(TRANS) 180814 Zhang Yixing full interview, from 理娱客 (Part 3)
Source | Translated by laymerence
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
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Q: And in October you released "Lose Control"
ZYX: Yes
Q: At that time did you feel reassured? Or a sense of release?
ZYX: Reassured, and everyone rather liked it, there were some songs that everyone recognised. Including my judgement of the music market then, I felt was right. But when "Lose Control" appeared, I relied largely on the support of fans, including now too, I mean the majority... Because at the time, Trap and Hip Hop were too popular, that was my analysis of the market. Actually at the time, I might have mentioned it before, "SHEEP" had been made earlier, "SHEEP" came out before "Lose Control", but I did not put "SHEEP" before, because the market was too hot. Just like that, you couldn't rush to compete, you can't crowd with others, other people will feel like "ay you've imitated others with this". Actually, it isn't at all... because slowly, everyone has to understand the entire music formation, structure, including now, the progression of music step-by-step, yes. So at that time, without releasing "SHEEP", I released "what U need" and "Lose Control". And "what U need" is a very happy song - the reason why I didn't make "what U need" the title track is because "what U need" couldn't run through the (theme) of the entire album. Because at that time, I had to think from the point of view of a producer, about the whole album. And I started to design those things with En Ying jie jie, and started to slowly participate in the whole album. At the time, it was my first time as a producer, the second time was with the album "SHEEP".
Q: After "Lose Control" was released, what was your mental state?
ZYX: Because I kept fighting with the company, the company asked me to release "SHEEP. Because the company had a team too, that would listen to my music, they felt that "SHEEP" was good, but I felt that "Lose Control"... I said I didn't want to release the album "SHEEP" now, I wanted "SHEEP" to wait and be released in the second year, so "SHEEP" waited for a full year, and "Lose Control" came out in that album. That album was a start, actually the design was that too. You can see my headshot, my eyes and the light from the earth is the same, it's a start, which means that Zhang Yixing's eyes are looking at all the world - this was my overall concept for the first album's design. Then overall it's darker, but it has a layer of meaning in its blackness. Everyone might not know, actually there are some interesting things in my album, because in making the first album, I had designed a set. So I don't know if you know there's a circle at the back?
Q: I know, you actually had an overall concept, from the cover design to the song...
ZYX: (Song) choice, colours, everything, actually there's...
Q: There's thought
ZYX: There's thought, and meaning, so it'll be very interesting. When this circle is complete, I will explain this to everyone at a certain point.
Q: For example your first album, "Lose Control" is a start, then with "SHEEP" what was your overall state?
ZYX: After releasing "Lose Control", I was lost. I didn't expect it to sell that well, 50000 copies? Thanks to fans, of course lots of the public helped me to buy some too, then fans were buying them hard.
Q: You hope that more people can hear you, not just fans
ZYX: Yes, slowly, actually physical albums are gradually taken over by all sorts of other methods. There are more and more ways of listening to music, paths to listening to music, so the meaning of a physical album is not that great. So I thought, if I can make the quality and what a physical album contains, even better, and make it worth collecting, that way. So in making the album "SHEEP", it wasn't about profit, and the price was pushed down (low) till...
Q: I understand.
ZYX: Mm.
Q: Including the concept you had just mentioned, the MV for "SHEEP" left the strongest impression. The scene almost at the end, the sheep turned from white to red. Did you design have a special meaning?
ZYX: This was something the director and I chatted about, the director said he wanted it to become red, and I said that was good - China is red that is a good thing.
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Q: In "Go Fridge", Huang Lei teacher said something, he said not to throw away all the precious things, and only have hard work left. Actually I want to know what he saw you do, to say something like that.
ZYX: Master must have seen me do many things, lots of hard work, lots of trials, some went well, some did not go well, and I'll ask the geges for their opinion. The entire Go Fighting geges really do understand me, they understand 70-80% of me, really that's not an exaggeration.
Q: Do they advice you, is that what that means?
ZYX: Yes, they want to advice me, But they understand me, Bo-ge often says, when we were Yixing's age, weren't we fighting the same, so...
