What happens when you put three emerging Asian American musicians (from Boston, New York City, and Los Angeles respectively) in a group together? A musical force to be reckoned – Aziatix (Eddie Shin, Jay “Flowsik” Pak, and Nicky Lee) presents themselves as a refreshing entry into the music industry with a unique blend of r&b/soul, pop, and hip-hop. The Korean American trio, Aziatix is quickly gaining more recognition through their EP, “Awakening”, which has made it onto the top of the iTunes charts in the U.S., Japan.
They may all look intimidating as they all exude cool personas, but after a few questions, they’re just your normal, down-to-earth guys who love good music and won’t lose sight of their roots. Click more for our interview with them!
Courtesy of www.aziatix.com
AM: I can’t seem to pinpoint what type of music you guys are producing. It seems to be pop, hip-hop, and a little bit of dance all into one. How would you guys, as a group, describe the type of music that you guys create?
Eddie: Good music is good music no matter what genre it is. I feel like our music has a fusion element and that’s really what makes our music interesting.
AM: The song “Radio” is about how music these days only seem to be about money and sex. What sort of music do you, as a group, want to put out and what kind of message do you guys want to represent and exude?
Aziatix: We used “Radio” as sort of a metaphor to express how we wanted to take responsibility as role models, and to use our influence as artists for positivity.
AM: Who are your favorite music artists, who are currently alive and why? Do you see yourselves collaborating with them in the future?
Eddie: All-time? Babyface. Can’t get much better than Babyface as a singer-songwriter and yeah, I’d love to be able to collaborate with him in the future.
Flow: There are so many artists that I like because every artist offers something different. I would love to collaborate with Lady Gaga. I believe she is a true artist, (because she is) painting a picture the way she wants to paint it.
Nicky: Hopefully one day I can collaborate with Usher, Drake, Lil Wayne, David Guetta…the list goes on and on…
AM: I’m sure you guys have performed in many different cities, but which city is your favorite to perform in and why?
Eddie: I’d say Boston. It was awesome going back to where I was born and being able to perform there.
Flowsik: New York. Get to visit familiar places, see my family, eat my mom’s cooking, and see the place that helped raise me to become who I am today.
Nicky: My hometown LA. Always good to perform then go back home and lay in my own bed at night.
AM: What are some of the things each of you guys like to do when you’re not creating and performing music? Any hobbies?
Eddie: I love playing basketball. (During) Most of my off time, you can bet I’m playing basketball somewhere.
Flowsik: I just like going outside, moving around, that’s where my inspiration comes from. I need to constantly be doing something; it’s the environment and my surroundings that generate new ideas as an artist. I also enjoy fishing!
Nicky: I like finding good places to eat – that’s where my belly comes from. I love food, haha.
AM: NBA playoffs are going on right now, which team are you rooting for or was rooting for?
Eddie: Celtics. Hopefully it can be a Spurs-Celtics finals. The old guards last ride.
Flowsik: OKC! Durant and Westbrook all diddayy.
Nicky: I’m gonna have to go with Flowsik and root for OKC as well. It’s too bad the Lakers are out!
AM: You guys seem to have unique styles of your own when it comes to clothes, accessories, and hair; can each of you describe what your style is? Who do you guys, as individuals, look up to and try to emulate, style wise, and why?
Eddie: I’m very particular with the fit of my clothes. I also usually like to keep it colorless, and rarely wear colorful clothes.
Flowsik: I believe that I am a unique, one of a kind individual. I would like my clothing to match that, from assorted colors to different sophisticated styles.
Nicky: You can never go wrong with black. I got a hundred black t-shirts.
AM: Who’s the hopeless romantic, the “mom,” and the H.A.M. in the group?
Eddie: What’s the H.A.M? I don’t know if I’m any of the three. All I know is that Nicky’s the mom for sure.
Flowsik: I want a girlfriend.
Nicky: Eddie’s the H.A.M., even though he doesn’t know what that means, haha.
Am: I’m sure a lot of girls throw themselves at you wherever you go, but what kind of women do you go for?
Eddie: I would like a girl to have a nice smile. Someone positive that’s really gentle and thoughtful.
Nicky: A girl that loves me for me. Not because of my occupation, that I’m on television, or for my sexy body – kidding on the last one!
AM: What do your family and friends think about your career and your fame?
Eddie: They’re always supportive. They don’t treat me any differently than from before.
Flowsik: My family seems to be very happy. They always knew I wouldn’t give up my passion, and they always believed in me, which is why they never prevented me from stopping. My friends as well, always believed in me, and I am very grateful.
Nicky: Always supportive. They are my biggest fans, keep me grounded, and a big blessing in my life.
AM: For our “Funniest Advice My Mother has Ever Given Me” blog series, can each of you tell us what the funniest advice your mothers have given you?
Eddie: When I started making music, she used to say, “You don’t have the look. You need longer hair.”
Flowsik: “Stop writing lyrics during class.” I get the most creative with music when I was in school.
Nicky: “Your hair is too short – maybe you should grow it out like EDDIE!” (Hahaha!)
From their new EP Awakening: catch their videos “If I Saw You Again” and “Radio”!
To find out more about Aziatix, visit them at www.Aziatix.com.
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Not only Eddie, what is H.A.M. anyway.
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