DTMG & PUMASHOCK teams up for ‘mind-blowing’ SHINee cover
The first multicultural American band to professionally cover K-Pop, Dave Tauler Music Group (DTMG), has become a hot topic among US K-Pop fans in the last year due to their awe-inspiring and interesting twists on some of K-Pop greatest hits.
With past remixes of songs such as 2NE1‘s Lonely, Big Bang‘s Blue, and PSY‘s Gangnam Style, they have managed to grab the attention of fans all over the world in record numbers. DTMG has set out to release a remix that not only paid homage to the genre and culture that they truly respect but also to give the fans something to remember.
Their newest remix is sure to have all the SHAWOL‘s out there cheering and dancing along as DTMG officially released their remix of SHINee‘s latest hit Dream Girl today featuring another Star King alumni and YouTube sensation, Pumashock (aka. Natalie White).
Natalie White has garnered massive amounts of success on her YouTube channel with her remixes and covers of Kpop super hits such as JYJ‘s Ayy Girl, 2PM‘s I’ll Be Back, Kara‘s Step, Super Junior‘s Mr. Simple, TVXQ‘s Mirotic, Wonder Girls‘ No Body, and Girls Generation‘s Gee and has been highly praised for her amazing and emotion-stirring vocals.
DTMG and Pumashock’s dual collaboration music video was shot at Studio 51 in March and was directed by Brad Baerwald and assistant director Christian Oh, the co-founder and executive director at Kollaboration DC. DTMG’s Lead Vocalist David Tauler was joined by his regular band-mates Teo Lee (bassist), Tim Kim (pianist), Paul Eldridge (lead guitar), Kyra Koh (main backing vocals) along with their latest additions to the group, DeJuan McCrimmon (keys), Brian McFarly (drums), Andrew Glaros (rhythm guitar) and Shervonne Brown (backing vocals).
On the eve of the release of their latest cover, DTMG members Dave Tauler and Teo Lee, along with Pumashock, sat down with us to discuss how the collaboration came together and what it was like working together.
What was your first impression of one another when you first met?
Natalie: “The most surprising thing was when we first actually got together on the phone. I understood it was a business call but, honestly, as soon as we got on the phone, I felt like I was just talking to a bunch of old friends – just catching up. There were a lot of laughs. It was a really, really cool conversation. I really like these guys. It was awesome. I was so happy and stoked to work with them. My expectations were very high when meeting DTMG in person and I think my expectations were completely met –if not completely exceeded. It felt very organic. We all hit it off right away. ”
Teo: “She looked exactly like she does on her Facebook page. She was all glamorized and all shiny.”
Dave: “For me it was a surreal experience because I have never gotten to know someone as well as I have gotten to know Natalie (through social media and by phone). Later on we became friends on a personal level. We talked for a long time (ten months), and then all of a sudden, there she was getting off the plane. I said, ‘Oh-my-gosh, that’s her.’ She had a big smile on her face and I could tell she was an artist right away.”
Natalie: “I’m still weird-ed out by about how much we (David & I) share in common, and to think that we’re both here in America, but the thing that brought us together was the Star King stage. I think that’s the coolest thing about our friendship, this creative connection that we made, is that Star King is what brought us together – all the way from Seoul.”
Were you at all worried whether or not your vocals would meld well with one another?
Dave: “Once I started hearing Natalie sing for real in the studio, when we put the mic on her, I was like, ‘Oh My Gosh, I’m going to have to bring my A-Game.’ She is a brilliant vocalist. I had a small idea, but what she brought to the table that day, just blew all of our minds. For me, I knew right then and there I had to step up. I wasn’t too worried about our voices working well together because, the one thing about Natalie I respect so much, is that she is a true musician. She has a lot of soul and strangely enough a rock edge too. (laughs) I was just trying to keep up. Her stage presence blew my mind. The second thing that blew my mind was her vocals, it (the music video), only took two takes and that’s phenomenal. She murdered it.”
Natalie: “The thing I was concerned about, my only fear was, ‘Don’t let me be wasting these people’s time and money. Let me be an asset to this process.’ It was very intimidating for me because I’ve been a one-woman-show for so long. I would love to be in a band and I love playing with other musicians. It’s been a really long time since I’ve had the opportunity to perform with other people and here I’m coming into this situation where the group is just meshed, cohesive, solid and full of first rate musicians. They’ve got a sound and I have to find a way to become a part of that. That was my only concern. I wanted to add to the process and not slow them down in anyway.”
Teo: “We paid careful attention in our (DTMG) rehearsals to try and wrap the sound around what we imagined Natalie’s vocals were going to be like. We had to find something that had that edge, but was still sexy and cool, that would support her vocals. It was so nice to hear it all come together.”
Why did you choose SHINee’s Dream Girl?
Dave: “We loved this song. I loved it for so many reasons it was hard to really say what we could bring to the table to make this even more special. The challenge is that the song is called Dream Girl and ultimately, when you look at SHINee and what there singing, they singing about their dream girl. It can be pretty awkward when you have a song that’s so gender driven. If you listen to the lyrics (with our performance), I’m really singing the guy lyrics and the lyrics that Natalie’s sings works from a girl’s point of view. So it doesn’t get weird in that regard.”
When you were in the studio, what was the atmosphere like?
