Transcription
Music is coming out. How do you feel about that? Excited. You know, mostly excited. And it's been a little crazy with, um, the last little push for the album. But every day, I'm just like, reminding myself, this is the moment that I've been waiting for. Just so, like, enjoy it as much as I can, taking it all the way to the very end. Cuz we kept getting versions of music, obviously super under lock and key. And, and they make everyone was very clear, not final, not final. And it's like, three days ago, another version, not final. I'm like, "Y, Jenny's pushing this to the very end. This is fire." She's literally in the studio till 4:00 in the morning. Like, it's not done, literally, literally.
So, when, how do you feel now? Was it hard to let it go? Was it hard to, to say, "Okay, it has to go. It has to be finished at some point"? I think that was the biggest lesson that I might have learned off of this album is that knowing how to stop and, um, kind of limiting myself some time to accomplish something. And I'm not used to that kind of environment. So, definitely must have been really nice, actually, to start a process and do some real diligence, some real work into what you want to say and who you want to say it with. And success and, and pace are great, but it must have been really nice to start this and just know you had some time. Because I'm also so used to just going and after just keep going.
Um, like you said, when I first started working on the album, it was like, "Wow, I have a whole year." Like, "Le, you know, I have all the time." And then once I got in the studio for the first time, that's when I was like, "Oh my God, I'm already running out of time." And this is like, a year before this. I'm so glad you said that, cuz I was thinking, this album covers so much of who you are for the first time. It says so much about who you are, from the fight to the fragility, from the beginning to the very end. You must have got in there and just being like, "How do I make sense of all of this?"
I was, first of all, very shocked. And I didn't realize, I didn't realize how much I've been distant from myself throughout the years. So, I really got to the greatest part of this solo project for me was that I had time with myself. And I never had time for myself. Um, which was great. So, you know, I really got to dig deep inside of who I am and what I am and, you know, all the self-reflecting times. Um, and that's how the album, that's, that's how the album was made by really just understanding me better. It's real work that, oh, so much. And the most difficult. Like, it was nothing was easy. Um, so many new emotions that I got to learn. And throughout that, it, it needed so much energy. And I, I didn't realize that to me, it was, um, mostly like, what kind of words do I want to put in? What kind of sound do I want? I didn't realize walking into the studio was more about what knowing what I want, what I really want. All of it, as well. Not just like working with someone who gets you on the day. M. And it's like, "Oh, we've got a good vibe here. This is a cool track." It's like, "No, no, no, no. Every step on this record has to tell another part of your story." And you're right, I think when people start working, really hard work is a distraction from self-work. M. M. So, when it's like, "Who am I actually?" Harder work. M. M. In a lot of ways.
No, definitely. We don't get a song like "Twin" without that. And we're, we're going to get to that. Oh my God, yeah. It's a real one. And I think, you know, a lot of people will respond to the honesty on that. But we got to start somewhere else. And, um, the album's called "Ruby." And, and it's, it's one part of a longer name that became a part of your identity, if the story is correct. When you were young and you trying to figure out who you were, tell us the story behind, behind that. You were in New Zealand at the time? Or this is even earlier than that? This is when I wasn't living in New Zealand. And back then, um, I guess, I guess in the back of my mind, when I was like, 11, knew that I want to create this identity for myself. Like, Jenny wasn't doing justice for me. And I was like, "I want a longer name." So, that's how it was created. What I didn't realize over time was, I almost manifested this throughout my years. Like, I knew who I wanted to be at a very young age. On. And then it was just a matter of, "What's going to make you realize?" So, that's also one of the reasons why I landed and I picked the name Ruby for this album. But there's just so much inspiration behind that too. It's not really only about me representing myself, but, um, to me, it felt like a new chapter opening. And I wanted to, I really spent my time referencing many different things about the album. And that's when the play of "As You Like It" by Shakespeare came in. Instantly, when I saw the title, "As You Like It," it just spoke to me so much in a way I was like, "Wow, I don't know what I like." You know, on the same subject as before. So, I told myself, "I'm going to make this album as I like it. I don't care what anyone else is going to say about it." So, that's, that's where we began. And since I started, I got to drop one on that. That's to now.
