Paul Nakayama says long-distance dating can be A-OK. Guest columnist Far East Movement see things a little bit differently.
ISSUE: Summer 2010
DEPT: The Awful Truth
STORY: Paul Nakayama and Far East Movement
PAUL SAYS
Whenever I go to karaoke (which is far too often for someone my age) I’m reminded of one of my personal greatest weaknesses — I can’t rap for spit, not even the easy Sesame Street ones meant for toddlers. I was always convinced that if I could just overcome this one hurdle, I would be surrounded by dozens of googly-eyed girlfriend candidates drawn to the masculine rhythms of rap as opposed to my Glee show tunes. And so when I had a chance to hang out with the boys of Far East Movement (FM) and see all the love they got from the ladies, I was surprised to learn that they have love maladies of their own — the issues of dealing with long distances. It’s my job, then, to let them know how good they got it. Long distance is not so bad, and can even be the perfect litmus for a relationship.
If you take a glance at my dating portfolio, you’ll notice a couple of things, besides the fact that it can fit into a fortune cookie. One, my relationships were almost all long term, and two, they almost all transitioned into long-distance relationships. Now, most of you would probably interpret this to mean that my girlfriends were forced to move to another state or country to escape my grasp, and some of you punks might be right. But my interpretation for this trend is that life is short and ever changing, and if you’re like FM, you’ve got to take to the road if you want to realize your ambitions. That means that in any relationship, there is a remarkable possibility of being separated by work or family or crazy 2012 earthquakes. This means, of course, that you either survive the distance or don’t. And me, well, I’m writing a relationship column while being almost monk-like single, so take a guess at my track record.
As painful and frustrating as long-distance relationships can be, I was always subconsciously drawn to them on some molecular level. My former roommate and I would have a running ritual whenever I traveled to another country. He’d say, “Don’t come back with a girlfriend!” I’d promise not to, even pinky swearing despite his homophobic protests, and yet a week later, I’d come home professing that I’d found love. I idealized these girls from Farawaynia, found everything to be marvelous and disregarded anything that resembled straitjackets. I’d fly home, thinking, “For her, I could do the whole long-distance thing.” But truth is, it never lasted very long or went beyond phone calls and IM chats that started and ended with “How was your day?” And why should it last? There was never a real connection strong enough to begin with that could sustain a relationship beyond the superficial.
Despite my failures with long-distance relationships and knowing logically that they’re unlikely to work, I’m still drawn to them … because of the “what ifs.” What if it did work? Would that make her The One? I hate drama as much as I hate mayonnaise or reality TV, but I suspect that I’m constantly finding myself in long-distance relationships because it’s the ultimate test. If you can survive living six hours apart, then you can survive petty arguments, jealousy and probably zombie attacks, because you will trust each other. I guess when I’ve been with a girl for a long time it’s good to know that we can survive anything, if we try. Of course, the problem is, most people I’ve dated didn’t really want to try. Hold on a sec while I wipe my tears with this here fiddle.
Now, the good news is, if the relationship is going to fail anyway, at least with a long-distance relationship you’ve got plenty of free time to do the things you want to do. I went out with my friends if I wanted. I’d spend Friday nights playing hours and hours of video games in my underwear while I stuffed my face full of Red Vines and drank eight liters of Mountain Dew. I’d dance along with America’s Best Dance Crew while eating out of a bucket of fried chicken. I’d choose to watch Bruckheimer over effing Nicholas Sparks. But, if we were living together and the relationship still went sour, well, then I suffered Letters to Juliet for absolutely nothing, and my soul would have a gaping hole in it the shape of a vagina. Yes, I know. Nicholas Sparks brings out the worst in me.
It’s hard being separated and making real relationships work. It takes more energy to send real love when you’re spanning hundreds of miles. But if you can survive it, then that’s good love right there, and that’s not something easily distilled. In my book, long distances aren’t necessarily non-starters for a relationship. Actually, in some ways, it’s a true starter because you have to really want it, and you’re forced to compromise to get the things that matter. And if you mess up, at least you’ve got a head start on running away or the time difference to think of an apology. There are worse things than being in love with someone on the other side of the planet … falling out of love with someone on the other side of the bed, for one. Hearing me rap is another.
FAR EAST MOVEMENT SAYS:
Tour life is a dream. You’re so removed from all immediate worries like bills, responsibilities and the general stress of everyday life. No one really knows you when you enter a city, and no one really knows you when you leave the next day. It’s just you and your best friends, going to new places, seeing new things and creating new memories. Life on the road is all we really know so when it comes to romance and relationships, what we know is quick and from a distance. A few of us have had long relationships with girls we might have loved or maybe still do, but keeping those relationships might be harder for us than getting a hit song on the radio.
Over the years we’ve learned good women need good attention, and good intentions don’t take the place of immediate action. We’re going to keep names out of this because we value our privacy, but we can each give examples from our lives for days on end. We’ll tell a few stories, so you know what we’re talking about.
