#like back then if you told me sm gave him a whole solo album i wouldnt have believed you given how the line distribution was back then

[xiucentric]

Brand New First Impressions

Brand New: i'm really happy with this as a cover song. it reminds me of a song cbx would have which i am NOT complaining about. at it suits him so well, he's really in his element.

Feedback: i was thrown off a bit at first lol. the song is fine once i got into it tho and I REALLY like how his voice sounds in this one

How We Do: i saw some people worry about the feature, i think bc of the type of music his group does? idk but honestly mark can rap well so i wasn't worried and i was right not to. mark's rap style really matches minseok's voice well and they blend Really well with each other in the song, it's super cohesive, i think it's my fave off the album.

Love Song: im not really a ballad girl, but i'm glad there's a song that really leans into the sweeter side of his voice.

Serenity: what is there left to say lol. it's such a stunning song that really compliments so many of his strengths as a vocalist. i'm glad we FINALLY have a studio version to listen to.

[jaehyunspeachparty]

daddy jaehyun

ii.xxxvii. (a)

"Hey, have you picked up Miga yet?" You are driving your car when you are on the phone with Jaehyun. "Yes, we just got in the car. We would be on the way to you now." Jaehyun was with Sunoh at Johnny's and helped him finish the nursery. The baby could come at any time because Johanna was already in the 38th week. "We need a little more time. Could you come in an hour?" Jaehyun sighed and you can hear your son babbling in the background. "Okay, then I'll do something with Miga." You look in the rearview mirror and see your little girl dreamily looking out the window. What was she thinking of? "Perfect thanks. I love you." "I love you too." After hanging up, you went back to your daughter. "Miga, do we want to go to a cafe and eat cookies?" You knew that this answer can only be positive. "Yeah!" Cookies always brought her back to reality because she loved nothing more. You park at the next parking lot, get out and take your little girl with you. Here was a sweet cafe that had all the variations of cookies. "Today is your lucky day because today we have a mummy daughter afternoon, you can choose every cookie today." You knew that it was bribery, but you also wanted to get a little love from your daughter and not always give everything to Jaehyun. "YEEESSS." Her eyes started to sparkle and together you order what you want. You buy different kinds of cookies, Miga got cocoa and you got coffee. You sit down in a corner and the cafe staff gave your daughter something to draw. She was sitting on your lap, one hand holding the crayon, the other a biscuit. You stroke her hair and enjoy spending time with her. "Y/N?" You hear a familiar voice and when you look up you recognize an old colleague. "Dohyun! I haven't seen you in a long time. What are you doing here?" Dohyun worked with you at the event company in Seoul. He had stopped with you at the same time since he and his partner had moved to the Netherlands. "I'm only here for a few days. Shock my parents that I'm marrying Seojoon soon." He sighed and his eyes were sad. His parents never accepted that he was gay and just hoped it was a phase. But he had found his big love in Seojoon. "Do you have time? You could sit with us." You smile and make a little space at the table. "And is that the reason why you left the company?" He eyed Miga and smiled lovely. You stroke your daughter's hair and nod. "Yes, that's Miga. I have also a son, he's now 8 months old. He's now with my husband." You smile and cannot realize at this moment how quickly time has passed. "Are you happy Y/N?" Dohyun grew serious and you realize at that moment that you missed a friend like him. "Yes, I am." You smile because Miga and Sunoh were the gift that you always wanted.

The evening was quiet. You cook in the kitchen, Miga told about her day, you told Jaehyun that you had met Dohyun, and Jaehyun told about Johnny's fears of becoming a father. Miga was still afraid in the house at night, so it took a lot of time until she finally slept. But now she didn't wake up in the middle of the night anymore, so you and Jaehyun take advantage of this opportunity right away. You knew Jaehyun wasn't going to be here that often anymore, so you wanted to take advantage of him every moment. And it was much more fun in your new big bed. Drops of sweat ran over Jaehyun's torso, his muscles stood out and you stroke his biceps and shoulders. He groaned in your ear and you enjoy his warmth, his smell. But while you two were in the middle of it, Jaehyun's phone started ringing. "Ignore it, you feel too good in me right now." You moan and throw your head back. Jaehyun nodded and continued his movements while kissing and massaging your breasts. But the phone kept ringing. You try to ignore it for a while, but at some point it was too disturbing. "Maybe it's Johnny and the baby is coming." Jaehyun sighed and looked worriedly at the phone. You couldn't do anything anyway, maybe it was an emergency. Jaehyun pulled his best part out of you and took his iPhone from the small coffee table across the room. You pull the blanket over your naked body and watch Jaehyun read something. His gaze was serious and you're starting to worry. "Is there anything with Johanna? Is the baby healthy?" But Jaehyun shook his head. "It has nothing to do with her, it ..." He was interrupted by the ringing of his phone again and he picked up immediately. "Yes? Mhmm ... hmmm ... no it's just a friend ... yes, I'm 100% sure ... I trust her there ... yes we'll come over tomorrow." Jaehyun hung up and came to your bed again. He looked visibly annoyed. "I should never have taken you into the public." He looked out of the window, but still into the void. "Jaehyun? What are you talking about?" You had no idea what was happening. "A Saesang of mine has published a picture of you hugging Donhyun and since there was a rumor that Miga was not mine, you are referred to in the media as a cheater." Jaehyun gritted his teeth and he may have been almost angrier than you. "But we did a paternity test because of this whole thing and Dohyun is gay." You just couldn't realize what was happening there. Why were you so attacked by the media? "I can't believe it, I ... I ..." You notice how his throat swelled and his face get red with anger. "Jaehyun we can't do anything anyway. Let's just wait and see what the press department at SM says tomorrow.“ Somehow you were more worried about your husband, he shouldn't get so angry about it. Of course, it wasn't nice that your public reputation was considered you as a cheater, but as long as Jaehyun knew that you were loyal to him, everything was fine for you. But Jaehyun felt helpless, he wanted to protect you from something like that, but he couldn't ...

The next morning you drive to Jaehyun's company. You had to buy diapers for Sunoh, so you briefly get off with Miga at a grocery store. Meanwhile, Jaehyun was waiting in the car with his son. It was relatively busy and you take Miga by the hand. Somehow it felt like people were staring at you. You get a little scared and you squeeze your daughter's hand tighter. Unfortunately, you went by a cookie shelf and Miga absolutely wanted to have some now. "Mummy please." She pleaded to you and made herself heavy. The people around you started whispering. "Miga come on, we just need something fast for Sunoh. We have enough cookies at home." You sighed and tried to go on with her. "Terrible person," you heard a woman say, and you knew she meant you. But you didn't want to be weak, so you lift Miga up to you while she cries. You quickly go to the shelf where the diapers are. Miga was crying louder and a few people had come by now. "Do you still have to torture your child after breaking your husband's heart?" Another woman came to you and looked almost threatening. "I don't know what you're alluding to." You roll your eyes and take a pack of diapers. "You didn't deserve a man like Jaehyun. You should really appreciate him." Another woman came to you menacingly. More and more people are gathering around you and you are now panicking. Miga started to cry even more and then she did something she had never done before. She ran away. "MIGA." You try to escape, but people block your way. There were too many people and Miga was so small. "What's going on here?" And suddenly Jaehyun was there. He had Sunoh in his arms and thank God, Miga was on his hand. She must have seen him and ran to him. People cleared the way and Jaehyun came to you. "You should get a divorce. Don't put up with something like that," said another person and looks at you in disgust. "That's none of your business." Jaehyun hissed and hugged you. Then he turned to the group. "Nobody cheated on anyone here and now it's enough for me that my wife is getting constantly hostile by you guys." He was really angry and he quickly pulled you out of the supermarket. When you were in the car it was totally quiet. Jaehyun snorted with rage and stared into the void. "I didn't think everyone would react to it so emotionally." You couldn't believe it. Everyone was so angry and you didn't think people would react that way. You drive to Jaehyun's company and the press department clarifies how to regulate this situation. You agree that Jaehyun may publish a text, but while he is promoting his solo album, you should take yourself out of the public. He shouldn't mention you, post no pictures, and so on. You totally agreed, but Jaehyun reluctantly agreed. At home, Jaehyun published this post: "It makes me sad and angry that people attack my family and accuse things. My wife has not had an easy year and we are still struggling with the wounds of the miscarriage. If a comforting hug from a friend helps to close the wound, why shouldn’t it be a bad thing? What a man would I be if I forbid my wife to be happy? I know the man she hugs very well, he is a good friend of ours. But it is now more said than it should be. Please respect our privacy, don't believe any stories or pictures, because our children suffer the most."

"I doubt that it's a good idea to do the solo album." In the evening you sit on the couch with Sunoh and Miga. Jaehyun was super angry all over the day. "What why?" You were really shocked. Of course, you want him to pursue his dream. "Today was really blatant. I can't do this to you and the children." Sunoh was sitting on his lap and he stared at the little boy, who was playing with a rattle. "No, that's your goal, your dream. We'll get through it together." You worried how Jaehyun thought. Of course, you'd rather have him just with you but this wasn’t the way he should go. "But I don't want you to get hurt." Jaehyun sighed and you could see him struggling with himself. "We are doing as SM said. I will withdraw in time. I pay more attention to who I interact with in public." You're trying to cheer Jaehyun up, he had to do this now ... for himself. "It's not a solution." He was still not happy. "It's not. But it's only temporary. And you'll be back in autumn and we'll be working on baby number 3." You smile excitedly and Jaehyun finally agreed. "Okay, okay." He nodded and kissed you.

daddy jaehyun masterlist

[la-luna-es-hermosa]

EXO Reaction to a Filipino Idol

Note: Bruh I think I have overdone this reaction. This reaction is made from a request by an anon! I am so excited to finally receive an ask! But yes I did make this reaction extra special because of my hiatus. Sorry for not being active anymore because I have been addicted to osu and other rhythm games (Arcaea and Superstar SM). I have also been in a new fandom (in my profile picture) I know I gotta stay loyal for my boy Jongin but I just can’t. For this blog, I will still accept requests, still active, but I will be more active in @kuwurapikaaa​ ! If you want hunter x hunter, the arcana, jjba and A3! content, check that blog up too! I am finishing drafts there as well - MeiQI

Junmyeon

You guys met at one of the designer parties he attends to. Despite being in the same industry, you guys haven’t really faced each other. He was probably too busy tending to his members.

In that moment, he finally had enough courage or time to actually talk to you. He really liked how you guys shared many struggles, from trainee days and even today. “I really understood your struggles back then. Adjusting to a new country and lifestyle is really hard.” He said to you as he patted your shoulders.

Junmyeon would give out flowers every promotion you had. Even if your group didn’t win, you always get a bouquet from him. Your members started assuming that he has a liking on you.

Your family started to notice his actions as well. “Are you sure that Junmyeon isn’t courting you?” Your concerned father asked. He loves his unica hija (lit. unique daughter, in context: only daughter) too much to just let her go with a mere guy. He has to know more about Junmyeon before letting his child date him.

It seemed like everyone around you are just beating around the bush because of his actions around you. But all that was worth it as he went to your parents and asked them if he can court you. “Mr. and Mrs. (Surname), I like your daughter (Name). Can I court her?” He asked them. - The parents did not even question it since Suho is such a sweetheart

Junmyeon also started exploring more about the Philippines, knowing that his beautiful girlfriend is from the country. He would firstly look up at pieces of art made by Filipino artists (with the likes of Fernando Amorsolo and Juan Luna), it would be a bonus if you’re interested in art as well. Most of your conversations would end up being about you guy’s cultures and how the painters showed the message they want to put out there.

He would also end up being really curious about the language as well. I can see him trying to learning the language just for you. “Sobrang mahal kita, ikaw ang aking mundo” He says with a cute bashful smile. It still sounded different because of his Korean accent. You found it quite endearing that he will go through all this lengths to impress you and show how much he loves you.

Minseok

For Xiumin... hmm... it’s hard because I can’t really picture Xiumin with a Filipino girl or a foreigner in general. It’s not that he doesn’t like Foreigners, but I am very unsure about it. Like Kyungsoo, he is really into girls that are more traditional.

Like everyone else, Minseok would be really interested in your culture. The delicious food, the language you spoke. He would always listen to the way your voice shifted when you speak to him and to your parents. “Ma okay lang ako... nag-iingat naman po kami ni Minseok.” You spoke to your worried mother over the phone.

Although I can see him trying to actually learn Tagalog just for you. He would learn it in secret until he was fluent enough to tell you that “(Y/N) ikaw lamang ang aking mamahalin” and write you a whole essay on why he loves you just in Tagalog.

In music shows, like Junmyeon, he will send you lots of flowers because that is exactly where you guys met at. Every time your group had a comeback that was around the same time as his, he will always look at you and got the courage to sneak in his phone number.

Minseok texts you a lot, telling you if you got his flowers or if your parents approved of him. - Of course your parents approved of him, even saying that you grew up too fast as you now have a boyfriend. 

You guys haven’t had the time to be together due to his military enlistement, but as soon as he can hold his phone again, you were the one of the first people he messaged. “Sorry I haven’t talked to you” He said.

But out of all the EXO members, he gave you the sweetest confession at a park at night. “I want to say that I enjoy your company and I am thinking about my future with you.” He said to you as his hands cupped your face.

Yixing

I remember the time he said PhiliPENIS, this man right here lol. Anyway, jokes aside I think Yixing would be really interested in your culture. It is a bonus point that both of you are foreigners and are in the same industry. Like Suho, Yixing met you in one of those luxury parties hosted by fashion labels.

You immediately caught his eyes, the look you were wearing really suited you. The colors were beautiful, just like you. When the cameras aren’t rolling, this is where he would move. He would DM you via instagram and that is where you guys will start to talk. It went from simple “how are you?”, to the more complicated topics. You were his home, the place he would go to if he’s stress.

