South Korean ballad singer turned actor Jo Sung-hyun, better known as Eru (read: Iru), has revealed his intention to collaborate with many performers, including Indonesian girl group Cherrybelle.
“During my visit here, I met with Cherrybelle. They are so adorable and cute and if it possible, we can collaborate,” Eru said at The Jakarta Post offices on Wednesday.
He said he wanted to collaborate with various singers, including Americans Bryan McKnight and Jason Mraz, Japanese L’Arc En Ciel and Korean BEAST or Kim Hyun-joong.
“I want to collaborate with them because I think they’re doing what I can’t do and I think we can share something [through the collaboration],” he said.
The singer, who was born in New York on July 5, 1983, said he never put into account a performer’s popularity when deciding to collaborate with them
“In my case everyone is all the same. It doesn’t matter who is more famous, because I choose people [to collaborate with] not based on their popularity but on their skills,” said the youngest son of noted trot (oldest form of Korean pop) singer Tae Jin Ah.
Asked why he became a pop singer instead of trot singer like his father, Eru said he did not want people to think that he rode on his father’s coattails.
“I want to do something different from my dad, who is still a singer,” he said.
“Besides, younger people mostly think that trot is an old style of music.”
The tendency to do something different from others also applies to the way he promotes himself.
Eru said he did not want to follow in other Korean performers’ steps by mostly focusing promotions in Korea and Japan when the competition was getting tougher in the Korean pop industry.
“I keep on trying new things, like participating in Indonesian movies and promoting here while they promote their activities in other countries,” Eru said.
He revealed further his plan to release a new album, the title of which has yet to be disclosed, next month.
“It will have a way different style from my previous albums as I’m trying to change my music style,” Eru said at the end of the talk. (nvn)
