For all that K-Pop artists are burning up the charts and selling out arena tours all over the globe, the amount of publicly out LGBT K-Pop artists is still relatively low. But perhaps that is not so surprising when being LGBT is still pretty taboo in South Korea.
One artist who is shunning expectations and doing things his own way is MRSHLL. Not only is he dealing with South Korea’s opinions on being LGBT but he also comes from a religious background. So Loverboy sat down with MRSHLL to discuss his relationship with his parents, his songwriting and how getting ratchet now and then will always be important!
Hey MRSHLL, you’ve got new music coming out this Spring. We’re excited! What’s been the most important part of this journey for you so far?
Songwriting has been a huge part. Working on this project, I’ve realised there is no right way to write songs. You just go where it leads you. Sometimes I’ll have a dream or record a vague voice memo, then listen to it later. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this is gold!’ Other times it’s absolute shit! Haha…
When it comes to writing the music, I build things from scratch with a producer. It depends how I’m feeling. If I’m feeling happy, maybe we’ll start with something like a dancehall beat and build a song from there. It’s all very organic.
Do you write in Korean or English?
I write everything in English, then I work with a Korean lyricist to basically write a whole new set of lyrics, because translating work for word can turn a great song into a really shitty one!
What kind of music did you grow up on?
I grew up on the Britneys, the Christinas, the Mariahs, the Whitneys…I fucking love pop music.
Ok, but let’s be clear, Mariah and Britney are not in the same category! We feel very attacked! What about music now. Who are you listening to?
Right now French Kiwi Juice aka FKJ. He’s so incredible. He’s that kind of alt-RnB. There’s an artist called NAO that I really enjoy and Daniel Caesar, I mean…oh, and Sabrina Claudio – she is the best!
K-Pop is known for its ‘manufactured’ groups but you’re doing things your own way. How has that been for you?
I don’t think I could ever be manufactured. I mean, if Max Martin called me up, I’m down. But for me I just go with good music.
Do you think K-Pop is considered a fad?
I’d like not to think so. I think this is the first time that people are connecting with it on such a global scale. We are now at a point where people can be into artists singing in different languages and not know exactly what they are singing about. Plus the translations are readily online for them to access.
Your parents are very religious. How are they with you being gay?
Nowadays when we meet up we don’t discuss anything gay-related, just because the moments I have with them are so short that I don’t want to have any negativity. If I had someone serious to bring home then we’d have something to talk about. But at this point I’m not going to be regaling them with stories of my sexcapades.
Do they read your interviews?
I don’t think they do. For them, it’s ‘out of sight, out of mind.’ Unless some church-goer comes up to them and says ‘Guess what MRSHLL said the other day?’ Thankfully my parents rarely use social media…well, at least I don’t think they do! They never post anything…!
Having hardcore Christian parents and being one of the first K-Pop stars to ‘come out’ publicly, there’s a lot of material there. Are you sick of talking about it yet?
The thing is I appreciate the interest people have in my background, my past, where I came from. I’m asked about it a lot, which is fine! But if people are still asking the same thing next year, I’ll be like, ‘Babe, just go online and google the answer.’ I am a multi-faceted human being, I like to party, I like to be happy, sometimes I even like to get ratchet!
Last but not least, we are named after the infamous Mariah song ‘Loverboy.’ What is your favourite Mariah song?
Girl, I am a lamb too! I would probably say that Daydream or Butterfly are my ‘go to’ Mariah albums. Although that ‘Fly Like A Bird’ performance at The Grammys was maajor! I like Caution too. And it’s great because she is finally getting her dues as a songwriter.
And bonus round, what is happening with CL’s career?!
There’s still hope!
MRSHLL will be releasing more music this Spring.
Follow MRSHLL on Instagram & Twitter.
