WINNER TAKES IT ALL

“We held up celebratory glasses for WINNER who are wrapping up promotions for their mini album, “EXIT:E”. We wish you all the best for the road you will walk on towards your goals!”



Seungyoon and Seunghoon who imprinted their names through audition programs, Mino who spent his days onstage as an underground rapper, and Jinwoo and Taehyun who endured their long trainee period on tightropes. They received the name, “WINNER” by surviving the survival program, “WIN”, where they competed against Team B as Team A. It took YG, who doesn’t choose compromise in front of perfection, 9 years to create WINNER, the second boy group after BIGBANG. After a long period of producing, the ten songs that were created by the members displayed their voices as artists, not as idols. On the day of their debut, their title track, “Empty” swept up #1 on music charts. And then one year and a half passed. This was unusual and not easy especially within the fast-moving idol ecosystem. WINNER, who have come back, announced their plan to be active for the whole of 2016 with their project “Exit Movement”. Their mini album, “EXIT:E” is only the start as it naturally contains WINNER’s self-composed and written songs. The title tracks, “Baby Baby” and “Sentimental”, along with Nam Taehyun’s solo track, “I’m Young” had music videos released out of the five songs. Instead of looking at the widened spectrum that includes blues, pop, among other genres, it is necessary to focus on how each song sincerely shines with their completeness. As if they were waiting for it, WINNER successfully wrapped up their first domestic concert, “2016 WINNER EXIT TOUR” and challenged themselves to the chid care variety program, “Half Moon Friends”. These youths have instinctive energy and passion, along with fresh mischief and they still have a lot to show. We, who have watched how they earned their name, WINNER, from the beginning, just need to enjoy watching them mature into real winners. Because their name is WINNER, because becoming winners will always be their goal, and because their thirst for music is more deep and dense than expected.



Q. After your hiatus of 1 year and 5 months, you have completed promotions for your mini album “EXIT:E” and your first domestic concert tour has ended too. Do you feel at ease now?

Seungyoon

I felt like a bitterness in my chest that wouldn’t go away, disappeared. Because the energy that was trapped was finally released like the champagne that was burst open during this photoshoot. I felt very reinvigorated. But this is not enough. There are many glasses left that need to be filled with champagne. I wish to show more new and good things.

Mino

I was so frustrated during the hiatus. I desperately wanted to have a comeback quickly to show our music with high spirits. I had to swallow back anxiety very often but the apologetic heart I had for the people waiting for us was greater. I’m very thankful to them.

Taehyun

During the hiatus, I was so thirsty for promotions but stepping onstage made me miss the hiatus. I thought, “If I had practiced instruments more fiercely… If I had been more stably prepared, then I would have had been armed with another weapon.” I regretted things. I also worried that I was being too impatient. I’m worry about whether I’m being too greedy for running for perfection too quickly at such a young age.

Jinwoo

Because the hiatus of 1 year and 5 months left me with bitterness, I feel like I released some of that frustration through the [EXIT:E] promotions. It is our goal to stand on stage again quickly. Because the EXIT:E promotions were too short to resolve the hunger that built up during the hiatus.

Seunghoon

Outside, only the glamorous times of WINNER are shown. But I think I’m ardent for that emptiness that comes after the glamorous stage disappears. The emotion felt by the person involved is different from what other people see.

Q. That emptiness was conveyed through “Empty” on your first album.

Seunghoon

When the cheers and spotlights you received onstage suddenly disappears, there is an emptiness in the corner of your chest.

Seungyoon

When there is no opportunity to stand onstage, my body feels fidgety and itchy. The more time passes in that situation, an emptiness that embodies, “What am I doing right now” finds you. It flusters you as if you didn’t do what you were supposed to do. Additionally, a financial emptiness follows. Haha. Am I being too realistic? When the emptiness seeps into bank accounts, you become “Sentimental”.

Q. I’ll remember your wit in connecting to the song, “Sentimental”, which is in this album. I want to ask why the title of the album is, “EXIT:E”. These days, it is common to hear and say, “There is always an entry into a fandom but there is no exit”, why did you dare to choose “EXIT”?



Seungyoon

Our album name was coincidental and intuitive. In the image from the photoshoot we had at England, the director wrote, “Exit”, and we really liked that feeling. Instead of interpreting it as, “Get away from us,” we understood it as, “Listen to WINNER’s music and exit into a different world through WINNER”.

Mino

If our music became an exit for someone from their daily life, there is nothing better than that so we all agreed to it.

Taehyun

The fact that all five members liked it is very fascinating.

Q. So each member has different preferences from each other? How do you work together when you each have strong preferences?

Seunghoon

We are very different from each other. Our opinions usually never unite either. When all five members need to unite voices, Seungyoon, our leader, separates each member’s opinions and reflects the opinions and collect all the opinions in the end. We try to find a compromise.

Seungyoon

Everyone respects my opinions as a leader. I’m thankful for them.

Q. It is a blessing to meet a leader who respects the opinions of members. It is not easy to get assessed with a self composed song. WINNER seems to always choose to make breakthroughs.

Seungyoon

Because we are people who make mainstream music, we think it is natural for us put in the effort to make music for many people to like. Of course, it’s not easy but if we were to say it’s difficult, it would feel like we are avoiding the responsibility as mainstream singers. That would mean the dereliction of duties.

Q. It is most likely that not everyone is dignified in front of assessment. What do you do when your confidence drops?

Mino

Whenever my confidence disappears or whenever I become confused about the direction of my live, I talk to the people around me. I earn solutions and hints are shared. I find it a relief that I have many friends near me who understand me because we have similar jobs.