One of us had a girl he wanted to ultimately marry. His mission was to do anything he could to be successful in the music business. He wanted the chance to be able to take care of her for the rest of her life. Extra late nights at the studio, months on tour, and all the hard work were motivated by wanting to take care of this girl and create a family. In the end, however, great intentions don’t make up for being around for things like cooking dinner or the holidays. Slowly that relationship turned to resentment and eventually died. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make up for lost time. Buying a stuffed animal in every city stop or staying faithful through any temptation don’t counter the feelings a girl gets when her man is away.
Then there’s the flipside to this in FM. One of us has been able to keep a great relationship going like a Duracell battery. For a relationship to last with careers like ours, it takes two people that understand each other better than they understand the English language. This understanding is what allows for crazy trust, which will get you through the lowest, darkest times. We’re constantly away for months, but as soon as we step off the plane in L.A., she’s there to pick us up. Immediately, they chat like he never left. A relationship like that gives us all hope, but to earn what they have, you’ve got to endure more turbulence than our last flight to Tokyo. It takes a strong man to stay true to his woman at a club across the country or overseas, but it takes a stronger woman to trust that man.
As touring artists, we know the single life oh so well. When we were younger, people would always suggest finding a girl quick. Once our careers took off, it would be impossible to find someone who could understand our schedule without having that history in place. Late-night recording sessions, impromptu meetings, booze-fueled shows at nightclubs, tours that last for months can all spell trouble for a budding relationship. In this lifestyle, you always catch yourself looking out the window of the tour bus for your own Penny Lane, like the character from Almost Famous; someone who enjoys freedom and is willing to accompany you on the road. But most girls that we’re drawn to usually have day jobs or school they can’t leave behind. And, besides, we can’t bring anyone with us on the road, because space is tight and limited only to people who own a meaningful role on the tour. But the single life doesn’t necessarily mean we are lonely when it comes to the ladies. We meet some extraordinary girls that sweep us off our feet. It just means we haven’t been able to build that thing called “love” into a relationship. Maybe the time just isn’t right yet.
We love what we do and wouldn’t trade it for the world. Over the next few years, finding a balance between our dreams and our relationships will be essential to keep us inspired and movin’ like a Movement. We have a saying that we, the Far East Movement, are “Free Wired” … and we need girls who are the same. A “Free Wired” girl is supremely comfortable to wild out and just be herself. She’s wired not because she parties all night, but because she’s able to stay connected to us. Her communication skills are off the hook. It’s a free and full exchange in getting to know one another. If you run across one of us someday and want to get to know us, live free and stay wired.
Poreotics (top) and GRV (bottom) killing it out there.
This Sunday, January 30th, get ready for the hottest hip-hop competition in Southern California! Lambda Theta Delta is holding its 16th annual VIBE dance competition in Irvine to showcase only the best hip-hop teams in the West Coast. VIBE has staged some of the most recognized stars, such as the Jabbawockeez, SickStep and Far East Movement. Once again, they’re bringing many fan favorites to the stage of Bren Events Center for an amazing show. This is the night to witness competing teams show off their best moves and exhibition teams demonstrate once again why they are “must-see” acts. Music by some of YouTube’s well-known artists will also be featured.
This year, twelve teams battle it out to win the title of VIBE XVI Champs, including four past champion teams, three new teams and five returning teams who hope that this may be their year. Choreo Cookies, who have swept most of the previous titles, Kaba Modern, who appeared on America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC) and who won first place in VIBE VIII to X, Team Millennia, VIBE XII and XIII champs and CADC, VIBE XIV winners are back again for some tough competition. The teams returning to fight for the title are Pac Modern, GRV, 220, Common Ground and NSU Modern. But experienced doesn’t always mean better; they better watch out for IV League, The Company and Super Galactic Beat Manipulators who are appearing on this stage as contenders for the first time.
KM Legacy at VIBE XV.
Aside from some intense battle, VIBE is bringing in some well-respected groups, like KM Legacy, Kinjaz and Unity LA. In addition, some of the exhibition teams you may have seen on TV in shows like ABDC, but you have yet to see their acts live. These include Jungle Boogie, Boxcuttuhs and Poreotics (featuring Miniotics, their junior team). YouTube music stars are also coming together for a never-before-seen collaboration. Look out for Dumbfoundead, the Korean American rapper from Los Angeles who may be best known for his rap battles and viral hits, Jason Yang, a growing sensation on YouTube for his mastery in the acoustic and electric violin, and Victor Kim, known not only for his membership on Quest Crew but also for his musical talents.
Choreo Cookies receiving the title of VIBE XV Champions. (Photos courtesy of Tikko Studios Photography)
Don’t miss out! Pre-sale tickets are $25 and they can be purchased through (1) the Bren Event Center Box Office: 949-824-5000, (2) any Lambda Theta Delta representative, or (3) ticketmaster.com. Follow VIBE on twitter and facebook @VIBEdancecomp as well for live updates and a chance to win free tickets! A portion of their sales will be donated to a local charity.
DETAILS
Date: Sunday, January 30, 2011
Time: Doors open at 5 pm; Show starts at 6 pm
Venue: UC Irvine’s Bren Events Center
901 Mesa Road, Irvine, CA 92612
Cost: $25 pre-order; $30 at-the-door
Far East Movement’s hit, Like A G6 has been blowing up everywhere! The catchy single is off the electro-hip hop –dance- rap quartet’s first album Free Wired, with major recording giant, Cherrytree/Interscope record label.
