To simply call from20 and HELLO GLOOM a creative force to be reckoned with feels like an understatement. Standing tall as the sturdy pillars of the artist collective The Faker Club, Na Ungjae (HELLO GLOOM) and Kim Raehwan (from20) speak about their art and their dreams in a way that emphasizes their burning passion at every step. Genius Korea had the chance to speak with them over a video call, as they speed toward a future proudly built in their own design.

The interview has been slightly modified for grammatical clarity.

In a Twitter live from a couple of years back, Raehwan, you spoke about how you and Ungjae met, and how the two of you found that you fit well together. What is it that you think makes the two of you fit and work together creatively so well?

from20: Since we’re very close, we know each other very well. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. When we work together, we try to emphasize each other’s strengths, as well as cover and make up for our individual weaknesses. Additionally, because we are close, working on songs is actually fun, and we compliment each other a lot. It’s a very warm environment.

HELLO GLOOM: Additionally, sometimes when I write songs there are certain concerns I have. For example, (concerns) on a line I’ve written. We can talk to each other, and give honest, actual feedback, so we can both improve.

What does creating music mean to you?

HELLO GLOOM: I think it’s a “diary” of myself. With music, I can express how I feel personally and emotionally. Even when I’m sad, I don’t really cry, so music is a way to release and express my emotions.

from20: I feel similar; it’s [like] music is how I express my stories, and it’s also how I settle my emotions. The trilogy of “월 (WEOL),” “Chemical” and “Bad Revenge” is actually about my past relationships.

How would each of you describe your personal music style, your musical color?

from20: I think it can be a strong red. As I’ve been working on my music as from20, I have been solidifying and establishing my style. I feel like my style is strong, provocative, and cool.

HELLO GLOOM: I would like to describe my artwork as a firework. It’s explosive. When you look at it from afar, it’s quite beautiful and exciting. But when you come close to it, it’s hot, and it actually hurts.

from20: I want to go again and have a better answer.

Where do you tend to draw the most inspiration from for your music? Is creating music something that you find comes easy to you?

HELLO GLOOM: I get a lot of inspiration from things that are personal to me, and emotional to me, such as heartbreak and very blissful events. But I also get a lot of inspiration from very common [things]. For example, “This coffee tastes nice,” “The weather was very good today,” or “I feel a little down tonight.” It’s these very common things that often inspire me. I don’t like to think hard to get inspired. I don’t like to consider that as work. I feel like it over-complicates things if I try to force inspiration, so it’s often everyday moments that come to me.

from20: I get inspired by emotion, and quite often, love. Especially the break-up part. Among musicians, we like to joke that a break-up actually inspires songs even more than happier times in the relationship. I guess that’s what gets me off the pain and sorrow. Normally, if I have more time, inspiration can come more naturally. If I’m forced to have a schedule to release (a song)…it gets hard for me to get inspired. It does weigh on me, the act of getting inspired.

What is your favorite lyric in each of your most recent releases?

from20: In my recently released single, “Bad Revenge,” there’s a lyric that says: “Cried, but I made a banger. Thank you, now I’m with cooler records.” I always wanted to write lyrics like this – and I can only do it because I am a songwriter, and this actually happened. (In English) Thank you, to my ex. (Laughs)

HELLO GLOOM: For me, it’s in a lyric in “YOUNG BOY,”

[KOR]
“네가 원하던 꽃 한 송이 보다
더 많은 걸 주고 싶었는데
단지 내 욕심이란 걸 몰랐어”

[ENG]
“More than a bunch of flowers you wanted,
I wanted to give you more.
I just didn’t know it was my greed.

I found that strong ambition is everything. It’s a lyric that feels sad, yet personal. Not everything has to be grand gestures.

from20: There are simple things you could have done, but instead of focusing on that, you try to achieve great things, and you realize that was actually your greed, instead of you doing simple things for your friends or loved ones.

The Faker Club describes itself as a group of artists with no limit when it comes to forms of art. What are some forms of creation that you would like to explore further?

from20: So actually, we have an exhibition, the Heart Exhibition. We work with different celebrities, and we’ve been doing donations for that. We want to try (to do it) this year. We’ve been very busy releasing singles, so we haven’t had the time. But I think that really cuts deep into our hearts. When we made The Faker Club, the idea was to give warmth through music and art. We want to try something like that again, where we can give back to the world some consolation, some warmth, or even donations.

HELLO GLOOM: I just really want to do a world tour.

The Faker Club also describes itself as becoming an inspiration by rooting for people’s dreams: When people look at the two of you and your work, what dreams do you want to be seen as rooting for? Whose dreams?

from20: Firstly, you seem to know us very well, and who we are as The Faker Club. Definitely, the reason we started was also to give hope to different people, and in a way, be an example to these people to develop. One of the things that we’re really rooting for is people who want to take on challenges [themselves]. It can be any type of endeavor, for example, if someone wants to be a great chef, if they have hesitations, we want them to be inspired so they can really take those risks and challenges to go for their dreams.

With serving as an inspiration to people through your work, there really are no bounds to that. Regardless of who you are rooting for, with music, you can inspire anyone.