It would definitely be a bonus if you like doing music. You would be singing many of his demos so that he can really see if he did a great job. His source of inspiration is you as he stays late at night to compose something for him.

Even if you’re an idol, your relationship would still be long distance as he is in China and you’re in Korea, promoting with your group. (With some sneaky flights to China), “I miss you Yixing...” You smiled at him as you looked at the screen, Yixing is working hard in the studio.

“I miss you too... I wish I can hug you.” He said to you, his eyes somber as he looked at the screen of his phone, seated at his studio, working on a new song. Every time you guys kissed, hugged or touched each other, it felt more electrifying as you have never met him often.

Since he had always been a dancer, I can see him trying to learn Cariñosa (I had a dream like this aaaa), he would be really curious at the many dances the Philippines offered.

(Note: I have to cut the reaction for Yixing because I might get political and I don’t wanna get in jail anytime soon lol)

Baekhyun

I feel Baekhyun would be a bit more safer with a Filipino girl (given what happened to his ex-girlfriend). I can see him being with one as he was the one who came up with the Phixo name in the first place.

He would protect you so much to the point that he will not reveal you guys are together. With what happened to Taeyeon and to think that you are a Filipino idol, which means you are certainly the pride of your country. He would rather reveal you at the right time. (When will that be at this rate)

You met him at a music show while promoting his solo stuff. He really enjoyed your group’s performance as well. You became immediately his favorite member for your talent and eye-catching looks. He knew you already since debut and thought you were really pretty, but it took to another level when he saw you personally.

His jaw dropped at your looks, you were unique unlike any other idols. With his social skills, he didn’t hesitate to talk to you backstage and that is where you guys really took off.

I can see you and him are variety idols. - Reminds me of Heechul and Momo. You guys would always come up with the stupidest jokes. Bonus points if you are a gamer as well. You guys would always fight at the latest RPG games out there. “I beat your ass!” You said to him while laughing at his loss in the game.

Baekhyun would also sing songs for you (like Kyungsoo and Chanyeol). He would sing all your favorite songs in Tagalog just for you!!!! I am fangirling in the inside as I imagine Baekhyun singing songs to make you sleep aaaa He would also try to explore your culture as he would try out your favorite food as well. 

“Wow this thing tastes delicious!” Baekhyun remarked as he poured the soup over the rice. A smile formed in your face as he eagerly ate the food. You looked at him, lovingly observing him. You were glad he really enjoyed the food you made.

In later years, when he finally think that you will be the one that he truly wants to be with forever, he will choose to settle in the Philippines as the media and paparazzi there is not as crazy as the ones in Korea.

Chanyeol

For Chanyeol, I think you guys met through MC-ing, You guys were partnered up to MC a music show. Since your cute bickering in the music show aired on TV, your fans started shipping the two of you. It ended up with you guys talking more to each other backstage. Recommending songs and telling your problems to each other were the most topics of you guys’ conversations.

He ends up giving his number as you guys message each other more and more often. He was the first one to fall for you. Falling for the first time your eyes laid on his. You fell for him in no time, enjoying his company.

Because of you, he would listen to Filipino music. Particularly, I can see Chanyeol liking old Filipino bands such as Silent Sanctuary, Eraserheads, Parokya Ni Edgar, and Orange & Lemons. He would always sing their songs to you every time you guys meet. You guys would even have Karaoke nights where you just sing songs. “I heard Filipinos are good singers.” He told you as he handed out the mic.

You laughed as you started singing. - Obviously you would be a good singer as you debuted in an idol group and is a known kontesera (a woman who participated in many singing contests). He was charmed by how captivating your voice was.

You became the topic of many songs by Chanyeol. Your eyes, your loving words, your everything. - He loved every single part of it. Hell he can even dedicate a whole album just for how much he loves you and how you are an important part of his life.

You went to the Philippines to have your vacation. As you were enjoying your family’s company, suddenly you heard a familiar voice. You stood up from your couch and looked down at the window. “(Name)! This one’s for you!” Your eyes widened as you saw that it was Chanyeol.

Chanyeol started strumming his guitar. The view looked amazing, the stars twinkled, he looked ethereal as he looked up to meet your eyes.Your parents peeked with you as their heard his voice. “Uso pa ba ang harana?” He started singing the song with his low voice. He was singing Harana by Parokya Ni Edgar. 

Kyungsoo

People would be rather shocked as Kyungsoo is the type of guy to date a traditional Korean girl. But I can also see him truly appreciating a Filipina girl. He firstly found you quite weird because he

It was you who made the first move. Your group is promoting your comeback at the same time EXO was. You hesitantly sneaked your phone number into his sandwich. You watched him open it, as you thought he was going to throw the paper away, he didn’t. He kept it in his pocket and went along.

With his sweet voice, like Chanyeol, he always sang many Tagalog songs with you. (I remember the time when they sang ‘Hawak Kamay’ in the dream concert). Your parents would’ve approved of him quite fast, being such a good, well mannered man. He is the dream son-in-law for every parent 

Kyungsoo had always been so protective of you because of you being Filipino, you had a lot of supporters since rookie days. Your kababayan would be really dismayed if there was bad news about you. He wouldn’t like you to lose your career. (Even more if you’re supporting your family)

“After boiling the tamarind, what comes next?” Kyungsoo asked you as he was chopping the spareribs in the battered cutting board. He always does this. He makes random food from your childhood. One day it was adobo, the other day it was caldereta, now it’s sinigang na baboy.

You smiled at him as you spoke a reply, “The ribs.” You clung to him as you wrapped your hands underneath his apron. Wrapping him in a tight embrace.

Jongin

In the Filipino side of the fandom, affectionately called “Phixos” by Baekhyun, Jongin has been called a Filipino. It was because of his looks (his charming eyes, his tanned skin) and his frequent visits to Cebu. Some fans even jokingly say that Jongin would settle with a Filipino girl or along those lines.

It wouldn’t be a shock for the Filipino fandom that Jongin chose a Filipino girl. It would be something that they would even celebrate, the fact that Jongin dated a kababayan. (Fellow Filipino)

You guys met in a photoshoot of a local magazine. He was impressed with your modeling skills, despite you being a rookie in it. Of course, you were intimidated with him as he is the Gucci ambassador. Right after the rather sexy photoshoot, you guys gave each other numbers. You guys started DM-ing each other via Instagram.

Jongin would be just as interested in learning Tagalog than English. In your very long conversations, he would always talk to you in Taglish (Tagalog and English) so that you are more comfortable talking to him. Rather than him talking in long paragraphs of Korean text. He finds it amazing that you speak more than two languages.

Your leader would joke about you being awake at ungodly hours listening to Jongin’s honey voice as he tries to sing when you can’t sleep. Or sometimes it would be his heavily accented English or Filipino. You wouldn’t say anything, but everyone already knows. As soon as your magazine gets through publication, everyone would start shipping you guys together. Searching the deepest depths of the internet for ship-able moments for the two of you.

“I’ve been to Cebu two times last year.” He said to you, smiling as he showed some polaroids from his Cebu trip. Your handsome boyfriend was seated on the couch. You were just chilling in your own apartment.

“You’ve been to Cebu two times in one year?! I haven’t even been to that place ever!” Your eyes were wide with shock, you almost dropped the popcorn you were munching on. How can someone travel twice to a foreign country? - You thought to yourself.

Sehun

It was love at first sight for the maknae. As soon as he saw you passing by on a music show, he cannot take his eyes off you, following all of your available SNS. His eyes were glued at you as he sneaked his number on an Inkigayo sandwich. He was also your secret fanboy, cheering and supporting you while you perform. Sehun always congratulates you on every comeback/release, messaging you on Kakaotalk on how are you doing that time or saying that he’s happy for you.

As soon as you received his number, you cannot imagine that out of all people, it was Sehun from EXO who gave you his phone number. It was like a dream come true. After emptying out your schedule, you immediately called Sehun. - From there, you guys started talking and having feelings developed.

He started being more curious about Filipino culture all because of you. He started researching it in his free time. - I can see Sehun date a foreigner, so I think the culture is not really a hurdle for him. 

Surprisingly, you were the one who made the first move. Not Sehun. You confessed to him very confidently. But since the cultural difference, he hasn’t met your parents. As soon as your schedules were empty, you guys went to the Philippines to find your parents and introduce him to them.

Sehun was standing nervously in front of your house’s gate. It was his first time visiting your family. He was shaking to the point that he cannot even move. You looked at him in the eye and asked him, “Is anything wrong?” you asked as you pat his shoulders, calming him down.

“No, nothing.” He said as he shook his head as he held the bouquet tightly in his hands. Then you saw your mother that opened the gate. - They were more than glad that they get to meet your precious Sehun.

“Why didn’t you tell me that your boyfriend is this gwapo?” Your mom asked you as you laughed. Then, you entered the house with huge smiles on your faces.

[the--blackdahlia]

It’s So Easy (And Other Lies) Chapter 7

Title: It’s So Easy (And Other Lies) Chapter 7

Summary: Stevie Adler likes Duff McKagan. She has for a while now, but she is convinced Duff doesn’t like her that way. Duff likes Stevie, but so does their new bandmate Axl Rose.

Chapter Warnings: Language mainly

AN: Here’s another chapter quickly because I’m trash and a little buzzed. Thank you so much for all the feedback!

A Couple Months Later

The album was perfect. Everyone worked hard on it, and Axl worked the sound engineers to make sure every note was perfect. Everyone had learned that Axl was a bit of a micromanager with this album. He was pissed that part of Slash’s epic solo for “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was dropped for radio edits, but the smile on Stevie’s face when she heard the completed thing was engraved in his mind. She had lit up the whole room, and Slash and Izzy had to watch as Duff and Axl both watched her. Axl wanted to tell her the song was about her, not whatever girl he was currently with, and Duff never wanted her to know.

They listened to all the music on the album, Axl not being able to hide the smile on his face when “Rocket Queen” came on. Everything was going great. And then it came to the guitar solo.

“Oh my god, who is that?” Stevie asked with a laugh. She was sitting against Slash, wearing his top hat.

“Oh, just a girl,” Axl shrugged. “Fucked her in the recording studio to get it.”

“Can’t be you fucking her,” Izzy said, lighting his cigarette. “She’s not begging for help.”

“Nice!” Duff high fived the guitarist. Stevie shook her head and laughed.

“Dude, I thought you were supposed to be my friend,” Axl rolled his eyes. “Anyway, I think that it’ll give us a lot of...exposure.”

“It’s gonna give us a lot of being banned from MTV, that’s what it’s gonna do,” Stevie told him. “But I like it.”

“Wait, you do?” Axl asked, staring at her. The other three looked at her as well, wondering if she was going crazy or something.

“Well yeah,” She told him. “Guess you’re just not used to girls enjoying themselves during sex.” She smirked at Axl, who glared at the drummer.

“Oooo!” Izzy, Slash, and Duff all high fived her.

“I hate you guys,” Axl crossed his arms over his chest.

****

“Oh my god!” Stevie screamed from her bedroom. Slash and Duff looked at each other. The album had been selling and Stevie had just quit her job at the diner. On her way home, she grabbed a couple magazines just to see what people were saying about them. She took them to her room to read through them, ready to laugh at all the dumb things that they could come up with.

And apparently, she had found something she did not like.

“Stevie? You okay?” Duff called back to her. She came storming out of her room and dropped the magazine on the crowded coffee table.

“Read it!” she demanded. Slash picked up the magazine and Duff moved to sit by him so they could read whatever it was she was upset about together.

“Guns n’ Roses, a Hollywood based band, has made waves with their new album Appetite for Destruction,” Slash read. “Fronted by Indiana native Axl Rose and being joined by fellow Indiana child Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan from Washington, Guitarist Slash from England, and Stevie Adler from Ohio, the band is sure to draw in the crowds.”

“What’s wrong?” Duff asked, looking up at Stevie, confused. The only thing that he could think of was that she didn’t like people pointing out she was an Ohio native.

“Keep reading,” She hissed.

“While each song in Appetite for Destruction keeps the listener wanting more, some are shrouded with mystery,” Slash continued on. “Such being the final song on the album called “Rocket Queen”. It has not been confirmed who the girl in the instrumental parts is, but we have it under good record that it is in fact drummer Stevie...Adler...oh shit…”

“I know it’s not me!” She told them. “Everyone in the band knows it’s not me. Duff and I went to see Spaceballs when Axl fucked that poor girl!”

“We’ll just keep telling them that,” Duff told her. “It’s gonna be okay.”

****

Duff, Izzy, Slash, and Stevie did keep telling the press that Stevie was not the Rocket Queen. But Axl wasn’t helping. When people would ask who it really was, he would just give them a smile and a shrug. He never confirmed nor denied who the Rocket Queen was, so the media ran with it, since Axl was the frontman.

“Dude, just fucking tell them is wasn’t Stevie,” Duff told him one day while they were in New York, preparing to film one of their music videos using concert footage and differet things that the film crew recorded while following them around the city.

“People like a mystery,” Axl told him. “Keeps people listening, hoping they can figure it out.”

“But you know it’s not her,” Duff stared the shorter man down. “Start telling people it’s not Stevie. I don’t give a rats ass who you tell people it is or isn’t, but just make it perfectly clear that it was not Stevie.”

“Duff, you coming?” Stevie called over to him from where she was hanging out with Slash. The three of them were going to explore the city together. Stevie had never been to New York before and she was so excited to see the sights.

“Yeah!” Duff smiled at her before looking back at Axl. He just glared at him for a second before putting his sunglasses on and walking over to his friends. He let an arm slide around her shoulders before the three set off.