Dave: “I knew something special was happening. It’s not every day that you’re going to have this many people who otherwise wouldn’t be together if it wasn’t for music and K-Pop. We have all kinds of different people from different backgrounds. We have Korean speakers, Korean, non-Korean, and non-Korean speaker, yet were all there together – not just in front of the camera but behind the camera as well. We had Brad Baerwald -a Grammy nominated engineer, and who is he working next too, but this distinguished filmmaker and film professor, Christian Oh, who is Korean. We’re all in it together. That, by itself, made this one of the most special experiences for me. They all brought their A game and everyone was having fun. It was just good to be there. It never felt like a job.”
“The reason why we do this is really because of K-Pop fans. K-Pop fans are the coolest fans that we know. They genuinely care deeply about the music and those who support the movement. We love K-Pop fans and K-Pop. We can’t wait to share this (the music video) with the K-Pop world. We do this for the fans.”
Pumashock, what was it like for you working with a live band?
“Oh, it was incredible. It felt natural to me. That’s what I want to be doing all day, every day. Hearing other musicians who are at the top of their game, feeling the base, hearing the drums kick in, and the guitars rippin’ – that just excites my soul. That’s my element. I absolutely love performing with a live band.”
In three words or less, how would you describe your collaboration and music video to the fans?
Dave: “Absolutely unique, 대박”
Teo: “Way Cool, exciting”
Natalie: “Mind-blowing-ly rad”
Is there anything you’d like to say to the fans before we let you go?
Dave: “팬 여러분! 너무 사랑합니다 (To all the fans! I love you.) I love you. I really do. K-Pop Fans make making music more special than it already is.”
Natalie: “I just want to say thank you! Everyone is so supportive. I’m getting ready to come back and, it’s all because of the fans support, that I’ve gotten this far. I’m going to work really hard to bring them good music and keep spreading the K-Pop wave.”
As we reported earlier, Pumashock has now officially signed with Billboard Entertainment Group LLC under the tutelage of Tyrone “Niddy” Buckner. For both DTMG and Pumashock the news doesn’t just stop here. Pumashock will be guest judging Kollaboration Atlanta‘s talent showcase this weekend, where the winners will be in the running for a $20,000 grand prize at Kollaboration Star later on this year.
DTMG will be performing as the headliner act at this Friday’s Tasa Night Market event at Princeton University with another longstanding friend of hellokpop, SNRG. DTMG will also be headlining Mayor Gray‘s 2013 Asian America and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration at Washington, DC’s historic Lincoln Theater on May 30.
For more information about DTMG check out their website, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
For more information about Pumashock, hit her YouTube, Facebook, and twitter.
Source: Video: DTMG, Photos Provided By DTMG/Melting Earth.
2NE1 releases global tour CD
2NE1 has officially unleashed special rearranged hit singles in its newly released 2012 2NE1 GLOBAL TOUR LIVE CD : NEW EVOLUTION IN SEOUL.
The group hosted its first global tour entitled NEW EVOLUTION beginning on July 28 in Seoul and the performances from their concerts were recorded to make a CD so fans would be able to relive the concert experience once again. The album will consist of fourteen live band version of hit tracks including Fire, I Don’t Care, Can’t Nobody, I Am The Best, I Love You, and many more.
Track list
- I AM THE BEST
- FIRE
- CLAP YOUR HANDS
- I DON’T CARE (REGGAE MIX)
- DON’T STOP THE MUSIC
- IT HURTS
- LONELY
- IN THE CLUB
- STAY TOGETHER
- LOVE YOU
- UGLY
- HATE YOU
- GO AWAY
- CAN’T NOBODY
NEW EVOLUTION IN SEOUL has already been released through YG Music, YG e-Bay, and the YG e-shop. There will be three versions of the album as it may either come with a folded poster, poster in tube, or a booklet. As the content differences between each album are very minor, the prices are exactly the same.
Sources: News – 2NE1 Facebook; Photos – 2NE1 Facebook (1)(2)(3)
SPICA talks about their new song ‘Lonely’
SPICA has returned to the music scene with their newest song, Lonely.
As they start their comeback promotions, LOEN Entertainment provided fans the opportunity to ask the girls questions that they have been curious of through their interview series, CSI: Coming Soon Interview. As they answer various questions of how they prepared for the new song and their various backgrounds before debuting, they also give a short performance of their song Lonely live!
Be sure to check out their interview which has also been provided with English subtitles and captions!
Source: news and video- LOENENT, photo-capture image
SPICA releases music video for ‘LONELY’ + mini album
Rookie girl group SPICA has released their new mini album ’LONELY.’
Since last week, the group has released teaser photos of the album jacket and photoshoot of their new sexy concept. They worked with one of Korea’s top hit makers Sweet Tune and says that they will show a more mature side.
On November 16th, the teaser music video for the song LONELY rose as 1st on Melon‘s Music Video HOT 100. The curiosity of their changed image also continued to raise their fans’ expectations to their comeback.
SPICA will start to promote their song by having their comeback stage at KBS Music Bank on November 23rd.
Check out their music video here:
Sojin from Girls’ Day performs 2NE1′s ‘Lonely’ on Beatles Code 2
On November 19, girl group Girls’ Day made an appearance on Mnet‘s television show Beatles Code 2. The members seemed to have enjoyed being in the company of the show’s regular cast and many smiles were seen throughout the episode. During their time there, Girls’ Day member Sojin was able to perform her own rendition of 2NE1‘s song Lonely.
As she was singing, the other members of Girls’ Day displayed their support by waving their arms in the air and feeling touched by her vocals. Beatles Code MC and Super Junior member Shindong was also seen lip-syncing to the song. Check out Sojin’s cover of Lonely below:
Sources: (News, Photo & Video) – Mnet (screenshot)