Jinwoo

I choose to close off the situation and forget it for a short time so that I can make sure I don’t beat myself over it. I usually forget about it for a short time and then I come back and find a new way to figure things out.

Seungyoon

I shower! I become happy when I look at the mirror while showering. Haha. I’m joking. My ears lean towards compliments given to me by people who know me well. Compliments like that are like energy drinks to me. Honestly, I receive an amazing amount of strength while reading fan letters. When my confidence is scratching at the lowest level, each and every letter of each word from fan letters gather together and stick to my chest.

Taehyun

I try my best to find a way to absorb different music but honestly, I’m not sure. It’s too difficult for me to figure out how to settle myself when I lack confidence. It is my homework to find an appropriate method.

Seunghoon

CEO YG’s compliment such as, “You did well” is equivalent to getting a dragon ball. (Right at this moment, all the members vigorously agreed!) Because it’s such a rare and precious experience, the power and influence is really great.

Q. Just like what Seunghoon mentioned, what is the most impressionable praise you received that marked your heart?



Seungyoon

“Your song is really good!”

Taehyun

That’s right. Whenever people say my songs are good. I am most happy when people praise “my babies”. (T/N: Taehyun regards his songs as his babies)

Seunghoon

The phrase, “You’re the best / You’re my one and only”. Because men are animals who crave acknowledgement.

Seungyoon

Mino will probably answer, “You’re funny” or “You dress well”. Haha. We’ve heard the phrase, “Jinwoo-hyung is good looking” so many times we’re probably tired of it?

Seunghoon

Actually, our fans say, “You’re good looking” often. However, there is a difference because in front of Jinwoo-hyung, they cry out, “Oppa, you’re so good-looking!” with the soul of the universe.

Q. Recently, you started the child care variety program, “Half Moon Friends”. The show displays WINNER within the chaos without falsity so the viewers laugh and feel touched. Good looking Teacher Juju’s popularity is also felt. How was the challenge of child care?

Jinwoo

You know that old phrase about choosing to do farm work if you were given the choice of looking after children or doing farm work? It conveys how difficult child care is and I realised that old expressions are never wrong. And I was only popular because I had pink hair which children like.

Taehyun

If I had to choose between farm work and child caring, I would choose to take care of children. It is physically tiring but you can take and receive emotions.



Seunghoon

There are many things you can learn from children. I felt like the children’s world is a smaller version of our society. And we became slightly more innocent after meeting the children.

Seungyoon

Up until now, I never thought that we were adults. We barely take care of ourselves. Even though we’ve aged, we didn’t mature. In front of the children, I looked back at the definition of being an adult for the first time. Because we were given the responsibility to become the fences around someone else’s lives. This opportunity made me think a lot.

Mino

In front of the children, we were adults and we were teachers. Responsibility was a scary thing.

Q. Have you thought about marriage through this opportunity?

Seunghoon

Before the program was officially prepared, there were questions about marriage during the pre-interviews. That was before the theme of the broadcast was decided. I have friends who have gotten married quickly but I told the production crew that marriage is a far off topic for me. Because I love working, I said that I think I would get married as late as possible, but meeting the children made me realise how cute and lovable they are. My thoughts have changed since then. Getting married in my 20s and have children would make it possible for me to be like a friend to my children. I feel like it would be a fun life. Of course, there is no one near me right now so this is an impossibility.

Taehyun

I’m different. I have always wanted to get married quickly because I find it difficult to get hit by people’s emotions. I want to be stable. I feel like if I have stability, I would be able to focus on my music more. If I had someone I wanted to marry, I don’t want to hesitate.

Mino

I want to get married as late as possible. I will live freely, happily, and with enjoyment until then!

Q. This place is only 10 minutes away from Incheon airport. If you were given 7 days of rest, what would you do?



Jinwoo

I want to go to the Zakinthos Island in Greece. It was the filming location for the drama “Descendants of the Sun” and I’m still obsessed with it even though the drama has ended. The beach is so pretty.

Mino

I want to travel to a country that has overwhelming nature. I have to zone out at that place. I’ll look at the sky once and then at palm trees once. Whether it’s the sea or the mountains, I’ll like that place.

Seungyoon

I want to follow Mino

Mino

Haha. I will not take you with me.

Seungyoon

Then I want to go back to my hometown, Busan. Even when we go to Busan for schedules, I never get the time to go home. I like traveling overseas but I desperately want to catch up with my friends. And my family. There are too many faces I miss.

Seunghoon

We went to New York for the album cover photoshoot for our debut album. We just worked and then came back. New York is the farthest city I have ever visited. Even though we came back after working hard for our photoshoot in a rush, every time I look at our album photobook, I clearly remember the good times we had there. I have a hobby of re-watching movies I love multiple times but every time some time passes, there are new emotions that get added unto that experience. I want to feel that new feeling at New York too.

Taehyun

I want to go to an overseas music festival and I want to set up a tent on top of a field of grass and while I listen to music, I want to roll around for one week. I also want to go on a backpacking trip, which I have never done before.

Q. Please share some hints about the year-long project “Exit Movement” with us before you leave! When will the song you revealed at your concert be released on an album?

Seungyoon

We recorded new songs yesterday and today. We are working hard and spending busy nights every day. We keep fixing the recordings of our songs repetitively. As we do that, we’ll be able to create even better songs and that process continues like a Möbius strip. It’s because we’re very greedy. We’ll come back with an album full of satisfaction.

trans: @chrissy96_ ☆ scans: @goduandme5 & @SoRi_foryou