Flume – Downtown Magazine

BTS — short for the Bangtan Boys — is a seven-member boy band from South Korea. The group debuted in 2013, going on to win awards within a year’s time from the MelOn Music Awards, Golden Disk Awards and the Seoul Music Awards. BTS also made history with its second full-length album Wings charting at #1 on iTunes in nearly 30 countries and debuting at #26 on the Billboard 200; previously a K-pop album had never charted so high in the U.S. Forbes recognized BTS as the most retweeted artist on Twitter in March 2016, while Billboard placed BTS in the #1 spot on its Social 50 chart in October 2016. Earlier this year, BTS ranked at #5 on the Power Celebrity list of Forbes Korea.

2017 has not only brought the release of a new BTS album, You Never Walk Alone, but also a world tour. 117,000 tickets have been reportedly sold for this tour, which includes New York area stops at the Prudential Center on Mar. 23 and 24. Following the pair of sold-out concerts in Newark, BTS has sold-out arena shows in Chicago and Anaheim. In celebration of these major events, Downtown conducted Q&A with all of the BTS members — Rap Monster (Kim Namjun/Team Leader, Rapper), JIN (Kim Seokjin/Vocalist), SUGA (Min Yoonki/Rapper), J-HOPE (Jung Hoseok/Choreographer & Rapper), JIMIN (Park Jimin/Choreographer & Vocalist), V (Kim Taehyung/Vocalist) and JUNG KOOK (Jeon Jungkook/Vocalist, Rapper, Choreographer) — via e-mail.

For more on BTS, visit http://bts.ibighit.com. BTS can also be tracked via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

BTS toured New York in 2015 as part of the 2015 BTS Live Trilogy Episode II: The Red Bullet. Was that your first time in New York?

Jung Kook: Yes, it was our first time in the city. We were very excited to go back with even bigger shows packed with new songs and performances.

Did you try any restaurants while in New York? Any sightseeing experiences that were especially memorable?

Rap Monster: I loved Shake Shack last time I was in New York. Best burger yet! Thank god we have Shake Shack in Seoul now. I was enchanted by the scene at Times Square because it was my first time as a tourist.

J-Hope: I tried a Korean restaurant in New York back then and the meal was some of the best Korean food in the world. I also loved walking around Midtown area and Times Square. Awesome!

V: I had the best Korean food at Korea Town in New York!

Will you have any time to explore New York during your tour dates?

Jung Kook: Our tour schedule is very tight this time since we have other shows coming up in Chicago and the L.A area. We hope we can find some time to explore New York during the stay to check out the beautiful night skyline and everything else.

Do you have a favorite musician from New York?

Rap Monster: Nas, Biggie, A$AP Rocky, Lady Gaga.

V: Maxwell.

Jin: Jay-Z.

What is your favorite song on the You Never Walk Alone album?

Suga: “Spring Day,” the lead single. I wrote the lyrics based on my very personal story that involves my old friends.

Jung Kook: “Not Today.” It has very intense lyrics that excite people and I especially love choreography of the song. It is one of the best and coolest of BTS.

Aside from your upcoming tour, what is coming up for you and BTS?

Jung Kook: The upcoming tour is the most important event for us in 2017. We’re trying to go to as many cities as possible this year. We’re also planning to write more music on our own.

What is your favorite part of touring?

Jimin: Favorite part of touring is that we get to meet thousands of fans from around the world. Wherever we go, fans are passionate and they show us lot of unconditional love. It is very special experience for all of us to sing and perform in front of people who are singing the song in Korean together.

When not busy with BTS, how do you like to spend your free time?

Jin: When not practicing, I’d stay home and take rest. I like playing games with other members and watching TV.

J-Hope: I write lyrics or play around with tracks I’ve made. I also try to study foreign languages during my free time.

Jung Kook: I work out from time to time and play games with my BTS brothers at home.

Rap Monster: I usually read books in my free time. I go out and meet my friends sometimes. But most of the time, I wander around the city listening to music.

What was your favorite album of 2016?

J-Hope: Mac Miller’s The Divine Feminine.

Jin: Gallant’s Ology.

Rap Monster: dvsn’s dvsn, J. Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only, Chainsmokers’ Collage EP, Justin Bieber’s Purpose, and Flume’s Skin.

Finally, any last words for the kids?

Jung Kook: Hey, BTS is coming to New York! We’ve been waiting for this tour for a long time. We’ve got so much prepared for the shows, so expect the unexpected of K-pop!

