#But I also think being super into band members is lame and weird. And yet we have entire industries built on that dynamic

[ot3]

I'm muting the notifs on that rp post because I don't actually care about rp at all but I'm surprised to see the number of people talking about how much harder rp is now that it's cringe... has it not been cringe this entire time.... I really don't feel like that's a new thing

[prettyboongi]

My Journey Into Kpop and Falling Into the BTS Rabbit Hole

This post is just me detailing my thoughts on k-pop and finding myself become a BTS fan. And I'm not trying to be dramatic or anything, some of you may be thinking, "Like so what? You like BTS, congratulations" and I kinda get that. But over the years, I fought so hard to not like K-pop and BTS in particular. So if you're still reading this, please hear me out –ᴗ– (this is pretty long btw)

I first became aware of the phenomenon that is k-pop during my later years of high school. I'm pretty sure the very first k-pop song I was exposed to was "Gee" by Girls Generation. I remember liking the cute bubblegum pop sound and being amazed of how many girls can be in one group. But this song was pretty old by the time I was a junior. During that time, the song that basically put k-pop on the map would definitely have to be Psy's "Gangnam Style". I really thought "Gangnam Style" was a really fun and infectious song but it got old quick when every lame tv host just had to do the dance. However, since then, I would occasionally stumble upon a popular k-pop tune without getting too into the genre itself. To be honest, back then I thought k-pop was going to stay some kind of niche trend. I would've never thought it would be so internationally beloved today. At one point, I had friends that were really into k-pop, one friend in particular was into bands like Exo, Twice and Big Bang. Whenever she would talk about these bands, she seemed so passionate about it and I was sorta intrigued. Around the time I left high school, my little sister began to like k-pop and it was hard to escape her constant fangirling. Despite having a handful of people close to me that were huge k-pop fans, I just couldn't get into it myself. For the longest time, alternative rock and indie rock was strictly my thing so k-pop didn't really fit with it. Or so I thought then.

By the time I reached my twenties, k-pop has already become a household name. And when things become that popular, so many people are gonna talk about it. And if you were anything like me, you quickly got get real sick of it. While a lot of you are able to not hear about k-pop constantly, I didn't have that luxury. Meet my little sister. Me and my little sister have always been super close and always been invested in each other's lives (we're two years apart by the way). But when I first started college, that's when she became heavily into k-pop (I don't know how to be honest). During that time, it seemed like the all she ever talked about was k-pop. Whether it was some girl/boy group or an album coming, this bitch would never shut up about it. I was in a different place back then, so whenever she brought up some kpop related shit, I would often make fun of her and judge her for only caring about one thing. And for the record, I knew what I was doing wasn't cool and it took me awhile to see that I was being a huge asshole. With me acting this way, I saw that it was badly affecting our relationship so I thought why not learn more about the world of kpop from her. From then on, I'd let her show me music videos, live performances, the many albums she has bought, the picture books and so on and so forth. She introduced me to so many groups but the one that stood out the most to this day definitely has to be BTS (but I'll get more into that soon…). Even with all of this exposure, I still had my qualms about k-pop. I would still find something to criticize about the industry, some fair and unfair. But the funny thing was that my sister had her own criticisms concerning kpop, yet that didn't stop her from loving it. It took me a long time to understand where she was coming from. She loves kpop because she can relate to the idols and the meaning behind their songs, and that's essentially the basis of loving any kind of music. 

This post was originally just supposed to be my thoughts on BTS but I thought adding some background would add more substance to this, I dunno. But yeah BTS, like I said before this group stood out to me the most and despite that I wanted to bad to hate them. I was just petty like that. At first, I'd find anything to clown them for; from their strange stage names (V? J-Hope?? Rap Monster???) or their early emo meets hip hop, bad boy phase. There was even a point where I dismissed them as just a bunch of pretty boys, which is like weird on my part because there's nothing wrong with being both super talented and gorgeous as hell (>//////з//////<)

But even with me making fun of them at first, there was still something about this group that I liked, I just didn't know that something was. I was still open to watching their videos, their variety show appearances and photo books among other things. It took me awhile to put faces to names and remember each person's personality. The cynic in me wanted to think that these dudes are completely manufactured from head to toe. I mean you see so much of that here in America, why not with them? But there's a huge part of me that does believe each of the seven members are genuinely different from each other. I might even say that BTS is the most genuine k-pop band I've ever encountered. I would go over why I like each individual member but this blog is already long enough (maybe in another post). From what I've seen, BTS started out as a group of young men that were chasing for the same dream and now they've achieved it. I can't help but respect that and be happy for them. And seeing much that they changed the lives of fans all over the world (my sister included), I regret not falling in love with them sooner. 

