After the release of their single “Grey Desert“, we had the opportunity to talk with the duo Junky Grey composed of two artists. First, Bi SuHyun, guitarist, bassist and composer , who also is a member of the indie rock band IMGL with whom we already had time to do an interview that you can find here. He is accompanied by TOA, who also is a member of another band that maybe you already know, RoaR, lui aussi membre d’un autre groupe que vous connaissez peut-être, RoaR oriented towards a Japanese visual kei style.
In order to learn a bit more about them, about Junky Grey and about their inspirations that lead them to try this new project, they both accepted to answer our questions that you can read now!
Could you present yourselves to begin with?
Bi SuHyun: Bonjour CKJpopnews and France! I am Bi SuHyun, composer, guitarist and bassist. Nice to meet you! I also belong to IMGL.
TOA: Hello, CKJpopnews! I am TOA, vocalist in Junky Grey. I write lyrics for the band. I was a member of RoaR, a Korean visual kei band.
Where did the idea of creating the duo Junky Grey come from?
TOA: As you may know, I like 90’s J-Rock and Visial kei. I got the idea from ’KUROYUME’. I just wanted to show you that we can play nice music with two members like them.
[Ed: KUROYUME is a Japanese rock band formed in 1991. They officialy disbanded in 2009 and came back together as a duo a year later.]
In your name, there is the word “grey” which means that it’s not black nor white but something in between. Could you tell us more about this concept and how you thought about it?
SuHyun: Living in the depths of our hearts, we are keeping dark recesses. We have such a dark heart: this is “JUNKY”!
TOA:”Grey” is neither white (bright) nor dark (dark feeling).
Like the grey, we will play music which is not one-sided. It is the start of a song that we will sing to talk about the dark hearts we live with.
You both are members of another band (IMGL and RoaR). Isn’t it too difficult to work on both projects in addition with your private lives?
SuHyun: Yes we are so busy, soooo busy. I have many jobs! I don’t have time to take a break. I’m teaching music to children, and writing drama music. But I love music and the life I have. I am thankful that I can play music.
TOA : It’s hard. But I’m okay because I have considered the band as a top priority since my childhood.
What is the goal of Junky Grey through your music?
SuHyun: Being loved by many French people? haha it’s real~
And I hope many people like us, love us.
TOA: We want to maximize the creativity we have, and we want to be a wonderful creative group.
The style of your MV for “Grey Desert” is a bit similar with the Japanese Visual Kei. Why did you choose this style, and why do you like it?
SuHyun: Is it different from before? haha yes. It was very interesting. I felt like I was looking for myself. I used to love that sort of thing and music and artists such as Dir en grey, X Japan, L’Arc-en-Ciel. But I’ve never done it before, so I decided to try it this time.
TOA: Our generation grew up listening to Japanese music very naturally. And when we were young, visual kei was very popular in Korea. Finally, our music video is a set of things that we think are cool. That would include visual kei as well.
How are you going to make this band project evolve in the future?
SuHyun: I’m going to make more albums. We will soon work with Levens Art (its a Korean art company) and go to meet you!
TOA: I want to be a team that cares about albums rather than live. Of course, we will sometimes have live shows like showcase. First of all, it is our goal to play fresh rock in Korea.
Did you plan some collaborations? With what kind of artists?
SuHyun: I think many EDM artists and pianists… bla bla bla
I know an EDM artist named 베베 {Bae bae} and I want to work with him! We love new music, new artists!
TOA: Someday, I want to try collaborations with Japanese visual kei musicians. It’s the guitarist NERO of DAYDALA who reminds me of it right now.
For you, what is the most important thing in life?
HuHyun: Hope.
Life can not improve unless there is a belief that it will always be better.
TOA: Experience.
What is the word that best describes you?
SuHyun: JUNKY
TOA: GREY
What’s your Korean favorite food that you would advice us to try someday?
SuHyun: I love 간장게장 (gan jan gae jang) (Soy Sauce Marinated Crab)
it’s a thief of rice. If there is 간장게장, the rice wil disapperar quickly. It’s very delicious and salty.
TOA: 부대찌개 (Bu Dae Jji Gae).
Bu Dae Jji Gae is a Korean soup that mixes various ingredients including ham.
What French food would you like to try?
SuHyun: I love croissant, camembert, Brie, Roquefort cheese (blue cheese).
France has so fantastic and healthy food, it’s perfect! But in Korea, Cheese is too expensive, it’s so sad…
When French people will come here, they will probably be shocked!
TOA: Baguette! I want to eat baguette in France.
Do you have a message for your French fans?
DEAR- who love us.
We love you, too.
Close my eyes before my sleep and always wake up thinking about you.
The reason why we play music is for you. We want to make people happier.
Lastly, thank you for loving us.
Merci beaucoup!!
Thank you guys for this interview!