They had fans smiling and asking for autographs wherever they went. Duff would flash smiles at the girls who would ask them to sign something, but the guys that got a little too close to Stevie made his blood boil. Fuck, they weren’t even dating and he was like this. He tried to cool himself down, but the thought of someone else taking Stevie to bed, well, Duff didn’t like that idea one bit.

“We’re doing the ferry tour, right?” Stevie asked when they walked away from the last group of fans that wanted autographs, girls that told Stevie they wanted to be drummers or musicians now and how they were so excited to get a hug from their idol. There weren’t a lot of women on the scene, but the ones that were there made a big impact. And hanging out with Stevie as they got bigger was showing Duff that.

“Of course,” Slash smiled. “How else are we going to see the Statue of Liberty?”

“We get to see the Statue of Liberty?” Stevie asked excitedly. “You guys are the best!”

“You gotta get out more,” Slash laughed. He grabbed her hand. “Last one to the ticket booth has to bunk with Axl tonight!” Him and Stevie took off down the sidewalk.

“Hey!” Duff ran after them. He was determined to make Slash last, because he wasn’t bunking with Axl and he sure as hell wasn’t letting Stevie do it. The camera crew had drove ahead, so they weren’t chasing the trio. Duff used his long legs to his advantage, and all three of them arrived at the same time.

“I think Stevie was last,” Slash teased. “Shorty here was racing a fucking giant.”

“Hey! It’s not my fault I’m average height for a girl and Duff is so fucking long!” Stevie pointed out.

“Bet that’s the first time you’ve ever heard that one,” Slash looked at Duff and laughed.

“God, you’ve been hanging out with Izzy way too much,” Duff shook his head. They headed through the ticket center onto the ferry with the camera guy following them. Stevie was so excited as she looked out over the city. Duff had no idea that the cameras were on them as he watched her with a smile on his face.

But soon, they would have to get back for sound check and warm ups. They were opening up for Motley Crue, who were back from their Europe tour. They just so happened to be in the right place at the right time for the event. So once the ferry ride was over, the three headed back to the venue. Stevie took a seat behind her drums, working on tuning and making sure that everything was in the right spot. Duff, Izzy, and Slash were going over some things, and Axl was talking with some of the roadies.

“Hey,” Someone said, making Stevie jump. She turned to see Vince standing there. His blond hair was a mess, but he looked good for already doing a fair share of touring.

“Oh, hey Vince,” She smiled at him. “We didn’t think you guys would be here until we started our set.”

“Tommy, Nikki, and Mick are back there doing god knows what,” Vince laughed. “I wanted to come talk to you.”

“To me?” She asked. “Why?” He leaned against one of the amps that was right by her set up.

“So, are the rumors true?” He asked. “Are you the Rocket Queen?”

“Oh my god,” Stevie laughed. “No, I’m not. I don’t know what poor girl Axl conned into doing that, but it sure as hell wasn’t me.”

“Oh,” Vince laughed a little bit. “Well, since I broke the ice, we’re all still in town tomorrow. And I was just wondering if you’d wanna go out tomorrow night.”

“You’re asking me out on a date?” Stevie asked. Vince nodded and gave her that killer smile of his. “Sure.”

“Awesome,” Vince laughed. “I’ll meet you at that Italian place a block away from the hotel they put you guys at. How’s 8 sound?”

“That sounds good,” Stevie smiled at the frontman. He took her hand and kissed it before walking away, leaving Stevie sitting there with the biggest smile on her face.

****

“Who’s that over there with Stevie?” Axl asked, walking up to Izzy, Slash, and Duff. Izzy looked over, trying to see who it was.

“Looks like Vince Neil,” Izzy told them. Duff’s head popped up to look over at the scene. He watched Vince talking to Stevie and she had a big smile on her face. Then he kissed her hand and walked away.

“What do you think happened?” Slash asked. Duff didn’t answer, instead walking over to Stevie.

“Stevie,” Duff said as he walked up to her. “What did Neil want?”

“Oh, uh, well you see…” She was blushing now. Duff suddenly was scared to hear what Vince had wanted. “He asked me out on a date.”

“HE WHAT?!” Axl screeched. Stevie jumped and looked at the redhead. Izzy placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

“Yeah,” Stevie nodded. “We’re going to get Italian tomorrow night. Isn’t that great?” She looked at Duff and her smile started to fall when she saw the look on his face. “Duff?”

“Oh, yeah. Happy for you. I gotta...there’s something backstage I gotta do,” With that, Duff left, leaving Stevie sitting there, confused.

****

The concert was fucking amazing. They brought energy that made the kids all go crazy. They took their bow and headed backstage where they were met by Tommy, Nikki, Mick, and Vince. Motley Crue had a few minutes before they had to get on, to give the stagehands a chance to switch out the gear.

“Way to go dude!” Tommy gave Stevie a big hug. “You’re so fucking awesome!”

“T-Bone, stop. You’re making me blush,” Stevie laughed. Nikki went to talk to Duff and Slash while Izzy and Mick talked. Axl watched as Vince headed over to Stevie.

“Can’t wait until tomorrow night,” He told her. Both bands got silent as he pulled her in for a kiss. Tommy’s mouth hung open, Mick and Izzy looked at each other in shock. Nikki could feel Duff getting angry. Vince broke apart from Stevie and smiled. “Until then.” With that, Tommy grabbed his arm and pulled him to the stage.

“What the fuck was that?” He asked the singer.

“What?” Vince asked. “Just kissing my date.”

****

Stevie smiled at her boys as they grabbed their personal things and headed to the bus to go back to the hotel. They had a few days to relax in New York before they had to head out.

“What do you guys wanna go do tonight?” Stevie asked the boys.

“I’m going out,” Duff grumbled.

“Great, I’ll go with…” Stevie looked at Duff’s face and stopped talking. “I mean...never mind…” Slash looked over at Duff, who was gritting his teeth and looking out the window. Tommy, Nikki, and hell, even Mick had picked up on the fact that Duff was in love with Stevie. Even Axl to an extent, because he hadn’t tried to bed her in awhile. But Vince fucking Neil didn’t get the memo apparently.

Slash watched as Stevie quietly got on the bus then looked over at Duff. He wanted to yell at the bassist for acting the way he was, but honestly, he would probably be the same way if the roles were reversed.

Stevie quietly headed to her room, walking past Duff and Slash as they loitered outside their joint rooms. Everyone had their own room, but they always joked about turning one into a party room and hanging out with Axl. But that wasn’t going to happen tonight.

It was the first night in a long time Duff and Stevie hadn’t done something together after a concert.

Forever Tags: @anathewierdo​ @dekahg​ @marvel-af-imagines​ @feelmyroarrrr​ @nanie5​ @imboredsueme​ @gemini0410​ @aiaranradnay​ @babypink224221​ @mogarukes​ @xxwarhawk​ @sandlee44​ @shatteredabby​ @caswinchester2000​ @supernaturalwincestsblog​ @lauravic​ @mrsambroserollinsacklesmgk​ @teller258316​ @horrorpxnk​ @tommyleeownsme​ @marvelismylifffe​ @mrslogansixxpixx​

Guns n Roses Tags: @duffshairdye​ @slashscowboyboots​ @hauntedapricoteggsclam​

[jonwongton]

KCON NY 2019 Recap

Wow I was actually in New York for four days and four nights. When I first saw the fromis_9 KCON NY announcement I knew there was no way I wasn't going to go. It looks like they made some great memories in NY/LA and I wanted a part of the fun too. Plus I wanted to avoid some of the regret I had last year in that I didn't go to KCON LA 2018. I already got super invested in them through June/July but I don't think I was emotionally ready/mature enough to go on a solo trip like this by myself.

Friday, July 5th

So to start out my trip, my flight to Newark was delayed for four hours. At least at the airport, I met the most beautiful family and got to play with their kids for a couple hours. The kids went boy girl boy where the youngest boy was causing trouble (literally me since I’m the third child), and the girl had no concept of stranger danger so she told me a wide assortment of TMIs about her family. The lady sitting next to me (Annie!) on the flight was also the sweetest soul imaginable, so we chatted for a couple hours before both watching Crazy Rich Asians (I admittedly cried at the ending).

I arrived after 9pm (no chance for early check-in or Klub KCON though I didn't want to dance with 16 year olds anyways), and I get anxious af when I'm in a foreign place without knowing exactly where I'm going, so I mass googled/kept asking for strangers for help to get to Manhattan. After I got settled into my hotel, Maya met me outside we went to Times Square! I'm so glad she came out and saw me that night because 1) I haven't seen her since summer of maybe 2016? so I missed her a ton 2) I literally had no idea how the NY subway worked before she told me 3) I wanted to go Times Square at night and 4) I wouldn't have wanted to go alone. We caught up on literally everything and I went to bed pretty late considering I wanted to check-in early to sell my A1 artist engagement pack.

and our “first date” pose because we were standing so damn far from each other:

Saturday, July 6th

I got up at 6am EDT (so 3am PDT aka rip), and rushed over to the Javits Convention Center to get in line. I brought like literally nothing because I was afraid you couldn't bring food in or they'd throw away my hydroflask. As it turns it, the staff didn't care at all, and there was hardly any line. After checking in, I got my A1 artist engagement pack ($150) which had an AB6IX high touch, a TXT audience pass, and an SF9 audience pass. 

I almost panicked because I didn't know how popular AB6IX was, and if I had gotten ATEEZ/TXT I literally would have made at least a $100 net profit. I sat in line with some new people before I summoned enough courage to go into the artist engagement mob. Almost immediately, a girl ran up to me and asked me if I wanted to sell my hi-touch. I wanted to gauge the "market price" a bit more because I was still early af, but since I was still kinda panicking, I sold it to her for $100 and her SF9 audience pass. I looked around and that's when I figured out all the girls were trying to trade their hi-touches for the groups they wanted and all the guys were trying to buy their IZ ONE/(G)-IDLE hi-touches (the only two girl groups doing an artist engagement since Everglow couldn't attend and fromis_9 wasn't doing one). For the eight groups there, I'm pretty sure the market price went something alone the lines of

ATEEZ >>>>>>>> TXT = IZ ONE >> (G)-IDLE = The Boyz >>> SF9 = AB6IX >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> VeriVery

where the ">" shows the relative difference between each group. I thought TXT would be up with ATEEZ but I was clearly wrong. That's why I was pretty happy to get the AB6IX hi-touch off my hands. VeriVery hi-touches were being sold for $20 and people were throwing away their audience passes. I heard someone bought an ATEEZ hi-touch for $550 lmao.

I sold my AB6IX hi-touch, sat back in line with my new friends, and traded my TXT audience pass for an ATEEZ audience pass based on my sense of how popular each group was. I made another lap around the mob and a girl bought my ATEEZ audience pass almost instantly for $40. I made another lap maybe ten minutes later and sold one of my SF9 audience passes for $30 (I'm pretty sure I ripped her off on this one really hard but oh well). I couldn't find a buyer for my other SF9 audience pass so I decided to hold onto it until tomorrow since that's when their artist engagement would be. At this point, I was already +$20 in profit and I still had an audience pass leftover.

All the trading chaos settled at around 8:45am, but the convention didn't start until 11am. I just talked with some 16/17 year olds that were ridiculously into ATEEZ and other boy groups (surprisingly not NUEST or Seventeen).

I was one of the first into the convention and I made a full lap to scout around before picking something to do. The Toyota booth snatched me first and when I told them I was legit gonna get a 2020 Camry they were !!! and made me play their game. You had to search the Corolla for four QR codes, and take selfies with the filter that's prompted after scanning it in 90 seconds. The iPad they gave me glitched the fuck out so I only got three done. They gave me a "The Boyz Meet and Greet" pass which would allow me to go to the front of the line when they made a "surprise visit" at the Toyota booth. I was being a nice guy and told some The Boyz fan about it nearby, so the girl did it, succeeded, and won a fucking IZ ONE hi-touch >.> (people were selling that for $150 minimum...) so yes I'm salty as hell.

At the official merchandise line, if you bought more than $100 of stuff, they'd give you a special merchandise voucher. If you took that voucher to the KCON Star Square, played the game they had every hour and won, you'd get a chance to meet a "surprise artist". There were some official fromis_9 slogan towels for sale for $25, but I decided not to buy it right then and there in case they wanted one big purchase totaling $100. But my dumbass was wrong and the slogan towels sold out 30 minutes later and to this day I still don't have one (they're beautiful). I was also too slow to pre-order it when I bought my convention pass because they closed the presale.

I did some social media sellout booths, wrote some fromis_9 support on the "message to your idols" board, and realized there was nothing to do after that.

I just stood at the Toyota booth where they'd play an entire song and anyone that knew the dance would go up and do it (note they played the ENTIRE song and not just the chorus so for songs that weren't super popular, the stage was empty for a solid two minutes each time). I was only there for maybe 20 minutes, but they played Love Bomb and to my surprise, 4 Walls (which I haven't heard in ages).

I walked around aimlessly for another hour before I realized I hadn't eaten anything for the whole day. I got some really overpriced convention food and sat with some girls I met in line because I was pretty lonely at that point. They were from Chicago and were also there just for ATEEZ. We talked for a bit before they went to line up at MSG for the concert, so I walked around aimlessly for another 45 minutes before I went to one of the panels.

The panel was "The difference between American and KPOP" and Andreas Oberg (wrote Young and Free by Xiumin and Mark, one of my favorite station tracks) and David Amber (wrote Love Bomb, Heart Shaker, Yes or Yes, and Love Bug) were there! The third guy on the panel was pretty annoying, but I'm super interested in how these guys come up with these songs and they shed a ton of insight about it. 