I think it's funny to think how much I wanted to hate k-pop but to be real I just didn't understand it, and thus dismissed as juvenile and cutesy. While I don't feel that way, I still wouldn't call myself a k-pop stan. I appreciate the art and there's definitely songs that I really like, but I never really latched onto many groups. So, and not to be overly sentimental, I do find it weird how BTS managed to find its way into my heart. According to my sister, I'm still considered a "local" or "baby Army", not completely an Army yet apparently. But I'm more than alright with that. I still feel like I can love them while in the place I'm in now. 

Also, I'd like to add that getting into BTS has made me and my sister closer than ever so I'm really grateful for that (•́ᴗ•̀)♡

[truetimbre]

Broadside have recently released their brilliant sophomore album ‘Paradise‘ and are currently touring the UK alongside Trash Boat and Homebound. Before the show, I caught up with Broadside members Ollie Baxxter and Niles Gregory  To talk about ‘Paradise’, the most difficult track to write and what they love about the UK.

‘Paradise’ was released recently; what was the inspiration behind the album?

Ollie: Niles and I are living in California now and our lifestyles have changed. There is a bunch of successful people around us and everybody is chasing this dream. Like you have YouTube vloggers out there that can make rent from just making videos of themselves. We are constantly surrounded by these people and it inspired us to step our game up personally as musicians and in our own adventures and endeavors whether that is photography or writing poetry or whatever. So, the whole inspiration for the album is the juxtaposition of being in a place of so much success, but there is still this darkness inside of you that you’re not supposed to express because you’re not supposed to say ‘oh what if I’m not like everyone else? what if I can’t do what they do?’. That’s what ‘Paradise’ is about; Being surrounded by palm trees, but inside being in a… what’s the opposite? Like a swamp, Shrek’s house – like living with Shrek.

  It is an amazing album! We had it on this morning and my girlfriend hadn’t heard it all yet. The only song she had heard was ‘I Love You, I Love You, It’s Disgusting’ because I sent that to her. The first time I heard it I actually died.

Ollie: That’s the thing, we wanted to take the step out that we are not the original pop punk band because we are a little bit older and we are all romantics. So it was an honour to put ‘I Love You, I Love You, It’s Disgusting’ out into the world, even if people can’t mosh to it.

  What was your favourite song to record?

Ollie: I had a lot of fun with ‘Summer Stained’; I cried a little. When I sang some lines, when a tear would escape, I would let it because it was what I felt and I would probably do that live. I enjoyed ‘Laps [Around a Picture Frame]’ because it vibed for us, it was kind of poppy. I enjoyed ‘Tunnel Vision’ because it was out of my range, it was kind of like Michael Jacksony. So yeah, I had a lot of fun with those three songs. Naturally, ‘I Love You, I Love You, It’s Disgusting’ because it was myself with a ukelele and you get to evaluate yourself and just be like ugh, it’s shit.

Niles: I had a lot of fun, not even guitar, I tracked bass on the record and I had a lot of fun tracking bass on ‘Tunnel Vision’ and I think it was ‘Lose Your Way’, just because those songs were really groovy on bass. I don’t know it was a lot of fun.

Every song on the album is groovy!

Ollie: Yeah, that’s true, thank you so much.

  There is not a single song on the whole album that I don’t like, they are all my favourite! What was the most difficult song to record?

Ollie: I feel like there were a few that were difficult.

Niles: There were some where we had our head against the wall saying ‘What do we do?’ Paradise was difficult because it was so simple. Is it too corny or too simple? Or is it that there is not enough?

