A few weeks ago, we’ve had the opportunity to meet ALiiFe. The band consists of 4 members and received much attention from Asian pop fans and specialised media, thanks to their special concept. Intrigued by ALiiFe, we had the chance to know a little more about them. We hope this interview will enlighten you too 😉
[Version française disponible en première page]
Nice to meet you ! So, we’re here for CKJpopnews, a website which deals with Asian music. If we are here today, it’s because we’re a little intrigued by your group concept.
First of all, could you present yourselves one after another, to let us know your roles in the band ?
Bkey : I’m Brandon, under the name Bkey. In the band ALiiFe, I’m the vocal leader and I also compsoe some of our songs.
Aphy : I’m Murphy, and my stage name is Aphy. I’m dancer and singer.
Dorély : I’m Dorély. I kept this name as stage name and I’m singer in ALiiFe. I also write some songs.
Kyyron : I’m Kyyron, I’m the rapper and the leader of the band.
You’re talking about F-Pop to define your style, how did you come to this designation ?
Dorély : We’re basically inspired by K-Pop, and it’s true that we add our French touch, because we sing in French. We don’t want to do K-Pop, and that’s why we defined our style as « F-Pop » : it’s French pop music inspired by K-Pop.
So, we can consider that it’s the real concept of your band, isn’t it ?
Aphy : Yeah, exactly.
How did you begin ALiiFe all together ?
Kyyron : At the beginning, we were all signed under the same agency, Hope Nation. We were training, and the agency wanted to create a band. I talked about it with Murphy and he made me discover K-Pop. I didn’t know anything about K-Pop but it sounded great to me. After that, Brandon and then Dorély arrived, and ALiiFe was created.
How did you come to specifically choose Asian pop to inspire yourselves ?
Kyyron : We’re actually inspired by everything, not only K-Pop, which is almost only for a visual purpose.
Aphy : K-Pop music is still mainly our first source of inspiration.
Bkey : We also find that K-Pop stars have a really strong visual impact in their music videos. There’s a lot of dance, choregraphies, and that’s why we’re interested in K-Pop.
Aphy : Their music is really diversified too, with vocals and rap.
Kyyron : We’re also inspired by American artists. We’re really open-minded, but we mainly like K-Pop for their visual concepts.
Here is the question asked by a lot of fans : what gave you the desire to start ALiiFe ?
Dorély : Basically, we’re all passionated by music and dance. So, as we were under the same agency Hope Nation, that’s simply how it began.
Have you got any precise artists to name and who motivated you to do music ?
Aphy : Yeah, for me it’s G-Dragon, and also Michael Jackson. They are mainly the two persons who inspired to become singer.
At the beginning, did you all agree on your concept and your inspirations, or not ?
Kyyron : There was no conflict, even if we come from different backgrounds. Brandon and Dorély are mostly listening to R&B, soul and French variety, Murphy really really likes K-Pop and I’d rather listen to urban styles, like rap music.
Dorély : We all listen to different things but our tastes join together with our project ALiiFe.
Kyyron : Right, we can complement each other.
Dorély : We all add our personal touches.
We also saw that you traveled to South Korea last February. Do you think this trip helped you and your music ?
Together : Yeah, of course !
Kyyron : It helped our team work. We learned to know each other better, and now we’re more connected when we’re in the studio. We know our personal tastes better, and we really feel it. It’s now easier for us to create together.
Did you bring along precise things from your trip ? For example, did you have the opportunity to work on new projects in Korea ?
Kyyron : So, we met important persons over there. We met persons from YG Entertainment [editor’s note : famous agency which produces Big Bang and 2NE1 in particular]. We also met some YG artists. I’m not a specialist but we saw how it works over there, because it’s a different culture, it’s different from France. So, it was really rewarding.
[Teaser pictures for the release of the “TLM” music video]
Otherwise, you released your single « TLM » a few weeks ago, why do you consider this release as a new step in your carrier ?
Dorély : With « TLM », there are brand new dynamics, which means that the band also changed. We really worked on our image. We wanted to show a better side of ourselves and to progress.
Kyyron : It’s also the first release, which belongs to us four, that’s why we’re actually really glad of « TLM », it binds us together. By the way, we did this song a long time ago, it’s already been a year now !
Specialized media begin to talk about you, you’re even on TV with « TLM », do you think you’re ready to get your carrier to the next level ?
Dorély : Of course ! When you begin a project such as ALiiFe, you have to be ready because if you’re successful, things necessarily change.
Aphy : We prepared ourselves. Over time, we learned how to be ready for it.
Did you get scared to be all of a sudden on TV ?
Aphy : Actually, we can’t even realize. We can’t imagine ourselves on TV, we didn’t see « TLM » on TV yet.
Kyyron : We’re really close to the persons we’re working with, and I don’t think that some day we can realize.
Dorély : Just the first time I saw all the tweets, I talked to the boys and I thought « It’s incredible, what’s going on ? Everybody’s giving its opinion, whether it’s good or bad ». I was a little afraid but in the end, we get used to it and now it’s fine.
The song “TLM”, broadcast on D17 (a French TV channel) :
Moreover, you chose your fandom name, « NJoy », why this name in particular ?
Dorély : « NJoy your life ! »
Aphy : That’s exactly what it means !
Did you just choose at random or did you work on it ?
Kyyron : Our K-Pop specialist Murphy had this idea.
Aphy : We were told to find a fandom name and the idea of NJoy just came in my mind, so we went for it.
Dorély : In fact, it’s the continuity of our band’s name.
Regarding your new projects, what are you doing nowadays ?
Kyyron : We’re working on the album.
Bkey : We already have songs, but we’re looking for our second single. It’s pretty difficult because we can’t do any mistake at this point. So, we’re now looking for it, and once we find the right song, a music video will also be released.
Kyyron : And maybe featuring too.
With other French artists ?
Kyyron : French and a bit Korean.
Aphy : We can’t tell you more right now…
Kyyron : We have to maintain the suspense… (laughs)
Besides, what could you consider as the next step of your carrier ?
Dorély : First, live shows. And then, to be on TV, it would be the next big step for us.
What would be your dream, as a band ?
Kyyron : We’d like to last and to stay together with the same energy.
Aphy : And also to export our music !
Kyyron : We wish to get along until the end ! (laughs) It’s true we’re getting along well and I hope it will stay the same between us !
The interview comes to an end, would you like to tell something to your fans ?
Together : Thanks !
Dorély : We thank them for the support they give us !
Kyyron & Aphy : For the strength, for the things that make us smile every single day ! (laughs)
Kyyron : That’s why, big thanks to them !
Thank you very much for this interview !
Together : Thanks !
ALiiFe left us a little support message ! Thanks again ALiiFe for the interview !
By the way, ALiiFe performed for the first time on stage on 26th June in Lyon, during Korea Day, a cultural event about South Korea. Since that day, the band also made a concert at La Flèche d’Or in Paris, during the 33° show on 6th July. You’ll find soon on CKJ our pictures of the show and our live report ! Stay tuned 😉
Picture gallery :
