[music]

Brian Lehrer: Hey, that's not the Brian Lehrer show theme, that's K-pop? Well, we're a local show. That's no secret, so how is it that we're listening to Korean pop right now? Well, one of the members of the K-pop group BDU is a local tour listening area. His name is Jay Chang. He's known for his unique vocal ability. You hear his voice once and you'll always recognize it, but we were particularly interested in how a kid from Bergen County can go on to become a Korean pop sensation in Korea. A bit more about our guest, Jay participated in a Korean survival program and took on the unique challenges that presents without giving up. We'll talk about that more on this experience. He is currently continuing his activities as a member of One Pact and BDU, where he's loved not only by the Korean fandom, but also by overseas fans for his powerful vocals and bright, positive personality. Jay, thanks so much for giving us a few minutes. Welcome to WNYC.

Jay Chang: Hi. Thank you so much for having me. It's a pleasure.

Brian Lehrer: Listeners, I'll open up the phones for you right away. Do we happen to have any Jay Chang fans in the audience, any fans of BDU or One Pact or watchers of the shows Build Up and Boys Planet that Jay participated in? If you know those survival shows, now's your opportunity to talk to Jay and ask him any questions about his experience becoming an idol, participating in group activities in the K-pop idol industry, and now touring the world with BDU. Call or text us at 212-433-WNYC, 212-433-9692. We'll hear a little more music as we go, too. Jay, we just played a bit of your group song [Korean language]. I'm not sure which way you say it. Want to start us off by introducing yourself and your group?

Jay Chang: Yes, of course. Hello, my name is Jay Chang. I'm a K-pop singer out of New Jersey, 2001. I'm 23 years old, and I'm currently doing group activities with my group called BDU. We're actually going to be starting a North American, South American, and Europe tour starting tomorrow, so yes, very good.

Brian Lehrer: Cool. I understand that your career is based in Korea, but as you just said, you are originally from Jersey. Where in Jersey specifically and how long did you live there?

Jay Chang: I'm from a small town called Hasbrouck Heights, Bergen County. It's about 30 minutes away from Manhattan. I lived there my whole life, from the time I was born until I was about 18 years old when I moved to Korea for the first time.

Brian Lehrer: You know what? I invited fans to call in, and sure enough, here is Trudy calling from South Korea. Trudy, you're on WNYC. Hello from New York.

Trudy: Oh, hello.

Brian Lehrer: Hi there.

Jay Chang: Hi.

Trudy: Hi.

Brian Lehrer: You have a question for Jay.

Trudy: What's the first food he eats when he arrived there?

[laughter]

Brian Lehrer: All right. Growing up in Hasbrouck Heights, and then there you were at age 18 in South Korea. What's the first food that you ate, if you remember?

Jay Chang: The first food that I ate was probably-- oh, that's a tough question- I'd say probably this food called bibimbap, which is like a rice bowl with various vegetables and meats inside. It's very, very basic Korean food, but it's very classic. I suggest everyone to give it a try.

Brian Lehrer: Yes, I know they sell that in the Korean restaurants in New York and New Jersey, too.

Jay Chang: Oh, yes.

Brian Lehrer: I guess if you were growing up as a Korean American, food like that was not foreign to you in the first place, would that be correct?

Jay Chang: Oh, yes, probably one of my favorite restaurants here in Jersey is in Ridgewood. It's a Korean restaurant, too. I would go all the time with my family.

Brian Lehrer: RJ, a fan in Chicago, you're on WNYC. Hi, RJ.

RJ: Hi. Longtime fan, first-time caller, like [inaudible 00:04:32] local radio station. Hi, Jay.

Jay Chang: [laughs] Hi.

RJ: I wanted to say you have one of the most amazing voices in K-pop today, and I wanted to ask how has it felt singing for fans and Idol singers, that have said the same thing how amazing your voice has been and how unique it is?

Jay Chang: Oh, well, first of all, thank you so much for the compliment. I would say that being able to perform for the fans every day is one of the biggest reasons why I continue to do it. It's definitely getting to see everybody be moved by my voice is an honor. Getting compliments from singers in the industry also makes me feel more motivated to improve and become as good as them one day. Hopefully, I'll get there. Thank you.

Brian Lehrer: Thanks, RJ. With that as kind of a setup, let's hear a little more of Jay's voice, in this case, performing on his own. This is him singing Baby, Baby by the Korean R&B group Four Men on the show, Build Up.

[MUSIC -- Baby, Baby -- Jay Chang]

Brian Lehrer: All right. The lyrics are in Korean. Some of the English translation, "I thought about it for a long time after I met you. I think I change a lot as I hear this song. I'm so thankful for you," and it goes on from there. With your fluidity singing in Korean, I guess I assumed wrongly, so I want to correct myself, that you are Korean American, but now I'm seeing that you're actually mixed race. Your father is Irish-Hungarian, and your mother is Filipino-Chinese.

Jay Chang: That is correct. Yes. Both of my parents are very mixed as well, so. No, don't worry. It's a common misconception, and it's been something that's very interesting. It's weird being different in the industry, but I'm really glad to be a part of it. Yes, my parents are both very mixed as well. [laughs]

Brian Lehrer: When did you start learning Korean?

