Q&A: Blush

Is being famous all you dreamed it would be?
Angeli: I’ve always dreamed of being famous and well known, but you know when you’re onstage and singing for people, it’s so different. I feel so free…The first time I performed with Blush in front of so many people, it was like, ‘Oh my gosh’. I used to [just] be singing in my room and now all of these people are watching me sing, so it was really ‘wow’.

Victoria: You know, we are really not ‘famous’. I hope we will be able to do something good like maybe help charities, pay for some colleges and really stand up for some people who don’t have a voice. We are not quite there yet, but one step of a time.

Ji Hae, after getting a law degree, what made you want to get into performing and singing when you already had such a bright future?
Ji Hae: I majored in law but honestly, in my mind I always wanted to sing. My parents were not happy about that. I couldn’t give up my dreams, so I tried again and again. I kept the Blush audition a secret. But now my parents are so happy.

Not many Asian singers or bands have made it big in the West. Does this worry you?
Alisha: Well there are a few, like Charice, who have made it to the West. I guess [as far as] groups go, I haven’t heard of any other pan-Asian bands. Wonder Girls are amazing and have major hit songs and are known around the world, but they are all [South] Korean and maybe it limits their market. We are all pan-Asian, so we’re hoping that the diversity of the Asian cultures within our group will come through.

Victoria: I think we are not going to worry too much, just work hard and focus on where we are going, our goals and just enjoy every step of the way to see where it takes us. We will enjoy the ride until we reach our destination.

This might be a tricky one to answer: Who would you back in a fight between Lady Gaga and Madonna?
All: Woooowww…

Victoria: Can I split myself in half? I can’t decide, I’ll back both of them.

Alisha: It depends what Lady Gaga wears. Maybe if she is [dressed in] an egg.

Natsuko: I like Lady Gaga, but Madonna is my idol. Since I was little I’ve been listening to Madonna, so… Madonna.

Does it bother you to be compared to other talent-show stars like the Pussycat Dolls and Spice Girls?
Alisha: It’s a great compliment to even be compared. They are at the top of their game. I was just going to say how we try to take things positively, so instead of being nervous we are more motivated, and encouraged to work and work and work.
Victoria: Even though the Pussycat Dolls are from the same country, they each have different personalities. For us we have our cultures and countries. It really is a great honour just to be compared to them. We want to go in another direction than they have.

Would you compare yourselves to any other Asian bands? Ji Hae, if you were compared to a band member from Girls’ Generation [also from South Korea], how would you react?
Ji Hae: I would want to know about their journey and learn from them.

Victoria: In the music industry we might say that we regard them as our competition, but actually we can work together.

Ji Hae: We can talk especially about how [as Asians] we can become stronger together.

I heard that you will be performing on So You Think You Can Dance. Are you looking forward to that?
Natsuko: It’s my and my mum’s favourite television show, and back home we always watch it and say things like, ‘This part is bad’, or ‘This part is good’. Now we get to be performers on the same TV show.

Angeli: I hope we can make them blush and dance.

Natsuko: Yes, and at the same time the audience is really good at watching good dancers, so we should really work on our dance skills.

Blush’s single, ‘Undivided’, featuring Snoop Dogg, is out now. Go to www.blushband.com for a free download.