Thanking Mark Lee for 10 minutes of his time isn’t overdoing it. One of many busiest males in Ok-pop, the 23-year-old Toronto native is presently in Newark with NCT DREAM — considered one of three boy bands he’s a member of — backstage on the Prudential Heart within the ultimate minutes of preparation earlier than the group’s first-ever U.S. live performance.
However it’s not the primary time Mark has graced this enviornment’s stage because of his intense vary of alternatives. On April 8, 2016, Mark made his official debut on the Ok-pop scene with NCT and their minimalist, futuristic hip-hop lower “The seventh Sense” showcasing a then-16-year-old Mark rapping alongside NCT members Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun and TEN as 5 stars in what would increase into the boy-band collective’s present 23-member galaxy. Whereas Mark has assumed a variety of ideas from becoming a member of two NCT offshoots within the spritely NCT DREAM and experimental NCT 127 the place he first performed Prudential Heart — to not point out one-seventh of Ok-pop’s Billboard 200-topping supergroup SuperM — the ace’s seven-year anniversary is commemorated along with his personal music, and his personal memes.
On April 7, Mark dropped “Golden Hour,” a brand new solo monitor, as a part of the continued “NCT LAB” sequence the place the completely different NCT members launch music impartial of their teams. It’s a self-assurance anthem, however the music’s lyrics lean closely into NCT fan’s viral Twitter second: 2017 Korean actuality present It’s Harmful Past the Blankets captured teen Mark helplessly making an attempt to fry an egg on the kitchen range. With an inflow of oil, a damaged yolk and varied components of his egg burning and sticking to the pan, Mark’s fried failure grew to become a legendary web second when a fan shared a photograph of eggs from her “boyfriend” throughout a Gordon Ramsay Twitter Q&A. The MasterChef’s take? “Get again on Tinder!”
Seven years into the sport, Mark stays on high of the jokes and celebrates NCT’s musical moments. He additionally is aware of the ability of making music significant to him, in the beginning, and its therapeutic powers to steadiness what he calls “all this chaos” of being a boy-band MVP.
First out of the dressing room to speak with Billboard (it’s simpler to get him seated earlier than wrangling the opposite six DREAM members, ages 23-21, for his or her following interview), Mark begins along with his signature, deadpan sarcasm earlier than getting sharing his deeper, reflective facet. The eldest member and native English speaker within the group, his goofy older-brother facet additionally beamed whereas teasing and hugging all his NCT DREAM band mates via their 29-song set that was bursting with palpable enjoyable for the viewers and the septet themselves. However Mark’s considerate facet inevitably got here out when he took a second to share how the group helped him acknowledge how far he had come.
“I wished to say one thing that basically comes from the center,” Mark advised the world earlier than closing the present. “Taking a look at you all, it jogged my memory of after I used to reside close to right here. Again then, I noticed at the moment the Korean idols that have been well-known and I all the time checked out them as in the event that they have been from a distinct world. It was one thing I by no means actually received to totally join with and now, over time, I’m right here again within the U.S. and North America and the attitude of being that Ok-pop idol. Tonight, it felt very significant for me to be right here once more. Thanks for celebrating with me on this second.”
Have fun the second with Mark by stepping into his new launch for “Golden Hour,” his newest muse in Gordon Ramsay, and the transferring purpose why these tracks imply a lot to him.
You’re one of many busiest males in Ok-pop, so thanks for the time. You’re right here for the NCT DREAM tour, however your solo single is popping out in the midst of tour. To begin with, the place’s your head at now?
MARK: The place’s my head at? I feel my head is the place my physique’s at, normally…I’m targeted on the tour. I’m sporting the NCT DREAM cap, however I simply can’t assist however be excited concerning the launch of “Golden Hour.” So, it’s unusual to know that my music’s going to be launched throughout [preparations for] the present in Chicago with the time zones and every part. And I feel, now, stuff like this can occur typically for NCT. Or at the very least for me. It might be only a step that I’ve to take to get used to.
Congratulations on “Golden Hour,” it’s a extremely cool monitor. I all the time thought “Little one” was particular if simply from listening to extra singing from you. What sides are you displaying on these songs that you simply hadn’t with others?
It’s actually completely different and it’s experimental for me as effectively. This monitor was really a music that I wished to do as a substitute of releasing “Vibration,” a music that I did as an NCT 127 solo stage [from the Neo City – The Link Tour]. No songs from these excursions have come out formally and I debated between this instrumental and the “Vibrations” instrumental. However I knew I wished a music with that guitar-ish heaviness and robust drums. I had that image in my thoughts, however I didn’t count on it to fall extra on the subject of “the egg story” and every part. Every little thing simply form of fell into place, I assume, however explaining the story was what I targeted on essentially the most.
How did this music find yourself connecting to the “egg scenario” with the Gordon Ramsay tweet?
I didn’t count on it to go that far, however every part with it simply related and introduced this entire internet of egg tales for the music.
