Dialogue with Gijay: Music, it frees me

From contestants to singers, Ji Jie's music career was not as smooth as some singers from the draft, and after soaking in various fields in the entertainment industry for a while, he officially released his debut album "Red and Black". Although this highly personal record, published in the form of a double CD, became a great acclaim after its release, the long process of struggle and polishing has also become an unforgettable experience in Ji Jie's memory. And last year, he published his second album "From the Depths", in addition to the theme and concept of the record, the style is diverse, and what is more eye-catching is that Ji Jie extends from it to the elements that originate from his own ethnic minority, and the color of the Yi people penetrates into the works through the rhythm and blues of the music style, which makes people marvel at the case!

It can be said that in "From the Depths", in addition to the diverse styles, there are also the stories that Ji Jie brings out through music, especially a song "Then I" sings his mental journey over the years. The joining of huang xibei and mozixishi and other highly individualized musicians makes this record marked with Jijie's personality and color create a more unique atmosphere. Since then, the EP "Yisco" launched as a part of the album, in addition to incorporating a lot of Yi music colors like "From the Depths", Ji Jie has played a retro Disco song style with the producer, creating a unique "nostalgic temperament" of Ji Jie. In this era when every singer is keen to flaunt his "creative talent", Ji Jie, who has always used other people's or his own stories to create works, rarely uses this to flaunt his own music. From writing songs to singing, what is found in his works will be more the aura and charm that originate from his bones. Just like in the MV "Swing, Post-70s", it appears in a very retro shape, and no one walks on the street like a self and confidence.

In the first half of the year, in addition to being busy promoting his own records, Ji Jie also served as the agent of the contestant Silas in the second season of Hunan Satellite TV's program "I Am a Singer", which can be said to be another side of his music for all viewers. In particular, the pictures of him carefully teaching Silas to say Chinese and standing on the edge of the stage to watch Silas rehearsals show that he has been extremely meticulous and rigorous as an executive of a Fortune 500 company. In the interview, Ji Jie revealed that in the remaining days of this year, in addition to taking over the drama and other work, he will also release his third solo album at the end of the year.

Starting with the draft...

Blue Butterfly: When you participated in "Fast Man", what actually made you have the will and determination to walk out of the position of an "executive" of a foreign company and run to compete and sing with people?

Gijay: At first I was actually quite hesitant, and my secretary ran to help me sign up. When it came time to the game, I chose to retire because I was worried that the game would delay my original work. Back at work, my original boss said, "Gijay, you can go to the game with confidence." "That's when I really made up my mind to go on.

Blue Butterfly: You didn't release films in the four years after you participated in the talent contest, and you were more involved in various work in the acting industry, such as hosting and acting in movies and musicals. In retrospect, did you feel that these jobs were very different from the purpose and willingness of your own draft? And what made you survive that period?

Gijay: At the end of the game, I didn't really know what to ask for. At that time, I thought it was good to have various work arrangements, but I slowly found that as a singer, not having my own work is the greatest sadness. That's why I started making albums. Four years were wasted. I still do things like hosting and acting, but my goals are different. It's no longer as aimless as it used to be. The main purpose of doing this now is to feed my music.

Blue Butterfly: From the draft to the present, you have been developing in the music industry and the entertainment industry for several years, are you satisfied with your results?

Gijay: At the moment, I am satisfied. Because with my qualifications, I am still a newcomer in this circle. With two albums and two EPs, my music can be recognized by critics, which is a great encouragement and motivation for me to continue to do it. Thank you all!

Blue Butterfly: Now it seems that you have tried all aspects of the work in the show business, in fact, in addition to singing, what do you like?

Gijay: Actually, I want to make a music movie. I once worked with a friend on the script of a musical theater movie, and I also prepared it for a long time, hoping that one day I would have the opportunity to realize it.

Blue Butterfly: So for you, acting, or hosting or something like that, have I ever inspired you to make music?

Gijay: I often write songs on set, and the lyrics of "It Hurts, but It Feels Right" were written during the double gallery filming. The actors' interpretation of other people's stories can be better interpreted for me to interpret the content of my own songs.

Blue Butterfly: You've written a lot of works so far, but what's the biggest source of inspiration for you?

Gijay: A lot of times other people's stories are my creative inspiration. Like "Flowers" is from the experience of my friend in Xichang. And "Pain Ah Bo Bo" is the experience of a good friend of mine. Listening to other people's stories can increase the content of my songs.

Blue Butterfly: You've always been fascinated by music, what's the most passionate thing about music or singing?

Gijay: The most fascinating thing about music is the ability to express yourself without scruples. It's not like acting, you have to follow the script to act. And music, it keeps you free.

Blue Butterfly: You've been fascinated by music and singing since you were a child, but what do you really like to hear about the works of singers and styles?

Gijay: I listen to a lot of genres of music. When I was young before, I was particularly confused. I still like her now. And then I'll listen to a lot of electronic, jazzy, electronic jazz stuff.

"From the Depths"

Blue Butterfly: At the beginning of last year, you released your second album "From the Depths", and it was two years after your first album, but how long did it take for this album to go from opening to preparation to production?

