Winner's Song Mino's interview with The Star Magazine

Winner's Song Mino has got everything.  He has been a rapper known for his skills since his underground days and with his slender height and chiseled face, he recently went up on a fashion runway.  He who carries a fairy-like charm met with The Star's December photo shoot venue and even showed off his skill with words.

You told us that when you're cool, you're completely cool and when you break down, you definitely break down.  When are you the coolest and when do you loosen up?

- I've to say that I'm the coolest when I'm on stage because during those times I have to focus on the music.  I'm loosened up the most when my members tell me to.  I joke around a lot.  I imitate a lot of people such as Tazza's Kim Hye Su, Kim Soo Mi, a carbonated drink, and Kara's Heo Youngji. 

You were known since your underground days.  What are the differences you've felt about going on stage underground in the past and being on stage after becoming an idol?  

- The underground stages I did felt very different since the venues were of a smaller scale.  I also felt more nervous back then.  I was still young, I didn't have as much experience, and I was performing right in front of people.  There'll still be a lot more opportunities for me to gain experience but I'm really glad to be standing on a much bigger stage. 

Your fan base must have gotten more diverse and have a changed disposition.  What's different from your fans now and your fans then?

- There are many people who have continued their support for me since then.  Those people leaned a lot more to hip-hop.  I think the public's ears have changed a lot since then as well.  Many hip-hop songs are taking over the charts right now, right?  I get surprised by those things.  There are also those people who take care of my health.  They make sure to give me a lot of vitamins.

You did an interview once where you mentioned that you like receiving attention from the public.  Dok2 shows off his swag a lot through his cars, shoes, gold and all these kinds of things.  What kind of swag do you show off to catch the public's attention?

- I also like showing off my swag especially through items.  I use fancy phone cases and things like that.  From small items that people can't recognize, I like the expensive ones.

Members take part in a variety of activities depending on their looks, strong individuality, modelling, and such.  Is there a field that you would like to challenge?

- I want to challenge myself with drawing.  I want to hold an exhibition in the future as well.  Even as I say this, I don't read a lot of comics.  I watch a lot of animations.  I got into drawing just for fun. I think even during class I was drawing instead of studying.  Back then, I just did it for my own amusement.  My hobby became drawing caricatures but now I'm trying to learn using paint such as in oil painting and I'm currently trying to better myself in it.

From the self-composed songs you've presented, you seem to have a knack for writing lyrics.

- Whenever a thought comes to mind, whatever situation I'm in, I always write a memo of it onto my phone since it can later be included as a keyword or a wordplay in a new song.  Keeping memos is something I do on an everyday basis.  Every song doesn't take the same amount of time to finish.  The lyrics come to me quickly if the topic I'm writing about matches well with my experiences. I haven't experienced it yet but I would say it would take a very long time for me to write a song that I would have to imagine (instead of coming from my own experiences).

A line from one of your lyrics that you felt you wrote very well?

- There's a song called "Go Up".  Those lyrics were honestly my whole sincerity.  It's something I wrote from our current situation then.  I had thoughts that I wanted to go up together even during our battle between us.  

"I don't dream and I don't sleep.  Use success as collateral and sell your youth.  The glass pieces in your shoes leave a red mark behind with every step, right?  Even if you separate friendship in half, affection remains.  Even as we step on each other, let's push each other forward and point straight up with 110 fingers, go up!" 

Article: 'Winner's Song Mino, "I'm a man that likes to show off too." (Interview)'

Source: Star News via Naver

1. [+5546, -321]  He seems to be the most talented in Winner.

2. [+4244, -191]  I became Song Mino's fan after watching his cuts on Weekly Idol ㅋㅋㅋ Song Mino, fighting

3. [+4049, -254]  His collaboration with IU at MAMA was honestly the best.  How is it that they look so good together? ㅎㅎ I bet it'd be amazing if they collaborate again in the future

4. [+3728, -224]  I really think Song Mino is very handsome.  I hope Winner comes out with a new song again.  He really seems to rap very well.  They're rookies but they're very popular... I really think he's the best!

5. [+3516, -149]  "If you saw me when you were 18 years old" (TN: Mino's lyrics from Born Hater)

6. [+590, -27]  I personally like Mino's rapping style very much.  He can be emotional when he has to be and when he has to be strong... he goes off extremely strong.  His music colour is very relaxing to listen to as well so I don't get tired of it easily no matter how many times I repeat it.  As for his sense with his lyrics, I don't have to say anything else... Song Mino's a really amazing rapper.

7. [+472, -23]  I think he has a really good personality... ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Like in Winner TV

8. [+466, -21]  Song Mino's ever changing expressions ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ So adorable ㅋㅋ

9. [+448, -24]  I don't usually like YG's style of idols but after watching Winner's stage, I strangely started to fall for them and began wanting to watch their other stages........ after that I just fell in love ㅋ

10. [+428, -20] It's charming how Song Mino's fierce image and his actual personality are so different ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Mino! 

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