That's profound. That's a huge moment. That's a huge moment for you because you're immediately, from what you're telling me, it feels like divorcing yourself, removing any previous expectations or successes, and putting it really squarely in a very simple phrase. M. Does it move me? I want to talk about the manifestation side of it a little bit more. M. How old were you when you moved to New Zealand? Um, I was nine. On your own? I was nine on my own. So, I recently found out that my mom spent two months with me in the beginning of my trip. Wow. And you didn't remember that? She reminded you of that. What I, how I remembered it was, I went to New Zealand, I was crying for two days, and then I suddenly, um, stopped crying on the third day and enjoyed my life there since then. Ever since then, that's how I remembered it. And my mom told me, "No, no, no. I was with you for the first two months." And then the two days were when she left back to Korea. Wow. Isn't it crazy how we compartmentalize these things and remember them? It's a survival mechanism. I know. I was, I was very shocked when I heard this. It's a wild story because, and, and we're going to play catch-up very quickly, but I haven't, this is the first time we've met. And, and the story is just so interesting to me that you would make the decision, ultimately, when given the opportunity to live in New Zealand on your own, in order to learn a new language, understand things better. Is this all part of the same manifestation? Was this part of the plan, looking back on it now, that you maybe didn't even realize that you felt you needed these building blocks? Wow. Which also tells me how much, um, my mom has been such a big supporter of mine. She, you know, from a young age, we traveled a lot. And when, when I was nine, that's, we were traveling, playing around Australia and New Zealand. And just the fact that she wanted me to have an open eye for the world, not just in Korea, is, is also very rare in, in a Korean culture. So hard as well for any parent in any culture to say goodbye to their children at that age. It's such an important age for the bonding of parent and children. To say, "I understand you have a desire to be elsewhere, to learn something new." Huge. That's huge. You know, every day I'm so grateful that I had my mom with me the whole time. And maybe the, she named me Jenny in Korean is a very also rare thing for, for a Korean name. It's a Korean, rare Korean name. So, I'm almost like, "Wait, was my mom a part of this manic with me the whole entire time?" And I don't know. Yeah. Being unique is awesome. As you grow older and your identity becomes your own, and you're like, "Hey, I'm Jenny. That's rare. My story is rare." There's all these rare things about everybody. But when you're a kid and you're trying to sort of find your place in society, in life, those things can sometimes feel a bit isolating. Was it hard knowing what you wanted out of life while your friends and your peers were just being kids? Maybe, maybe towards the end. And maybe that's why I knew that's when I needed to go back to Korea. Was because I knew that my life, my, my school life in New Zealand isn't what I want in my life at that point. When, when I was 14. So, I think I knew the limits pretty, pretty early. And, and, yeah, so I got to make my decision.
You know, you obviously have an incredible inner strength. Um, and, and there's also a side of you which is, there's a sensitivity to the way that that your fans and people see you. Right? It's like this really interesting paradox between strength and vulnerability. I feel makes up your music. It's really evident here. Is that, do you recognize that? Is, is that a good sort of observation in terms of your personality? That there's this fierce side to you, but also the side of you that's kind of sensitive? I think that's one of the things that was a struggle for me last year was understanding that balance of vulnerability and, and the braveness that I have. Um, I kind of now wanted to really give time and understand what triggers me that way and what makes me feel both things. And, and learning about, um, vulnerability is, is, I think the closer you understand, understand that emotion, the braver you become. Because now you know, so there's nothing to be, uh, afraid of.
And when you listen back to this album, do those emotions rise to the surface still? Because this album means so much to you that we will never truly understand because of the journey you've been on. I don't know. Like, it's, it's interesting cuz now that I'm almost at the end of my album, it's not finished. Yeah. What are you doing? I'm crazy. Not final, not final. You're killing us. Out of IO. I know. I mean, the, the fact that that I still see something, that I hear something, it's, I, I am pretty amazed at myself. But, you know, that's how dedicated I am. That's how sincere I am. And I'm, I like to believe I'm, I live with no regrets. And I live my life to the fullest. Um, even when it comes to any other things in life. So, I just want to feel that way. Once, when it's March 7th, you're an adventurer. I mean, you can't be nine years old and travel on your own to New Zealand and figure out, figure out your way in a foreign country and try to understand who you are and who you want to be unless you have a desire for adventure, right? You've seen so much and experienced so much already. What was it like not traveling and just, I mean, I'm sure you travel in the process of making the record, but it's a different kind of travel. Was it, how did it feel to stop?