Most main-stream music lovers might assume Far East Movement’s (aka FM’s) only other hit was party anthem, Girls on the Dance Floor but us in-the-know peeps understand that this group, with original members Chinese/Japanese-American Kev Nish, Koreans Prohgress and J-Splif and the most recently added Filipino DJ Virman, have been around for a long time, paving the way for Asian American musicians everywhere.
To celebrate FM’s recent success on the charts, (#1 on iTunes chart and peaked at #2 on Billboard 100 last week!) we’re taking it back old school and introducing you to some of our other favorite FM jams.
Round and Round by Far East Movement & Storm (2006)
Part of the soundtrack for The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, this upbeat tune had just one message: to never stop having fun. The mixture of Storm’s higher pitch in the chorus and FM’s playful rap makes this an enjoyable listen.
Folk Music by Far East Movement (2006)
The title of this song definitely raises doubts in our minds. Folk music reminds me of cultural happy tunes with a basic instrumental arrangement; nothing mainstream. What FM means by folk music is definitely not as I described. Instead, they mean that this is a song for their folks, who they referred to as ‘homies’ and ‘homeboys’. This track is rapped throughout, but it has a really chill attitude.
Dance Like Michael Jackson by Far East Movement (2008)
It’s awesome that they honored the legendary Michael Jackson here. Different aspects of MJ can definitely be picked up, such as in the lyrics “man in the mirror” and “black or white.” Since this song is influenced by Michael Jackson, it’s not a wonder that you feel like getting up and grooving to the beat. The video is equally entertaining because it features the ultra-talented Quest Crew.
Fetish by Fast East Movement (2008)
I love the feel and beat of this song. The main tune of this track is relatively simple, but the distinctive musical phrase that you hear throughout the song in the background keeps it catchy. It definitely fits the party/clubbing theme of songs that are making the top hits recently. FM plays with stuttering in their vocals, such as ‘fe-fetish in these jeans’, a feature that seems to be increasingly prevalent.
3D by Far East Movement & Bruno Mars (2008)
This song is actually Bruno Mars’s first musical appearance as a singer. Who knew that the two fastest rising artists of these months had collaborated before? Once again, FM seems to use terms that bring up questions. What exactly is a 3D girl? Nonetheless, this collaboration is the perfect mix, blending Bruno Mars’s soulful voice and FM’s slurred phrasing to create this alluring track.
To check out more of Far East Movement’s tour schedule and music, click here.
Far East Movement’s (FM) Kevin Nishimura, also known as Kev Nish, said it best last Sunday, September 6, at the JCPenney presents International Secret Agents Concert in Cerritos, Calif.: “This [concert] is about following your dreams and following your dreams to represent a community, our community.”
Already in its third year, the International Secret Agents (ISA) concert has become a gateway to building and making dreams come true for many hopeful Asian American artists. The show was a successful collaboration created by two visionary artist groups — Wong Fu Productions and Far East Movement — that truly illustrated the potential of many rising Asian American musicians, singers, filmmakers, comedians and dancers. This year’s ISA hosted not one, but two concerts — in New York and L.A.
This was my first time attending one of the ISA concerts and let me tell you, the night was full of such great energy! It was truly a night dedicated to putting Asian American faces and personalities on stage.
Luckily, although I was running a bit late (as usual … horrible!), I got a chance to catch up with both the creators of ISA.
“ISA will bring the fans what they want, and allow these artists to extend their reach beyond their regular fan bases. This year is going to be historic,” said FM member James “Prohgress” Roh.
Wesley Chan, Ted Fu and Philip Wang of filmmaking group Wong Fu Productions also shared the same sentiment. Started in 2003 by Chan, Fu and Wang at UC San Diego, Wong Fu Productions has become an Internet sensation with 30 million viewers on their YouTube channel.
- The guys behind Wong Fu Productions.
“The internet is how we were able to reach our fans on a global scale,” said Wang. “With ISA concerts, our fans get to meet us and the artists that we work with on a more personal local level. And to have ISA in both L.A. and New York is going to be amazing. The last three sold-out shows were all in California and fans were asking us to bring ISA to the East Coast. That’s why we decided to bring it to New York City — because the fans demanded it.”
This year’s glamorous event was nothing but a success, with famous YouTube stars Ryan Higa and Kevin Wu hosting the event along with dance starlet Lydia Paek of Quest Dance Crew … all sporting fall fashions from JCPenney!
Kevin Wu, more popularly known as KevJumba on YouTube, said the cast had just gotten back from New York. He explained that although they were tired, they were ready to start ISA LA with lots of energy and high-spirits. Wu had said that ISA LA had given the artists a chance to reunite again and see their friends one more time. “It’s like a reunion and it’s been nothing but great,” said Wu.
To his viewers’ delight, Wu has even more exciting news as he and his father have been announced as the new contestants on CBS’s The Amazing Race. He said he is nervous but excited for the show.
Poreotics Dance Crew, fresh from a win on MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew" to the ISA stage.