Gijay: It took about half a year to prepare. The music for this album actually took me 1 month to write. Later, I spent a lot of time on planning, the shooting of MVs, and the communication of arrangements.

Blue Butterfly: The title of this album is "From deep down", what does it actually mean?

Gijay: Everyone has two sides of their personality. Many times we are subordinate to the masses. It's like we make music. Traditional musicians and record companies always consider music in terms of popularity and popular acceptance, but Wilde said, "Art should never try to become popular." It's the public itself, and we have to try to be artistic."

Blue Butterfly: What was the most memorable thing about making this album From Deep?

Gijay: It should be when tim, the producer, first sent me the arrangement. At that time, I was confused when I listened to the arrangement, and I didn't know how to sing it. Later, I realized that TIM's arrangement is not like a domestic producer, and you have already done how to sing in the accompaniment, you just need to follow along. But foreigners are not. TIM uses the vocals as an instrument, and he gives you the freedom to sing.

Blue Butterfly: Compared to your last album, "Red and Black", what new attempts and breakthroughs do you think you have in the new album?

Gijay: Compared with the first one, this one will be more flying and self-contained in terms of arrangement and creation. In the first album, I was actually screwed up with the team, so there was an album with two styles, and finally even the name was "Red and Black". And in this one, we completely dropped the idea of taking care of the so-called mainstream market and chose to be more faithful to ourselves.

Blue Butterfly: In "From the Depths", you fuse the Yi music that has influenced you since childhood with the soul music to create a unique musical style of "Yisoul". Actually, what made you think about it?

Ji Jie: The traditional music of the Yi people is actually very similar to the blues blues. Once a relative of my family died, and my mother and my relatives cried and buried together with their relatives by singing. My mother never understood music, but the things that flowed in the blood of the Yi people made it natural for them to express themselves by singing. In a way, the traditional music of the Yi people is actually very similar to the blues blues, much like the narrative music of blacks. So I thought of blending these two styles together.

Blue Butterfly: In the album "From deep down", you invited the British musician Tim Hutton to create it with you, can you introduce this musician to the reader?

Gijay: I've worked with TIM on an album and an EP so far. TIM is a producer who gives singers a lot of freedom. He is also very versatile, in addition to playing trumpets, guitar, and drums. Our cooperation is repeated. We used to write no less than 100 emails for the arrangement, and TIM always understood some of my thoughts.

Blue Butterfly: In your opinion, will the model of foreign musicians creating an album be different from that of mainland musicians?

Ji Jie: In terms of the openness of the arrangement, foreign musicians are more OPEN. Domestic musicians are still more stuck to tradition, they will tell you when they make things, "here you should sing, there you should sing like that", but foreign musicians will not ask you to do so, but recommend that you try as many different methods as possible.

Blue Butterfly: In addition to Tim Hutton in the UK, you also invited Huang Xibei and Mo xizishi, two very talented singer-songwriters, to collaborate. In fact, what attracts you to them and comes to them to cooperate?

Gijay: Both of them are musical geniuses. It's really my luck to be working with them this time. Huang Xibei she has a natural jazz model, which can never be imitated. And Mossy is extremely talented, and I like a lot of demos he writes. Although his things are folk songs, they carry the soul of the Yi people.

Blue Butterfly: This album contains a very special piece called "Me at That Time", in which you sing about your growth and mental journey from childhood to the present. What actually made you think of writing a song like this?

Gijay: I wrote a narrative song "Father" when I was in The Red and the Black. The Yi people like to use music to narrate, and "Me At That Time" tells my story in this way. I've always felt that music is the best way to tell a story than if you talk to someone else.

Blue Butterfly: In the work "Me Then", there is a lyric that reads, "Make music, let him be niche pop, continue to be appreciated by everyone, that is the best!" "Actually, does this represent an attitude that you currently have in making music?"

GIJAY: Exactly. When we first album, we were still very worried about not being recognized by the market, so we made a part between the market and personality, and after the album came out, some music critics said to me, "Jijie, your next album will all be popular." "That gives me a lot of encouragement. The taste of the market is actually difficult to evaluate, instead of being led by the market, we should make our own unique things, just like opening a restaurant, you only have an exclusive signature dish will be liked.

Blue Butterfly: In fact, in addition to "Me At That Time", in "Self Deep", "Lost Years", "Time", "Thief of Hearts" and other works, what is recorded in them is not your own experience and thinking?

Gijay: Basically these are all portrayals of my own personal experiences. Things like "The Thief" are the true stories I encountered on my trip to New York.

Blue Butterfly: If you were to give this "Deep Inside" a score, how many points would you give? Think there's anything better to do inside?

Gijay: It should be 7 points. Most of these 7 points are musical. If we had more budgets, I think we would have done more in terms of planning.

Extra Edition "Yisco"

Blue Butterfly: Actually, in 2013, you still have a lot of music works. In addition to "From the Depths" at the beginning of the year, at the end of the year, you also released a different record "Yisco". In fact, what makes you think of the concept of "fanfacial"?

