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astrotranslations · 7 years ago

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ASTRO, a Good Example of Growth

Usually you would look at children and say, "They grow up differently each day," and boy group ASTRO are like that. ASTRO, who recently surpassed their 500th day since debut, have shown us attention grabbing growth with every album.

ASTRO held their first fanmeeting last February at the Jangchung Gymnaisum and met with 5000 fans. Soon after, they went full force touring 4 Asian countries and captured the hearts of international fans. The title track 'Baby' off their 4th mini album, 'Dream Part. 01', which they finished promoting for last month, was nominated no.1 on a music broadcast for the first time since their debut. ASTRO, who also successfully wrapped up their first solo concert which they dreamt about for so long, have their Japan Zepp tour ahead of them this month. They are what you would call 'a good example of growth'.

10: How have you been doing since concluding promotions for 'Baby'? JinJin: Firstly, we held 'The 1st ASTROAD to Seoul' at the Olympic Hall located in Olympic Park, Seoul last month on the 15th and 16th. We went on a 2 nights 3 day long break after that ended. We’re now preparing for our Japan Zepp tour. We’ll also be making an appearance at KCON 2017 LA and KBS2’s Music Bank in Jakarta so we’re diligently practicing.

10: How do you feel having held your first solo concert? Rocky: I thought a solo concert was a faraway dream but standing on that stage myself, it made me think, "We’ve already grown this much," and I was fascinated. I think the future will be filled with even more exciting events.

10: What was the moment you remembered the most during the concert? Eunwoo: When we first appeared. The first song (we performed) was 'HIDE&SEEK'. We appeared from the smaller stages instead of the main one in order to match the song’s title. I’m reminded of how the fans were surprised yet still cheering for us. We recently released our official lightstick, 'robong-ie', and seeing the audience be illuminated by robing-ie’s purple light made a smile stay on my face. I had to go up on stage putting on a cool facial expression but I was smiling like a clown. Moonbin: It was when we sang 'Every Minute' that left an imprint in my memory. It’s a song that I like and during that song, we appeared on stage wearing formal outfits, giving off a serious image. The fans were satisfied. Sanha: As for me, it’s when our fans did the slogan event. We were singing our b-side track, 'Star’, and the fans held up slogans on which were written, 'We’ll alway be on your side'. I got emotional and was thankful.

10: Holding a solo concert was one of the dreams you mentioned in an interview with tenasia last year in November. JinJin: That’s right! Like mentioned before, we assembled 'AROHA' and held a fan meeting. This was also a goal we prayed for (at the time of the interview). Since debut and up till now, the scale of our concerts grow bigger each time. The number of fans who support us have grown as much. Thank you. I applaud ASTRO too (laughs)! Moonbin: The things we once set as our goals are being achieved one by one. I realise that rewards follow because we work hard and so I think positively. Now I’ve become greedy for goals at higher levels. We’ve even risen up to the honourable spot that is being nominated no.1 with 'Baby'. We’ll prepare even harder for the next album and try for that no.1.

10: What are ASTRO’s new dreams? Sanha: A CF model for a refreshing drink (everyone laughs)! We’ll show you our own kind of refreshingness!

10: You recently celebrated your 500th day since debut, how does it feel looking back at the moments that have passed you by? Rocky: We’ve really grown as compared to our debut song, 'HIDE&SEEK'. There are a lot of things to learn on site. We only worked hard during 'HIDE&SEEK' but we’ve lightened up ever so slightly now.

10: If there’s anything you think you need to improve on further? Eunwoo: I want to solidify ASTRO’s colour. So that when someone says ASTRO, reactions like "I can trust to watch them" and "I’m looking forward to them" will follow. I think we’re till lacking in that aspect. Moonbin: I also think we have to work on maintaining our stamina. Usually our schedules will get heavier when we reach the 2nd and 3rd week of promotions so it’s hard. I hope that all of us will work earnestly on maintaining our staminas so that we can sustain till the end the energy we had during the start of promotions.

10: You talked about your team’s colour but isn’t there a very fine line between keeping your identity and staying stagnant? Rocky: That’s why we worried a lot. ASTRO have only shown bright music and refreshing concepts up till now. You can think that we’ve only stuck to similar things. So I wondered about what else we could do. The conclusion I reached is that if we suddenly change then we might hear unfavourable reactions like, "What happened to ASTRO?" I want to keep ASTRO’s refreshing image and show how we’re slowly evolving as the members develop on their own skillsets. JinJin: We can’t just do 'refreshing' concepts until the end of time. We’re simply wearing the clothes that fit our age. We can become a group who is able to naturally wear clothes more masculine and more sexy than now and clothes of different colours. ASTRO is a team that still has a lot we want to do. Our anticipations are greater than our worries.

10: The youngest, Sanha, has reached an age (17 years old) where he’s eligible for an identification card. Sanha: Yes! I went to the district office to make one and they took my fingerprints. It was really fascinating (everyone laughs). JinJin: I first saw Sanha when he was in his 6th year of elementary school. He was smaller than me but now he’s become the tallest in our team. He had on braces and put blush on cheeks when we freshly debuted but… the member who’s changed the most in ASTRO is Sanha. (a proud smile) I’m thankful he’s grown up well.

10: Your labelmate, WekiMeki, will be making their debut on the coming 8th. You’ve gotten a junior so how does the youngest, Sanha, feel (laughs)? Sanha: (embarrassed) It’s kind of weird for me to be saying it myself but… I’m proud (laughs). I hope that WekiMeki will achieve good results and that they enjoy themselves all they can. Eunwoo: Sanha sunbae-nim has given his advice (everyone laughs)! Moonbin: They’ve all worked hard so I think they’ll do well. It’s important that a senior leads their juniors. I want for us to grow even more than now and become reliable seniors.