The line-up included the darling AJ Raphael (singer/songwriter with 200,000 YouTube subscribers), bohemian princess Alyssa Bernal (Interscope recording artist with 300,000 YouTube subscribers), and America’s Best Dance Crew Season 5 champs Poreotics. Surprise guests included my fellow anteater and YouTube queen Jennifer Chung who was spotted in the audience, the ever-funny man Danny Cho, dreamy YouTube singer David Choi, Andrew Garcia, America’s Best Dance Crew Season 3 champions Quest Crew, and even Nick Cannon! (Since when did he become Asian?)
But perhaps the two most anticipated performers of the night was none other than FM and South Korea’s former 2PM music band member Jay Park (Park Jay Beom).
This was Park’s first live performance since leaving the Korean stage. He will be debuting his new album on September 24. His performance was different from his pop 2PM days as his single, “Demon,” is a powerful song full of poised beat and rhythm. FM’s “Girls on the Dance Floor” just debuted as the #12 most purchased on iTunes Chart. As they hip-hopped their way to the stage wearing their signature sunglasses of funk, “Fly Like a G6” bumped up in the speakers, and all the young girls had rushed to the stage in an instant.
Perhaps, one of the luckiest girls of the night was Ted Fu’s girlfriend … or should we say fiancé. At the ISA New York concert, Fu had announced his engagement to girlfriend Katie of two and a half years and Wong Fu definitely played up Ted’s proposal throughout the L.A. concert, even showing off a hilarious last-minute new short vying to be Ted’s best man.
Some of the ISA fans.
Overall, I was amazed by the power and passion of these artists and moreover, their message. It was inspiring to see such a show dedicated to the appreciation and cultivation of our Asian heritage and cultural roots. FM’s Kev Nish said that it was “important to stay in touch with your community and it was important to have fun while doing it.” They were proud to have worked with Wong Fu Productions and are extremely humbled by the growth of ISA over the last three years. Hopefully with the growth of ISA, Americans can continue to support the evolution of Asian Americans in media and film. As Nish said, “No longer are Asian American artists going to be labeled as Asian American artists, but as simply artists who produce good quality music.”
And the event proved just that, straight from the hearts of artists pursuing their dreams.
Photos thanks to Jenny Lee.
Editor’s note: Assistant Editor Janice Jann also attended the ISA concert and wrote her own thoughts on the concert here.
ISSUE: SUMMER 2010
DEPT: Feature Story
STORY: Paul Nakayama
Hip-Hop Groundswell
Far East Moment is tirelessly trying to bring their brand of hip-hop and electronic music to the masses from the group up — and it’s working.
Far East Movement. Photo by Paul Sun/The Social Trust.
It was a fortunate coincidence that brought me to Tokyo the same week that Far East Movement (FM) was opening for Lady Gaga during the Japan leg of her world tour. The group members were kind enough to offer tickets to the show. As they hit the stage in LED-illuminated astronaut helmets, the crowd went from warm to wild for FM’s unique and infectious dance blend of hip-hop and electronica. I stood up and looked around the enormous Yokohama Arena. It was a proud moment to see these Los Angeles natives performing to a sold-out show on the other side of the world. Just last year, I danced whenever I heard their single in a club. “This is my jam,” I told my friends. Never mind that my song was “Girls on the Dance Floor.”
It’s 2 a.m. in a back-alley bar in Shibuya, Tokyo. I’m sipping on cheap whisky as a permanent cloud of cigarette smoke looms over us. I’m with FM and their producers, the Stereotypes, as we celebrate the last night of the tour. There’s a lot of chatter, because just an hour earlier, they had to evacuate their hotel due to a ruptured gas line. In the corner, a woman is passed out with a dog in her lap. Our bartender spontaneously decides to take off his clothes and spin on a stripper pole that magically appears. This interview starts rolling against the chaotic backdrop of Tokyo by night. Witnessing FM’s old-fashioned hard work inspired me to dig deeper with Kev Nish, Prohgress, J-Splif and DJ Virman. You see, just four hours earlier, I saw them hustling outside the Arena, converting a sea of Lady Gaga lookalikes into new fans, and I needed to hear their story.
***
The original group began as friends in high school practicing rhymes in the parking lot after school and work. I mention under my breath that I once learned all the words to “Ice Ice Baby,” but that’s like telling Mariah Carey that you can sing in the shower, so I shut the hell up. Unlike me, they’ve all had a strong connection to music since childhood.
Kev Nish, born Kevin Nishimura, taught himself how to play the guitar by ear. But lacking a singing voice, he turned his attention to rap. Later, he worked as a valet, parking cars in Seattle, and used the long downtimes to listen to the radio and write rhymes against those beats. James “Prohgress” Roh grew up with parents who were both musicians. He hated classical piano in his youth, vowing never to be involved in music. Ironically, he dropped out of law school to pursue a music career against his parents’ initial wishes, later returning for his degree. Jae “J-Splif” Choung also didn’t enjoy the prerequisite Asian piano lessons, but he did love rap and recalls spending time in high school freestyling with Prohgress, using the beats from songs like “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” by Puff Daddy and Mase. DJ Virman, who joined the group in 2007 and was previously a deejay for L.A. radio station Power 106, also grew up with musician parents.
