years!”