Well, surprisingly, I still managed to be traveling. But, um, I did spend a lot of time out here in LA for the first time in my life. And, um, I really got to experience the city and the people out here. You know, I'm, I'm learning. Like, it, it started, it off amazingly. And then the more I spend time, I'm just being more attached. And there are things that I like and don't like now. So, I think it, I can surely say now, I have, like, LA is a space in my heart, a home, kind of.
What was the first song that you feel began to unlock the identity of this album and really made you realize, you know, all this work I've done up to this point is going to matter? It's "Zen." Huge. One of my favorites, hands down. Thank you. I love that. Thank you. I was surprised. You, it was a Lucy. I was like, "That's a smasher." And you like, "Here's the video. Moving on, moving on." I was like, "Well, this album means to be serious, cuz that's a killer." It, I love that track. And I, and I, and I love the intensity you've built around that concept. You haven't leaned into what it like on paper. You've created your own version of almost like fight. Zen. M. M. Wow. With "Zen," there is so much to talk about. But when "Zen" came along, that's, that's when I knew, "Oh, my album is Ruby, and it's happening." And that was maybe like, six months into spending time at the studio every day. Oh my God, that's really, that's tough. After six months wondering like, "When am I going to get an answer?" M. M. Every month just got more harder as time went by. I felt more an anxious. I felt, you know, I felt like something was coming chasing after me. When this is something that I started. So, I started, you know, I lost myself in, in my head. And then I met this amazing writer called Bibi. She played a very big role, um, for my album. She really opened up to me. And I learned to open myself up to her. And we just had a great time. And, and that's when "Zen," "Zen" came along. And it, after many conversations that I had with her about our true motivation, our inspirations, and our just life, we clicked pretty quickly. And, and, and then, yeah, and then with the message and the words in, in "Zen," it was done in such a delicate way. It was made in such a delicate way. But, but to be expressing it in such a loud, yeah, fierce way, I think that's kind of represents who I am. Yeah. That's that. There it is. The fight and fragility again. It's that paradox, right? It's that paradox of those two things.
I know that you are a committed, curiously spiritual human. I know you're searching for holistic ways to stay balanced all the time. And, uh, I want to talk a little bit about that side of your life because it seems to me that not just physical health, which is a part of training and working out and staying fit for the stage and doing all those things, but you understand the importance of inner health as well. When did that sort of start to become a priority for you?
I think it's something that I've always been curious about and something that was on my mind, telling myself, like, "You need to learn about this." But I just never had the time. And there wasn't people around me who understand that world of, um, our inner, inner mental health. And I think that's maybe what it was, kind of not dragging me, but frustrating myself throughout some years. And during pandemic and over COVID, is when I was forced to be at home and learn about myself a little bit. And as soon as that space opened, the first thing I wanted to understand and know about this life was, "Why do I feel this way? What is this negative feeling? Where is it coming from?" And then from there, you know, so big. That's the biggest one ever. When you get that feeling and you're not quite sure, the first thing that you have to ask yourself, at least in my experience, is, "What is that feeling and where is it coming from in my life?" Like, if I can pinpoint the moment where I think I can connect that, I have a better understanding of what's driving it. M. So, that's, that was the moment, um, that I remember distinctly when I started learning about it. And then from then on, it was a whole new world opened up. And, and that's why I'm here feeling strong and confident and healthy is because of those times. Yeah.
Where are you getting your information from? Not just listening to yourself, but are there books that you've been reading? Are there podcasts? I mean, that's a lifelong pursuit, trying to better understand through the teachers how we can live with more balance.
I think back then I didn't even realize that I needed, uh, anyone to teach me or, or, or give me information on it. I was still at my wondering phase. So, the more I started talking to people about it and making friends that understand who, um, when I say, "You know, I'm struggling, I'm not sick, but I'm struggling inside. How do I fix it?" Like, the more I got to meet more people around the world and make friends that's when I, that's when also I realize, you know, I grew up in New Zealand. I went to school there. So, there's still a side of me where, you know, I'm just a kid in New Zealand. And I'm, I'm from a, uh, multicultural background. And, you know, I grew up with the Blackpink girls. I'm so used to, um, being inspired by different cultural people. And I think I started to be, once I started understanding, I became less shy of a person when I talked to people and things like that. Just meeting people over the years, meeting the right people was what helped me a lot throughout. Yeah.