I used to practice hip-hop dance moves in the parking lot with my high school friends, but you don’t see me on “So You Think You Can Dance.” The difference being, of course, that FM has talent whereas I was banned from doing the “Kid ‘n Play” for all the shin injuries I caused.
They made a clear choice to dedicate themselves to a life of music when they had an opportunity to present a mixtape to an A&R manager at Arista. Nish dropped a class the day before the final exam, despite having an “A,” to make time for an all-night recording session. The result was their first album. “Our demo CD was so terrible, but we thought it was the truth,” Nish recalls. Arista never signed them, but they decided it was time to form an official group.
The Far East Movement initially started out as Emcee’s Anonymous, which was an effort to divert focus on to their talent rather than their race. “We wanted that mysterious effect where you couldn’t tell what race we were. You just listened to the music, and you can’t tell,” says Nish.
Talent wasn’t enough, and they felt the pressure of the Asian community. “The community at the time wanted us to say something in our music, talk about Asian issues,” says Nish, a fourth-generation American of Japanese and Chinese descent. “But we’re American, like McDonald’s. We listened to Tupac and Power 106, and that’s the kind of music we wanted to make, stuff about partying or ‘going back to Cali.’ But we still felt the need to represent. So we figured why not call ourselves the Far East Movement and f—k the haters. Now that we were representing with a name so strong, we were free to write about whatever we wanted. No pressure to have to say anything.”
The name itself came from one of the group’s original demo tracks. “‘The Far East Movement’ was a song about a new school mentality, an international lifestyle, street wear, hip-hop, racing. Everything we were into, we put into that song,” Nish explains.
Splif quickly adds: “The song was terrible though.” And everyone nods and laughs. “One of the biggest things we set out to do was put another dimension to the Asian American face in the industry,” Splif continues. “And maybe be the first Asian American group to win a Grammy.” He smiles with a slight wink.
They began their career as most artists do, by passing out demo CDs and flyers to shows. (“You know how effective that is,” Nish interjects.) But in 2005, they made a bold move to organize and produce Movementality, a charity hip-hop show benefiting a Koreatown drug rehab center, which sold out. By 2006, they released their first album, and gained the attention of filmmaker Justin Lin. Their first single “Round Round” was featured in Lin’s 2006 The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. In 2007, they had their first radio hit with “You’ve Got a Friend” featuring Baby Bash and Lil’ Rob.
Despite these successes, they hit a wall. “We didn’t know how to link that radio hit to other songs or our branding,” says Nish. “We met with all the labels, ’cause they wanted to know who had this hit song, but they wouldn’t sign us.”
Prohgress remembers going through some tough times as a result. “We had a lot of highs and lows over the last seven years. We would all go full-time at this music thing with nothing materializing, go flat broke and have to end up working jobs or going back to school,” he says.
Realizing they needed to find their true radio sound, they began to hit the clubs hard and performed at every venue they could find. With Virman mixing high-energy dance tracks for them, they began to find their groove. This led to meeting the Stereotypes at a show, and at their first recording session, they created “Girls on the Dance Floor,” which would become their breakout hit and lead-in to their deal with Interscope subsdiary, Cherrytree Records. They’re now recognized as one of the 25 best new bands by MTV Iggy and one of the 25 must-see acts at Bamboozle.
***
If anyone knows what’s happening on the Internet, it’s the guys of FM. Sifting through the stream of activity on their website, Facebook and Twitter, you can tell they’re bigger proponents of the Internet than the porn industry. In fact, the adult industry could learn a thing or two about viral marketing from these guys. At their Gaga show, they blogged live and hosted a chatroom from backstage immediately after their set. Splif admits, “We wouldn’t be here if not for the Internet, or it would have taken us a lot longer to get where we are. When Myspace launched, it all changed. It opened our eyes to what was out there. Before that, we were just bedroom MCs.”
The natural question that comes to mind when talking about the Internet and music is the fear of piracy. But FM isn’t concerned. “Anybody that we can get to hear our songs, we’re for it. We’ve been giving out free mixtapes for years. If you want a CD, please, go ahead and take it. Upload it to your computer and give it to your homie,” says Prohgress. “A lot of our fans were born in the ’90s and they’ve never paid for music in their life, so you have to accept it and figure out how to adapt. On the other hand, too, you can find all kinds of new music easier now. Just go on YouTube and browse for hours.”
It’s clearly all about networking and reaching out to the audience at large. “Kev’s always been in customer service for a long time, so back when Myspace started he was all about making sure that we talked directly to everyone that added us as a friend or sent a message,” says Prohgress “Splif would go through hundreds of requests a day personally and write back. And you know, we got shows like that.”
It’s amazing the pace they keep. They’re not just hyperactively networking on the Net, but they maintain the same stride with performing at clubs, label meetings, meet-and-greets, and the list goes on. They slept maybe two hours every night in Tokyo. I found myself poking Prohgress in the arm at one club just to make sure he wasn’t a cyborg from the future disguised as a rapper. I was sure that he was secretly hunting John Connor. My skepticism was rewarded with a tequila shot. But I had to know their secret. If we could harness their energy, I’m convinced nations could be saved. No one can work this much, I thought. How do they unwind or recharge? I asked. I was met with confusion.