Ollie: Yeah, or more than enough! The simpler songs are usually the hardest for us because I tend to try and fit so much into one song. It’s hard. So ‘Paradise’ was pretty hard. ‘Hitting colours’ was another hard one, but when it came together, it was like ‘ahhh’, it was pretty good.

  On this album, Dorian sings a lot more, was that a band decision, or did it just happen naturally?

Ollie: It just kind of naturally happened. He has a pretty big role in the band, he can sing pretty well and hit the notes that I don’t care to hit or can’t. We thought it would be cool to mix those together. Also, the ladies love Dorian, so we just thought let it happen.

  I’m going back to ‘I Love You, I Love You. It’s Disgusting’. The title is an odd choice. It looks like it’s not a love song, but it is super cute.

Ollie: That’s what I like about the title. I’m a big fan of ‘The Smiths’ and he had weird songs like ‘The Boy with the Thorn in his Side’. So you go to listen and you’re like what the hell is this going to be about? And for those in love, they are consumed by it. The people that aren’t don’t want to be around people in love, they don’t speak the language. When you’re in love everything is cute, coffee is cute, cats are cute and they are never cute. For those that are bitter or just heart broken they don’t understand how you could care for someone so much. It’s like I love you so much, that for everyone else it is disgusting or I love you so much I would do anything for you, it’s disgusting.

This is your second time touring in the UK, what is your favorite part about it?

Ollie: My favourite part is one; Wetherspoons, two; all the filming locations of Harry Potter and three; London. I’m a big tourist, so I really like seeing all the beautiful people and awesome fashion. You never get to wear sweatpants and heavy coats in California. I just love the fashion. They are a little rude in London, but I think that is the same in many big cities.

I’ve found that everywhere except for Portmsouth. Majority of people will stop you and ask you if you want directions or something. In London someone stops you on the street to have a go at you.

  What is you favourite venue?

Ollie: There’s this place in Indiana, Hoosier Dome and it’s this really run down room, but it is kind of like 300-400 kids and they lose their minds. There is no rules because it is a community based venue, they respect that, but they go insane.

Niles: I have seen kids hang from the rafters during our set before.

Ollie: Underworld in London had a cool vibe. I like the angle and you can stand up if you want.

Niles: I like that place in Manchester, I can’t remember what it’s called though. I like that place a lot.

  If you could listen to one artist/band for the rest of your life who would it be?

Ollie: The Cure, for sure! They are the best band in the world. They have like 12 records and they are all dreamy and whimsical and weird and lovely and I mean they have made me who I am. They made me realise the true potential of weird lyrics. They also have a quality sound; hollow body guitars and crazy pedals, so it sounds like a dream, It sounds like The 1975 without trying to hard.

Niles: Probably ‘The Early November’. It’s not an old band, but I have loved them since I was 13 and everything they do is like a masterpiece. I would fall in love with that band, so probably them.

  What are three things you can’t go on tour without?

Ollie: My journal, my Polmade and my umm, Advil. I get bad headaches, people annoy the shit out of me. Not you, just everyone else!

Niles: My camera now, I don’t go anywhere without that. My contacts because without them I am blind. I don’t want to say my phone because that’s lame. I don’t know, they are my two main ones… Converse!

Ollie: There you go – shoes!

  If you could create a dream band, so you could line up anyone living or dead, who would it be?

Ollie: Alright, so we’ve got a collab effort on the vocals; Ian Curtis and Morrissey. And then no other band member, but Daft Punk. Maybe Robert Smith on guitar and then like Frank Ocean to be there for moral support.

Niles: That’s an Oliver Baxxter band everybody! I’m probably not going to know all the names, but the drummer of Rush, Prince, Angus Young from ACDC. I’m just going to go for Geddy Lee and Eddie Van Halen, why not. I want it to be like a 1980s supergroup with 20 minute guitar solos and Prince.

Broadside are lovely lads with an amazing album, if you haven’t already listened to ‘Paradise’ then get on it! This pop-punk band are bending the genre rules and having fun with it. Catch them on tour to really experience the music.

Interview with Broadside Broadside have recently released their brilliant sophomore album 'Paradise' and are currently touring the UK…