Did you feel like you had to be the leader when Blackpink began? Not because you were given that job or because you even wanted that job, but just because of the life you'd already lived, having lived away on your own, learned to deal with things on your own up to a certain point. Did you feel protective of the band? Like there was a role that you just fell into?
Up to these days, Blackpink don't have like an official leader, which is, um, not common for a K-pop group. Is, I think also back then, there was a side of me where I thought, "I know this so well. I know what to do it. I know, I know how to do it. Let me do it. Let me, I got this." But, yeah, I like, I was, there's a side of me that tells me that all the time back in the training days. But, um, I don't think that necessarily made me think like for everyone, like, "I need to lead." But just because I was going, um, on a clear path, it was easier for the rest of the girls to kind of see maybe where, where she's taking. And, and luckily they liked it. Um, but, yeah, when it came to like roles, I think the four of us compliment each other so well. It's incredible.
That is very much at the heart of the success. Look, songs come and go, shows come and go. Relationships and chemistry is what people believe in. The human experience. And it's clear the four of you have each other's back. Hard for me not to hear a song like "Start of War" and think that that's part of it. Like, I think the inspiration behind that song is really about, um, reminding the person of someone that you want to protect. And could be anyone. It could be your friend, your family, your love. It could be anything that you want to protect for. But it, the lyrics of that song speak to me so much because every time in different situations, you think of different people that you want to protect. And it makes you feel more full inside.
This is such a, a great opportunity to talk about this body of work. You know, this is a real sort of, uh, this is, this is your personal manifesto of everything you've learned up to this point. And it's been a lot. You've learned an enormous amount already. What was the one thing that, that you learned about yourself during the making of this record that was the most valuable to you in the long term in your life?
Understanding my value and, and believing in that is for my, for me, that was the biggest learning. Because now I'm not afraid to challenge myself because I know I'm, well, this is like what I tell myself. This is my mantra. Like, you know, um, the things to tell myself that I love myself, that I'm worth it, that I'm so proud of myself. And things like that is, is something that I've never experienced before. And that's my motivation. My biggest motivation is, um, accomplishing what I dream of. And, you know, what, that's the most fun part. So, I want to say, yeah, understanding my value was the biggest lesson.
Perfect. So, what was driving you before you came to that conclusion? Are you any closer to understanding what was motivating you even from a young age to want to reach people and make people happy? But ultimately, you knew the work that it was going to take. And the, M. M. Do, what was, what was driving you?
That's, I, I should ask myself, what, you know, what was it before? But over time, um, I, the more I realize about, um, myself and the motive that I have for with music and who I am as an artist and how I want to change the world in my own way, think like that, I guess was deep inside of my heart that I, I couldn't hear. But, um, I think that was my motivation. And having done that, having done that now for some time, having seen that the, the, the success you can have by making people happy. M. M. What's that feeling like for people who don't get to go on stages and see the reaction that people have when you're up there? And the bigger the mar, first of all, like, once you're up there, feeling everyone's energy just focusing on you, I think that's just a blessing to have felt that. Like you said, um, but I didn't realize the meaning of, um, I'm influencing them to be happier and, and this positive energy. I didn't realize the impact of it. Impact of it. How heavy that was. And that's, that's also what I figured it out was, "Wow, I want to do something with this." And now, now that I understand the impact that I can bring, let me, let me work on it and use it for a good use for my heart. And, yeah, you know, I'm not sitting here telling like, "I'm going to change the world," but to, to have the right motives for it, I think is important. And to make your mother proud. M. M. Yeah.
Can we talk about "Starlight"? Yes. Yes. Well, you're, you're, you're, um, picking all the songs that I love so much. Well, I mean, the whole album is, you smashed it. But, yeah, these are the, there were some moments in this record that really stuck with me. M. M. You know, "Starlight" being one of those. Oh, you were clearly dealing with some heavy stuff to, to get out of your system on that. M. Right. M. And, and "Starlight," really, the black mystery is the story behind it. You know, when, uh, this song was also with Bibi. We talked about the heavy things. We talked about struggles over the years. But not just me. We, we had, we had this bond of sharing each other, sharing each other's experiences and being influenced by it. So, yeah, I shared a little bit about the years and, and what I did. And she instantly knew, like, "You're here." She is, first of all, she's like my motivator in life. Anything she says, I'm just like, "Wow, I agree with you." And that you're giving me power to, to be a stronger of myself. And she gave you a safe space to talk about some of those experiences. And there's a part in this song where I'm saying, but, um, something about reme, wait, "Remember the night." Now, "I remember the night." Um, that part is, it's me telling myself, "Never to remember this self of myself." You know, I'm like, "Let's remember the night that we wrote this song and all the, all the great, um, ideas that came to us and the inspiration that came to us that day." Like, "This is what makes us special."