Q: You have had your doubts too, for example you wrote about them in "Relax"
ZYX: Yes
Q: You say you turned yourself into a monster constantly in motion, I feel those lyrics were inspired.
ZYX: Yes, back then I was writing about myself, that song was about myself at that moment, I don't know why exactly, because when we came back, actually the opportunities that the market gave us were in movies/TV and not music. But then I wanted to persist, actually it's very difficult, back then I didn't know why, I didn't understand, I really didn't understand. Then I could only go tell everyone, I want to make my music, I must make my music, if I didn't make music I would...
Q: So later you wrote about how the things you wanted, but you couldn't
ZYX: Yes, why couldn't I? I didn't understand.
Q: Then when did you start to realise this
ZYX: From the album "SHEEP", because in between, there were some changes in the times, but anyway no matter, because I had to, and yes, it was good.
Q: Maybe many musicians, I feel they are unable to promote their own works. But I feel that you may have more freedom and choice.
ZYX: Yes, but there are so many staff around, you can't ignore their opinions, you'll become a general without an army. You have to respect them, they'll have their thoughts, protectiveness towards me, some times I am not mature enough, so in considering things I don't take the full picture into account, yes.
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Q: In the public eye, what sort of person do you think you are?
ZYX: Everyone probably thinks that I Have a good temper and personality, but no, I really don't. I've said this to everyone before, it's just that everyone see me like this, but I've really said this to everyone, actually sometimes when I do things, my temper isn't as good as you think.
Q: What sort of person do you think you are?
ZYX: When I get agitated, I do clash too, yes, I do too, and when I really clash, and I have my own stubbornness! Or rather to say, m own wilfulness.
Q: Like in "Boss", the feeling you write about, I feel reveals more of your personality, I feel it had a lot of feel.
ZYX: Yes
Q: Because you seem to rarely reveal that personality outside of music?
ZYX: Yes, because you can't reveal it like that, actually in making this album, there are many sides that everyone can't see which I've expressed in music and in my movie/TV works. So every time the director says, wow, you exploded very well in this, I say why? I think and mull over this question, why? And the result is, oh, sometimes you don't allow others to see it, when others don't see it not because I don't display it but because there are no opportunities to allow me to display it. If there are opportunities to, I'll definitely display it, but what can I do, at least up until now they've never seen it. But I really want to tell everyone that my temper and personality isn't that good. From that time, I said why did I have to write the album "SHEEP", I want to tell everyone that sheep are cool, sheep have their own stubbornness, a sheep will butt you if angered. You've never seen those sheep, recently when I had a break whilst filming I went to feed that mountain goat, they butted me, they were really angry. A sheep's personality isn't that good, everyone thinks that a sheep is soft. But when I'm happy, I'm very happy.
Q: When you see criticism, will you think of using your own method to rebut?
ZYX: No need to rebut, I feel that when you see these things, the best thing is to speak with real things. If other people say ay, your music really isn't good, if they give you some very good opinions, actually when I talk to many musicians, some of their thoughts are right, but other things differ for each person, you can decide for yourself. But if they just lash out mindlessly, you can thank them, they've still listened to your music to lash out.
Q: When you're angry, do you have a special way to release (the anger)?
ZYX: My goodness, I really don't have any forms of release, I really just fiercely make music, or spend all my time in the practice studio to practice. I don't believe that I can't do it, like that.
Q: Do you talk to yourself?
ZYX: Yes, in my life there are two dragons. I'll often talk to my dragons, but recently maybe I found my back bone, the dragons don't really appear to talk, one angel dragon, one bad dragon.
Q: When you talk to yourself, what do you talk about?
ZYX: Can I do it? Can I? I think so. Really conversations like that. I think so. Rubbish. Can you? I think we can try it. Ok, do it, this song!
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Q: If you focus on making music, what sort of creation do you need...
