DD: Stylistically
2NE1 are icons and unafraid of pushing boundaries but lately all four of
you have been doing magazine shoots and experimenting with a more
low-key, womanly image.... where would you like to see 2NE1 go -
fashion-wise - in the future?CL: The magazines
that we shot separately were for fun. Together we sort of have this
signature “2NE1 style” but separately we, of course, have our own
individuality so we wanted to show people a different side of 2NE1
because that colourful out there stuff is not our only side. We dress
how we feel – every day. With regards to the future it will depend on
what kind of music we put out because the look should coincide with the
theme of the music. Personally, it depends on my mood or how we are
feeling – it will depend on what we are going for and then we’ll go for
it.
DD: You often call yourself a workaholic but where does that ethos comes from?CL: I
think it's in my blood, both of my parents are very hard workers and
were always working when I was growing up. I love working and what I do.
DD: What about when you have time off?CL: I
don't know what to do so I try to keep myself busy even if I have time
off. I can't just stay home and do nothing. I'm not good at that. A
month ago I was really really sick. I caught a cold and so I had to, not
because I wanted to, stay in bed for a week. I couldn't get out of bed.
My body was telling me I need rest.
DD: Your fans have been wondering where you've been of late, though...CL: I
was on tour last year but the Korean fans were like, 'where are you?' I
was working all the time even though they couldn't see me. We couldn't
have an album out because of the tour, because if we wanted it out it
had to be before the tour started. The timing was really bad and we
didn't want to pass that year without anything out so we did 'I Love
You'. We did that for our fans and it was different from what we always
did, but we tried something different.
DD: Outside Asia the market proved that
little bit elusive, however 2NE1 have made managed to make a starting
dent in it. When you travel do you see K-Pop really developing in
non-Asian countries? Do you think it could ever escape its niche and go
really mainstream so that a lot of groups can experience the kind of
success that YG artists have?CL: I don’t know
about other groups or artists but we try to make global music - not for
certain places. For us, it’s not about where you do it but how you do
it.
DD: You're one of the most confident, outspoken girls on the K-Pop scene, where does all that confidence come from?CL: It's
from loving yourself. Everybody goes through that awkward teenage
phase, and even the prettiest girl can think she's ugly. It's about
going to another level when that hits you, you have ever get over that,
and get up when things knock you down.
DD: Have you ever worried about what other people think of you?CL: Yes.
I went through that phase when I was kind of thinking about other
people. It was in 2011 and everybody was trying to put me down because
of my confidence. So I was going through, like, do I think about that or
do I do what I love and just be me. I was struggling for a while but
you live once and you can only be you, you can't be somebody else. I
don't want to live my life regretting things. I want to say what I want
to say, do what I wanna do. This moment will never come back. You have
to capture every moment you get and appreciate it. You have to have
respect for other people and appreciate everything in life but you have
to trust in yourself.
DD: You spent your teens training and now
your adult life as an idol... what kind of experiences or activities do
you think you missed out on that other young women have had?CL: I
did miss out on certain simple things like walking casually on the
street or catching a movie but I went through most of the phases that
all girls go through when they are growing up.
DD: Is there a place or a location that you love or find inspiration from?CL: There's
places I wanna go. I want to go to Egypt and Greece and places like
that. I would ride a camel in Egypt, I would love to do that. Whenever I
travel it's for work but I want to go India. I would love to experience
it, I love their culture, art and history.
DD: What, outside of performing/recording, makes you happiest?CL: Simple things like family, friends, good food and catching sunlight.
DD: You're often asked about your ideal type and relationships...CL: I
have no time for relationships, I'm working hard every day. I'm not
looking for just someone to go on dates with. I won't just go on dates
casually.
DD: Does that mean you have a dislike of
casual dating? And, in a romantic sense, given the life you lead would
only another idol or someone in the industry be able to understand you?CL: I
don’t dislike casual dating. It’s just that at the moment, I don’t have
time for it right now. It doesn’t have take someone to be in the
industry to understand me because if he fell in love with me then he
would already understand me.
DD: How do you deal with tabloids and the stories they create?CL: Actually it's sad but I don't have a lot of scandal with anyone. They don't do that to me.
DD: In the forums, the practice of shipping
(placing two celebrities with each other in an imaginary relationship)
has put you with your YG labelmates, in particular G-Dragon and Taeyang
of BigBang.CL: It's cute that people do that
but that's not true at all, it's funny. (laughing) I'm happy that people
do that 'cos I never thought that people do that to me!!
DD: People think there are real but secret
relationships going on because you often have Instagram photos with both
boys and seem very close.CL: I wouldn't do that (post photos online) if we were a real couple!!
Source: DazedDigital