“Unwind? What does that mean?” Prohgress asks. “I mean, we sleep. That’s about it. But, every moment you’re not working, someone else is working.”
Splif jumps in, “We just gotta keep going, man. Outta sight, outta mind. New acts are always catching up, and we still haven’t finished our own catching up.” Splif is amped up, like a boxer before a fight.
Prohgress pounds his fists on the table and continues. “Besides, this sh—t is fun. Why wouldn’t I want to spend the next minute editing a video or writing a new song? People tell us, ‘You’re too intense. Let go.’ And I’m like, ‘Why? This is what we love to do.’”
I’m glad by this point that these guys have never met my mother. I’m absolutely certain that she would ask me why I couldn’t be more like them and have their work ethic. When asked what advice they can give to upcoming artists, they unanimously agreed that hard work and being humble were the two most important things. But as I listened to them talk and joke with each other, another thought came to mind. You need your friends.
Prohgress agrees. “We met a lot of people that have supported us and helped us,” he says. “Others lost faith and disappeared on us. And at the end you kind of see who’s left after all the wars and the rubble. And that’s when you know you have the people around you that are right. We’re still gonna see a lot of rough patches, but one thing’s for sure, we’re still gonna see the same faces around us.”
Asking more about industry friends, it surprised me to hear that there are a lot of unselfish givers in music, and that’s something FM is hoping to give back. Radio favorites LMFAO brought FM, the only unsigned act, to the Party Rock Tour, even offering mentoring. LMFAO, in turn, was mentored by the Black Eyed Peas. It’s all about paying it forward, they say.
This sense of brotherhood is a strong internal motivator in FM. “Growing up as an only child, these are my brothers. So, I can’t get lazy one day and watch TV, ’cause I know these guys are still busting their asses. I gotta get up and pull my weight,” says Prohgress.
What else motivates you? I ask. Splif jumps in with a characteristic response, “The fear of going broke.” Everyone laughs, but he gets serious. “No, but that’s some real sh—t. We’ve been there, and this is all we got. If not this, what else am I gonna do?”
Nish agrees but adds, “Being big fans of music motivates us, too. This is a job we love more than anything.”
Asking what the Far East Movement is up to next is like looking at the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue: they’ve both got everything going on. The group is hard at work on their next album, which is slated for a fall release. They’re once again collaborating with the Stereotypes, as well as Snoop Dogg, Lil Jon and Bruno Mars. Far East Movement also has numerous tour dates through the year, including their own International Secret Agents Show. You can catch their weekly radio show, the Cherry Bomb, on their website. In fact, just check out fareastmovement.com or follow them on Twitter @fareastmovement, because you’ll want to keep this FM on your dial.
Don't miss out on our Summer issue, out now!
Get Audrey Magazine’s Summer 2010 issue, available now!
* Easy summer hair and skin
* Fashion gets graphic with slashes, cut-outs and scribbles
* Jeannie Mai of E! Style’s How Do I Look and Extra
* Shoe designer Jinny Kim
* Comedian Steve Byrne
* Hip-hop/electronic band Far East Movement
* The Asian American dance phenomenon, including Jabbawockeez, Kaba Modern, and Asako Hara
* Plus fashion, beauty, entertaining, travel and more!
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ISSUE: Summer 2010
DEPT: THE AWFUL TRUTH
GOING THE DISTANCE
Paul Nakayama says long-distance dating can be A-OK. Guest columnist Far East Movement sees things a little bit differently.
Far East Movement. Photo by Paul Sun/The Social Trust.
PAUL SAYS
Whenever I go to karaoke (which is far too often for someone my age) I’m reminded of one of my personal greatest weaknesses — I can’t rap for spit, not even the easy Sesame Street ones meant for toddlers. I was always convinced that if I could just overcome this one hurdle, I would be surrounded by dozens of googly-eyed girlfriend candidates drawn to the masculine rhythms of rap as opposed to my Glee show tunes. And so when I had a chance to hang out with the boys of Far East Movement (FM) and see all the love they got from the ladies, I was surprised to learn that they have love maladies of their own — the issues of dealing with long distances. It’s my job, then, to let them know how good they got it. Long distance is not so bad, and can even be the perfect litmus for a relationship.
If you take a glance at my dating portfolio, you’ll notice a couple of things, besides the fact that it can fit into a fortune cookie. One, my relationships were almost all long term, and two, they almost all transitioned into long-distance relationships. Now, most of you would probably interpret this to mean that my girlfriends were forced to move to another state or country to escape my grasp, and some of you punks might be right. But my interpretation for this trend is that life is short and ever changing, and if you’re like FM, you’ve got to take to the road if you want to realize your ambitions. That means that in any relationship, there is a remarkable possibility of being separated by work or family or crazy 2012 earthquakes. This means, of course, that you either survive the distance or don’t. And me, well, I’m writing a relationship column while being almost monk-like single, so take a guess at my track record.
