[ENG TRANS] INTERVIEW - BILLBOARD ITALY : ​LNGSHOT and a Potential New K-pop Wave: The Interview

​How does it feel after the massive public response to your debut?

OHYUL: It all still feels truly surreal to us. All those years of hard work and training are starting to pay off. And meeting our fans online and in person makes all of this feel unique and special.

​What was your first meeting like as trainees?

RYUL: Each of us came from a different world and took a different path to get to where we are today. Some of us were selected through auditions, scouting, or from other companies. We clicked so well right from the start that meeting at MORE VISION felt almost like a twist of fate.

​How do you view your relationship with Jay Park?

WOOJIN: He has guided us from the very first moment when we were still trainees. He has literally watched us grow over the years, and the most important lesson he gave us is to always stay humble and authentic.

​LOUIS: To us, he is much more than just a CEO; he’s an artist we respect and who inspires us immensely, as well as an older brother figure.

​On Their Music and Creative Process

​How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard you before?

OHYUL: Our music is a mix of different styles and vibes. There’s a song for every taste. That’s also why we hope people who don’t know us will listen to the record from beginning to end.

​What was your dream before your debut?

WOOJIN: Even though we come from various personal artistic backgrounds, we have all always been tied to creativity. Music, therefore, simply became the medium we chose to give it an outlet and express ourselves.

​You participate in writing the lyrics. How important is this aspect to you?

WOOJIN: It’s fundamental to the soul of LNGSHOT. Jay Park has always taught and pushed us to be ourselves. So, having an active role in creating our lyrics is very important, ensuring that everything you hear and feel are authentic emotions and experiences we’ve lived firsthand.

​Your style is much closer to hip-hop than traditional K-pop. What are your main influences?

LOUIS: In reality, we don’t set limits for ourselves; we consider influences from all musical genres.

On Global Ambitions and First Steps

​WOOJIN: At the end of the day, we are all fans of other artists and music in general. So, as we continue to work, our sound might change, given that we also draw inspiration from worlds far removed from our current one.

​What fascinates you most about the American music scene?

WOOJIN: We are always fascinated by the creative processes of other artists, especially those from backgrounds very different from ours. We want to learn from them. We would absolutely love to produce and work in the United States one day.

​The first song you recorded together was Moonwalkin’. What was that experience like?

OHYUL: It was fun recording Moonwalkin’ together. I remember Jay Park gave us a lot of direction on how we should sing, but at the same time, he also gave us enough freedom. This allowed our distinct personal styles to emerge throughout the entire song.

​Which song from SHOT CALLERS are you most attached to?

RYUL: Each of us has our own preferences, but the song we care about most is probably our debut single, Saucin’. Not only was it our first official release, but it was also the first song we performed at the Melon Music Awards.

On Music Videos and Big Stages

​WOOJIN: It was also a lot of fun filming the music video. The idea to include the introductory scene with Jay Park was actually his own idea. It was a fantastic experience—we even flew to Vietnam to film it.

​OHYUL: Yes, in reality, it was also very long and exhausting, but seeing the final result made it all truly worth it.

​Speaking of the Melon Music Awards (MMA), what do you remember about that experience?

OHYUL: The MMAs are one of the most important stages in Korea, so we felt very honored, but we also felt a certain amount of pressure. The fact that Jay Park shared the stage with us and introduced us to the world through that performance was an honor. It will definitely be one of the most memorable moments of our career.

​What is your dream as a group?

RYUL: Our dream now is to continue releasing music, grow as artists, and perform all over the world to meet our fans in person.

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Article by Samuele Valori

This is an English translation of the original article.