It's a lonely song, though. I mean, it, it, there's resolution at the end, a sense of like self-awareness and, and learning, um, overcoming that. I think, yes, overcoming a sense of loneliness. And it really made me feel that you really captured that sense of like, and everybody feels this, but that sense of isolation and not knowing what to do. And there have been moments, like, even through all the success, where we don't know what's happening in the moments in between. The black mystery. M. That's, I think the song speaks, speaks it all for me.
How has Seoul changed since you came home? Because you've been part of such an enormous transformation on the, on the world stage in terms of how people perceive career and Seoul, you and your contemporaries, some friends, I'm sure, who have gone ahead and done amazing things. Um, but how have you seen it changed as someone who was born there?
It changed really quickly, by the way. It changed as soon as, um, as soon as Blackpink debuted. And from then on, [Music] um, it's, it's, it's like my hometown in a way where I feel the most safe and comfortable, but also very strange. You know, it's, I don't know how much, um, I want to get into, but I'm like, "So deep in my head." And I'm like, "Thinking, wait, I'm, there's a mic in front of me. I'm not talking to a friend." You may feel so comfortable. That's kind of what I was hoping for. But equally, but equally, I respect the fact that you're creating boundaries for yourself. And you don't have to cross anything. Yeah. I was just like, going through over the boundaries in my head. I'm like, "Wait, wait, wait, wait." You know, when I was there, and I loved Seoul. It had a profound effect on me. Seoul. Oh, wow. Did it really? Really did. Yeah. Yeah. From the minute I touched down and drove into the city to leaving and flying out and looking at it, I remember, you know, I called my wife. I was like, "Wow, we got to come here one day because it's an incredible place." Oh, wow. Um, but one of the things I noticed was that, you know, you and your contemporaries are everywhere. M. And people can say that up and down Sunset all they want, but they change that all the time. I feel like there's something with you on a digital billboard at all times in that city. Is that kind of what was going through your head just now? The balance between home and that? Yeah. There's like nothing to hate about it. It's like, you said, if you have the right balance between, and since I have my family and my friends there, that makes me feel less of the person on the billboard. Um, it's, it's then it's good. There is nothing to hate about it. If, if anything, I'll be driving by and feeling really proud. Um, so, yeah.
I'd like to talk about the writing and producing on this record, of which you contributed an enormous amount. This isn't one of those albums where you work with people and let them figure it out. You know, your fingerprints are all over this. Um, what did you learn about yourself as a composer and as a producer on this record? Because it has a very specific sonic through line that obviously is you.
There is still so, so much that I need to learn and spend time on. Like, really, it was the first year of me in the studio. So much looking at tracks and hearing different sounds and, um, exploring different vocals. So, up to, up to now, I'm like, "So, what is it that you like?" And I still can't explain it because I'm always in the studio being like, you know, "I want to make this a little bit more, uh, how, how do you communicate?" What is it like? What is it? It's the way. So, the people that I can work with have to kind of understand this language of my body language of music. I'm like, and also the, the different words that we use in the music world, Korean and English, is so different. So, I'm like, um, "Can we make this sound a little bit, you know, like the sound when you tune into the?" Like, it's the worst. It's actually the most. I don't want to share. It's the most embarrassing of the experience. It really is. I'm like, "I know what it is. Like, I can hear it in my head. I'm learning how to speak that." You know? Yeah.
And what's the appropriate reaction to that moment if you're a collaborator with you? Is it to be like, "I do not understand. Be more clear," or is it to crack out laughing? Which one do you prefer?
Um, I, I prefer the laughing people because once they don't get it, then, then it's just silence. I'm like, "You know, you know my U is outside." And I'll just, you know, what session has been fun and everything. I, I'll call you. Don't call me. I'll call you. Um, "FTs," that flip that script. Um, what was going through your mind when you wrote that one? Because it's, uh, it's a very direct. It's one of the most direct songs on the record. One of my favorite songs, obviously.
