EXCLUSIVE: BLACKSWAN on Roll Up, desi food, and Bollywood movies

October 2, 20248 Mins Read

It’s not every day that one gets to speak to four incredible performers, who left their homes and settled in another country for their love of music. The world knows them as BLACKSWAN, a K-pop group formed out of members from India, Brazil, USA, and Senegal. Interesting, isn’t it? While the members have slowly learnt the language and settled in South Korea, their backgrounds are strikingly different from one another. However, BLACKSWAN’s current lineup, consisting of Sriya, Gabi, NVee, and Fatou are inseparable, thanks to their admiration for their craft and for each other.In an exclusive interview with Filmfare, the BLACKSWAN members open up about their common love for music, their recent EP Roll Up, and their future plans as a group. They delve deeper into their process of creating music, all while crediting their fans for admiring them no matter what. Excerpts from a hearty chat:Congratulations on Roll Up. How are the four of you feeling after the release of your first EP?

SRIYA: It’s great, because we have been waiting for the songs to be released. Now that they are finally out, we are getting to go on stage and perform. So, it’s really amazing. It’s a very good feeling.Karma and Roll Up are very different sound wise. Was it a conscious choice to experiment with the sound and not go with only one formula for success?NVEE: I think us being a very unique group, we always want to try different sounds, whether they work out or not. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t. But we did really well with Karma, so we wanted to experiment with something new. We came up with Roll Up, which has more of a Western theme. I think it turned out pretty good this round and with our upcoming music, we’ll try something new again. We want to experiment with every music that we release.How was it working with Rob and Kenny?FATOU: It was such an honour that they were willing to work with us. They were willing to hear our feedback and change some things up. It was a very educational period for us as musicians and artists. We got to learn a lot during this EP. It was a special and magical time. So, we thank them again.Since the four of you also actively work towards creating your songs – which aspect is your favourite, working on your music behind-the-scenes or going up the stage to perform?All (in unison): Perform on stage.FATOU: I love, love, and love the process of writing lyrics, recording, learning the choreography, understanding the concepts, the styles, the outfits, the makeup, the hair and everything. But on stage, we get to really show everything to Lumina, the folks who support and love us. So it’s always on stage for us.

Is releasing solo music on the cards for Gabi, NVee, and Sriya?GABI: NVEE has an OST ready.NVEE: Yes, right. I think right now, we’re all learning the process of producing, whether it be lyrics, doing harmonies, backing vocals – we’re learning the processes. Once the three of us are ready, it will come. I wouldn’t expect anything too soon. But it’ll happen when it’s the right time for us to show you who we are.Sriya, How did you convince your parents to pursue music in the first place?SRIYA: My father wanted me to pursue academics as well as co-curriculars. My family has been very supportive since my childhood. I literally tried so many other sports, along with dancing and yoga. I also like to explore a lot. There was one point when I was coming to Korea, my mom didn’t know about it and we had to lie to her. She did not want me to go to Korea alone. I mean, every mother can relate. But when she got to know that I was coming alone, she didn’t talk to me. However, this was my dream, so my father, along with my entire family supported me.What is her reaction now when she sees you on stage?SRIYA: Let me tell you, my mom sent me a Roll Up challenge video. She did the chorus part, where we roll our hips. She is very precious but I did not let her post it. (Laughs)What about NVEE and GABI?NVEE: My mother was in Korea some time back. She got to see our performances, like the behind-the-scenes process as well, of how we were getting ready for it. She has always been my big supporter and always told me how proud she is. I could hear her in the crowd at times. She is one of our number one fans.GABI: My parents always give me all the support that I want. Last year, during Karma, they tried to come during our promotion time, but they came one week before we started. They always put their maximum effort to help me, even though there were hard times.

Fatou, you were a part of the previous lineup, but things didn’t go as planned. Before these girls came into picture, how did you manage the period of uncertainty? How did your family support you back then?FATOU: At that point, I was calling my mom and my brothers a lot. I just wanted to go back home. They asked me to stay because the profession meant a lot to me. They asked me to keep going and trying. I’m lucky that they told me those words. Because if I did not stay, I wouldn’t have had this team. Now when my mother watches our performances, she praises all of us.Is Fatou a strict leader?GABI: When it needs to be, she is. But I like how she finds a good middle ground of being a leader when she needs to be and being our friend when she needs to be our friend. I like that she found this balance.Fatou, who is the ‘pookie’ of the group?FATOU: I would say Gabi.GABI: Why is that so?FATOU: Look at her. You can just tell that she is a pookie. You cannot leave her alone. If you leave her alone, she will probably die. (Laughs)

Who would each of you want to collaborate with in the near future?

FATOU: Kendrick Lamar.

SRIYA: I would go for Bollywood. I would say Arjit Singh.

FATOU: Also, from Bollywood, it would be Ranveer Singh. He was there for the Hockey World Cup with us. I love him.

SRIYA: Arijit Singh, I’m waiting.

GABI: I’m gonna say, the Brazilian singer, Pabllo Vittar.

NVEE: Bruno Mars and Oneus.

Now that you have done a girl crush concept, are you going to follow this in future?

GABI: We’re going to experiment. Of course, we want to try different genres and styles.

While filming Karma, did Sriya introduce you to any Indian street food?

GABI: I have a favourite. It looks a bit like cotton candy. It is ‘soan papdi’.

FATOU: I like the one that your parents made, where you open it and put the soup in.

SRIYA: It is pani puri.

NVEE: I like everything, but my favourite is curry. I also liked jalebi.

SRIYA: They basically tried most of the main things.

NVEE: We love Indian food.

Is Indian food readily available in Korea?

GABI: These girls always want to eat Indian food.

NVEE: There is one Indian restaurant, which is really good. Everytime I want to try ordering it online, or just ordering it in general, they’re always closed. But when these girls want to order it, it’s open. That’s not right! A girl just wants to get curry on a hot day’s work, but I can’t have it.

Have you seen any Bollywood movies?

GABI: I don’t remember the names but I would sit and watch them back home in Brazil.

SRIYA: It is Dangal for me. It is such an amazing movie.

Isn’t Dangal famous in South Korea?

SRIYA: Yes, many people said that they have watched Dangal, and I was surprised that they watched it.

What about you, Fatou?

FATOU: I’ve actually watched a lot of Indian movies back in Senegal, because they used to telecast in the afternoon, after lunch. I used to watch them with my nieces and nephews. We would dance our hearts out.

SRIYA: I also want to watch Laapataa Ladies. It is really viral nowadays.

Source link