ZYX: Luck. I was recently thinking, I the song before the one I was making yesterday, because it's almost December, in December I'll have to release another winter album, so whilst making it I was thinking, actually, sometimes 50-60% of what goes into music requires luck. Of course you need basic knowledge and experience, but 50-60% luck in it, yes, some times the song will be exceptionally good.
Q: Will you dramatise (your life), for example imagine you're a certain movie's male lead, or these sort of imaginations?
ZYX: No, I feel that my life is very much like a movie. Yesterday, my dance teacher said to me, he said, ge, rest for a while. I said why? (He said) who runs to the practice room every day like you do, I've never seen anyone run to the practice room as diligently as you do. Every day I record in the morning and practice dance from the afternoon, evening until the early hours of the morning.
Q: You still practice dance now?
ZYX: This time I came to prepare my album, I want to give those who like my music a very big present. This dance and music video will definitely shock you, wow.
Q: If you were given 3-6 months of vacation, what do you think you will do?
ZYX: I'll go to study I suppose
Q: What area do you want to study?
ZYX: Finance, or business.
Q: You want to grow.
ZYX: Yes yes yes, I want to grow my world view, because every day repeats in a cycle, and I'm in this environment, always like this replay replay, then continuously turning turning turning turning turning like this. There are many things and knowledge that I can't absorb.
Q: I feel that something really important for making music is life experience.
ZYX: I feel so to, because I realised that when life experiences gradually lighten/lessen, actually many lyrics and emotions, they can't reach that point. But other people with experience, they can reach that point. It's very hard to explain, it's also sense.
Q: For example, how do you solve that, because your life and work are so busy.
ZYX: I really haven't, having thought about it I really haven't (solved it)
Q: Actually it's feeling...
ZYX: It's feeling, and the inspiration that I was given in my head, I have yet to use them all up, I can still use them. But I don't know when they'll all be used up.
Q: If you were to describe, Zhang Yixing from 2014 up until now, what colour would you use to describe (him)? Why?
ZYX: Colourful
Q: Colourful
ZYX: It's rather exciting, this part, anyway I can't imagine it, all sorts, both nice and not nice. With colours, without colours, bright, dark, all of them are present. Of course it's not that comprehensive, but colourful, I don't know if all the colours are in it, but...
Q: Many that were not seen before.
ZYX: Yes, not seen before.
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Q: These few years, what do you think has changed the most about you?
ZYX: There's something, you can't stop it even if you tried, called age. Aside from this, I'm still walking on the spot.
Q: Walking on the spot.
ZYX: Maybe I took one step out, yes.
Q: You feel that the biggest change is still your age, and your career hasn't changed very much.
ZYX: Yes, I still have passion, I still have a goal, I still have ideals, but I just don't know if this body can keep up.
Q: What do you feel is your greatest fear or worry?
ZYX: That I can't dance, can't sing, can't do it.
Q: Do you worry that your hard work will have no result?
ZYX: No, hard work, it definitely has a result, time, never lies.
Q: You firmly believe in that.
ZYX: Hard work never lies, yes.
Q: Talent, hard work, opportunity - what percentage do each of these take?
ZYX: Talent, hard work, opportunity. Opportunity takes up 90%.
Q: Feels a bit cruel
ZYX: Yes, it's mostly luck. I'm very lucky, really, I'm really grateful for everything. I can only say that every time I want to set myself an even higher target, to allow myself to work hard, otherwise, it's like living doesn't have much meaning.
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Q: Because this season is called "Standing firm at 20", your previous book was "Standing firm at 24", actually there's a coincidence. What do you think people in their 20s must do?
ZYX: People in their 20s, firstly gain financial independence, no matter how, you have to be independent, you can no longer depend on your family to live. Then secondly, you have to have a clear goal. I feel these two are good, I remember when I was talking to a middle school student, they said, it's impossible - how I am in 2 years will be how I am in 1 year. In 1-2 years through your hard work, the steps you take will be different. You are directly changing the trajectory of your whole life and your entire career development.
Q: That's the first step?
ZYX: Life is always doing, constantly making choices. If you've made this choice well, that's good. If you haven't made the choice well, that's ok, you will have the next crossroad, there'll be opportunities, you can continue making choices. There is no eternal error.
