YG's iKON determined to pursue own music

Members of iKON pose at the 2015 Melon Music Award at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium on Nov. 7. / Courtesy of YG Entertainment

By Kim Jae-heun

YG Entertainment’s new boy group iKON released its new album “Welcome Back,” Monday, and some of the new tracks are said to be similar to Big Bang’s music.

It is no surprise, considering that YG’s top producers, Teddy and Kush, who have produced songs for Big Bang, worked on iKON’s new album. iKON is praised for its ability to produce its own music, still, B.I., the leader and producer of the band, acknowledged they have a long way to go to be as good as Big Bang.

“Many people compare our music to Big Bang,” said B.I. when asked if their song “Apology” sounds like it is sung by T.O.P and Tae Yang of Big Bang during an interview at a coffee shop in Seogyo-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. “Big Bang’s music covers many genres, though. While we still lack experience, we will try hard to walk a different path than Big Bang. They told us we should not follow their musical path.”

B.I. grew up listening to Big Bang and was so deeply influenced by them it led him to producing songs for the band iKON. He said he feels uncomfortable when the media asks him questions regarding Big Bang. He emphasized that it is honorable for iKON to be compared to the group, but B.I. vowed that he and iKON will find their own musical identity.

The new album was unfinished and the group returned to the studio a month-and-a-half after its debut on Oct. 1. The full album was planned for release Nov. 14. “Welcome Back” has eight numbers and only two of them are new songs. “Apology” is a new slow R&B song about the sad story of a couple breaking up. The other song is hip-hop song named “Anthem” by B.I. and Bobby, the rapper in the band.

“Producer Teddy focused on expressing emotions in our new songs. He asked us to sing in a rough tone,” said Junhoe, another member of iKON.

iKON officially made its debut on Oct. 1 at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, the biggest concert venue in the country. The band immediately topped the charts to earn the nickname “monster rookie” and won the “Rookie of the Year” award at the 2015 Melon Music Awards.

“We wish to live long on the music scene instead of becoming famous. After time passes, we would like to be remembered as a really cool band who sang good music,” B.I. said.

Still, the band leader confesses he feels uncomfortable belonging to a big name company and having to meet the company’s expectations. This burden does not help, but B.I. only thinks of developing himself, he said.

iKON revealed that their ultimate goal is not just to sing on a big stage but to sing in front of any audience on any stage.