As painful and frustrating as long-distance relationships can be, I was always subconsciously drawn to them on some molecular level. My former roommate and I would have a running ritual whenever I traveled to another country. He’d say, “Don’t come back with a girlfriend!” I’d promise not to, even pinky swearing despite his homophobic protests, and yet a week later, I’d come home professing that I’d found love. I idealized these girls from Farawaynia, found everything to be marvelous and disregarded anything that resembled straitjackets. I’d fly home, thinking, “For her, I could do the whole long-distance thing.” But truth is, it never lasted very long or went beyond phone calls and IM chats that started and ended with “How was your day?” And why should it last? There was never a real connection strong enough to begin with that could sustain a relationship beyond the superficial.
Despite my failures with long-distance relationships and knowing logically that they’re unlikely to work, I’m still drawn to them … because of the “what ifs.” What if it did work? Would that make her The One? I hate drama as much as I hate mayonnaise or reality TV, but I suspect that I’m constantly finding myself in long-distance relationships because it’s the ultimate test. If you can survive living six hours apart, then you can survive petty arguments, jealousy and probably zombie attacks, because you will trust each other. I guess when I’ve been with a girl for a long time it’s good to know that we can survive anything, if we try. Of course, the problem is, most people I’ve dated didn’t really want to try. Hold on a sec while I wipe my tears with this here fiddle.
Now, the good news is, if the relationship is going to fail anyway, at least with a long-distance relationship you’ve got plenty of free time to do the things you want to do. I went out with my friends if I wanted. I’d spend Friday nights playing hours and hours of video games in my underwear while I stuffed my face full of Red Vines and drank eight liters of Mountain Dew. I’d dance along with America’s Best Dance Crew while eating out of a bucket of fried chicken. I’d choose to watch Bruckheimer over effing Nicholas Sparks. But, if we were living together and the relationship still went sour, well, then I suffered Letters to Juliet for absolutely nothing, and my soul would have a gaping hole in it the shape of a vagina. Yes, I know. Nicholas Sparks brings out the worst in me.
It’s hard being separated and making real relationships work. It takes more energy to send real love when you’re spanning hundreds of miles. But if you can survive it, then that’s good love right there, and that’s not something easily distilled. In my book, long distances aren’t necessarily non-starters for a relationship. Actually, in some ways, it’s a true starter because you have to really want it, and you’re forced to compromise to get the things that matter. And if you mess up, at least you’ve got a head start on running away or the time difference to think of an apology. There are worse things than being in love with someone on the other side of the planet … falling out of love with someone on the other side of the bed, for one. Hearing me rap is another.
FAR EAST MOVEMENT SAYS
Tour life is a dream. You’re so removed from all immediate worries like bills, responsibilities and the general stress of everyday life. No one really knows you when you enter a city, and no one really knows you when you leave the next day. It’s just you and your best friends, going to new places, seeing new things and creating new memories. Life on the road is all we really know so when it comes to romance and relationships, what we know is quick and from a distance. A few of us have had long relationships with girls we might have loved or maybe still do, but keeping those relationships might be harder for us than getting a hit song on the radio.
Over the years we’ve learned good women need good attention, and good intentions don’t take the place of immediate action. We’re going to keep names out of this because we value our privacy, but we can each give examples from our lives for days on end. We’ll tell a few stories, so you know what we’re talking about.
One of us had a girl he wanted to ultimately marry. His mission was to do anything he could to be successful in the music business. He wanted the chance to be able to take care of her for the rest of her life. Extra late nights at the studio, months on tour, and all the hard work were motivated by wanting to take care of this girl and create a family. In the end, however, great intentions don’t make up for being around for things like cooking dinner or the holidays. Slowly that relationship turned to resentment and eventually died. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make up for lost time. Buying a stuffed animal in every city stop or staying faithful through any temptation don’t counter the feelings a girl gets when her man is away.
Then there’s the flipside to this in FM. One of us has been able to keep a great relationship going like a Duracell battery. For a relationship to last with careers like ours, it takes two people that understand each other better than they understand the English language. This understanding is what allows for crazy trust, which will get you through the lowest, darkest times. We’re constantly away for months, but as soon as we step off the plane in L.A., she’s there to pick us up. Immediately, they chat like he never left. A relationship like that gives us all hope, but to earn what they have, you’ve got to endure more turbulence than our last flight to Tokyo. It takes a strong man to stay true to his woman at a club across the country or overseas, but it takes a stronger woman to trust that man.
As touring artists, we know the single life oh so well. When we were younger, people would always suggest finding a girl quick. Once our careers took off, it would be impossible to find someone who could understand our schedule without having that history in place. Late-night recording sessions, impromptu meetings, booze-fueled shows at nightclubs, tours that last for months can all spell trouble for a budding relationship. In this lifestyle, you always catch yourself looking out the window of the tour bus for your own Penny Lane, like the character from Almost Famous; someone who enjoys freedom and is willing to accompany you on the road. But most girls that we’re drawn to usually have day jobs or school they can’t leave behind. And, besides, we can’t bring anyone with us on the road, because space is tight and limited only to people who own a meaningful role on the tour. But the single life doesn’t necessarily mean we are lonely when it comes to the ladies. We meet some extraordinary girls that sweep us off our feet. It just means we haven’t been able to build that thing called “love” into a relationship. Maybe the time just isn’t right yet.