They talked about how most successful kpop songs now are actually a combination of multiple melodies put together, which supposedly make the song more interesting. For their particular styles, they try not to repeat the melody between choruses because that would bore the listener and try to have super catchy parts of the song or even the chorus start the track. Something else I found out which was super interesting is how they tailored certain songs for certain companies and groups. Andreas said SM gave him a ton of freedom, but when JYP asked for a song from David, he needed to make the verses long enough for each member to sing (aka Twice needs more lines since there are nine members) and add in rapping parts if the group had a rapper. They had a Q&A section at the end where two people kinda pissed me off since they went up to the mic and made shameless plugs saying how much they adored Andreas/David and were aspiring song writers like them. I actually summoned the courage myself and asked the panel a few questions:

Do you have a good sense of whether a song you wrote will become super popular?

How do you feel about songs that you are very proud of writing that don't become popular, maybe because it was given to a group that isn't that popular?

Do you think composers deserve more credit for making groups popular? The example I used is Blackpink is SUPER popular but their entire soud is almost exclusively produced by Teddy, which almost no one knows about.

I thought they gave me really insightful responses too:

A little bit, but once the song is produced, it's in the hands of the company to promote it with the artist and the choreography.

They're sometimes really sad about songs they create that don't make it big, and Andreas told me he was very fond of Young & Free

David said it's fine the way it is now. The example he used is with movies where the actors/actresses will get all the credit + make the movie famous, but a huge part of the production of the movie is because of the director, who rarely gets any attention.

I walked around aimlessly for another thirty minutes before standing at the KCON Dance Studio to watch the random play dance. I always saw the youtube videos of them so I wanted to see it in person myself. It turns out there was a cluster fuck of people there and we kept getting pushed back so far I couldn't see anything. Two guys in line next to me had Fun Factory albums and fromis_9 posters, so I decided to strike up a conversation with them. It turns out they were also huge flovers AND buddies, so we ditched the random play dance and talked for half an hour about our overall love for kpop. They were also New York locals, and they said they would take me under their wing for the rest of the weekend T_T. We met up with one of the guy's aunts and head to ktown since it was within walking distance, the convention closed at 6, and they wanted something to eat before the concert started at 8.

I took the 순두부 짬뽕 I ordered back to my hotel and ate it while watching the live stream since I only bought a Sunday ticket. On the way back, I also stopped by a store called Koryo Bookstore which sold kpop stuff. I couldn't find any GFriend/fromis_9 stuff I wanted, so I bought a Harry potter book in Korean to practice before going back. The concert livestream was okay, and it felt even shorter because IZ ONE got an extra stage, which I presume was supposed to fill in for Everglow. I lost my shit when NUEST performed Love Paint and Look though because those songs changed my life summer 2016 (they almost made me wish I went). I was still kinda disappointed in them because they had a ton of fans, but they gave off the vibe they only came to NY just to do the concert and leave. I tried sleeping early but as I crawled into bed, I got a fromis_9 vlive notification and I kinda had to watch it in case they spoiled the activities of tomorrow. I saw on twitter they actually arrived on SATURDAY and just toured New York, so obviously there was no way they could be at Saturday's convention. I spammed in chat if they'd have a pinky promise event for maybe 15 minutes but they never saw the comment. I didn't hear any spoilers so I just went to bed tired af since I got like no sleep in the past two days.

Sunday, July 7th

I woke up pretty late on Sunday and bought an expensive ass fancy bagel before getting to the convention center, though I could hardly eat it since I have literally zero appetite when I’m in a foreign place.

I bought the official fromis_9 jersey to match my two buddies just so everyone would know we were flovers at first sight. I also finally took out my Saerom sign and carried it around the convention center. We watched the Sunday opening ceremony and met up with a third guy (a Wiz One) while we waited for the fromis_9 fanclub meeting at 1:30.

I also found a lady willing to buy my SF9 audience pass for $15, which is ridiculous because I saw people giving it away for free at this point.

The fanclub meeting was really interesting. I instantly locked eyes with a girl that had a Saerom sign and we took a few pictures.

We played bingo with a lot of the squares consisting of fromis_9 memes, and two kahoot games where we had to guess which member it was (the pictures were ridiculous) and name the song after only hearing 1 second of it. At the very end, we did the Love Bomb and Fun! fanchants, but it was nearly impossible doing them without already knowing them if you could read romanized hanguel fast enough. I still screamed my heart out though (seriously).

There was nothing interesting left on the schedule, so we walked around before deciding to go to the (G)-IDLE fanclub meeting as well. I missed most of it because I met up with the girl that printed the banners, but there was a really entertaining random play dance at the end. On the way to get the banners, I met the girl that had the Saerom sign during the fromis_9 fan meeting, so we chatted a bit and exchanged numbers (she was here just for fromis_9 and she came from SWEDEN, so I thought we could bond over that). We closed out the day by going to the "2019 Year of Girl Groups" panel. 

The panel was really boring, one of the members kept swearing, and they just talked about which girl groups they thought were the most influential in the kpop scene. Personally, I thought the SNSD/f(x) answers were meaningful since Gee shook the world and f(x)'s weird sound + Amber broke down a lot of stereotypes at the time, but some of the Twice answers in the group were a huge stretch. Two fans kept talking about how much Twice meant to them and while that's great and all, I think the rest of the audience felt the same way as I did. At the end, they forgot to give away their prizes, so they basically asked us to walk up and convince the audience why we should get the prize. I walked up and told them I was disappointed I came all the way from California just to see fromis_9 but still didn’t get the chance to. That won me this:

It was like 5:30pm after the panel ended, so we (five of us total) went to ktown to get chicken and hype ourselves up for the concert. They were playing Chung Ha and so many other not as popular girl groups (Weki Meki, Gugudan, Cherry Bullet) that we ended up talking about that for the entire time.

We all split up after we got to Madison Square Garden (I had P1, the group of three had P2, one guy had P3) and had maybe five minutes before the concert started because we showed up so late. 

We were all super sad that they started with fromis_9 instead of one of the other boy groups, but I fanchanted and danced my heart out during all the songs.

The people in my section were huge mood killers though. I was sitting in the Chase preferred section, so I feel like the people in that section either a) had their parents use their credit card to buy their tickets or b) got the tickets handed out at some event and weren't even invested in kpop. The two girls to my life were there for seventeen and got on their feet at the end, but the two girls to the right of me sat down and were on their phones for the whole concert.

I got so lucky during the concert. VeriVery covered 24K magic, AB6IX covered Attention, and SF9 covered Love Shot, all songs which I know and love. And a word about Seventeen's stage. I was clearly at KCON for fromis_9, but I also LOVE Seventeen. I didn't pay much attention to their most recent comeback home though since it was a much slower song. However, EVERY SEVENTEEN SONG THEY PERFORMED I ACTUALLY KNEW. They started with 숨이차 which I knew but was indifferent to, but then we got Good To Me, Adore U, AND 아주 Nice. The stadium was freaking shaking during 아주 Nice and when they came back for the surprise encore I think the entire crowd and I died.

I met up with my friends after outside the venue, but three of them had to leave because they had work the next day (locals). I was ready to go back to my hotel content with the concert but disappointed overall, but Sweden girl texted me and told me to meet up with all the other flovers we were with. I met the moderators of the fan club meeting and like ten people that were huge fans and traveled as far as I did here for fromis_9. None of us were tired so we went to ktown to hang out. We talked for two hours over girl groups, fromis_9, guessing each other's biases, and learning our own backstories + age. Like where were these people during the actual convention. Apparently they all knew each other, but because I don't have a twitter, instagram, or am on discord, I was the reason I couldn't be found. I invited Sweden girl to do touristy crap with me on Monday/Tuesday because our flights on Tuesday were at like the same time, but one of the guys there tipped us off for the fromis_9 flash mob happening tomorrow at Washington Square Park at 2:30pm. I personally didn't give a shit about touristy stuff and I only felt obligated to do it because I was in New York, but I clearly only came this far for kpop. We decided to meet up for lunch at like 11am and we all went our separate ways.

Monday, July 8th

We all met up at Chipotle and sat around talking about more kpop stuff.

It was raining surprisingly hard in the morning, so we were all praying the event didn't get canceled. We walked over to Washington Square Park at 1pm and camped out there full of anxiety. I’ll type up what happened at the flash mob in a different post, but in summary, it was the best day of our lives. A ton of flovers had flights to catch, so Sweden girl and got milk tea and just held our hands crying over the event we saw. We rewatched the videos like 15 times (not kidding), took the subway to the Statue of Liberty, took the subway BACK to Washington Square Park because we missed some closure pictures, and then went to Central Park to take more pictures, all while lugging around my silly Saerom sign.

Our heads were in the clouds the entire day so we just sat on a rock and watched the sunset. She met up with a friend from Michigan while I got Halal guys and went back to my hotel room super emotional over the days events.

My dumbass put too much of the red sauce in it which was spicy as HELL so I couldn’t even eat much of it.

Tuesday, July 9th

I woke up late because I wanted to stretch out the best day of my life (yesterday) for as long as possible, and Sweden girl convinced me to go to the airport to say bye to fromis_9 before our flight. I was late as hell, but I booked my ass over to JFK and got to see (G)-IDLE and IZ ONE at the airport (I have videos, not pictures). At the end of the day, fromis_9 wasn't even leaving New York that day so apparently the twitter source was wrong. I wasn't too disappointed though given Monday's events, so I said my good-byes to my partner-in-crime from the weekend and booked my ass to Newark (I was almost late for my flight because New York rush hour, will never underestimate again).

---

All in all, I give KCON a solid 3/10, but my overall trip was a 12.4/10 because of what happened at Washington Square Park. KCON has much better, ethical ways to suck the money dry out of the fans that are willing to pay. They announce the artist engagement schedule AFTER selling the packs, which baited so many Nuest and Seventeen fans. The layout of the convention was absolutely fucking awful too. They put the Toyota booth dance stage, the KCON stage, the cover stage, and the KCON dance stage fairly close to each other so the music was playing over each other, and the other half of the room had empty booths full of cosmetic products and studying in Korea which has an appeal to like 10% of the people there. They also checked our wristbands when moving between rooms in the convention center, which makes no sense since we needed our wristband to enter the Javits Convention Center period. And in general, there was nothing to do "long term" so so many people were walking around bored like me. The lines for the stuff that could actually be done were ridiculously long (maybe 25-30 minute waits for the free food but that's long enough to miss an entire panel/engagement). The cherry on the cake is they announced the KCON LA lineup today without any teasers (no consistency?) and almost every single artist that went to KCON NY is going to KCON LA. I personally trust KCON LA a bit more to not fuck up everything as bad as KCON NY, but it still feels pretty unethical considering how many of us flew ridiculous distances to NY just for the same line up.

I'm not the biggest fan of New York either. The city is super crowded, smells awful, and I don't feel safe on the streets at all (and I'm a guy). One redeeming quality is that the people that I met were unbelievably nice. I probably asked for directions eight times and every time, I got the most helpful/friendly response. An old white man even saw how I confused I looked an approached me asking exactly how he could help me get to where I wanted to go.

At least now, I think I have the confidence to plan my own solo trip to a faraway place. This was a fun one.

I hope we answered your promise Saerom!

[i-might-be-a-kpop-fan]

KPOP SONGS! Part 2/?

So I thought I’d make a list of the songs in my „kpop“ playlist and write a little about them because I’m bored. These are supposed to be chronological, but after looking at the list I’m not so sure about it also because I love to buy music in bulks. 

PT.1

THESE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS/EXPERIENCES TAKE IT WITH A PINCH OF SALT AND DON’T KILL ME! 

Also write me if you wanna chat about it :D 

ZUTTER - GD & T.O.P:

 This song is a little scary tbh, apart from the badass vibes

I always loved T.O.P’s deep ass voice and with GD’s high pitched rap it’s just perfect

The MV is funny, creepy and a bit fucked up but what did we expect honestly :D

They rhyme aLOT in this song which makes it really interesting to listen to

made me addicted to the GD & T.O.P combination 

…..ZUTTER!

THE BADDEST FEMALE - CL:

 It took me a while to understand that this isn’t a solo version of „I’m the best“

It’s the queen saying she’s a bad bitch so you know it’s a banger

As almost all CL songs this is good to let off steam and regain your badass level after someone pissed you off

The MV is a sexual awakening on it’s own and performances of that song are also definitely worth a watch

„Not bad meaning bad, but bad meaning good you know?“

Perfect to practice bitch drops and feel yourself to

Burning Up (Fire) - BTS:

 So I don’t really listen a lot to it but I still like it

Has all kinds of badass vibes and I like the soft breaks in-between

RM’s part is by far my favourite his deep voice is so satisfying

The MV is also really cool

You can see from previous songs I had a badass song phase (I still have this phase, I love badass songs) where I only took badass kpop songs seriously

Growl - EXO: 

Okay, so I sometimes forget about this song haha

A good song that screams SM to be honest which I always thought was not that much the case with other EXO songs

The dance to this is really satisfying to watch and was probably the reason I bought this song

It shows EXO’s excellent vocals, has a nice feel and is easy to listen to 

Quite an early song too

I love that you could potentially dance really hard to this but still is very soft

Instantly recognisable and also a kpop classic I would say

GOOD BOY - GD & Taeyang: 

 Is this a kink? This is a kink right?

An awesome song i have bopped to a million times

I really love the „pretty/good boy“ trope and who is better for that then our bad boys™️ GD and Taeyang?

Their voices sound a bit alike and I sometimes had trouble differencing them….whoops

The dance is so so good and the MV is such an accurate representation of these two freaks

God I just love them and miss them so much

I am the best (JP. Ver) - 2ne1:

Welcome to another round of Aki isn’t capable of differencing Japanese and Korean lol

I must say I prefer this version though, I recently bought the korean version and it’s just not the same I got so used to the english parts lol 

This is also a classic, bow to the queens of badass girl group songs!

The MV made me fall in love with CL and the gang

„It’s 2 in the morning our bodies getting freaky, the beats bumping loud but this boy keeps talking! I can’t really hear him but I think he’s saying he loves me? Put his number on this paper but i throw it like frisbee, huh?“

I C O N I C this song raised me, fed me, dressed me and gave me the kick in the butt I needed.