I used to be going to ask you your favourite lyric, however earlier than I have to ask, how do you catch these obscure on-line moments along with your busy schedule?
That story was one thing that all of us knew about approach again. And that was a very long time in the past…I don’t even know if that fan remains to be a fan.
Shout out to that fan, although.
And I did! I did a reside [stream] yesterday and I wished to acknowledge her. She sparked all of it. However in any case, my favourite lyric, I’d say it’s, “I received a extremely massive downside” after which it goes, “I don’t know the right way to make eggs.” I don’t suppose any rap music would have that in a music. Who would say I don’t know the right way to make eggs? However it sounded fairly badass in my view. I don’t know. [Laughs]
I noticed you labored on it with Costume, Jane, and Ron, who additionally labored on “Little one.” Inform us about these collaborators and the way you’re employed.
These are the go-to guys for me. “Little one” was the primary music I did with Costume and, even then, we did it with Jane and Ron. For this one, I went to Costume’ home, however I normally do it at our SM studio; there’s a room, however I did it at his home for this primary session. This grew to become a crew that I grew to become so comfy with, however for “Golden Hour” there’s this man known as Sion, and he’s a musical expertise himself that’s doing his solo stuff proper now too. Costume introduced him in as a result of he felt he’d convey one thing good for the music. I wasn’t even there when he first heard it; I solely had this draft demo of the music, and the subsequent time I got here in, Sion modified it, completely upgraded it and turned it into his personal factor. We have been all like, “Dang, yo, thanks a lot.” He actually graced us along with his abilities.
Do they hype you up and know these inside jokes and tales? Like, “Let’s speak concerning the Gordon Ramsay stuff!”
We had essentially the most enjoyable writing the lyrics as a result of I used to be like, “Yo, I received this concept, we received to speak about this and that.” After which we simply began throwing stuff within the air after which that simply made it into extra of a enjoyable brainstorming session.
Simply as this solo music comes, April 2016 was “The seventh Sense” and your first introduction to the world with NCT. It’s now your seven-year anniversary which is a particular anniversary in Ok-pop. Are you able to bear in mind your self at that second?
We have been so harmless and simply very excited to be launched to the world. After SM’s fame, us being the subsequent boy band after EXO, we had excessive anticipation so we needed to practice arduous. I simply bear in mind the final little bit of my coaching life being very hardcore for practising time. And the NCT system itself, it wasn’t straightforward. And so all of that simply made us put together even tougher. However having “The seventh Sense” as my first debut music, I used to be actually honored. The music goes so arduous. It nonetheless does. Even at this time, I’m glad to be part of it.
You may have the well-known line that worldwide followers liked, “And that’s a protracted ass experience…”
[With emphasis] “It’s a protracted ass experience.” It’s so arduous. It grew to become a basic.
It’s standing the take a look at of time. What do you continue to wish to present as NCT’s MARK and as your self?
That’s really an attention-grabbing query as a result of I don’t actually vividly know precisely what however after working with Costume, varied producers, and even after “Little one,” I noticed that I received to increase the way in which I noticed myself too musically and simply as an individual too. There’s so many issues to discover concerning the world, and there’s a universe inside my very own self as effectively. So, the extra I learn about myself, the extra I age, the extra I mature—I simply wish to put that within the music and simply develop with my music and see how far I can go.
You thought you possibly can solely be the rapper, however recognizing there’s extra to attempt to present?
Yeah, I feel I’m exploring extra about my spectrum, and it’s enjoyable to do this. The extra I work in music, the extra tracks I write on; that every one opens one other window for me to discover, so it’s enjoyable.
The time period “all-rounder” is overused in Ok-pop, however I feel you embody it. To not fuel you up, however you’re in NCT 127, a SuperM member, the chief of NCT DREAM, and doing solo work. How do you retain all of it collectively and handle your self too?
That is an trustworthy reply, however the purpose why I launched “Little one” was as a result of 2021 was really one of many hardest years for me, schedule-wise. From the start of the yr to the very finish of 2021, I used to be simply going nonstop. I noticed by December, I regarded again and was like, “I’ve finished a lot, however I really feel empty inside. And I don’t really feel like I don’t have something that lasts for me to treasure for my very own.”
I noticed, “Dang, I feel I ought to launch a music of simply me alone on the finish of the yr.” That received postponed, which finally led to 2022 January or February-ish; that was when “Little one” got here out. That was after I realized, “Oh, I received to maintain doing this for my very own sake too. Not just for the followers however for the way I can get pleasure from what I do in the midst of all this chaos.”
That music was the reminder to your self about your love of music?
Yeah and this will all lead as much as one other massive solo factor sooner or later. However, for certain, I wish to present my followers—and myself—how I might look alone too. It’s one thing that I, earlier than anybody else, must wish to do.
I feel many individuals will discover consolation in that so thanks. Is there the rest you need folks to learn about “Golden Hour”?
I hope Gordon Ramsay reads this.
Do you will have a selected message for Gordon Ramsay?
Thanks for being my muse for this music. Test it out when you will have time, man.
