[INTERVIEW] Tablo - Part 1

Tablo [YG Entertainment]

"Fever's End." The title to Tablo's solo album which he went with after hearing that the red spots that broke out on his daughter's body actually meant she is getting better, is why it is hopeful even after 'the' controversy. Because it means that the time we thought he would have had the hardest time may have actually been a time of healing. One may say that it is lazy for one to incorporate the musician's personal life into criticizing his music but one cannot help but be reminded of the time Tablo must have spent from his outcry in "Home" and hopeful questions in "Thank You for Breathing." The fact that the interview which ended cheerfully is probably proof that he developed a stronger heart during his time of suffering.

<#10LOGO#> This may seem weird to ask as the first question for this interview but are you now okay to interview with the media?
Tablo: I didn't do any interviews during the past year and a half. And I now feel happy to be able to go back to sitting down with reporters and talking about things like music. It's also good to have something good to talk about. This isn't an issue of whether I'm okay or not -- I'm beyond that and enjoying myself.

<#10LOGO#> It must've been a tough year and a half.
Tablo: What really pierced my heart in the beginning of the controversy surrounding my academic achievement was that a fan sent me a photograph of my CD he had broken up. It really hurt me. I had put in so much effort to make it. And I sometimes wondered where all of my numerous fans had gone when I'm going through such hard times. I didn't get a single consoling letter. But what I realized with my comeback is that those who support me must've had a hard time stepping forward, just like I had a hard time returning to the public. That is why I wrote, scanned and posted up a thank you letter on my fan cafe one day, saying that I thank my fans for waiting for me from where I couldn't hear nor see them, but I was really lonely back then.

<#10LOGO#> Well you're probably able to say that you now have fun doing interviews because you've somewhat overcome that year and a half, not because you have a new album out.
Tablo: It's not like I overcame those times at a certain point -- I'm sure every moment, from beginning to end, was about overcoming. And I'm hoping that nobody else will have to go through what I did but my past isn't something that I hate talking about. Because while I've lost a lot, I've also gained a lot. If I had continued to do well and be loved as a musician and celebrity, I wonder whether I would've been able to spend as much time as I did with my kid. I was there for every moment, from when she was born to when she is now running around and dancing. It's the sort of time that not everybody gets granted with, not even with time or effort.

<#10LOGO#> And how was it trying to make music amidst that?
Tablo: I couldn't do anything sitting down after our baby came. [laughs] I wouldn't have had enough hands even if I had ten. So while looking after her, I only thought of things and would record melodies on my cellphone when she falls asleep. And after both my phone and notebooks filled up, my wife (Kang) Hye-jung said she'd like to see me make music again. I guess she missed my gaze and smile from when I made music. That's why I then started spending four or five days in my music.

Tablo [YG Entertainment]

<#10LOGO#> Did music help in any way to you overcoming the hard times you went through?
Tablo: One of the things I'm very thankful about is that I'm able to express myself through the tool we call music. I was definitely in despair back then but I'm sure that a whole lot more people have been through more sad and painful times than me. At least I can express myself through music. I felt that it's a huge relief to have an ability I can be thankful for, even when I feel that I've lost everything. And I'm even more thankful that I have people to listen to my music. To have a lot of people want to listen to what I have to say when there are plenty of people who have a lot to say but nobody who will listen to them. I'm hoping that my album will make people want to become happy or think that they should protect their happiness since it's valuable.

<#10LOGO#> The lyrics to songs such as "Airbag" called attention to your pain. But letting out your feelings is different to having people hear it as lyrics.
Tablo: But I didn't have to draw that distinction this time. I didn't have to think that hard. I really just endlessly muttered the long lyrics in the way that they came to me. And they then turned out the way they did after I polished and shortened them to make them into music so from the very beginning I didn't need to think of how I should express my feelings. I recorded a lot of the songs in one go as well.

<#10LOGO#> You emphasized the lyrical aspect to the sound of your music as well. You set the acoustic guitar and piano and even tried to make the drums sound acoustic.
Table: That's the music and sound that I like. I don't know if it's because I'm in my thirties now or because I've become boring but it's hard to listen to stimulating music now. The real sound to instruments is warm. And I listened to it a lot because it's comfortable to listen to and naturally used a lot of in my album. I used almost no electronic sounds. There are already a lot of great instruments so why not use ones like the piano?

<#10LOGO#> But getting consoled by an album is different from revealing it as an album. You must've been worried that it could've been a bait for those who want to pick a fight with you.
Tablo: Hye-jung and Mr. Yang (Hyun-suk) gave me 100 percent courage. To the point that I didn't need it anymore. I've received a lot of questions like that: what people would think of me. But I told them that nothing more needs to be said because my boss said he liked my music, that people should listen to such music, and that a kid who makes music is making music. I'm so grateful that other people gave me courage that I didn't have. Even the people who featured in my songs said that as well. (Lee) Sora too said I should release an album.

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