A smiling Massive Ocean greet you for a nighttime Zoom name with shaking palms — the American Signal Language translation of applause and cheering — which encapsulates a palpable power bursting from a Ok-pop trio not like another pop group.
HyunJin, ChanYeon and JiSeok got here collectively as Massive Ocean to debut in April this 12 months as the primary deaf/hard-of-hearing group in Ok-pop. The group’s heat embrace onto the scene by superstars, manufacturing and executives throughout Korea factors in direction of a extra inclusive international music scene.
Introduced collectively by Korea’s solely company representing expertise with disabilities Parastar Leisure, Massive Ocean sees three stars with totally different backgrounds and listening to talents as an indication of hope and risk.
The group’s foremost vocalist Park HyunJin misplaced listening to in his left ear after a childhood accident, however a cochlear surgical procedure led him to studying to play the piano, communicate some English, and escape as a YouTube creator and TV persona educating viewers about listening to disabilities. Important rapper Lee ChanYeon, who underwent cochlear implant surgical procedure for each ears, developed his musical curiosity after experiencing the constructive unintended effects of music remedy. In the meantime, youngest member and foremost dancer Kim JiSeok was born Arduous of Listening to and attended a particular college for these with disabilities earlier than turning into knowledgeable ski racer for Seoul snowboarding staff.
Massive Ocean admits that the members’ various auditory perceptions can current challenges relating to studying choreography, singing in rhythm and performing dwell, nevertheless it’s impressed revolutionary methods for the group and their Parastar staff to search out new methods to rehearse efficiently like using vibrating smartwatches as metronomes or flashing lights for rhythmic counting.
Whereas the definition of a Ok-pop act has expanded from Korean-born pop singers to artists representing a variety of various international locations, cultures, and languages, Massive Ocean not solely look the a part of good-looking, shining stars with worldwide attraction however align with one of many core messages inside in Ok-pop to instill inspiring messages to listeners each with their tales and music.
“The message from our tune ‘Sluggish’ is that in case you transfer ahead and proceed, slowly and steadily, you are able to do something,” HyunJin says of the group’s newest single launched final month that options Younger Ok of chart-topping Ok-pop rock outfit DAY6, marking their newest enterprise to share extra private storytelling via their songs.
“Not solely our seniors but in addition individuals from exterior the corporate are giving us a variety of assist, so we’re actually grateful,” provides JiSeok. “If we didn’t have that assist, we wouldn’t be the place we’re immediately.”
“Not solely our seniors but in addition individuals from exterior the corporate are giving us a variety of assist, so we’re actually grateful,” provides JiSeok with a particular shoutout to the group’s followers, recognized affection as PADOs. “If we didn’t have that assist, we wouldn’t be the place we’re immediately.”
With recognitions from members of Stray Children, ITZY and even the President of Korea, learn on for extra from Massive Ocean’s story and why they’re a bunch to look at as Billboard‘s Ok-Pop Rookie of the Month for September 2024.
Congratulations in your debut this 12 months and being named Billboard‘s Rookie of the Month! General, how has 2024 been for you?
JiSeok: I used to be actually anxious if we might do effectively. I used to be involved, “Are we going to be okay?” However luckily, so many individuals and so many senior idols gave us a variety of assist and assist. Not solely our seniors but in addition individuals from exterior the corporate are giving us a variety of assist, so we’re actually grateful. If we didn’t have that assist, we wouldn’t be the place we’re immediately.
HyunJin: And even immediately, we acquired a possibility to fulfill with the President of Korea. We’re additionally getting tons of invites from exterior of the nation, so we’re getting a lot love and assist. So we’re actually, actually grateful.
ChanYeon: And so lots of our followers, PADOS, from so many international locations, are sending us love after which recognizing us. So, we’re actually grateful and I really feel like we now have to pay again with even larger performances.
Thanks for taking time when you’re so busy. Congratulations in your newest single, “Sluggish,” that includes Younger Ok of DAY6. It’s such an awesome collaboration; how did it come collectively, and the way was your expertise?
HyunJin: The message from our tune” Sluggish,” is that in case you transfer ahead and proceed, slowly and steadily, you are able to do something. And within the course of of constructing this tune, we made a proposal to DAY6’s Younger Ok that that includes his voice would sound nice and work nice with our tune. He stated “Sure” instantly, in order that’s why we have been capable of launch the tune efficiently and we’re so grateful for it. Due to him, we have been capable of really feel much more assist and we really feel he actually has our again.
JiSeok: We have been actually hoping that we might thank him in particular person, [but] as a result of Younger Ok was very busy getting ready for the [new DAY6] album, we weren’t ready to take action. But when we might meet in particular person later, that may be actually nice.
Are you guys followers of DAY6? Their newest album is topping the charts in South Korea.
HyunJin: We listened to one of many new songs launched from their album, “Soften Down,” and actually, actually cherished it. We needed to pay again our money owed for Younger Ok that includes our tune, so we took the spotlight of the tune and turned it right into a problem on social media with signal language.
JiSeok: The tune is doing actually nice and is absolutely well-liked — we actually wish to congratulate them!
I used to be inquisitive about the way you create your signal language challenges and incorporate signing into your performances. Are you those making the strikes? Do you’re employed with a staff?
ChanYeon: Once we do a easy signal language problem, we focus on amongst ourselves and make it. However after we’re choreographing or releasing one thing like our official music movies the place we’re mixing Korean and American Signal Languages, we really get reviewed by signal language consultants to ensure every thing is expressed in probably the most exact approach.
