Thread by @MINSUGAHQ

[#SugaHQ_Update] SUGA’s Interview translation with NTV “Buzz Rhythm 02”

translator note: the 👤 quotes are rough translations

👤: You arrived recently?
🐱: Yes, I arrived earlier this morning.
👤: Do you want room service? We can order room service. (+)

https://twitter.com/ssujamss/status/1664682095011037212

🐱: I had a bento box earlier.
👤: BTS previously appeared on Buzz Rhythm in July of 2020
🐱: Ah yes I remember
👤: How are you feeling about your concerts?
🐱: It’s my first concert here in over three years so I’m looking forward to it. (+)

👤: Do you like the food in Japan?
🐱: Yes I do, I’ve already made some reservations at some restaurants (+)

👤: What are essentials when creating music?
🐱: Since I’m someone that creates music, I unintentionally keep in mind how well the song would do. Things like the message of the song is also important, but the song needs to be liked by people to share the intended message. (+)

🐱: I try to match it to what the listener would like, or the general audience. There’s a lot of good programs that can be used today, as long as you have a laptop everything can be done, so I’m someone that carries around a laptop.
👤: Do you not need sheet music to create? (+)

🐱: Yes, these days there’s not a need to write sheet music as much so I typically produce with a laptop.
👤: Do you also use your phone?
🐱: Yes, I use a lot of notes on my phone and use the recording function.

👤: What message do you want to convey during your concerts here?
🐱: It’s the first time in over three years that I’m doing a concert in Japan… it would have been better if the seven of us had come together, but there are members that are serving in the military at this time(+)

🐱: I was able to do a solo tour, and I’m looking forward to it and even though it’s been over three years, the fans have showed their love towards us and I want to let them know how thankful we are. (+)

👤: What did the members say about your tour?
🐱: They told me to take care of my health a lot. Since the tour spans over a longer period of time, thats what they were most worried about, but I’m healthier than ever.

🐱: Recently I caught a cold, so I’ve been coughing a lot which affected the Jakarta concerts a lot which was hard on me. The members always cheer me on. They say that I’m doing a great job, and I like that. (+)

👤: Did they write a letter to you?
🐱: The members wrote messages on the guitar that I take around on tour. (+)

👤: Are there plans for the group in Japan?
🐱: As a group, we really wanted to do a tour in Japan. We had plans in 2020, but because of COVID those plans were cancelled. We had big plans in Japan, stadium tours, but we weren’t able to do it which was unfortunate. (+)

🐱: Now after three years, we’re in a period of waiting again because of the members, myself included, so it will take even longer. (+)

🐱: It would be 2025 for the seven of us to be back together. It’s unfortunate and we want to hurry and do concerts in Japan, and we also want to do a world tour, and want to release our album. (+)

👤: Were you happy being appointed as the NBA ambassador?
🐱: Honestly, I don’t think I’m someone [popularity/status wise] who should be promoting the NBA, and I wondered why the NBA would need an ambassador [because of NBA's popularity]. (+)

🐱: But I’m someone who enjoys sports very much, especially basketball, and I’ve watched the NBA since I was young so working with the NBA is such an honor.
👤: Oh, you enjoy basketball in general as well?
🐱: Yes I really enjoyed Slam Dunk. I have all the anime books at home(+)

👤: Who did you like in Slam Dunk?
🐱: I liked the shooting guard, Hisashi Mitsui.
👤: I saw that you watched it?
🐱: Yes, I watched it in theaters.
👤: What do you do on your day off?
🐱: On rest days, I usually drink alcohol the night before. (+)

👤: What message do you want to convey with “D-DAY”?
🐱: This album is the last of a trilogy released under Agust D, and I released it kind of as an end to times that felt very tiring and difficult so because of that, after I released the album I felt a lot of peace. (+)

👤: You were able to let go of a lot of things
🐱: Yes, it made me feel lighthearted even though the process was hard.(+)

👤: Where do you find inspiration for your songs?
🐱: I’m creating music while I’m touring, but more than being inspired by an event or something happening… there’s even been a time when I’ve written a song in the restroom…(+)

🐱: thats kind of the thing with inspiration, I think producers these days are diligent when creating so it’s not like what’s portrayed in the media of a moment when you’re struck with inspiration. Typically you sit down and you work on the music. (+)

👤: How did working with Ryuichi Sakamoto come up?
🐱: To be honest I’ve been a fan of Mr. Sakamoto since I was young and when I was younger and creating music there were times when I used his samples. (+)

🐱: A lot of his music doesn't have any vocals in it so I used to practice with them a lot and used to play a lot of his songs.

👤: You uploaded a clip of you playing one of his songs
🐱: I didn’t play it well… At that time his health wasn’t well, and I had wanted to meet him and share a conversation with him and I was able to come through the NBA. (+)

🐱: Even though he wasn’t feeling the best he made time to meet. During that mtg Snooze was almost complete & I asked Mr. Sakamoto if it’s okay with him… if he’s able to… would he be able to join by playing piano & he graciously accepted. He was a teacher I really respected.(+)

👤: How was it like working with him?
🐱: I thought that he was a really great elder. Even though he was older, he’s older than my father, his mind/thoughts didn’t seem like it at all. (+)

🐱: I had met him for the first time, but it felt like I had known him for a while. I was really happy while we were sharing a conversation.
👤: What do you do on your off days?
🐱: I don’t really do much on my off days… (+)

👤: Do you just lounge around?
🐱: Yeah so the night before I have a day off, I drink alcohol, so I kind of just lay around
👤: Do you like whisky or sake?
🐱: I like whisky a lot, I like Japanese whisky a lot. But it’s gotten so expensive… (+)

👤: You drank during the concert?
🐱: Before I go on stage for my concerts, I have a shot of whisky with the band. And on the stage…
👤: To get rid of your nerves?(+)

🐱: Yes, and each person is different, but for me alcohol doesn’t affect my voice or anything, but my tension [on stage] goes up, and your body has to be warm to help your throat so I can drink during concerts.

👤: Do we have any whisky right now we can drink?
🐱: That sounds good to me
👤: What would you be doing if you weren’t BTS SUGA?
🐱: Before I debuted, I worked as an engineer and composer, so if I didn’t debut I think thats what I would be doing. (+)

👤: Do you like to drink when you’re creating music?
🐱: Yes, but if I drink too much I get a headache and I’m not able to create well. (+)

🐱: When I’m creating music I like to make the vibe that we’re hanging out instead of working so the lyrics or melody I tend to stress over the most but when I’m making the beat with the team, I drink beer. (+)

👤: Your fans got emotional when thanking you earlier (+)

🐱: Yeah, seeing the fans that were about to cry makes my heart hurt. I want to come frequently and do more concerts but unfortunately I can only do three. The next time I come, as a group of seven, I’ll look forward to doing a tour here.