That was a day where, cuz we were doing back to back every day in the session. So, every day was just making different songs. And that day, I remember we, it was Carly and Bibi and I talking about late at night, talking about [Music] um, how much work that we've put in into our for our dreams. And the more you scare your heart, um, of your purity, um, it's going to, your dreams are going to eventually come true. You just got to believe in it. So, we were like talking about this deep life things that we've learned over years. And at the end, we were just like, "You know what? This, yeah, like that's what happened." You know what? Just that sh, let's, yeah, that's. And that became a song. We wrote that really fast, too.
How much fun was it to sing that the first time you, you did the demo vocal? So good. And I still have fun every single time. Um, I love the chanting, um, background vocal that I have left in the song where we're that, cuz that's the truth of that song. We were literally talking for hours to come up with that topic. And we just started singing for and made the song like that.
So, I hope you take this the right way in which it's intended. And trust me, it's coming from a very pure place of being a fan of Blackpink and a fan of this record. And, you know, I spoke to, to Rosé as well, and we had a great conversation about that. It must be great to get to a point in your life where, to a certain degree, the expectation of what is appropriate, inappropriate, because you're trying to build an audience, build things, form a relationship with people. I guess my point is that may not have jumped out the gate during the early days of Blackpink. Oh, no, definitely for sure. This song is, uh, evidence of growth and, and time. And for that, for me, and trust. And trust. Yeah. And trust. And a vital, you, the chance for you to establish some dependence. M. M. Isn't that a weird way, right? Your framework that, that backs you up. M. M.
No, instantly. And I'm surprised that all of these things, the changes in my life happened in just one year of last year. But maybe I tell myself, maybe this was the right timing. Like, it, it was the right time to start a new, new chapter for myself and build and really try to build the things that I want from deep down in my heart. You know, Rosé has done it too. I mean, we talked about her album and what a huge growth that was for her to say the things. I mean, that's a heartbreaking record. And she went through some, she did. And I was live. I heard everything live. So, you know, I know how sincere she was about every work that she has made. Um, yeah, I'm so proud of everyone. And I'm so happy for everyone. Um, I'm so, I feel so grateful to be in a group with, having, having this family of yours that are going to the same, same path. I guess with a stop on the way where you can come together and take what you've learned. And, and I mean, that next Blackpink tour is going to be fucking crazy. I mean, you're going to get to step into each of your individual spaces and support each other through that. I can't even imagine. Which, I mean, I'm sure you're going to do "Zen" cuz you love that. I, I'm, I'm thinking on it. I have. Yeah. You got to be thinking on it. I mean, "Solo" and "Twin" got to be up there too. A. But that's literally how I feel every time I hear, cuz I've never talked with anyone about this deeply about my album. You are the first person. If anything, so I'm having this new reaction to myself. "Twin" is powerful because that's, and this is where that the analysis ends, but I love the thoughts and the feelings beyond it. But I'll make this statement. It's about someone for sure. Like, you ain't writing that song cherry-picking emotions like that. That's a, that's a letter. Wow. You saw right through me. Yeah. Well, it's all in the music. It's too personal. It's "Ashanti on the Beach." That's, that's a memory. That's a memory. Yeah. Uh, that, yeah, that song is a very, very special song to, for me. Maybe the most personal song. But by the time we were done with the song, uh, I read it back and to me, I was like, "Okay, people can resonate to this. There's got to be someone that makes everyone feel this way." Absolutely. We all have unresolved relationships and things we yearn. I straight up. You're being honest with me. I'll be honest with you. I saw someone on Thursday night at a dinner. I was out with some friends. He was just sitting there with his partner. And I was so happy to see him. We hadn't spoken. There was oddness between us for a few years. It was emotional. We both got emotional. I didn't waste any time. I just pulled it all away and just hugged him. Was just like, "I miss you." You know, that song is that. Yeah. You said it in the perfect way. That's how I felt with the song. Has it helped you pluck the courage to be able to take the right steps? No. 100%. I think, um, being after being truthful on that song made me gave me conclusion. Gave me a clear thought on how I felt of that relationship. And, and it says it all. That there you go. I'm writing my letter to you. M.
