The boys officially debuted in 2014, although fans were already familiar with some of the members following JJProject and Mnet’s Who is Next: WIN.
Boasting excellent command over their dancing skills, GOT7 proved themselves as capable singers and rappers - effectively establishing for themselves a niche in KPop friendly hip-hop. Now, the boys are in their sophomore year of activity, and they’re quick to make sure we know they’re no longer a fledgling group.
220 (Joseph Park), a producer who often graces tracklists of artists like Taemin, Eric Nam, and Park Jimin, takes some time to talk about music, growing up, and his new song Prove It on GOT7’s new album.
Like many children of Asian parents (myself included), Park grew up with an instrument in hand. The classically trained Park began his journey in music in grade 6. On how he began to create music, he answers, “At first, I was a classical musician. I got into songwriting at, like, grade 10 or 11 - downloading free programs, starting to just remix tracks, and doing DJ stuff. I had no clue what I was doing at the time, but it was just fun.”
Park’s musical influences span from opposite sides of the spectrum: “A lot of R&B. I grew up in the church, so a lot of gospel music. Also I had a phase for, like, 2 years where I was really into punk rock.” With a laugh, Park adds, “During my rebellious stage I was into hip-hop and punk…Dyed my hair, I just didn’t care.”
With a foundation rooted in classical music and a clear appreciation for various genres of music, Park seemed destined for a future in the industry. “I just kept making tracks and instrumentals. Then, I went to university and I did a few classes there.” Shortly after, Park met the producer who would guide him toward a career in music. “He was a big time producer in Toronto and I started to intern under him. He wanted me to sing, he wanted me to start writing more lyrics… That’s how I got started in songwriting.”
Prove It was a joint effort between Park, Royal Dive, and GOT7’s JB (credited on album as defsoul), but it wasn’t their first time working together. “When we first met, he hadn’t had any releases… When you first start out and make a bunch of melodies, you don’t know if it’s good - you don’t know what direction to go in. You need a lot of guidance in that sense.” Fortunately, JB quickly learned the ropes, as Park adds, “Now he’s got the hang of it - he knows what flows… JB’s really passionate about songwriting… I respect him a lot because he’s trying to make music that’s different.”
Making music that’s “different” is a bold risk, especially for artists that have established fanbases under a certain style. It’s a rare feat for idols to successfully manage such a change, but "Prove it" (much like its name implies), does just that. “It started with a track and JB. He likes to do a more, darker, Tory Lanez type of vibe… We just started to shoot out some melody ideas… The cool thing about it is that GOT7 had never done a song like this before… Even the members were shocked that this song made it.”
At the same time, Park stresses the relateability of the song. “It had to be something the group would want to sing. Basically, the song is about just getting to know someone.” Addressing the darker tone, Park responds, “There is definitely a grown up sort of vibe to it. It’s so easy to go more sexual, but we didn’t want it to go there. It’s more chill, but G-rated.”
As with all collaborative projects, "Prove It" required careful and considerate compromise. “There’d be times when we have differences in opinion for sure… But in the end, we worked it out. It’s kind of like negotiating. ‘I like this, but what if we switch it to this?’ Then we mutually agree on final ideas.”
With the freedom of pursuing a darker tone for the song, the duo also had to find balance. “We had to change the chorus melody. Park Jin Young (JYP) wanted something with more impact, something that would hit a little harder. If possible I would have kept the original chorus. Our initial melody was a bit chill, a little laidback.”
Perhaps in making a different kind of sound and working with a more laidback song, the two also faced a challenge writing the rap. “The most difficult part would be trying to get the rap to flow and sound natural. They weren’t straight up raps. JB wrote the rap, and it’s actually kind of melodic.”
Park speculates that JB, having written the lyrics, “Wants to sing what’s on his mind. He wants to sing what he wants to do.” With an air of confidence, Park states that JB should continue to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter. “He has certain things that he wants to express, and a certain style of music he wants to do. He’s young, and he can only get better from here.”
With the inclusion of artists in the production process, one can only imagine how their differing experiences can provide a unique insight into writing. Park says of JB, “He can visualize how the group would perform it. He can see the members sing certain parts, and he can visualize how the members would perform it on stage.”
When asked about his favorite part in "Prove It", Park responds: “I would say the post-hook. It’s just a very chill part where it continues to repeat itself… It was just catchy to me.” Repetition in a song, while not uncommon, tends to find less footing in the Korean industry. “In American music they do that a lot, but sometimes in KPop, the company might think it’s a little too repetitive or boring. In this case it was chill.” A growing trend in KPop seems to suggest that the industry is becoming more receptive to pop influences from across the world.
A recurring motif Park champions throughout the interview is the word “chill,” and for good reason. Many fans will remember GOT7’s energetic debut; a steepening contrast to the songs found on Flight Log: Turbulence. It is an early marker of GOT7’s impending maturity - not just as artists, but as young adults. Keeping in mind the age gap, the boys have found an excellent middle ground to provide balance during their transition. With a slight smile, Park concludes with: “They’re all going to mature… I feel like this might be the beginning of that.”
©themusicmind