Some readers may be stunned to be taught that deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals can sing, dance, rap and extra. Are you able to inform us about your totally different backgrounds with simply music?
JiSeok: I’m going to a particular college for individuals with listening to disabilities. On the time once I was at school, RM from BTS sunbaenim really made a big donation to assist the varsity’s music schooling. It was due to that donation that I really acquired much more fascinated with music; I realized about dancing for the primary time, I had a variety of alternatives to be taught totally different musical devices. So, that’s how I used to be capable of fall in love with music and capable of dream of turning into an idol.
HyunJin: Once I was 9 years outdated, I had an accident and misplaced listening to skill in my left ear utterly. I had a surgical procedure that allowed me to listen to sounds; nonetheless, afterward, it didn’t actually sound pure to me anymore; it sounded very synthetic. I felt very uncomfortable listening to any sort of or sort of sound.
On the time, I used to be additionally studying piano and attending an academy. Listening to the precise piano was very fairly and the one nice sound to me. So, as I performed piano, sound felt constructive, not detrimental anymore. In order that’s once I began to change into extra fascinated with music as a result of the piano was the one sound that made me really feel good. After I grew up and have become an grownup, I grew to become a YouTube creator and made many movies about breaking the boundaries relating to misunderstandings and prejudices relating to listening to incapacity. I began making TV appearances and that’s once I really realized about my present company, Parastar Leisure, so I naturally challenged myself to be an idol.
ChanYeon: In my case, I wasn’t actually fascinated with music in any respect. Solely after I acquired the surgical procedure for cochlear implants for each my ears did I’m going via a variety of music remedy, and music really actually helped me. That’s when I discovered my curiosity in music.
As a boy band, how do you work together with music to carry out as a bunch? Are you able to share the alternative ways you overcome any challenges?
HyunJin: As a result of the extent of listening to is totally different in every certainly one of us, the best way we understand beats and rhythms can be totally different. So, our firm got here up with the thought of utilizing smartwatches and vibrations from the smartwatches as metronomes. That’s how we have been capable of really feel the beat and rhythm in sync — and it made it a lot simpler for us to really feel the music.
We additionally developed a “beam monitor” that flashes lights in sync with the music. So, that was one other approach. We additionally repeatedly movie ourselves dancing to the music and continuously monitor ourselves and evaluate to see who feels the beats in a different way or if we’re not in sync. And we repeatedly apply. And that’s how we are able to transfer in sync.
You’ve carried out on Korea’s weekly Ok-pop music applications like Present! Music Core, Inkigayo, The Present, Music Financial institution and extra. These reveals are famously very fast-paced. How was your expertise, and will they meet any lodging you wanted?
JiSeok: Our first time happening music applications, they have been conscious of the truth that we had listening to difficulties, so that they all the time made certain to make use of hand gestures, give visible indicators for cues to enter the stage, or each time they needed to ship us some sort of message. They have been very nice about it; very, very variety. They continuously requested us whether or not we had any issues listening to or listening to the music. So, due to them, we might put up an excellent efficiency.
HyunJin: If the set or atmosphere is simply too loud or noisy, we would have hassle listening for the beginning of the tune. So, throughout rehearsals and the precise capturing, they made certain to ask for the viewers’s understanding and to be quieter than standard in order that we might really hear the music. They have been very beneficiant for that. Additionally, our dancers make sure that the choreography opens with a beginning dance transfer. The background dancers initiated the choreography so then we knew the efficiency had began.
ChanYeon: And even our workers members ensured that everybody on the TV stations and on-site knew we would have hassle speaking or listening. So, they ensured everybody was conscious, and I feel we had no hassle. We’re actually grateful for everybody being so thoughtful.
I noticed you met with Felix from Stray Children backstage in the course of the reveals to be taught the “Chk Chk Increase” problem. Inform me about that have.
JiSeok: After the published, I met Felix for the primary time. I assumed he was a whole angel — I actually thought he was an angel. As quickly as I met him, he greeted me with American Signal Language. He ready it himself and confirmed us that he realized “Good to fulfill you” and “How are you?” It actually impressed us. We did the dance problem collectively — I used to be so nervous, soo nervous! — however I used to be blissful and actually appreciative of every thing. I considered how I ought to apply and work even more durable to carry out even higher.
After the dance problem, Felix gave us [Stray Kids’] album as a present. I used to be so grateful; I can’t even specific it in phrases. I actually wish to see him once more and meet him sooner or later.
I noticed a current announcement from Parastar Leisure that Massive Ocean is auditioning new members. Might we see the group broaden sooner or later?
HyunJin: We now have three members, proper? We expect three of us is simply too small and that our group is just not sufficiently big. That’s why we’re we’re hiring new members. For those who come to our web site of the corporate you may apply for the audition 24-7 so please come! We’re positively searching for extra members to use.
Some other messages you wish to share together with your worldwide followers presently?
HyunJin: So three days after this interview, it is going to be 5 months since we debuted as Massive Ocean so I actually wish to say thanks to all of the followers and individuals who made Massive Ocean potential and gave us a variety of assist. To our fandom, PADOS, who’re repeatedly supporting us, selling us, and even doing all these actions to draw extra PADOS on social [media] communities — I actually wish to say thanks. We are going to do our half and work more durable to point out you even larger efficiency and actions.
JiSeok: Thanks a lot for such this nice alternative. Additionally, in November, we’re making an attempt to launch one other tune, so we’ll actually work arduous with our firm. If we do launch our new tune, please ship us a variety of assist. We are going to work arduous.