Over 10 years ago, Matisyahu experienced the joy of having his first hit single, “King Without A Crown.” Not only did “King” crack the Top 30, but its accompanying album sold over 500,000 copies within a year of release. Many critics were quick to dismiss Matisyahu as a novelty artist — the lone Hasidic Jew within the reggae world — yet things never slowed down for him. He had the unofficial theme song of the 2010 Olympics. He has toured alongside Sting, 311 and Sublime With Rome. He has collaborated with a wide array of artists, including P.O.D., The Dirty Heads, Wyclef Jean, The Crystal Method, Moon Taxi, and Avicii.

Back in November, Matisyahu released a new EP, Release The Bound. In support of that, he kicked off his annual Festival Of Light tour on Dec. 14, which included three nights at Manhattan’s City Winery. Downtown caught up with Matis for some Q&A to learn more about his past, present and future; the near-future will reportedly include a new full-length album later this year. Matisyahu can be visited online at www.matisyahuworld.com and also followed on Twitter and Facebook.

What do you wish more people knew about you?

Matisyahu: That I am single. (laughs)

In putting out nine releases over the past 11 years, plus some collaborations and one-offs, you have released more music than the majority of major artists. Are you writing frequently?

M: I take opportunities to write and record in collaborations with other artists or musicians pretty much constantly. Most of my time in music though, is spent playing shows. Every two years or so I go into an intensive process of writing. For example, we came off the road in September and went immediately into writing mode. Then I spent three months writing and recording my new record to be released this spring. In a sense though, we write as a group every night when we play because If the improvisational nature of my live show. So even though we only spent three months writing and recording, we spent the better last of two years as a unit on the road creating a sound and experimenting with what the next record will feel like.

How would you describe Release The Bound to a longtime fan of yours that hasn’t heard it yet?

M: It’s a collaborative piece. Three different producers, so there are a few different vibes. It’s a typical Matisyahu melding of sounds and styles blending of genres, but it definitely leans towards a more danceable upbeat up lifting modern sound.

Do you have a favorite song on Release The Bound?

M: Don’t really have a fav. The songs are kind of like kids. Kind of love them the same for different reasons. I guess I was gonna to point to one tune it would be “Shade From The Sun.” It has a more organic sound, kind of African vibe, dancehall reggae flow.

I remember watching Jimmy Kimmel Live the night you made your TV debut. Looking back, was that an enjoyable experience?

M: YES! That was such an exciting time for me. Coming out Yeshiva and the books and the basement in Crown Heights to realizing my dreams in such a surreal way. It was also a lot of travel, and being tired, and waiting around. So it was fun and awesome and at the same time a bit of a reality check on what having a music career is made of.

For your December shows in New York, did the disco dreidel make an appearance?

M: Yes, the disco dreidel made a comeback and was in full effect at this year’s Festival Of Light tour. I love that thing. It lives in my house.

A video of you dueting with a performer in Hawaii that didn’t know it was you went viral recently. Has anything similar happened to you before?

M: Not really. I’ve heard people listening to my music before. I do love the element of surprise, though. That’s always been fun for me.

When not busy with music, how do you like to spend your free time?

M: Well, I manage myself and have four kids under 12, so I don’t really have much free time. If the weather is good and I have a few hours free, I will most likely call up my dad and we’ll go ride motorcycles up state for a bit. Other then that, I like watching my kids play sports and expanding my consciousness.

What is your favorite restaurant in your neighborhood?

M: There is a cool Israeli cafe type place where I live. They have good coffee and it’s a nice environment. It’s called Art Cafe. But my main spot is called Gypsy Donut. Great coffee and mainly just a nice destination when I need to take a walk. Actually all the dudes that work there are in a band, and I’ve even recorded vocals for “Storm Tossed,” a song I released this summer at their studio in town.

What about a favorite restaurant in downtown Manhattan?

M: Downtown, nothing comes to mind. Guess I haven’t been out for a while. Damn.

Other than your EP, what is your favorite music release of 2016?

M: That’s a tough one. Probably the new Bon Iver and then Frank Ocean in a close second. Ooohhh, Flume Flume Flume and my favorite, probably Vince Staples and Popcaan and Jon Belion, Tycho…Lots of great music out there now.

Finally, Matis, any last words for the kids?

M: For the kids: “Stay calm, breathe deep, listen to music that makes you feel better, trust your instincts, pray for a teacher, find a friend. If you have a passion spend your time in it, if you don’t, then just enjoy the ride and emphasize with your fellow humans and the environment you live in. Put down your phone when something really awesome is happening and just breathe it all the way into your soul. It will make a greater impact than capturing it for social media. Peel off the shell and love with all your heart.”