▼ Hello, congratulations on being selected to take part in DaumMusic’s Small Live! Please give a greeting to the readers.
A:
Nice to meet you all, DaumMusic family. We are able to give a greeting
like this through DaumMusic’s Small Live, for which we are both honored
and ecstatic.
▼ “Royal Pirates” is an unique band name, how did you come about making it? Does it have any special meaning?A: The words “royal” and “pirate” are taken for their meaning at face value, and stand at extremely opposite ends of the spectrum, in terms of meaning. Taking them for their contrast, these two different nouns are reflected as identifiers of our band. Going with the sort of “royal” lineage of rock bands, we want to be known as the legend of this century. In our passion for a voyage, as in the nature of “pirates” we want to be free to transcend time and space (age and place) so that we can be a band that can create music freely. We created this name with those meanings in mind. It works, right? ㅎㅎㅎ
▼ “Royal Pirates” is an unique band name, how did you come about making it? Does it have any special meaning?A: The words “royal” and “pirate” are taken for their meaning at face value, and stand at extremely opposite ends of the spectrum, in terms of meaning. Taking them for their contrast, these two different nouns are reflected as identifiers of our band. Going with the sort of “royal” lineage of rock bands, we want to be known as the legend of this century. In our passion for a voyage, as in the nature of “pirates” we want to be free to transcend time and space (age and place) so that we can be a band that can create music freely. We created this name with those meanings in mind. It works, right? ㅎㅎㅎ
▼ Following your 2013
digital single [Shout Out] you’ve now come out with mini album [Drawing
the Line]. Please introduce this album.A: For this mini
album, all the members participated in making the lyrics and
composition; it’s a project that has been carrying our affections for a
long time. The title song “Drawing the Line” is R&B rock and
inspires a cheerful and exciting mood, and other tracks are expressed
using sounds from alternative, retro old-pop, and rock ballad genres,
among others.▼ Please tell us how the members met, and how Royal Pirates came to be formed.A:
Thankfully, when we were younger we liked music and from the start and
until now we naturally made a band, and came into this profession
together. When (we) first moved to America, Moon and Sooyoon were middle
school students and started making music together with Moon’s older
brother when they started a Praise Band at church. It’s been more than
10 years since then, and as a close friend and member, becoming a band
was something that became really natural. Later when we were starting
off earnestly as a band, James was introduced to us through a friend
from college. We matched really well musically and immediately fell into
it.
▼ Before debut the three of you spent some time overseas, but what led you on the path to activities in Korea?A:
Moon and Sooyoon had been living in America since they were elementary
students until about ten years later, and James was born in America.
They spent a lot of time living overseas, but felt that to do the music
they wanted, they needed to get to the root of their DNA, as Koreans
becoming aware of their emotions and culture. Specifically things like
the melody. So, in great earnest, they learned about Korean music and
culture, and since they were already experienced in foreign music, they
combined it with a little culture to create a new form a music. It was
with this anticipation that they decided to start major activities in
Korea.▼ Before debut, you had already been receiving fame through Youtube.A:
At that time we thought it was fun to take popular songs and rework
them in our own sound. After we uploaded one, and then two songs, we
were really surprised to find there was a better reception to them than
we had thought, and for that we are thankful. We think that since the
original songs themselves were so good, that played a large part in what
helped.
▼ How did you work on the songs? Do you each have your own role in making them?A: For this album all three members gathered together and put together various melodies and chords in order to compose. These days there are songs that one person has composed, and the three of us get together to arrange it.
▼ Prior to your official debut you stood on stage at SuperSonic 2012 as the Super Rookies chosen by Cho Yongpil. How did you feel then?A: At first we were a little nervous and it was hard standing on such a big stage, but it was really fun. Cho Yongpil-sunbaenim chose us as Super Rookie and for that we were really thankful and honored.
▼ For each member, have you received any musical influence from any particular musicians or do you have any role-models?M: The Beatles’ Paul McCartney
S: Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl
J: Daft Punk
▼ What type of music do the Royal Pirates want to pursue and what sort of aspirations do you have as musicians?A: More than anything we would like for people to be truly happy. Our goal is to make music in which you can feel its authenticity. It would be great if we could be acknowledged not only in Korea but also overseas.
▼ What are your plans for 2014?A: We plan to continue releasing albums in 2014. With our first mini album on sale, our activities on music broadcasts, and other performance schedules, we hope to meet with all our fans. Through all that we will also continue to work on our songs. So that we can face the public with good music, our goal for 2014 is to give it our all.
▼ How did you work on the songs? Do you each have your own role in making them?A: For this album all three members gathered together and put together various melodies and chords in order to compose. These days there are songs that one person has composed, and the three of us get together to arrange it.
▼ Prior to your official debut you stood on stage at SuperSonic 2012 as the Super Rookies chosen by Cho Yongpil. How did you feel then?A: At first we were a little nervous and it was hard standing on such a big stage, but it was really fun. Cho Yongpil-sunbaenim chose us as Super Rookie and for that we were really thankful and honored.
▼ For each member, have you received any musical influence from any particular musicians or do you have any role-models?M: The Beatles’ Paul McCartney
S: Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl
J: Daft Punk
▼ What type of music do the Royal Pirates want to pursue and what sort of aspirations do you have as musicians?A: More than anything we would like for people to be truly happy. Our goal is to make music in which you can feel its authenticity. It would be great if we could be acknowledged not only in Korea but also overseas.
▼ What are your plans for 2014?A: We plan to continue releasing albums in 2014. With our first mini album on sale, our activities on music broadcasts, and other performance schedules, we hope to meet with all our fans. Through all that we will also continue to work on our songs. So that we can face the public with good music, our goal for 2014 is to give it our all.
▼ Lastly, please say something to DaumMusic users.A: The Royal Pirates have started on a new journey in 2014 with the release of our mini album. We hope that the DaumMusic Family this year will start off with new hopes and that many good things come to you. We hope you all like the mini album that we’ve been working hard to release. Please give us a lot of love. We’ll work hard. Thank you!
Video Translations
RP: Hello.
M: DaumMusic Family, we are the Royal Pirates. Our first EP has finally been released.
S: We all directly participated on the lyric making and composition of the songs on this album. We hope you show it a lot of love and listen to it a lot.
J: We’ll continue to make good songs in the future.
M: Please show us a lot of love and interest. This has been RP.
RP: Thank you!