Oh my god! 

BOOMBAYAH - BLACKPINK:

 Why of course after discovering 2ne1 BP wasn’t far behind

Recently showed this MV to a non kpop friend of mine and she drooled over all of them soooo, you can do that

Loved this song the second it started and love dancing violently to it

I now, btw, also own the whole album but it took me a bit to get into them (I was in girl group denial, don’t be like me show them girls some love!)

OPPA!

Being only four really makes it possible for all of them to shine, the vocals are clean and pretty but raspy enough to fit the concept and Jennie and Lisas raps are perfect as always

The beat is easy as is the whole song, doesn’t get annoying and is just a bop.  

Fantastic Baby - BIGBANG:

Nananananananana wow, fantastic baby!

Well well well if it isn’t history right there

Watch the MV, listen to the song! It’s mandatory to know this I’m sorry I don’t make the rules

Danceable, walkable just all in all go crazy(-able)

Boomshakalaka! 

A bit poppy so maybe not for everyone as it sounds a lot like stuff that is randomly on the radio

A dance song that probably was never intended to be more than that. Typically YG, a bit flatter than Bang Bang Bang

I’m repeating myself but you know I heard it’s also something non kpop people enjoy (Basically show them all of BIGBANG, lol)

Ice cream cake - Red Velvet:

Oh boy! My first Red Velvet song that I have because the refrain was stuck in my head and I wanted to know what it was

There’s way more RV later on but for now I think it was the only song

As I said I was in denial of girl groups that didn’t have a badass concept which was soooo dumb!

I love the song, it’s cute and easy to listen to

I love RV’s kinda cute-creepy concept and with the music box in the background it feeds into my liking very easily

I have moved on from it though after discovering other songs from them so I don’t listen to it as often

„I scream, you scream, gimme that, gimme that ice cream!“

Sherlock (Clue + Note) - SHINee:

I have known this song for years! Back when my best friend was into kpop and told me all about SHINee I looked into it, Youtube gave me this song and I instantly clicked. Didn’t like it clicked away and didn’t touch it for 5 years

Well now I love it and can’t stop dancing when it’s on

„SHINees back….“

The MV is confusing but god they’re all so cute in it! Taemin looks so adorable with long hair!

I have watched the dance practice about 100x times and you should too! (jk)

„Tonight, SHINee’s in da house! So give it up for SHINee!“

And as much as I love SHINee’s vocal squad and they’re great in this, Key and Minho really do it for me in this song

The song lives from the dance and the performance and makes it 10x better

It’s also good for just listening though but not really calm and casual so be prepared to break out into sudden song

„Oh I’m curious, yeah!“ (Is it noticeable that I’m listening to it while I write? probably not.)

Breaking News - SHINee:

 And my struggle with japanese songs continues haha

„Come on break down the walls!“

I really like this song though, especially the refrain it’s so much fun

It’s also really danceable (as I think every SHINee song is, I mean have you seen them dance?)

Partly really dramatic (slay Onew slay), partly badass rapping

I mean it’s SHINee it’s fun bright and has a dance rhythm what more could you possibly want?

Ring Ding Dong - SHINee:

 Yeah, i doubt you don’t know this one

Coincidently the first kpop MV I watched after deciding to dive deeper down the rabbit hole and well would you know it…now we’re here

It’s the one about the broken doorbell! Break it down!

This song and dance is Legendary!

Also a fun song that isn’t to be taken too seriously

The MV is kinda dramatic for this song lol

Good to listen to, has a nice beat and melody

There are these songs that every idol can dance to, this is one of them (In the list of “songs every idol can dance to” you’d find a LOT of SHINee btw)

„Ringdingdongringdindongringdigidingdigiding“

SHAKE THAT BRASS - AMBER (feat. Taeyon):

Amber…oh Amber. I love her really a whole lot and as I saw the MV I just had to have this song!

It’s a super fun and dancey song with (as the title suggests) a brassy sound

Much like Woof Woof I really enjoy this song bc of the MV, 

Amber is rapping and being the goofball she is ;)

BUT! As much as I like that song and think she deserves all the solo stuff she can get I like her new stuff more because it’s more „hers“. I really enjoy her singing as well.

And confession of the month: I don’t like f(x)’s sound so I’m happy she does solo stuff

She’s such an inspiration with her unique style and attitude (sighs in very gay)

 Lucifer - SHINee:

 I LOVE this song! OMG!

The MV is kinda uneventful but the DANCE PRACTICE!

Oh boy! Well first off Lee Taemin is very distracting in it but you have to see the dance to believe it! That’s what they perform with! On a regular basis!

The sound is very electric and theres a quiet electric melody running through the whole of it that kinda sounds like some alarm clocks lol

Edgy™️

You should absolutely watch performances! Jonghyuns high note is not portrayed well in the recorded version, boy has breath forever!

Apart from the vocals slaying absolutely every note the rap parts can’t be discarded by any means

It all just fits so perfectly

Oh and of course for a song of it’s time it’s just a little bit...nonsensical (especially the english parts lol: Loverholic, robotronic. what?)

Hero - MONSTA X:

 I’m thinking of a helicopter landing platform, pulled up shirts and a scared Wonho 

The dance to this song is…well do yourself a favour if you like abs and boys

Apart from the drool worthy performance, the song is super cool! Kinda chill, but still powerful and damn rapline went off!

This song really made them known more and it’s for a good reason

The sound in this is what is „typically“ MX for long time (Till up until Jealousy I’d say)

„I can be your hero, I can be your man!“

Sometimes a bit repetitive but what song isn’t lol?

Also still is in the „we all dress awful and don’t know what to do with our hands“ phase but that passes soon

Lead to many wonderful reality shows that makes it easy for new fans to get to know them better (Their group dynamic never changes they all just mature a bit it’s really nice to see.)

Also yes, Jooheon is kinda scary in this but I swear he a cutie

[rofics]

Hidden Omega (part 39)

Fandom: Bts (Got7 + Big Bang + B.A.P + Monsta X + Seventeen + Block B+Vixx+TVXQ+Exo) Who doesn’t love a good ensemb Pairing:  Namjoon x Everybody Genre: Smut/Fluff/Angst Au: Canon / Omegaverse au Length: 3.1k Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24, Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29, Part 30, Part 31, Part 32, Part 33, Part 34, Part 35, Part 36, Part 37, Part 38

Summary:

Comeback news and Seungri tells Namjoon the secret about his dance school, and what are you doing now DabDab?

Namjoon’s life after Jackson’s rut slowed down a lot, and it almost became normal and a routine. He didn’t feel like a guest anymore, he would wake up later than the rest of Got7 his body still craving more sleep with at least one warm body cuddled up to his, most of the time Youngjae who were basically always sleepy.

He would try his best to get out of eating, it wasn’t like he was starving himself he was just trying to keep an idol body! Then he would leave and head to the BigHit building. Many times he would get kisses and hugs from different members of Got7, but it no longer felt like it was because they felt they needed to, but because they wanted to. It was nice to feel like he belonged.

Two days after Jackson’s rut he got called to Bang PD-nim’s office, to be honest he was terrified. Namjoon thought over all the different things that could happen. Was he getting kicked out? Was he going to be removed as the leader of BTS? Was everybody okay!?

He was calmed instantly by the soft smile on the older man's lip. “You worry too much Namjoon.” Was the first thing out of him when Namjoon closed the door behind him.

Namjoon had deep respect for Bang PD-nim. He personally choose Namjoon and he believed in Namjoon when nobody else did. “I’m sorry,”

Bang PD-nim just smiled at him still. “Everything is fine I promise, I just wanted to catch you up on a few things.”

“Yoongi?” Namjoon was eager to hear more news about his BTS pack alpha. He knew that Yoongi had to still be working since he still found traces of him in the studio. Leading him to believe he was working at different times than Namjoon who were still struggling with his stamina to work that long hours.

Bang PD-nim just shook his head. “Yoongi is fine don’t worry, he is working with the same psychiatrist as you. But that is not the point I am pushing back BTS’s comeback.”

“No!” Namjoon quickly realized how rude he seemed and looked away slightly blushing. “I mean, please don’t they all worked very hard on it. Don’t let me be the reason for that. I promise I can keep up.”

The older male signaled for Namjoon to sit down. “This isn’t just about you. I am worried that if we push a comeback now we might break all of you and that is going to be the end of BTS. Plus if we push the Young Forever comeback later it will fit a lot better. Plus it gives you guys more time to write for the next album. You are still all committed to have a solo song each right?”

Namjoon nodded quickly, he knew that it was a big chance they were all getting to have a solo on their next comeback. He knew not every group was lucky enough to have that. “Shouldn’t we be worried about the public forgetting about us?”

Bang PD-nim should have expected this. He knew that Namjoon wouldn’t just accept a break luckily he had a backup plan. “I am thinking of having you do another Japanese comeback? It would be easier for all of you and less stressful. Plus it will give everybody a chance to return to a normal state of mind.”

Namjoon thought it over for a second. It made sense he knew that plus a Japanese comeback would be a good break for everybody. “When did you plan for us to do it?”

“Mid march?”

Another quick think over and Namjoon found that it actually fit perfect. That gave everybody two months of connection with new friends and falling into a more healthy version of their relationship. It was almost perfect it was almost like somebody had planned for this happen who knew what everybody was thinking. “Yes that fits very well.” He couldn’t stop himself from smiling he knew that they were lucky. While it was against the law to work against a pack and deny them basic rights, he also knew that a lot of companies didn’t care about the idols or the packs that worked for them. “Thank you Bang PD-nim.” And he meant it from the bottom of his heart. He knew that it would all be much harder if they had been signed under another company.

Bang PD-nim just smiled at him again looking over his paper. “We have two more things to go over before a let you go home. First of all I want to praise you for how well you dealt with the pack. Splitting them up like this is very healthy for them,” he sighed a little, “One of my concerns with only having one group and everybody else working here being so far away from you guys in ages. I am always worried that you guys are isolated from everybody who isn’t part of the pack. That is one of the reason I have always told all of you that it is okay for all of you to spend time with other packs, that we are going to find a way to make it work.”

Namjoon was actually a little surprised. He knew that they weren’t just a group and company that it was much more like a family here, but it was always surprising for him to hear how much people actually cared. “Thank you, I… I hope it is enough.” He thought for a second about if he should keep one of his concerns to himself, but he decided against it. He could trust the older man. “I am worried about Jimin, everybody has issues, but he is so good at hiding his issues even from himself. I don’t think he actually understands that his mindset is toxic.”

That was what the beta had feared, he wouldn’t break the secrets he held for Yoongi, but he also wanted to offer the young leader som help. “It is partly my fault, while I can’t tell you anything since it isn’t my secret, but Yoongi he turned out a lot more troubled than I first had thought. It seems like he thought he was out of his past, but it slowly sneaked up on him. I am not saying that he should be forgiven for what he has done, but I think the only way to fix this if for them to sit down right before you guys go to Japan and talk about it… And sadly I think it is something they have to do without you.”

Namjoon nodded in agreeance. “I never blamed Yoongi, looking back at it with a more clear mind it is clear that he was getting worse with time. We are all victims of our past. Yoongi is no different.”

While the older man didn’t completely agree with Namjoon he went to the next topic he wanted to discuss with the young leader. “As far as I understand you are going to be courted by Block B as well?”

At that Namjoon blushed a little, he still had a hard time understanding that so many different people seemed to want him. “Yeah, I am spending time with Got7 right now.”

That made the beta laugh. “Oh I know, you hadn’t noticed that dispatch has been following you?”

To be honest Namjoon really hadn’t. He had been way to focused to finally getting inside the warm dorm and to get the hugs that he found himself craving during the day. “I’m sorry! I am going to do better!”

“You really need to stop blaming yourself, there really isn’t an issue. Most of the fans seem surprisingly supportive. It helps a lot that you guys and Got7 have always seemed close. That and now that you are an omega people support your right to pick your own pack. Most seem happy that you’re compared to the maknae line and actually seem to think about which pack you are joining. But that is a whole other conversation for another day.” He pushed a couple of photographs over to Namjoon so he could look at them.

The photos were from before he signed with Big Hit back in his underground days. He was smiling up at Jiho who had an arm around his shoulders, Kyung was leaning against Jiho from the underside. The beta looked so small even back then compared to him and Jiho. Thinking back Namjoon could actually remember when this was, it was around the time the two older betas had signed up as idols.

He could remember how he was actually happy for them. He knew that a lot of their friends were mad at them for becoming ‘idols’, but Namjoon saw it as a chance for them to spread their music. Yeah… It had been a good day, before all this weird omega shit.

The soft smile on Namjoon’s lips told Bang PD-nim all he needed to know. “When you go and see them. I want you to talk with them about the past. I think it could be good for you to talk with somebody who lived with it. Maybe in the end you will learn something about yourself and learn to accept yourself as an omega more. Plus it will be good for you in general, but I have a favour to ask of you.” Namjoon quickly nodded, he would do almost anything for Bang PD-nim. “Don’t focus on just Kyung and Jiho. I know that it is the the two you know the best, but you can’t join a pack based on only two members.”

It made a lot of sense. While he knew all of Block B and they were decently close as friends he could easily fall into just spending time with the two he already knew instead of getting to know everybody more. “Thank you not just for this, for everything. You didn’t have to care like this and we both know it. We are very lucky all of us.”

Bang PD-nim thanked him before waving him off. “It is late and I think people are waiting for you! Also… you can tell them that it is okay to post on social media while you are there. We aren’t hiding you from the fans… We aren’t SM.”