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Q: Either in the past or right now, what sort of person have you warned yourself against becoming?
ZYX: Not to become a person who disappoints others.
Q: Disappointing others?
ZYX: Yes, because this career is rather unique, you are someone else's role model, you are being someone else's key character. Someone may think, ay, you're like this, everything you are, your every action directly impacts that group of people. Why do I say that I want to bring others some positive values, yes, it's because I'm a public figure, I can't help it, I can only give the most positive things to everyone, to tell everyone, having to do...
Q: Aren't you yourself more important?
ZYX: Everyone lives differently, like me, this lifetime I'm born to live for someone else, so teacher named me LAY. Yes, it's a tiring life, but it's as the name. Isn't the name Zhang Yixing good? It really is good, success in the arts, not bad. The name LAY, is very specific, and directly impacts my life.
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Q: Do you do something for yourself? Is it music?
ZYX: Yes, for me, actually it's music. My most selfish part, is music. Because in music, I may not listen to others' opinions much, I want others to listen to my opinions. Of the interviews I've done, this is the most accurate and exciting, like you'd prepared plans 12345678, wow.
Q: Because I like your music, so this is my responsibility.
ZYX: Thank you thank you.
Q: I'm waiting to listen to your new songs.
ZYX: You'll definitely really like it.
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Q: When you go back to your hometown to see grandpa, grandma, do you fix a time or will they come to look for you?
ZYX: No, I bought a house for grandpa grandma, but grandpa grandma don't like that sort of big house, they like that little house. Then every time when I go back, they'll pretend to live there for a bit. Actually, we all know, everyone knows in their heart you know? I know they've never lived here, how could it be so clean like it's never been used, I know just looking at it. Actually, ay, but I'm really grateful to them, every time they know I'm coming back, they'll live there, and aiya, this house is good, I know. Then anyway when I get to Changsha, it isn't that far, so I go directly from the hotel to their house, and eat a meal with them, and chat! Actually, when you don't see family for very long, you can't talk about a lot of things, 60-70 year old seniors, they don't have much to say to you either, they just want your company, keep them company, just sit with them - be it in the living room, bedroom, they're happy as long as you're in the house, just be there. Being with grandpa grandma, I do understand them. Grandma always chatters at me, or not chatters, she always teaches me - you can't do this, you can't do that, I say I can, grandma, I'll jiayou, I can do it in the future.
Q: What do they nag you about?
ZYX: They never nagged in the past, now they do about all sorts. In the past, there was never such a thing about getting a girlfriend, not having to worry. Starting now, you have to put getting a girlfriend on the schedule; ay is your health ok, you have to take care of yourself; don't rush, you have to calm your mindset, I say yes yes yes. Anyway, if you listen to them, they'll say what they think of - marry soon, hold their grandson, hold their great-grandson and so on. It's largely like this now.
Q: Have you calculated how much time can you spend with them?
ZYX: Not long, adding it up, just a few hours.
Q: Actually that's alright, it's best if there's a chance to see them
ZYX: (I feel) happiness.
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Q: Then the second question is, I really want to know, what is the quality of the music that belongs to Zhang Yixing? Is there something, or...
ZYX: Have you noticed that my music all has stronger drums, it seems to all have drums. Everything else needs time and works, for the audience to understand and so, oh, this sort of music is Zhang Yixing's music. Like teacher Jay Chou's music represents a generation. Whether your music can represent a generation, you have to leave this to the audience, it's not something I get to decide. All I can do is myself, do the best I can, do it so I have no regrets, do my best, and use my greatest strength to make every album well, every song well, meticulous in every phrase, every detail. But whether or not it succeeds, is up to fate.
Q: Think back on these few years, what do you think made you most excited, or tell stories about?
ZYX: These few years? Maybe it will happen in the future, right?
Q: Nothing has really made you excited now?
ZYX: Yes, actually, it's all exiting, actually it's all (something to be) grateful (for). I believe even bigger things will happen in the future. I believe. I hope I can do it, yes.
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