I don't know if you're doing SNL the season or what the plan is, but that's a real one. Like, you're an incredible performer. Journey, everybody knows that. And, and as a member of the band or on your own, you know, you, you own the screen and you own the stage. It's so amazing. I'd imagine for you to be able to play that live and just do the opposite. I'm excited. You brought some friends along. I love how you chose your collaborators really carefully. You got old friends in there. Dominic Fike. M. I feel like you guys had the best Coachella weekend ever that weekend. I feel like I kept seeing, cuz I know Dom, I kept seeing Dom and you guys in different parts. And it was like you were just part of the 100,000 people. It wasn't even like you were performing. Like, "Is anyone watching these guys?" They're just literally running around this festival, having the greatest time.
What do you love? I mean, I've spent time with Dom. I went to Naples and spent time with his family. We hung out for the whole day. Wow. It was pretty incredible. Um, so I've had some deep conversations with him. Let's talk about your relationship with him. What you connect on with him and what you see in him. Unfortunately, the featuring, it wasn't in person, cuz that's what I would have preferred. Yeah. Um, it's your friends, right? You know him. M. M. He's, he's tell me Dom is like a free, free spirit guy. And every time we talk, I have the best time. I laugh. Yeah. It's funny. It's really funny. He's truthful. And, you know, the music part is everything about it was very organic. Um, I was just happy that he, he wanted to jump on. And when we were texting, he told me how much he appreciated, um, the fact that I wanted him on my album. And I was like, "What are you talking about? I feel the same." So, yeah, throughout this song, I think I've become a great friend, friend of him now. That maybe for a future, um, in the future, we could really be in a studio working together and learning about each other.
But I feel like that kind of is a, is a motivating factor for you. Like, when you showed up on the Matt Champion song, we were just like, "This is such a touch." Like, Matt's awesome. Brockhampton's a great legacy. But on paper, no one's expecting a Matt Champion, Jennie collaboration. It's obviously talk. Let's talk about this. Like, what motivates you to say yes?
I don't see a reason to say no. It's closer to how I can put it. Matt, Matt and I started working together on music like four or five years, four years ago. I'm really bad with time, by the way. Do, by the way, isn't it amazing how, like, hanging out with me and your New Zealand accent's coming back quite strong now? Is it a little bit? Oh my God, yeah. Four years ago. I love. I should only be talking to you people for me. Works for me. You know, I'm so sad about how I lost my accent. And it's coming back. I'm telling you. Yes. They're going to really appreciate you at possible control next time you roll through. They'll be like, "I told you, Jennie, she would be back. Should be back. She didn't forget." Yeah. You and Matt from four years ago. Oh, yeah. So, we, I was clueless back then. I didn't know what working together with a different artist in a studio meant. What it was. And we just hung out in the studios for days. And we came up with so many songs. And some of them that I'm like, holding on to because I want to put it out one day. Um, he, so he, he called it "Dips in Slow Motion." There's a song that I like that we did together. What's that one called? Can you tell us? Oh, yeah. It's called "Navy Blue." Yeah. It's a very sweet song that I like. So, you know, we, we made, we made the song years back. And he wanted to put it out. Was like, "Finally, you know, let's go. Let's put the amazing work that we we did together out into the world." Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Amazing.
Um, Doja, someone I'm sure that you can identify with, not just from terms of as a fan, but also the amount of work Doja puts in. The work when she shows up, it's like the performances. She takes pride in that. And that is why her having her on my album means everything. It's, I don't just love her music. She really inspires me as a human being. You know, she's empowering. And she's such a, she's so pure in heart with her her craft. And I admire that about her. So, yeah. And also for you to have someone around you that is doing what you and your friends have have been doing, that whole thing about like Blackpink or BTS, that sense. And by the way, generationally, New Edition. You know, The Supremes. That sense of like, "We're here to do our best work, our best creative work." But, but everyone's like, "Oh man, you know, so much effort put into that." And they focus on the effort. But it's like, "No, but focus on the result." Like, it's so much better. M.
So, before we shot the video together for "Extra L," it was the week after the Grammys. And I've just watched her performance and I saw the amazing greatness that she created. And you have no idea how nervous I was for the next one week of our before our shoot. I'm like, "Oh my God, press UPS." Yeah. Like, I want, I want to give her the same amount of energy when we shoot together. So, yeah, that was that. I, I like just remember that week of me being, "Oh my God, like, straw-struck." And like, I was getting butterflies before I met her for that. But she's so chilled, though, right? No, we had the best time. It was actually so fun. I didn't realize how well we would blend together like as a performer. There was no, we didn't even have to, um, tell each other anything. Like, the director would give us, uh, information and what we have to do, and we would just be like, "Okay."
