– Nico H.

From bad to really bad, Red Velvet have had a busy 2018. And yet, they managed to look good while doing it.

At the top of the year, Red Velvet released a repackage of their second album, aptly named The Perfect Red Velvet, and the title track, “Bad Boy.” The track itself was immediately a hit, putting a brighter spotlight on the group, and the group would go on to convert that energy into momentum throughout the rest of the year.

Summer was treated with Red Velvet’s Japan debut with #Cookie Jar, and still had a trick up their sleeves with Summer Magic. Coupled with the Red Room and Redmare solo concerts held throughout the year, it was a dream come true for fans of the group.

It was a busy 2018 for Red Velvet. But they weren’t about to slow down.

On Nov. 30, the mini-album RBB was released onto the world, accompanied by title track “RBB (Really Bad Boy).” In calling back to the song that got Red Velvet hitting the ground running at the beginning of the year, this new title track acts as a sort of victory lap as 2018 begins to wind down. The song reflects this, too. Where “Bad Boy” is sultry and mysterious and velvety, “RRB (Really Bad Boy)” is so red it breaks the equalizer. Immediate and bombastic, almost celebratory. Lively horns, a booming bass, and piercing screams all work together with a manic energy to take the listener and make them dance along.

And while the song has the intensity of a big band, there is a logic to things, a leader at the front conducting every instrument. Timothy ‘Bos’ Bullock is that bandleader’s name, the producer behind hits like Tiffany’s “I Just Wanna Dance,” NCT U’s “일곱 번째 감각 (The 7th Sense),” and EXO’s “Artificial Love.” He is not a stranger to center stage, and isn’t about to break a sweat when stepping into the spotlight with Red Velvet. Where they have momentum, he knows how to direct it.

I recently had the chance to ask the man himself about his process producing Red Velvet’s newest hit, and what goes into producing a song for the K-Pop scene in general. Enjoy, everybody.

BD: Could I have you introduce yourself?

Bullock: My name is Timothy Bullock. I’m originally from Detroit, MI. I am currently living in Los Angeles, CA.

BD: Where did the ‘Bos’ nickname come from?

Bullock: BOS is an acronym that stands for ‘Bent On Success.’ It is characteristic of my relentless pursuit of success, and a reminder to others to never give up on their dreams.

BD: How did you get into making music?

Bullock: My start in music came from me playing the drums in my father’s church. He was a pastor in Detroit. It was at his church where I learned to play the drums, the piano, the organ, and the bass guitar.

BD: Who are some of the artists you have produced for?

Bullock: I have produced for Justin Bieber, Young Jeezy, and Britney Spears, to name a few.

BD: Have you produced for K-Pop groups before?

Bullock: I have produced for Tiffany, NCT U, Henry Lau, and EXO.

BD: What’s the story behind Really Bad Boy? How were you approached to work on the song?

Bullock: I actually created the song at a writing camp hosted by SM. I, along with a few of my friends, flew from Los Angeles to Seoul, Korea for two weeks and created almost 20 songs from scratch! It was amazing.

BD: Did you know you were going to make a song for Red Velvet?

Bullock: Initially, I wasn’t sure who the songs were going to end up going to. My team and I were briefed by the A&R staff at SM on the various artists and projects in the pipeline. We took that information and made every type of song imaginable, from male songs, to male group songs, to female songs, etc. The irony of this song [RBB] is that it was the last song I made during the camp!

BD: I’ve been curious about what goes on in those music writing camps, after hearing about them so many times. What’s the production process like when at one of these camps, and is it different from how you usually approach things?

Bullock: In the SM writing camp we just made music that felt good to us. If it feels good to you, odds are it’s going to resonate with someone else too! The A&R’s gave us very detailed descriptions of what and which artists they were looking for!

BD: Let’s talk about the production for Really Bad Boy. There’s a lot happening in it, a lot for a listener to unpack. How did you come up with the different parts of the song?

Bullock: When I made the instrumental for Really Bad Boy, I wanted to create something with lots of fun energy. I wanted to create something that made you want to move! My decision to use brass and horns came from my love for big band jazz. I used 808’s in certain sections because everybody loves bass!