HELLO GLOOM: You’re absolutely right. I don’t think there is a need to put restrictions on what type of dream, career path, or types of achievements. We’re very normal people, and when people see what we do, maybe they can also be inspired to go out there and achieve what they want to achieve.

Looking instead at your own dreams, what does an ideal future look like as artists for the two of you? What are your goals?

from20: (In English) World tour. (They both laugh) We do dream of a world tour, and perhaps we can put that as a short-term goal. In the future, I think [what] we would like to do is actually to pursue the happiness of us and our team who work with us, and enjoy our work, and be able to express our passion. That’s what we want.

HELLO GLOOM: Biggest label.

from20: Only good-looking people can join this label. (In English) Visual label – ‘All handsome guys’ label.

Could you tell us a bit about the experience and process of making “Bad Revenge” and “Dancing In The Dark”?

from20: As you know, “월 (Weol),” “Chemical,” and “Bad Revenge” are a trilogy. It expresses a break-up, and going through different feelings of pain, and sorrow. “Bad Revenge” is about resolving those feelings, being confident and comfortable with yourself after the breakup, and coming back to yourself. The music video feels cool, and I feel like even my body got sexier. So it’s, ironically, revenge, and I do hope my ex sees it because I feel more confident in who I am…and my body came out really nice in the music video. So that’s basically the idea behind it. I want to feel sexy, and cool, and resolve these feelings after the break-up.

https://youtu.be/VN7iOPzLENw

HELLO GLOOM: “Dancing In The Dark” was written during a time when I really had a lot of thoughts and concerns. I was going through some depression, and (had) a lot of contemplations about life. I realized that even during these times, I want to actually enjoy this lonely moment, so I can move forward, keep on creating music, and go further. It’s a dark city, and while I’m alone, I want to enjoy this loneliness. It’s tough, and there are a lot of thoughts, but I want to love myself as I am going through this. That’s why this music video is showing me having a lot of fun. It was great because we worked with a lot of drag queens from Korea. But the idea behind it is not just pure bliss – I’m enjoying myself during a dark time. Ultimately, the people who are actually going through these times, I want them to have fun and dance through this, just like I did in the MV.

https://youtu.be/vJjK13cplQ0

At Genius Korea, we always like to ask for song recommendations. What are some songs you have on repeat that you’d like to share with the readers?

from20: When we were on our way here, [HELLO GLOOM] showed me this song, and I listened to it briefly, but I actually saved the song so I can listen on my way back home today. It’s a song by Jay Park called “Yesterday,” and this song felt very fresh and sort of trendy. It has a lot of strength and positivity. Jay Park has been active for a long time, but he still is making these great, fresh hits. It made me think that I also want to have a long career, and still be able to make these songs that feel fresh in people’s ears.

HELLO GLOOM: “Don’t Forget My Love” by Diplo and Miguel, for a similar reason to what (from20) said about Jay Park’s “Yesterday.” Diplo has a long career, and I really feel like Diplo often makes a track. This song is his trend that he wants to show to the world. The mood can be a little bit sentimental, but the music video is a little funny – The girl he liked turned out to be an alien, but the song is also emotional. The music video makes everything feel a little bit witty and not so heavy.

The theme of both of the artists you chose for your songs is that they are enduring artists. Both of you are set to be a couple of enduring artists yourselves, with the way you are going, and the goals and dreams you have.

from20: (In English) Next Jay Park.

HELLO GLOOM: Korean Diplo.

You recently traveled to Japan together to promote your Japan Intro Album. Tell us a bit about this experience.

from20: We had a Japanese debut and first Japanese release, and we’re proud that we finished a project in Japan. The HMV label did a promotion and showcased us on a big billboard. We feel we’re on the right track, and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved.

As we spoke earlier about your desire to do a world tour: Where else would you like to take your music to the world?

from20: If you call us…We want to go anywhere, so just hit us up.

HELLO GLOOM: We just want our music to be enjoyed around the world.

What is something you would like readers to know about The Faker Club or either of you as artists?

from20: We actually make our music videos, simple as that! Every now and then, people come up to me and are like, “Hey, who made your music video?”. I’m like, “Hey, I made it!” A lot of people don’t get that, that the music, the art, the album art, the album design – we make it, we’re this kind of label. We really want our artistic direction.

HELLO GLOOM: The world has changed, and K-pop has changed a lot. We believe that we are the new wave, and hope that people will one day realize. We want to set this new vision, for what we have for K-pop.

Thank you to from20 and HELLO GLOOM for taking the time out of their busy schedules to chat with Genius Korea. Be sure to check out from20’s latest single, “Bad Revenge,” and HELLO GLOOM’s “Dancing In The Dark,” out now with lyrics available on Genius!

Be sure to follow from20 on Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates about his music. Also, follow HELLO GLOOM on Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates about his music.

Follow Genius Korea on Twitter and Instagram for regular updates about Korean music, dramas, and entertainment.

Interview by @seee_ara | Translation by @Deign_Paul_Archie

Photo Credits: The Faker Club