Jay Chang: After I started listening to K-pop and getting moved for it for the first time, I took up an interest in learning Korean. I started studying the alphabet, learning how to read it first, and a few basic conversational things, but I didn't really start learning it for real, like, fluently, until I had moved to Korea.

Brian Lehrer: Now that we played a clip of you singing with your band BDU, and a clip of you singing as a solo artist, I think we have a relevant call from Adam, who, coincidentally, is also in Chicago, like our last caller. Hi, Adam, you're on WNYC.

Jay Chang: Oh.

Adam: Hi, Jay. Since you have now debuted three times in the past twelve months, once as a soloist and now twice in two different groups, how are you managing to juggle all of your responsibilities? It's extremely impressive.

Jay Chang: Oh, okay. Hi, Adam. Thank you for the question. It's actually quite tough, but any opportunity to sing, whether it be in a group setting or a solo setting, is really an honor for me. Being able to show a bunch of different sides is what keeps me motivated. In terms of juggling all these different responsibilities, it's just mostly psychological. I'd say definitely keeping my head on straight, focusing on what needs to be done, and just one thing at a time. Whatever's in front of me, get that done and just keep going on like that.

If I get too overwhelmed, then things start to get a bit heavy. Yes, I would say that for the most part, it's quite smooth sailing if I just look at one thing at a time instead of three things at a time, if that makes any sense. I feel like I'm just rambling.

Brian Lehrer: Adam, thank you. Thank you for your call. You know you're a global star, Jay, when the callers are coming from South Korea, like our first caller, Chicago, like our last caller and Mariana in Lima, Peru, like our next caller. Hi, Mariana, you're on WNYC. Hello from New York. Do we have Mariana in Lima?

Mariana: Hello.

Brian Lehrer: Hello.

[background noise]

Mariana: [unintelligible 00:09:11]

Brian Lehrer: Don't break the kitchen.

[background voices]

Brian Lehrer: Can you hear me, Mariana?

Mariana: Yes.

Brian Lehrer: Hi there. You're on with Jay Chang.

Mariana: Hi.

Jay Chang: Hi, Mariana.

Brian Lehrer: Ignore your radio. If that's the reason you're on a delay here. Just go ahead, Mariana, what do you want to say to Jay or ask him?

Mariana: First time with my friend and we want to say that I love him really, really well. We are proud of him.

Brian Lehrer: Go ahead.

Jay Chang: Oh, thank you so much. Love you too.

Brian Lehrer: I guess that's as far as we going to get with Mariana, whatever the connection issues are from there. Let me ask you about the reality shows because you got into the K-pop industry, I see via survival reality shows. You were in Under 19, Boys Planet, those shows, and most recently, Build Up, which is how your group BDU was formed I see. I'm sure a lot of our listeners have never watched a K-pop survival show. Can you explain what this kind of programming looks like and what it's like to be a contestant?

Jay Chang: Okay, well, it's basically you are one of many different contestants wanting to go throughout various rounds of different musical challenges. At the end, the top however many people that win get to debut in a group. I'd say the biggest similarity would be when the members of One Direction went out on, I think it was American Idol or maybe Britain's Got Talent or something like that. They ended up coming together because Simon Cowell put them in a vocal group together. Then I would say it's probably similar to that kind of thing. Yes, there are usually many different challenges, like singing or dancing and different performances. Being able to be a part of those survival shows was very good experience for me as a performer, and being able to just recently win through Build Ups, the vocal survival show, was a huge honor.

Brian Lehrer: One more call. We've been getting all these calls from so far from your childhood home in Hasbrouck Heights, and now we're going all the way to Staten Island. [chuckles]Destiny on Staten Island, you're on WNYC with Jay Chang. We've got about 20 seconds for you. Hi, Destiny.

Destiny: Hi, how are you Jay? My question, honestly, is just what were you most excited for when you came back home? Were you excited for the food? Are you excited to perform here?

Jay Chang: Oh, well, thank you for the question, Destiny. I would say definitely excited to get started on this show. It's my first time being back in the States after everything. Being able to perform here in my home state is going to be a blast, but I'd say what I looked forward to the most was pizza.

Brian Lehrer: [laughs] Do you have a favorite Jersey pizza place?

Jay Chang: I do. It's actually the Hasbrouck Heights Pizza, my hometown pizza place. Definitely nostalgic and very delicious.

Brian Lehrer: Yes, so we're going to go out with a little more of your music. Just tell people about the show tomorrow night with your group, BDU, in Jersey City. Where's that going to be?

Jay Chang: It's going to be at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City. We're going to be performing a lot of songs off of our album Wish Pool, as well as different performances from Stages We've Seen in the Past on Build Up and other covers, new stages for new fans. If you have the time, you can come and check us out. We're also going to be going to cities all across America, South America and Europe, so f you're in that area, just check us out.

Brian Lehrer: Jay Chang from BDU, from Hasbrouck Heights to South Korea to the world, and back home to Jersey City for tomorrow night's show. Hey, thanks so much for giving us a few minutes. Congratulations on all your success.

[music]

Jay Chang: Thank you so much, and thank you for having me WNYC.

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