BD: I was wondering what instrument was behind that main riff. Is it a trumpet, a horn?

Bullock: The main melody is being played by a trumpet and a trombone.

BD: Was that part a sample or was that of your own performance?

Bullock: I rarely sample. Everything you hear is conceptualized and performed by myself.

BD: How did the production of this instrumental differ from other projects you worked on?

Bullock: Each of my productions are different. I have a very universal approach to music production and that affords me the opportunity to cross, blend, and fuse genres. RBB is probably one of the first times I actually used a trumpet or trombone in a song.

BD: Was there anyone who had a hand in making the instrumental itself?

Bullock: I actually did the full instrumental myself. One of the perks to being an actual musician!

BD: Was there a demo or vocal track that helped shape things?

Bullock: I did record the song with Sara Forsberg. She has a demo version of the song that is also great. She’s amazing! I love working with her.

BD: One of the parts that stood out to me was the bridge section after the second chorus. It really reminds me of some R&B from the early 2000s. Was there a specific sound you were trying to emulate? And what inspired you to go after that sound in particular?

Bullock: I’m glad you liked that part, that’s my favorite part, too. In all honesty, I wasn’t emulating anyone. It just felt good when I played the chords. Being from Detroit, R&B is in my soul.

BD: As far as the section itself, considering it’s so different from the rest of the song, what inspired you to include it as part of the instrumental?

Bullock: I added those chords to create a foundation for some good old-fashioned singing, because the rest of the song has such high energy. I thought the nod to R&B would be a good contrast and add dynamics to the song!

BD: Another part that stood out to me was that a really distinct high note that appears throughout the song. It made me curious if that was originally part of the instrumental or demo.

Bullock: Believe it or not Sara actually sang that high note in the demo, and I believe the members of Red Velvet did the very high note you hear! Pretty amazing actually.

BD: Red Velvet are known for having different sides to them that they incorporate into their title tracks. Poppier ‘Red’ songs and their more sultry ‘Velvet’ songs. Bad Boy has entered the group’s lexicon as one the more popular Velvet tracks. With Really Bad Boy, which side do you think the song falls under?

Bullock: RBB is a blend of both. It’s too hard for me to choose.

BD: What was your reaction once the song and video dropped?

Bullock: I was amazed at the concept, the quality, and the choreography in the video. Red Velvet are an incredible group.

BD: The video reached up to 7.5 million views and was close to 900 thousand likes within the first 24 hours. Were you expecting that kind of reaction?

Bullock: I was definitely shocked at the response to the RBB video. It was a surprise for sure!

BD: Are there any parts of the instrumental that people might not notice that you’d like to point out?

Bullock: No, I think the music speaks for itself!

BD: Now that the song is out for everyone to hear, is there anything you’ve learned from the experience that you could take into future projects?

Bullock: I learned that it’s important to make everything to the best of your ability, because you never know what the end result or the final destination for a song will be.

BD: Was there anything particularly challenging that you came across when making the instrumental?

Bullock: Music isn’t challenging for me. It’s my gift. I’m just glad I get to share this gift with the world!

BD: One of the reasons why I started this interview series was to shine a light on the producers who make the hits that so many people enjoy. A lot of time, it’s an unsung job. Is there anything about the production process or your work that you’d like to highlight for people?

Bullock: I created a curriculum called More Than Just Beats that highlights very useful information from production tips to publishing. The best advice I can give is to learn everything you possibly can about the process and study the greats!

BD: And finally, my last question. Is there anything you’d like to say to everyone who checked out the song and enjoyed your work? And is there anyone else you’d like to shout out?

Bullock: I just want to say that I appreciate each person who has taken the time to listen to the music. It is my mission and hope to uplift and inspire the world with song and sound. I especially want to thank my father Dr. Samuel H. Bullock Jr., he passed away earlier this year in July. He encouraged me to practice for hours everyday. He is the reason I am able to have confidence and consistent execution in the studio or when playing an instrument. I am so honored for this opportunity and RBB is one more of many more to come! I am Bent On Success and music is More Than Just Beats!