Gijay: In the beginning, my team and I wanted to make a pure retro DISCO, but after a lot of meetings we realized that I wasn't at the top of the pyramid right now. If I were to soul today, disco tomorrow, rock the day after tomorrow, the masses would never understand what I was doing. Just when "From the Depths" received everyone's praise, we thought that on the basis of continuing "From the Depths", we would try some new ways to play. This is not only a continuation of "Deep In The Self", but also has some different things for everyone. We deliberately used a similar design for the cover design of these two albums, and when you put the two records together, you will find that Ji Jie did not make a "YISCO" on a whim, but had a root.

Blue Butterfly: In "Yisco", you are focusing on the collection of Yi music and Disco, how did you come up with this wild idea?

Gijay: Because I was particularly obsessed with retro DISCO, and my producer TIM happened to be working on this genre. When the two of us communicate, it hits it off.

Blue Butterfly: Unlike a new album, Yisco includes several mixed versions of the albums "Red and Black" and "From Deep". In your opinion, will this move prolong the vitality of your work?

Gijay: I thought about this when I did this EP.

Blue Butterfly: In addition to some remixed works, the new song "Swing, Post-70s" is a work with a strong retro disco flavor, and the promotional copy says that it is a "song dedicated to all post-70s". Actually, what did you write this song for?

Gijay: When I wrote this song, I was written by proposition. Because I was born in the 70s, which was the era when DISCO was popular in China. We had the opportunity to be exposed to a lot of music in that era, and it became my musical enlightenment.

Blue Butterfly: In fact, in addition to the very personal style of the music, this album is also very special in your style in the MV. For example, the explosive head and slightly exaggerated clothing in "Swing It, Post-70s". Is this a look you came up with yourself?

Gijay: It was discussed in a meeting of the team. Because the disco popularity of the early 80s, big legs, explosive heads, tights are the trend signs.

Blue Butterfly: In addition to the exaggerated MV of "Swing, Post-70s", you play SM more in the MV of "It Hurts, But It Feels Right". In fact, have you ever worried about being told that you are too sensational?

Gijay: Why did you make SM because the lyrics of this song were written like that, and when I first started to make SM, I thought about it entirely according to the meaning of the lyrics. In fact, no matter what we do, we will be told, rather than caring what others say, it is better to concentrate on ourselves.

Blue Butterfly: Whether it is "Red and Black", "Deep in", or "Yisco", it is a kind of album with a lot of personality and concept, in fact, will it be more difficult to make such an album than to make a popular record? Will we continue to launch such distinctive works and albums in the future?

Gijay: Actually, so-called pop records are more difficult. Because when you're trying to express something that's not yourself, it's hard to be pure. I will continue to do my own work in the future. It's also the joy of being an independent musician.

Status

Blue Butterfly: You said at the launch of last year's album "From Deep" that Hong Tao, the director of "I Am a Singer", said that he refused to let you participate in the show because you were half red and not black. In fact, when you heard Director Hong's words, how did you feel?

Gijay: Actually, I can understand that. If I were a director, I would also consider a lot of factors like ratings.

Blue Butterfly: In this year's "I Am a Singer", you served as the "agent" of singer Silas, what made you appear on the show in this special capacity?

Ji Jie: At that time, I was spending the Spring Festival in the United States, and suddenly I received a call from Zhang Huali, the director of Hunan Satellite TV, who said that because Sila's Chinese was not good, the program team hoped that I could go back and help Silas. Although I also hesitated, since it was the need of the station, I also went back. Silas is a great singer and I'm happy to be able to help her.

Blue Butterfly: Did you and Silas know each other for an early age? What is your evaluation of the performance of this female singer who has recently become very popular in the mainland in "I Am a Singer"?

Gijay: We didn't know each other before. It was director Hong Tao who told me before I went to check her information. Only to know that Silas is a very powerful singer. Her voice is uniquely conditioned. On the stage, she is domineering, but offstage is a post-90s little girl, especially simple.

Blue Butterfly: Through this year's "I Am a Singer", many viewers will find your careful and cautious side, such as when you teach Sila to sing Chinese song, and when she rehearses, you carefully write down her non-standard pronunciation parts. In fact, in this process, do you have a new understanding of yourself?

Gijay: I actually felt more confident in my music in the process of doing this show.

Blue Butterfly: You appeared in the show "I Am a Singer" as an "agent" this time, what was the biggest gain for you?

Gijay: I'm more confident in my musical direction.

Blue Butterfly: If there is still a show "I Am a Singer" next year, will you go to it?

Gijay: If there is a chance, of course I will go. So good sound equipment and band, I think every singer is looking forward to going up and singing.

Blue Butterfly: After "I Am a Singer", I believe that you and Silas have established a very deep friendship. Will you have new collaborations on music in the future?

Gijay: This depends on chance, and maybe it will be considered when there is a suitable opportunity.

Blue Butterfly: In addition to Silas, are there any other singers in the current pop music scene that you would love to work with?

Ji Jie: Like Zhu Zheqin and Hu Defu. My next album will hopefully work with these guys.

Blue Butterfly: What are the new work plans this year? Will a brand new album be released?

Ji Jie: This year, I will also do some hosting and filming and drama work. It then went on to release a third album at the end of the year.