Talking with Ok-pop star Mark Lee, identified just by his stage identify Mark, it’s straightforward to neglect that he’s solely 25 years outdated. The Canadian-born rapper, a member of the mega-group NCT (and its sub-units NCT Dream and NCT 127), has been within the public eye for over a decade.
In 2012, he auditioned for a Korean Ok-pop firm referred to as SM Leisure, which was scouting for brand spanking new expertise in Vancouver. A yr later, Mark had moved to Korea and was a part of the SM Rookies, the corporate’s coaching workforce, a gaggle of kids that featured a number of soon-to-be stars.
By the age of 16, Mark had formally debuted as part of SM’s newest boy group idea, NCT, a 20-plus-member assortment of singers who have been continuously damaged into smaller bands, referred to as subgroups (NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV amongst them). Within the years since, Mark’s fame has exploded, frequently packing greater than 15,000-seat arenas and releasing multiplatinum albums.
The Ok-pop star speaks with The Hollywood Reporter by way of Zoom from Paris after discovering a second away from the European leg of NCT Dream’s world tour, selling their newest album, Dreamscape. “I’m fairly positive it’ll be the album that’ll take our workforce to the subsequent stage,” he tells THR.
Are you able to speak concerning the new NCT Dream album, Dreamscape? What have preparations been like?
It’s a full-length album, 11 tracks in whole. If I have been to speak about “After I’m With You,” the title observe, it’s a music that’ll actually make all of our followers really feel like, “That is NCT Dream.” You recognize what I imply? I really feel like loads of our authentic colours and aesthetics are this idea, however we type of took it to the trendy stage. I really feel like loads of our followers will actually discover that, and I’m fairly positive that they’ll prefer it. I’m actually trying ahead to their response. The music itself is definitely an easy-listening music, but in addition very hype on the identical time.
NCT Dream returns with their newest full-length album, ‘Dreamscape.’
Courtesy of SM Leisure
There’s this concept that you just’re maybe the busiest individual in Ok-pop. You’re very busy. Do you’ve gotten any ideas on that? Do you’re feeling that that’s correct?
I believe it’s type of correct. [Laughs] However I’ve loads of different Ok-pop idol pals. Every time I speak to them, they’re at all times like, “Ah, we’re busy too. How’s life?” They’re at all times simply on tour. They’re at all times busy as nicely. My members as nicely, they’re at all times busy. Accuracy-wise, I’m realistically, really busy, however I believe I get extra of that credit score as a result of simply on the floor, the truth that I’m in each groups [NCT Dream and NCT 127] makes it appear to be I’m much more busy simply from that. I believe it comes with that picture and with precise accuracy.
Contemplating how busy you’re, is there something you love to do to calm down and recharge on tour or while you’re rehearsing for a brand new album?
One factor that I actually must have each time is a music that’s simply type of heals me from my present situation. I must have that. Whether or not I’m strolling within the airport or occurring the bus, that, let’s say three and a half minutes, would actually type of cool me down. That music modifications now and again. Apart from that, I like placing on a sleeping pack for my pores and skin earlier than going to mattress. I believe that cools me down too.
NCT Dream and NCT 127 are sometimes very totally different sonically. The solo music you’ve launched thus far can be fairly totally different from each of these. Is there a style you like or do you want you could dabble in a number of?
I’m really getting ready for my solo album proper now. The hardest factor about this was that I noticed that there wasn’t a particular style that I couldn’t actually pull off. I can think about myself doing so many alternative issues, however that type of made it more durable for me to decide on which of them I needed to be on this album particularly. For 127, for Dream and for my solo album, they’re all genres that I actually love to do. I believe that’s one of many greatest skills that I’ve in a method, which is why I believe the message of what I need to painting is what’s actually essential. I believe that type of helps me slim all these genres down.
What do you end up drawn to creatively and musically?
I believe I grew up on hip-hop music probably the most out of all of the genres. I fell in love with music probably the most when hip-hop was the most important style. I believe any 808 or only a hip-hop sound within the observe actually catches my consideration virtually immediately. I believe these days, only a hip-hop base with some other style is what I’m type of drawn to.
NCT Dream’s ‘Dreamscape.’
Courtesy of SM Leisure
You debuted while you have been fairly younger, and also you’ve now had a reasonably lengthy profession. How are you feeling at this level in your profession versus while you began?
I’m not going to lie, I undoubtedly really feel extra established. Again then, after my trainee life, I used to be like, “OK, I don’t suppose I’m assured, however I’ll simply do my greatest.” I used to be at all times in that type of mindset, however now I actually really feel like… I’m not saying that I turned extra assured, however I can say that I understand how I need to painting myself extra to myself too now. I type of established my craft. In a method, I used to be shapeless earlier than, however now I believe I type of know what my form is. Now, it’s time for me so as to add on to that form, however I acquired the form now.
Do you see your self as a job mannequin to youthful artists?
I don’t suppose anybody requested me this query like this earlier than, however I’ve heard that… As a result of in a method, I’m type of outdated now in the case of that Ok-pop era. I’m in between third and fourth era in a method. The fourth-generation Ok-pop idol teams, I heard how a few of them have been saying that they actually regarded as much as me and so they admire my work. I used to be like, “Oh my God, I’m already at that time of my profession the place the subsequent wave is coming, and I’m listening to this already.” However, after all, I actually recognize it. I believe it makes me need to show to them extra that I’m worthy of their reward.
What are your type of objectives for this upcoming yr as you shut this one out?
There are loads of issues deliberate for this yr and subsequent yr, however for now, I hope everybody actually focuses on NCT Dream’s new album. I’m really actually, actually trying ahead to it. Because it hyperlinks with what we have been speaking about… I believe as a pacesetter of this group, I for the primary time realized what sort of form of a pacesetter I ought to have with my members. I believe this album is the album that actually holds loads of that affect probably the most. That’s for this yr. For subsequent yr, I’ve a solo album popping out in February, and I’m placing each ounce of my soul into this album, no joke. There isn’t a day that goes by once I’m not engaged on this album or not fascinated with this album. It’s going to be an album that I’m not going to have any regrets on, however I’m simply actually, actually working laborious on it.
Relating what you simply mentioned about feeling such as you’ve discovered your form as a pacesetter in NCT Dream, do you’re feeling added stress being the chief?
I’m not going to lie, I believe I do. Greater than from the followers, I believe from my members. I simply actually have this ardour to point out them and show to them that this new realization of mine and actually assist our workforce. As a pacesetter of this group, I actually need to actually deliver our workforce to the subsequent stage. I need to show to them this modification, which is why I’m attempting to do every little thing that I can for this album. I suppose it’s wholesome stress.