We love what we do and wouldn’t trade it for the world. Over the next few years, finding a balance between our dreams and our relationships will be essential to keep us inspired and movin’ like a Movement. We have a saying that we, the Far East Movement, are “Free Wired” … and we need girls who are the same. A “Free Wired” girl is supremely comfortable to wild out and just be herself. She’s wired not because she parties all night, but because she’s able to stay connected to us. Her communication skills are off the hook. It’s a free and full exchange in getting to know one another. If you run across one of us someday and want to get to know us, live free and stay wired.
Love Far East Movement? We sure do. Not only did Audrey writer (and Awful Truth columnist) Paul Nakayama get to hang out with the boys in Tokyo during their world tour with Lady Gaga (and lived to tell us about it), he got them to open up their hearts and spill their secrets about dating long distance in our Summer Issue‘s Awful Truth column.
Here, we give you a sneak peek of the goods:
Hip-Hop Groundswell by Paul Nakayama
Far East Moment is tirelessly trying to bring their brand of hip-hop and electronic music to the masses from the group up — and it’s working.
Far East Movement. Photo by Paul Sun/The Social Trust.
It was a fortunate coincidence that brought me to Tokyo the same week that Far East Movement (FM) was opening for Lady Gaga during the Japan leg of her world tour. The group members were kind enough to offer tickets to the show. As they hit the stage in LED-illuminated astronaut helmets, the crowd went from warm to wild for FM’s unique and infectious dance blend of hip-hop and electronica. I stood up and looked around the enormous Yokohama Arena. It was a proud moment to see these Los Angeles natives performing to a sold-out show on the other side of the world. Just last year, I danced whenever I heard their single in a club. “This is my jam,” I told my friends. Never mind that my song was “Girls on the Dance Floor.”
It’s 2 a.m. in a back-alley bar in Shibuya, Tokyo. I’m sipping on cheap whisky as a permanent cloud of cigarette smoke looms over us. I’m with FM and their producers, the Stereotypes, as we celebrate the last night of the tour. There’s a lot of chatter, because just an hour earlier, they had to evacuate their hotel due to a ruptured gas line. In the corner, a woman is passed out with a dog in her lap. Our bartender spontaneously decides to take off his clothes and spin on a stripper pole that magically appears. This interview starts rolling against the chaotic backdrop of Tokyo by night. Witnessing FM’s old-fashioned hard work inspired me to dig deeper with Kev Nish, Prohgress, J-Splif and DJ Virman. You see, just four hours earlier, I saw them hustling outside the Arena, converting a sea of Lady Gaga lookalikes into new fans, and I needed to hear their story.
Want to read more (and find out Far East Movement’s take on long distance relationships)? Get the inside story in our Summer 2010 issue, available here.
We’re full swing into APA Heritage Month, and there are celebrations in every major city in the U.S.
San Francisco is no exception; they’re holding their 6th annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration tomorrow, Saturday, May 15. So if you’re in the area, go check it out.
Little celebrants in traditional Asian costumes.
Organized by the nonprofit AsianWeek Foundation in cooperation with over 150 organizations in the local and Asian American community, the AHSC is the largest outdoor gathering of Asians in America! The festival features the usual fair fare: arts and crafts vendors, cultural displays, live performances, carnival rides, and plenty of yummy Asian eats.
The Asian Heritage Street Fair.
But here’s what else they’ve got you may not have expected: a J-Pop import car show, a kick-ass muay Thai kickboxing ring, a best dance crew contest, a mah jong area, and a balut eating contest!
Contenders to be the best AHSC dance crew.
Kickboxing exhibitions.
And this year, hip hop group Far East Movement will be performing live at the Celebration. (They’re opening for Lady Gaga on her world tour — check out our feature story on them in our Summer 2010 issue, out in early June!)
An ethnic costumes pageant shows off the beauty and diversity of Asian culture.
Members representing the Laotian American community.
The Celebration runs from the Civic Center in front of the Asian Art Museum, on Larkin and McAllister Streets, and leads up to the Little Saigon District. Scheduled programming begins at 11 and runs till 6, so get there early!
All proceeds from the Celebration are donated to local and national charities. For more info and a complete schedule of events (they’ve packed ‘em tight!), check out www.asianfairsf.com.
Food, arts and crafts galore!
Hone up on some Asian American children's books at the Celebration.
Did you know that up to 60% of API women experience intimate partner abuse or sexual abuse in their lifetime and are least likely to report it? That is an extraordinarily high percentage given that the national average is 33%.
Actress Sheetal Sheth.
Now, Asian American stars Sandra Oh, John Cho, Aaron Yoo, Lisa Ling, Leonardo Nam, Archie Kao, C.S. Lee, Joan Chen, Justin Chon, Far East Movement, Kaba Modern and more than 100 other members of the creative community will appear in a series of videos supporting the Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF), which provides a multi-lingual 24-hour call center, emergency shelter, transitional housing program, counseling services and various community outreach programs to address domestic violence. Hundreds of others contributed their time, experience and resources to produce the videos and help raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault.