What have you learned from being not just part of a group, but but moving in lots of different spaces and collaborating with people and, and wanting to perform at a high level and use your abilities and your skills and your gifts, but also know that it's got to be, it's got to be a collaboration. It's got to be, chemistry has to be right. What's crucial to that for you? How do you perform well with other people and not just at your own level?
I think that comes from being in my group for the past 10 years. Um, and also over the years in New Zealand, um, I've learned to, uh, collect information on people. Obviously, growing up by myself at school, I needed a way to protect myself. And I think it was by, um, collecting the information around me. So, I don't do anything, um, that's going to kill the vibe. Wow. So, just observing the room and figuring out how to adapt at all times in order to just survive, really, really. And then, then on, I was in the trainee system for six years. That's survival right there. And that's also what I learned. And over the years of being Blackpink with the girls has taught me how to, um, understand different people, understand that everyone is different, and that's fine. And you just got to learn about them and, or, um, anything, and then just make it yours and embrace it. And, and deal, learn how to deal with it on, on your own way. And that's got to be the core thought inside of me that helps me a better collaborator with, with other artists.
When you think about the young people who are going through a similar training experience now that you went through 10 years ago, and I'm sure the system is better, and I'm sure, hope it's better, and I hope, I hope, and I hope people are figuring out how to understand the experience in a more layered way. It's not just like, "Put in the hours. Show up." Do you feel that, like, what you're doing, what your friends are doing, what Rosé is doing, what Lisa is doing, Jisoo is doing, by coming out, making your own music, coming back together, that this is an important growth for the K-pop, K-pop industry? That, that you're showing people that there isn't an end? That it's not like, "Hey, Blackpink's done its thing. Next." M. No, hang on. This is a lifelong career. Does it feel that way? Do you have that in your mind?
I think that responsibility is definitely there inside of me, or, and all of us. It's not just, um, the next comeback of music for us. We, we really believe that we are making a cultural move with what we're doing. And we want to leave a great mark for, for the history in, in the best way possible. So, um, it was important for all of us to really understand that responsibility. I think that, cuz it's, there's a lot. It's, it's a lot to be separated and then come back as a group. And to even agree on something like that is, I, I don't know if people understand, but it is a very big decision to make. For all growing up women, you know? But, yeah, we, we pull through. And, and I'm excited for what's next for Blackpink, too.
Does your stomach turn a little bit, in a good way, when you think about coming back and doing, and that moving into that machine?
I have faith in me to do it better this time. So interesting. What do you think you, you'd like to improve during this time that you didn't, you? How would you like to do better this time?
I think I really want to be, be present with it. Um, less, you know, worrying, less concerns. And it's, what's more fun than being on a stage as Blackpink? Like, let me enjoy this. Really, just being more present about everything that's going to go on is probably, um, what's going to be different from before. So glad to hear that fans around the world are going to just love that. I think that will resonate more than, you know, from a Blackpink point of view, in the few times we've touched on that, that will really resonate with fans. Um, before you say goodbye, a chance to, to sort of communicate a little bit about that relationship and how do you maintain a healthy relationship with, with your fans? Because Blackpink fans love Blackpink. Jennie fans love you. And yet, you also know who you are away from that. You talk about that on the record. There are songs about that.
To be honest, I think it's still, I treat it really sensitively when it comes to, um, my relationship with our fans. And as much as the changes are going on with the group, I think the fans are also, they might also feel confused and, um, not lost, but lost in the way, maybe. But I think over, throughout showing everyone's music and, um, our solo careers, and then when, when we show, when we're back as Blackpink, think that hopefully will build that, rebuild that relationship that everyone might feel confused about. Because as long as the four of us love each other, I think there is no reason for anyone to see us separately. But maybe in the way we might have, that might, I do think that that might have confused the fans. Um, so, yeah, it's, it's a very, it's a, I, I treat this relationship very delicately.
Well, you know, all the world's stage, men and women are merely players. Yes. It's a play on player. You're right. That, let me be the player. Hey, it's been really fun hanging out with you. I knew this was going to be fun. I knew too. You have no idea. I was, I, I wanted to have this talk and I just meet you, you know, and have this talk about this album, especially with you, because I've been a fan of your interviews for such a long time. So, it's been my honor to come and talk to you. [Music]