Oh the shade, but Namjoon saw the sad look on the older man’s face and it was clear at the same time that they both thought of Lu Han. Namjoon quickly left trying to free his mind from the sad memories of the older omega in whatever situation he was in. Nobody deserved to be treated like that, fuck SM… just fuck them.

As Namjoon sat in the car another big change in his life happened as a text pinged in on his phone. Seungri and Daesung… it kinda felt like they were trying to adopt Namjoon to be honest. There didn’t even go 12 hours where he hadn’t gotten a text from Seungri even if it was just something silly like another picture of fanart of him as a panda. He always knew how to make Namjoon smile.

He never thought that he would ever be in a point of his life where he felt comfortable just calling up a member of Big Bang. But as he saw the text he instantly called up the older alpha. “Seungri-hyung? Are you okay?”

Seungri sounded confused and a little sleepy as answered. “Joonie? Yeah? Why should I not be okay? Am I dying? Are you dying? Oh my god are we dying?”

That made Namjoon giggle a little he found Seungri’s silly nature funny and a nice change from how serious his work life was. “You said you had to shut down one of your dance schools?”

“Oh shit yeah, you first saw that message now? Namjoon! That is like 3 hour old news! You are like Jiyong he also just ignores me!”

Even if Namjoon knew he was just kidding he felt the need to explain himself. “I was working!”

Seungri just whined as Namjoon could hear him stretch. “I’m sorry did I wake you?” Another whine from Seungri, who really did embody everything about a soft alpha.

“Nah I’m on the couch in the studio. I am supposed to record vocals when the slave driver decides that he is done torturing Youngbae.” Namjoon heard somebody speak up in the background, but it was to far away for him to be able to hear the words. “Jiyong says he isn’t slavedriver and I’m being a whiny brat.”

It was all said with a way to happy tone that it was clear that neither alpha really meant it. The more Namjoon had talked to Big Bang’s maknae line the more he had found how he wanted his pack to be when he finally found who he belonged with. Even if they shouldn’t work 4 alpha’s and one omega with no beta’s they worked without any issues. It was almost like a movie pack. He hadn’t talked to either of the rappers. But he had talked shortly with Youngbae when the older alpha had stolen the phone from Seungri after the soft alpha had complained that Youngbae was being evil.

Youngbae was like his scent, calming to talk to. Namjoon could clearly see why has was when Daesung told him he was reason why they hadn’t all killed each other yet. “Hyung, you still haven’t told me why you closing your dance school?” If there were two things Namjoon had learned about Seungri while texting and talking to him it was that A) there was no such thing as Seungri getting enough attention and B) he was really passionate about his projects. It simply didn’t make sense that he would close them.

“A professor started a pack with a just presented omega! How am I supposed to be able to keep a school open after that? I can’t tell parents to trust me with their kids when there is a chance they get bound the same day they presented with a 35 year old teacher who breaks from his own pack to start a new one!” Seungri was high key whiny as Namjoon heard a slap getting placed on his head and another whine as somebody threw himself on top of Seungri.

“We told you that you should have written it into the teacher's contract.” The voice came from Daesung Namjoon could quickly decipher and he was close to the phone probably resting his head on Seungri’s shoulder.

“Oh I’m sorry that I didn’t expect my teacher to fuck a student! I thought it was logical!”

“Maknae you are up!” The voice this time was closer by and clearly belonged to no other than Kwon Jiyong better known as G Dragon. So while Namjoon had gotten more comfortable with Daesung and Seungri it was hard for him to even think about the Big Bang leader. While he looked up to every member of the group… G Dragon was something special.

Even though today he clearly sounded tired and from what he had heard from Daesung and Seungri the older alpha had worked for days in the studio rewriting and reproducing the last three songs for their new album.

Namjoon knew the stress of feeling like you just couldn’t nail that song that you were trying for. That feeling nothing you did seemed to make it better. It couldn’t be easier for G Dragon who had much more pressure on him than most people had. A shuffle was heard from the other end as Seungri got up leaving his phone with Daesung, who asked softly. “Namjoon?”

“Evening Hyung.” It always made Daesung giggle a little when he called him hyung, in the start it had made Namjoon worried that he was making fun of him, but Daesung had explained he had just found it cute.

“How are you doing Namjoon?” He would always ask Namjoon this, and if he tried to just answer with ‘fine’ he would ask again. It was always amazing how Daesung just seemed to understand him even if they hadn’t known each other that long.

“Our comeback is being pushed back.” He admitted a little bitterly, he still felt that it was kinda his fault even if it had been explained to him that it wasn’t he still couldn’t stop blaming himself.

Daesung hummed a little. “Seems like a good idea. There is such a thing as too many comeback.” Something was yelled again from the other side and the older omega sighed. “Seems like I have to go, sorry I promised to be the one to pull Seunghyun back into humanity.”

Namjoon wanted to ask what he meant by it, but he also didn’t want to overstep his boundaries so he just let it go, as they softly said a goodbye to the other. It was nice Namjoon decided, it was nice to have people that seemed to care about him as Namjoon and who had no connection to the majority of the things happening in his life.

The rest of the way back to the dorm he was fiddling with the puzzle box, he felt like he was so close to getting it open! He wanted to see what was in it! He also knew that he needed to soon see another pack, he wanted to be fair and split his time fairly between all of them.

Everything was a lot different when he got back to the Got7 dorm. The first thing that happened was that he got pulled to the side by BamBam and Mark who both looked like gleeful kids. “We need your help.”

Somehow Namjoon knew this wasn’t going to end well. He knew that this was an overall bad idea, but he still had no idea how to say no. “What is wrong?”

“We need you to help us annoy the alphas!” BamBam looked like what had just said made complete sense, which in Namjoon’s head it didn’t.

“Excuse me what?”

“Annoy the alphas.” BamBam then went into a long rant about how it all made sense, but Namjoon had, to be honest, that he didn’t really understand what the younger was saying for multiple reasons. One of them being that he was speaking way-way too fast. The second being that he was slipping between Korean and Thai.

Logically he should say no right? Because he had no idea what was even going on, but all it took was one set of doe eyes from BamBam and Mark combined and he knew he couldn’t say no. So he just sighed. “Okay, I will help.” God, what had he gotten himself into?

Authors note:

Updates this week and Monday is going to be all over the place... Cause it’s easter and I plan on getting drunk!

- Prussia

Previous Chapter ! Next Chapter 

[sweetjellytine]

Peter Pan: Chapter Six

Prologue

Chapter One / Two(M) / Three / Four / Five

From the moment he met her, He didn’t forget to send her a gifts every year for her birthday, It was a big secret that needed to be kept so he won’t be in trouble and of course her, It was forbidden on the company that artists accept gifts from the trainees because it will make an issue of favoritism among the senior artists’ part, and the company wanted to avoid that unpleasant idea that may come true if they don’t do necessary rule about trainee admiring their senior artist  too much and causing an affair will be too much to handle for the staffs and the company’s reputation but MinSeok being genuinely pursue by his love towards Jin won’t stop him to at least show that he really cares and likes her

September 2008

Jin, who received a letter and puzzled how it went to her bag, she decided to read it inside the restroom’s cubicle silently as she sat down on the cover seat of the toilet bowl, the cute baby blue stationery was folded perfectly and she carefully opened it because she doesn’t want to tear it apart and ended up not to read what’s inside. it was not long so she was able to finished it in minutes

The writer just told her to go to the rooftop every her birthday and a gift will awaits for her at exactly 6:00PM, the writer also apologized for not following the rule that the company has, He just want Jin to know how he really admired her and with that the letter ended with a birthday greeting and some words of encouragement and since he knew that Jin likes Tinker Bell so much, MinSeok put the codename: Peter Pan as the sender

And with that Jin, being so curious who was the mysterious sender was anticipates her birthday every year, the sender really caught her attention

“Let’s see what you have get me next year.” She mumbled to herself as she get her planner and put the folded paper in the page of her birthdate 

September 2009

She went in the company’s rooftop,it was away off for her since the company encourage to spent their artists’ birthday with their families or members but she decided to met them later after she is done with her Peter Pan and to her surprise, Peter Pan the mystery sender kept his promise, she walked towards the pink small box placed at the ground, She sat down beside it and slowly picked the box up and let out a sigh before she grabbed the cover and opened it there was another letter and of course the gift

“Happy Birthday Jin SunBae-Nim. Here is my promise to you. I know I made you waited too long, Sorry. How are you? Girls’ Generation finally reached dreams, Its been a tiring year to your group and of course to you that’s why I gave you this gift. Tinker Bell have this and became of this she can make things fly and I hope whenever you’re tired just go her win the rooftop or your dorm’s rooftop, put some in your palm and spread it in the air, as all your worries vanished too in the air. Hope you like my first gift. See you again next year, Same time and same place. AnYeong~.” 

- Peter Pan

“A pixie dust. Wow!” Jin exclaimed in excitement how pretty the bottle is and of course how the sender relate tinker Bell to her 

She can’t help but smile as she hug the bottle of pixie dust against her chest, the gift is something that she really needs, something that tells her that the person sent it is genuinely look after her not because of she was his senior artist but someone he looks after to

“Peter Pan-ah. Thank you.” she shouted thanking the person who she thinks maybe somewhere hiding and watching her 

September 2010

She hurriedly jogging her way up to the rooftop as this day she awaits finally came, for the second year she anticipates her birthday because of her Peter Pan, As she opened the door the box at the pavement is waiting for her to be opened. She sat down beside it again and slowly opened the box and another letter together with gift are inside

“Jin SunBae-nim, AnYeong. You wanted for this day right? I waited too as I am impatient to give my gift to you. I know you’re busy with your concerts, Guess what? I watched with my friends and sister, We really like the concert and no doubt you’re the nation’s girl group, I like all your special solo performance but my most favorite is yours, Its just right, the way you played the guitar while singing your chosen song, its relaxing, You are truly talented, Jin-ssi. Anyway Its time for my gift. Did you like it? I hope so. it’s cute right? Just turn this on when you’re sad and you feel like i’m comforting you. Happy Birthday!.”

- Peter Pan

She opened the music box and she saw Tinker Bell turned as the music played, again it was a perfect gift and she didn’t expect hoe Peter Pan came up with this beautiful idea, He indeed touched her heart, and now she really want to meet him

“Can we meet?” she shouted but to her dismay no one shows up and the blows of the wind is just heard

“Araso. Maybe next time, but still thank you.” she shouted to her surrounding as now she can’t help but to cry because of too much happiness and how can such a guy can be this mysterious but yet comforting

September 2011

MinSeok was selected to debut in one of SM Entertainment anticipated boy group next year and when he debuted he will be closer to his love and can look after her more often. Practices took his time all the time as they are busy perfecting all the dance, song and even his Mandarin, as he was selected to be in the Chinese team of the group, It was pressuring him but his main goal is to debut and introduced himself as a better man to her and a good artist the she often said in her the interview as her ideal type of man

MinSeok placed the box and hurriedly hid in one of the big water tanks above the rooftop, She saw her arrived and slowly made her steps nearing to his gift, he was excited as he saw her tired but full of anticipation to go despite of her health condition because her group are also in the middle of preparing to their full length album comeback on November, He was worried how she got thinner compared the last two weeks they bumped to them in the hallway, They greeted them as she just returned her captivating smile that melted him right on his place at that very moment

MinSeok saw her sat down and opened the box and a smile crept on her face, She took again the letter and read its contents

“Happy Birthday! its our third year and up to this rate it always makes me giddy knowing that I once again lit up your mood. this time I proudly will tell you that I save up all my money to buy this gift for you, I even asked my cousin who lives in California to get me this and he did. This gift I got you is not yet here ins Korea’s Disney store. Sometimes I saw you very tired and down when you and SeoHyun SunBae-Nim is at the cafeteria, So I thought you need something to carry around to comfort you and It really looks like you. Small and cute. keke~”

- Peter Pan

Jin hold up the Tinker Bell baby plush toy, it was indeed cute and expensive as he she saw the tag price and convert it to Korean Won. Peter Pan did really spend money on her, sometimes she thinks if she deserved as much as love as he was giving despite she didn’t knew him and did anything to him in return

“Again, Thank you. You really make me happy. I hope I can meet you, You know I’m always praying for you to be successful, you have good heart. I know you can hear me Peter Pan. always take care too. Araso?” Jin said as she hugged the plush toy caging it between her thin arms

September 2012

MinSeok debuted a months ago and he earned money at the same time as his group is well received by fans both in Korea and China, He was shopping with his members and managers when a Pandora Jewelry store caught his attention, He asked them if they can stop by for awhile as he was about to look for something, a few searches and he saw what he was looking for a pandora bracelet with Tinker bell charms and without hesitation he bought it using his first months hard earned money as an artist, his group mates keep on teasing him as they somehow knew who would he give it, He was anticipating this day as all luck favors him, they got back last week and showcase in China will last week of October and they were here to practice with the whole EXO group and the sub-units. 