10: Eunwoo challenged his first drama through KBS2’s The Best Hit, how was it? Eunwoo: The excitement from performing and the elation I feel from acting are a little different. 'The Best Hit' was a production where there was a lot for me to learn on set. I had a ton of worries in the beginning. So I diligently practiced on my acting and prepared a lot. I think everyone looked over me fondly. I was able to discover yet another side of me. I grew confident and I want to greet the public through a different production.

10: What did the other members think of Eunwoo’s acting? Rocky: It was slightly hard (everyone laughs). I’m kidding. It was fascinating and fun how Eunwoo hyung, who was right next to me, was appearing on TV. I first started watching the drama thinking that I could tease Eunwoo hyung about it but I could tell how he was slowly getting immersed into his character so I started to enjoy the drama itself. MJ: The name of Eunwoo’s character in his drama was 'MJ' (laughs). His character was one who was snappish so I saw a different side to the Eunwoo I knew. I applaud him. Eunwoo: MJ hyung gave me a mission. He told me, "Work hard in your drama and promote MJ," (everyone laughs). Moonbin: So now if you search 'MJ' on portal sites, Eunwoo’s name also pops us (laughs).

10: MJ went on MBC every1’s Weekly Idol’s Masked Idol corner alone. You were selected as the first masked idol at that time. MJ: I actually wanted to reveal myself around the 2nd or 3rd episode but I won no.1 on the 1st episode for the corner so my identity was revealed (laughs). What I felt as I filmed for a variety program alone was that I should be more confident in myself. I’m the style who stays frozen in the first half because of my nerves and will only relax as time passes.

10: Moonbin was a child actor so do you have ay plans to act? Moonbin: I want to try it if the opportunity arises. I want to appear in KBS2’s School series. I’m turning twenty this year so I still have some greed in wanting to act as a high school student.

10: I heard that JinJin and Rocky have recently started to study song composition? JinJin: I studied up by myself since my trainee days. Rocky recently developed a greater greed for it so we talked about it to the company after our concert ended. We’ve been receiving lessons from a professional composer since a while ago. We’ll pick up even the little details and I hope that we can participate in ASTRO’s album later on.

10: What’s your music style like, the both of you? Rocky: We’re in the learning stages so I can’t specifically pin point anything but we’re sort of different. I recently became infatuated with G-Dragon sunbae-nim’s 'Untitled, 2014' so I’ve developed an interest for music with a slow tempo. JinJin: I’m the type to chase after trends. I was obsessed with the genre 'future bass' at one point but then fell for 'tropical house' when we were promoting 'Baby'. If I get addicted to a certain genre, I would find music from famous DJs or producers in that area and learn some more as I listen to them.

10: What’s the field that Sanha’s interested in? Sanha: I want to try becoming a radio DJ. Reading the stories from listeners and communicating with them is fun. I hope it’s for a program that’s from 8 to 10. I want to become a DJ who listens to his listeners’ concerns and comforts them well (laughs).

10: You held a tour in 4 Asian countries last February, what are your thoughts on your international popularity? Eunwoo: There are a lot of international fans when I look through the comments on ASTRO’s SNS. It’s hard meeting them. So I feel apologetic and it makes me think that I’ve to work harder. When we were on our Asia tour, the fans welcomed us really passionately and enthusiastically so I was thankful. It makes me wonder if it’s alright that we’re receiving this much love and it’s because of that that we gain strength.

10: Is there anything special you felt during your overseas performances? JinJin: The sound system when we held our showcase in Japan was goos so I was really shocked. And seeing as how the Japanese fans have a different culture of enjoying performances, that also felt new to us and it was fascinating. They would appreciate the moment whenever we sang and then enthusiastically cheer for us when the stage ended. Moonbin: Fans from Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong are contrastingly really passionate. Even at the slightest move of our body or hand, they like it. America and Mexico had 'hot' reactions too.

10: What are your goals for your overseas promotions? Moonbin: I want to hold a world tour. JinJin: I want to hold a Japan Dome tour too. Moonbin: My dream is for us to do even better and then stand on the Super Bowl stage.

10: What is ASTRO’s secret to receiving love from home and abroad? JinJin: There’s a certain kind of energy we exude when the members are all together. I often hear the words, "My mood gets lifted watching you guys," and I think that’s our strength. Moonbin: Our bright team atmosphere is thanks to MJ hyung. He always sets the mood. MJ: I’m more thankful to the other members. I was included in ASTRO the latest but they were next to me showing their support and it’s because they helped me that I was able to fit in. Rather than me creating the atmosphere, I think the rainbow called 'ASTRO' is formed because each of our personalities converge.

10: Are there times when you would share your concerns with each other? Rocky: I often talk about my worries regarding music when we practice. The more serious or embarrassing topics are reserved for our 'family meetings'. It’s a meeting we hold whenever we conclude a promotion cycle. We would eat together and have a heart to heart talk. Moonbin: We also talk about the things we were disappointed with. You’re bound to explode if you continue to keep things bottled up so we would talk things out now and then.

10: When can we expect ASTRO’s new album? JinJin: We want to put out one more album this year if possible. Our goal is to become no.1 singers when that happens (smiles).

Source: http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=312&aid=0000273532

Translations by @99pmh Take out with full credits

#MJ #Myungjun #JinJin #Jinwoo #Eunwoo #Dongmin #Moonbin #Rocky #Minhyuk #Sanha #ASTRO

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