He waited in the rooftops and as the past years; his surprise is successful, He saw her wearing the bracelet they day after her birthday

But all his happy feeling were washed away because of uncontrollable situation, She saw her throwing the bracelet in the trash bin, He was furious and puzzled why did she do that, all he thought that all is good but it isn’t, after she left he hurriedly run to the trash bin and pick up the bracelet and it describes how it looks like his broken heart

How can she be that heartless, as the thought of the past gifts of his were thrown too like this poor thing he was holding, He didn’t realized that he was clenching the bracelet with his fist because of anger and disappointment, and he swore to himself that he stopped his feelings for her, she just stabbed her with a thousand wounds, he can’t helped but tear as his heart was aching because of his first love and from that they on he treated her differently among her members

After a half and a month of relationship with MinSeok; Jin is avoiding him, his calls, messages and even at the company whenever they have overlapping practice schedules, He doesn’t have the idea what he did wrong to be treated like that and one day that God’s on his side, As both Girls’ Generation and EXO are in the same building, he stormed to the room where they were practicing and he was surprised seeing Jin laughing like she didn’t do something miserable to him

Everyone in the practice room snapped their heads when the door was opened harshly, Red Velvet who was also in the room greeted their senior artists causing Jin to look where the intruders are standing, Minseok and her got eye to eye as Jin look away elsewhere minutes after making MinSeok dead tired with the cat and mouse game that Jin mastered and he couldn’t cope up

He walked towards to where she was standing as they were in the middle of dance practice when they disturbed them, he was beside him, as she was looking straight in the mirror not minding his presence as she continue to do the routine they learned awhile ago

“Can we talk?” MinSeok asked her permission politely but she just brushed off his request as she continue to do the steps

The people in the room can feel the tension as they saw how Jin treated MinSeok like a trash but he still insisted her to talk to him and he was standing in front of her blocking her view from the mirror, Jin looked at him expressionless he was about to turned around when he grabbed her and embraced her tightly

“MinSeok-ah, LET ME GO!” she shouted to him while trying to escape from him but he was way too strong against her

So she just let him embraced her and calm down and he slowly let go of her and asked if they can talk and pleading to her but Jin was like a stone

“I’m tired.” the only thing she answered despite of his pitiful request, then she walked to then side to grab something to drink

He followed her like a puppy and do the unexpected kneeling in front of her, He was looking up at her, with his tired eyes and thin face, EXO members are telling MinSeok that he don’t need to lowered himself while the Girls’Generation members lecturing Jin how ruthless she was to her boyfriend; but Jin can’t hear them, She was too focused to MinSeok who looks like a total mess because of her

“Get up.” She ordered him but he didn’t listen

“Can we ta…” He said weakly but got cut off by Jin

“See, That’s why I can’t talk to you. You do everything for me, You love me more than I do and its suffocating me.” She calmly said but with firm tone causing everyone to be quite and MinSeok who has an unreadable expression

She looked at him down and shook her head before she took her bag and decided to have a fresh air outside the studio but MinSeok stopped her from her trance as he stood up and spoke

“Why? is it a crime to love someone more than the other half do? Is it hard to let me love you like the way I need to. I never let myself to be too attached to anyone unless I really love them, you know that right? I love you, isn’t that enough? I don’t know why are you doing this to me, I don’t deserve this, You’re hurting me too much Jin. you’re killing me.” MinSeok reasoned out as his tears are pouring out from his beautiful eyes

Jin turned around and looked at him for awhile

 “MinSeok-ah, You should give me more time to think but here you are making me the bad girl.” she spoke as she walked in front of him

“Now tell me, who suffers more, You, who give me all the love in this world or me, who doesn’t know what to do to equally give to you the love that you deserve? Do you know how much I think how things can be better for the both of us. I love you but I’m afraid that the love we had doesn’t have the same passion and I don’t want that to end up in a bitter one, So I’m asking for space, is it hard to give? I’m figuring myself and things out so we can work out this relationship we have.” Jin explained her side making MinSeok silent

“Then you just proved how selfish you are.” MinSeok countered

Jin let out a sarcastic chuckled at MinSeok

“You don’t get my point.” She reached her limit; this is too overboard for her

As she was near the door and was about to turned the knob

“You hurt me again for the second time.” He said as he chuckled how fool he is to be so in love with the woman who doesn’t give the importance he deserve while wiping his tears 

Jin turned her body a little to look at him

“I promised to you Jin, as we both ended here. When you realize how much I mean to you, even you crawl back to me, you never have me again.” 

Jin turned to him fully and he saw in his eyes he really meant it and seeing how determined he was to let her out of his life makes her chest tightens but she is the one who pushed him away, what if what he said come true, will she regret letting him go or suffer like he said?

[jibootaes]

hello i am here for the *cough cough* bts ask shit-thing :)))) so um like 2, 4, 6❗❗❗❗❗, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16❗❗❗❗ (i enjoy to see you suffer cc: ), 21, 23❗❗❗, 24, 25❗❗, 26, 28❗, and 29 - love you, aoibheee

kassy i know for a fact that you’ve given me hard questions i sware,,,, anyWAY THANK U BABE HERE WE GO

2. describe is detail the moment where you fell in love with your bias(es)?

wHOOO so here we go lads strap yourselves in this is gonna be a wild ride. sooo, as u maybe know kass i was v deeply in love with the piece of food we call googie (jungkook that lil shit) @ first bc this boy was my first introduction to bangtan. he was the first person that caught my attention (the first vid i watched was dope so yeah he was in a police uniform and he just looked so good i literally pointed @ the screen and was like “YOU”) he was just go good-looking and charismatic an d fuck the slut was cute ok. the first pics i saw of him did not help with my utter infatuation like seriously look how could u not fall in love:

so yeah my infatuation with jungkook was not short lived but dUN DUN DUN HELLO BIAS WRECKER

taehyung slid into my dms abt two months after i had discovered bangtan anD THEN THE FATEFUL SHIP TAEKOOK,,, he was literally not there one second and i was having a peaceful relationship w kookie and then fuckiNG BAM here’s this cute lil peach with the prettiest smile ive ever seen and a laugh i would like to be played @ my funeral and literally the best personality and voice ive ever seen or heard like please taehyung if you’re reading this pls marry me bb

so yeah now taehyung is my ultimate bias of all of kpop im just so in love with him. everything abt him just makes me want to pick him up and eat him like please taehyung jUST I LOVE U. i hope this answers the question lol im just all over the place bc i love him sm :(((( well the moment i fell in love w him was p much when i was rewatching the boy in luv and war of hormone mvs and i just stared rlly hard @ him and was like?? yes thank u?? ill explain more in the next question lmaO

4. the moment you knew you wanted to commit to them 

anYWAY yeah i had a brief tussle between jk and tae, many arguments in my head but like i specifically remember the moment i decided taehyung was my bias- i was sitting up in my bed and it was abt 11 pm and i was looking @ the boy in luv music mv for like probably the seven hundredth time and he just appeared w his cute orange hair and his deep voice and i just snapped inside and everything inside me melted idk i jUST LOVE MY BOY TAEHYUNG KASS U KNOW THIS

all his awkward and endearing moments definitely made me fall for him even more, especially in the early days of knowing bangtan. i watched all the “v vs. awkward moments” like over and over and i just new that i was head over heels for him even tho i was trying to deny it bc i was adamant for jk to be my ult bias for a while lol 

one of the moments specifically!! the one where they’ve won a cruise ship and the presenters are trying to tell him whats happened and hes just so confused and blank anD SO FUCKING CUTE and hes just like?? u wot m8?? and like the presenter’s like “cruise.. travel.. hAPPY” anD HE’S JUST LIKE “WOW” o my god i love him so much dont evennnnn

6. favourite kimdaily and why?

GIRL WHAT YOU TRYNA DO THIS IS HARD,,, so ummmmmmmm dear god whICH ONE

probs this one?? its just his outfit is so cute and i love those trousers on him and namjoon!! in!! beanies!! and a pink one @ that!! i fucking agree!! and wow hes so pretty in shirts like that and just everything in this pic = perfection,, im probably missing so many kimdailys but this is the one that came to mind so ye!! i love namjoon!! whatta boY!!

(this one’s also iconic,, minions who? i only know namjoon. legends only.)

8. favourite eatjin moment and why?

oml def that time jk joined in and they were making noises and doing “interpretive dance” to say how the “food made them feel” and they just went so insane that namjoon heard them and like came into the room and they stopped immediately and sat there lookin innocent while namjoon was like “what’s going on?” and jin was like “nothin dear go away ur hearing things” i sWARE THESE BOYS IM SO :’)

9. how did you feel when yoongi released his mixtape?

does this explain? but no seriously that boy set me on fire that shit was so gooD and he deserved all the praise he got for his hard work and perseverance!! i love min yoongi :(

10. when did you realise that you’re in too deep?

i think it was the moment i watched bangtan bombs and interviews with no eng subs and just smiled so wide and laughed my ass off with them even though i had no idea what the hell they were talking abt?? and also when anyone asked me what i would want for christmas for for my birthday or anything like that and it was literally just like “buy me bangtan merch please”. o and when i forced my my mum and my grandpa to watch three whole episodes of eatjin. i loved it. 

14. top 5 ‘you’re lame but i love you anyway’ moments?

1. uhhhh so basically all of american hustle life lol but specifically that one moment where taehyung is trying to get across the room while namjoon is having an interview on one side of it, and he just fucking fails @ everything and breaks lights and trips and when he tries to slide back across the room on a fucking skateboard he falls of too and trips again and just namjoon was sO DONE i loved it even tho tae is the lamest person i swear 

2. the interview where jin confirmed namjin by telling everyone that namjoon was his celebrity crush, resulting in an awkward dude hug :’)

3. when jin said he rapped just like jay-z and yoongi just fUCKING LOST IT LMAO

4. “win. lose. at the end of the day i still have this face so who’s the real winner here?”

5. when jk sang to that dude on american hustle life and the guy said “i like your voice” and jk replied “yeah, i like you” and the rest of bangtan reacted like it was the fucking best thing in the world oml i lov my idiots 

15. the very first moment where you felt their sincere passion for music?

i mean, i always knew they really did love what they were doing, it was apparent just through how they express themselves and how invested they are in getting the music and performances just right.. but i guess it was really during the start of the wings era when i realised how much effort and time and heart that namjoon and yoongi and all of the members put into the lyrics and the whole album. what really hit me was how namjoon told us abt how they all just sat with jk and cried, and how the lyrics of begin really showed his feelings. along with all the lyrics from the wings album, especially their solo songs. it really gave me that feeling of knowing that they completely loved what they were doing and loved it enough to write about their own heartfelt experiences.

16. when was the moment when you felt ‘aw, kook is all grown up now~’?

KASSANDRA I SWEA-

?? why would u make me do this 

21. what was the reason the you believed that they would make it big one day? 

i think it’s always just their sincerity and hard work and pure talent that got them where they are. they’ve worked and grafted so hard to get to this level, but it was clear to see at the start of their career how much raw talent there was there, either with their fucking lit dancing and different style of music, there’s just something so attractive abt bangtan that you just can’t deny. they are DIFFERENT and i think that’s why so many people love them. also they’re huge dorks and i love them sm :(( also!! their music videos.. damn son. if you want just one reason out of many, there’s one. captivating storylines, amazing music, beautiful boys, beautiful dancing. need i say much more?

23. how did they impact on your life positively?

um, where do i begin??? ok so, first off, i’ve made new friends since discovering bangtan, interent and irl! they have such a huge fanbase its hard not to run into a few people you connect with. also, they have always, ALWAYS made me smile everyday since i found them around a year ago… yes hello i am that sappy stan trademark but like!! my boys!! sunshines of my life!! their music always makes me feel better, i love listening to it until i can sleep at night,, i have found my soulmate too?? mr. kim taehyung?? whatta man?? also a certain min yoongi has made my cry thoughtful, sincere tears with a lot of his lyrics.. i find this positive bc he opened my eyes up to a lot actually? his and namjoon’s lyrics are always hard hitting on a lot of down-to-earth, normal subjects like school and everyday problems. also i’ve found many more posters to fill up my walls with so thats good!! they make me feel all fuzzy ok, i love them :’)

24. were their negatives in stanning them? if there was/were, what were they?

well, there are no negatives that affect me personally really.. i mean i’ve gotten some teasing and stick @ school for like something that’s not essentially “normal”. i mean, i’m from a tiny, tiny town in rural ireland so?? please fourteen year old white boys?? give me your opinions?? bc i need them so much?? tell me how weird it is to listen to korean songs and how i dont know what they’re saying and how shit they are even tho you have never even layed eyes upon them?? :/ it’s really nothing tho, my love for bangtan outshines any hate that i’ve ever received lol 

25. what kind of role do you wish to see taehyung act as?

BITCH DONT GET ME STARTED I,,,, so i really want to see him a modern day, possibly bad boy, moterbike riding, leather jacket wearing, cocky ass motherfucker,, please i dont care what type of drama it is really i just need to live out my biker!tae fantasies,, just give me a tae that i can make head canons out of with amazing gifs for backup!! just let my baby boy act his heart out :(((((((((((((((( WITHOUT GETTING MURDERED IM LOOKING @ U HWARANG U FUCKING MOTHERFUCKING I SWEAR IM STILL SO UPSET ???

26. a song of your choice that you wish for any of them to cover?

im sorry im a sinning man but i want to hear taehyung sing strange love by halsey in his sultry, deep voice so i can die peacefully. also?? tae singing death of a bachelor by panic! at the disco?? kill me?? 

28. most touching/sentimental moment of them

i think just the whole mama 2016 awards? bc they won artist of the year and jk and yoongi and jin just broke down in tears and all i could think abt was how hard they’ve worked and all they’ve been through and how they’ve been dreaming and hoping abt a day like this… and backstage, when namjoon pulled yoongi into that hug… dont even… 

29. the proudest moment of them so far

um??? when they fucking literally blasted through the charts with spring day and the whole ynwa album?? stan legends only please?? they’ve gotten so far, everything just makes me proud :(( MY BBY GOOGIE GRADUATED TOO IM

ok dude that’s everything thank u for reading this long monster ;) LOVE YOU TOO KASSY

[stephanmasnyj-blog]

Nick Valensi’s New Skin: A Conversation with CRX

For nearly 20 years, Nick Valensi has been the lead guitarist of The Strokes; a band that (at times unfairly so) has been seen as the last bastion of Rock music. More than any other band that has emerged from the early 2000’s, The Strokes have been under a microscope for nearly every decision each band member has made. From rumblings of inter-band feuds over songwriting processes to the emergence of solo projects from most of its members, the New York five-piece seems to exist in a constant media fervor. Throughout it all, Nick Valensi has remained enigmatic in his free time outside of Strokes projects. While he has written for artists as popular as Sia and Regina Spektor, he has largely shied away from the spotlight any bonafide side project would emit. That is, until now. With the release of CRX’s debut record New Skin, Valensi has shown himself to be a more than capable frontman. The album is riddled with the guitar work that helped make The Strokes so electrifying, and hooks that’ll remain firmly lodged in your head for weeks at a time. Perhaps more than any other side project to emerge from the different members of The Strokes, it just sounds fun. Nick was kind enough to discuss the recording process and tour with KUCI, and below is a transcript of our conversation, as well as photos taken by Shay Mehr from their recent show at the Constellation Room

Stephan (SM): Thanks again for sitting down and taking the time to chat, I really do appreciate it.

Nick Valensi (NV): My pleasure.

SM: So I wanted to start to talk about the tour you've been doing [for CRX]; for the past few years with The Strokes, you've only been playing one off major dates at festivals. Was it a big adjustment going from the huge stages to the small clubs and theaters the past couple weeks?

NV: Yeah it's a change of pace for sure, but a welcome one. It's kind of what I was looking forward to putting CRX together; getting up and doing different kinds of shows than the ones for The Strokes. We're on tour across the country right now and playing a lot of small clubs. You know, a lot of them when we walk in and load our stuff I just get the feeling of 'This is exactly what I want to be doing.' So it's been pretty cool for me.

SM: Another difference between CRX and your other projects is that for the first time you're the frontman. Was it hard to find your voice in regards to singing? Were there a lot of moments of singing in the mirror or shower trying to feel it out?

NV: (Laughs) Um, yeah! To be honest, not so much singing in the mirror, but singing a lot into my laptop and trying different stuff out. I guess I wanted to take the time to... figure out the sound but also feel comfortable with it. Because at first I had that thing that most people get who don't have the experience of singing or public speaking. You get that thing where you hear your voice back over on a recording and it sounds annoying to you and you're like 'Ugh is that how I sound?' Everyone kinda gets that. So I had to overcome that and also just making subtle little changes in how I was approaching it. It took me a sec... I feel way more comfortable with it now, especially after touring.

SM: I can definitely relate to that. There's plenty of people here [at KUCI] that will hear their voice over a recording and feel uncomfortable.

NV: Yeah it's a funny thing there's a part of overcoming that and doing whatever technically you need to do to sound the way you feel more comfortable with, but there's another psychological aspect that you need to overcome.

SM: Moving on to the recording and writing, from what I've read in many aspects this project was sort of a way for you to get back on the road since The Strokes didn't tour too much for Comedown Machine. Was there a certain song when you were writing or recording when you realized this was the start of a new full blown project?

NV: No, to be honest with you. Initially the project was a thing where it was just going to be a vehicle to put a band together and book some shows or book a tour and get in front of audiences. But it became something different to me over the course of it, and now I'm realizing it's a really awesome thing for me to have; an outlet creatively that's different from The Strokes. And it makes coming back to The Strokes for me a lot more enjoyable, and a lot more constructive I think. But to be honest with you with the songwriting and the songs, I demoed a bunch of songs — probably like 8 or 10 — and I was still not 100% sure if it was something I was going to pursue. I thought that maybe the songs would go somewhere else or maybe I would offer them to somebody else. It wasn't until I reached out to some friends and slowly started putting the band together and have these guys help me finish songs and start collaborating putting lyrics together. Also when I reached out to Josh Homme [Lead singer/writer

of Queens of the Stone Age, producer for New Skin]. Once he heard the demos he loved them. It was a huge confidence booster for me that made me realize 'This is going to work, I want to pursue this.'

SM: I think one of the best parts of the album is the sound it has; it's sort of if you gave The Cars "Appetite for Destruction" [the Guns n' Roses album] and told them to listen to it for ten straight days. It has this --

NV: Oh man (laughs)

SM: Honestly! It has these heavy riffs but these power pop sheen that I really admire a lot. During the demo and recording process was that a sound you actively tried to pursue or was that something you and Josh hashed out in the recording studio and settled on?

NV: Well that sound was kind of there in the demos, and there was Josh's role... initially he loved the demos so much and there were a lot of elements [from the demos] that he wanted to keep. Our first conversation was really about there were certain songs that he'd pick. Like maybe one song there would be a guitar that he really loved, or another song there'd be a vocal or a drum track. One of the first things we did was that we went through all the demos and pick what we were going to keep. On the album actually there's a lot of stuff; maybe 25-35% that's actually from the demos. And Josh was really good a picking and choosing what to keep. And then there were other songs that we just recorded from scratch and the stuff we worked on from the demos was totally up to him. I was kinda at a place where I'd been with the songs for a year practicing them and I was really close to the whole thing and didn't know... I guess I just lost respect with where it was going and where to take it. Josh really came in and saved the day with that. I don't know if I would've been able to do it without him.

SM: It can be really helpful to get a different set of ears on it or to have friends give their opinion on things. When you're alone with material so long you can almost forget how it sounded originally.

NV: It’s important to get the perspective of someone you trust. That was it for me. It was that I trusted [Josh] and really respected what he had done prior. I'm a huge fan of all his bands, all the things he's produced, his songwriting choices. It was cool to have that.

SM: Do you see CRX as a continuous thing? Julian has often stated how he loves The Voidz and would like to keep that in tandem with The Strokes, Albert has had solo work for awhile, Nikolai has Summer Moon starting now. Do you see CRX as a refresher between Strokes projects?

NV: Absolutely. I wanna keep this thing going for sure. I've kinda come to a place to realize that it's good for all of the guys in The Strokes to have side projects and have creative outlets outside of the main band and that it's good for me to have this thing that I can pick up and take out on the road whenever I want. It makes everything better for The Strokes. But I'm definitely thinking about a second CRX already and we're kinda working on some things. I'm having so much fun with it.

SM: You’ve had a long, very successful career. What does it mean for you to be an artist and do you feel like you've accomplished that?

NV: It’s just fun to make stuff. I think that's what being an artist is; making something out of nothing. In terms of hitting achievements or reaching a benchmark it's always fun to create stuff and hope other people will enjoy it. I don't look at it as some sort of goal I'm trying to achieve. It's just baby steps towards making something fun and putting it out into the world and making another one. I don't know I'm sorry I'm giving you such a lame answer (laughs).

SM: Well I think I wouldn't be the only one in saying that you've made some pretty fun stuff over the years and that we hope you continue doing it for a long time.

NV: Aw shucks (laughs).

Nick Valensi is currently on tour as CRX through the end of the year. They will be at The Constellation Room in Santa Ana on December 5th, The Teagram Ballroom in Los Angeles on December 6th, and The Casbah in San Diego on December 7th. For more tour dates head to crxmusic.com

[stephanmasnyj-blog]

Nick Valensi’s New Skin

For nearly 20 years, Nick Valensi has been the lead guitarist of The Strokes; a band that (at times unfairly so) has been seen as the last bastion of Rock music. More than any other band that has emerged from the early 2000’s, The Strokes have been under a microscope for nearly every decision each band member has made. From rumblings of inter-band feuds over songwriting processes to the emergence of solo projects from most of its members, the New York five-piece seems to exist in a constant media fervor. Throughout it all, Nick Valensi has remained enigmatic in his free time outside of Strokes projects. While he has written for artists as popular as Sia and Regina Spektor, he has largely shied away from the spotlight any bonafide side project would emit. That is, until now. With the release of CRX’s debut record New Skin, Valensi has shown himself to be a more than capable frontman. The album is riddled with the guitar work that helped make The Strokes so electrifying, and hooks that’ll remain firmly lodged in your head for weeks at a time. Perhaps more than any other side project to emerge from the different members of The Strokes, it just sounds fun. Nick was kind enough to discuss the recording process and tour with KUCI, and below is a transcript of our conversation. 

Stephan Masnyj (SM): Thanks again for sitting down and taking the time to chat, I really do appreciate it. Nick Valensi (NV): My pleasure. SM: So I wanted to start to talk about the tour you've been doing [for CRX]; for the past few years with The Strokes, you've only been playing one off major dates at festivals. Was it a big adjustment going from the huge stages to the small clubs and theaters the past couple weeks? NV: Yeah it's a change of pace for sure, but a welcome one. It's kind of what I was looking forward to putting CRX together; getting up and doing different kinds of shows than the ones for The Strokes. We're on tour across the country right now and playing a lot of small clubs. You know, a lot of them when we walk in and load our stuff I just get the feeling of 'This is exactly what I want to be doing.' So it's been pretty cool for me. SM: Another difference between CRX and your other projects is that for the first time you're the frontman. Was it hard to find your voice in regards to singing? Were there a lot of moments of singing in the mirror or shower trying to feel it out? NV: (Laughs) Um, yeah! To be honest, not so much singing in the mirror, but singing a lot into my laptop and trying different stuff out. I guess I wanted to take the time to... figure out the sound but also feel comfortable with it. Because at first I had that thing that most people get who don't have the experience of singing or public speaking. You get that thing where you hear your voice back over on a recording and it sounds annoying to you and you're like 'Ugh is that how I sound?' Everyone kinda gets that. So I had to overcome that and also just making subtle little changes in how I was approaching it. It took me a sec... I feel way more comfortable with it now, especially after touring. 

SM: I can definitely relate to that. There's plenty of people here [at KUCI] that will hear their voice over a recording and feel uncomfortable. NV: Yeah it's a funny thing there's a part of overcoming that and doing whatever technically you need to do to sound the way you feel more comfortable with, but there's another psychological aspect that you need to overcome. SM: Moving on to the recording and writing, from what I've read in many aspects this project was sort of a way for you to get back on the road since The Strokes didn't tour too much for Comedown Machine. Was there a certain song when you were writing or recording when you realized this was the start of a new full blown project? NV: No, to be honest with you. Initially the project was a thing where it was just going to be a vehicle to put a band together and book some shows or book a tour and get in front of audiences. But it became something different to me over the course of it, and now I'm realizing it's a really awesome thing for me to have; an outlet creatively that's different from The Strokes. And it makes coming back to The Strokes for me a lot more enjoyable, and a lot more constructive I think. But to be honest with you with the songwriting and the songs, I demoed a bunch of songs — probably like 8 or 10 — and I was still not 100% sure if it was something I was going to pursue. I thought that maybe the songs would go somewhere else or maybe I would offer them to somebody else. It wasn't until I reached out to some friends and slowly started putting the band together and have these guys help me finish songs and start collaborating putting lyrics together. Also when I reached out to Josh Homme [Lead singer/writer of Queens of the Stone Age, producer for New Skin]. Once he heard the demos he loved them. It was a huge confidence booster for me that made me realize 'This is going to work, I want to pursue this.' 

SM: I think one of the best parts of the album is the sound it has; it's sort of if you gave The Cars "Appetite for Destruction" [the Guns n' Roses album] and told them to listen to it for ten straight days. It has this -- NV: Oh man (laughs) SM: Honestly! It has these heavy riffs but these power pop sheen that I really admire a lot. During the demo and recording process was that a sound you actively tried to pursue or was that something you and Josh hashed out in the recording studio and settled on? NV: Well that sound was kind of there in the demos, and there was Josh's role... initially he loved the demos so much and there were a lot of elements [from the demos] that he wanted to keep. Our first conversation was really about there were certain songs that he'd pick. Like maybe one song there would be a guitar that he really loved, or another song there'd be a vocal or a drum track. One of the first things we did was that we went through all the demos and pick what we were going to keep. On the album actually there's a lot of stuff; maybe 25-35% that's actually from the demos. And Josh was really good a picking and choosing what to keep. And then there were other songs that we just recorded from scratch and the stuff we worked on from the demos was totally up to him. I was kinda at a place where I'd been with the songs for a year practicing them and I was really close to the whole thing and didn't know... I guess I just lost respect with where it was going and where to take it. Josh really came in and saved the day with that. I don't know if I would've been able to do it without him. SM: It can be really helpful to get a different set of ears on it or to have friends give their opinion on things. When you're alone with material so long you can almost forget how it sounded originally. NV: It’s important to get the perspective of someone you trust. That was it for me. It was that I trusted [Josh] and really respected what he had done prior. I'm a huge fan of all his bands, all the things he's produced, his songwriting choices. It was cool to have that. SM: Do you see CRX as a continuous thing? Julian has often stated how he loves The Voidz and would like to keep that in tandem with The Strokes, Albert has had solo work for awhile, Nikolai has Summer Moon starting now. Do you see CRX as a refresher between Strokes projects? NV: Absolutely. I wanna keep this thing going for sure. I've kinda come to a place to realize that it's good for all of the guys in The Strokes to have side projects and have creative outlets outside of the main band and that it's good for me to have this thing that I can pick up and take out on the road whenever I want. It makes everything better for The Strokes. But I'm definitely thinking about a second CRX already and we're kinda working on some things. I'm having so much fun with it. SM: You’ve had a long, very successful career. What does it mean for you to be an artist and do you feel like you've accomplished that? NV: It’s just fun to make stuff. I think that's what being an artist is; making something out of nothing. In terms of hitting achievements or reaching a benchmark it's always fun to create stuff and hope other people will enjoy it. I don't look at it as some sort of goal I'm trying to achieve. It's just baby steps towards making something fun and putting it out into the world and making another one. I don't know I'm sorry I'm giving you such a lame answer (laughs). SM: Well I think I wouldn't be the only one in saying that you've made some pretty fun stuff over the years and that we hope you continue doing it for a long time. NV: Aw shucks (laughs). Nick Valensi is currently on tour as CRX through the end of the year. They will be at The Constellation Room in Santa Ana on December 5th, The Teagram Ballroom in Los Angeles on December 6th, and The Casbah in San Diego on December 7th. For more tour dates head to crxmusic.com.