The pandemic has obviously taken today’s meeting to Zoom.
As I wave hello from about 6,867 miles away, Jay B mentions I look different.
Both of us are known better as something else these days, too.
BY.ILLUMIN
Lim Jaebeom is now Jay B a stage name sonically the same asJBbut has better SEO value.
“I wanted to build up my identity as an artist at HIGHR MUSIC,” he continues.
“There wasn’t any other special reason.”
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Essentially, Jay B is no longer considered a K-pop star either.
In January 2021, JYP Entertainment announcedGOT7didn’t renew their contract.
Theother members' solo planswere quickly announced, but Jay B took his time to sort through his options.
aos_yumteacher/Instagram
“I should be careful before I decide something.”
Nonetheless, Jay B is palpably excited.
Jay B’s joviality radiates through the screen.
Jay B/Instagram
“Ihadto go outside,” Jay B says.
“I tried to be more active than ever.”
Learning how toscuba divewas also checked off Jay B’s to-do list.
Jay B’s reference photo
“I had to learn to use different techniques for how to breathe and how to move.”
On land, these lessons have flowed into his music as he experiments with new styles and themes.
I’ll allow you to listen to it on your own time to see if you agree.
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Jay B’s wardrobe is being refined in this new phase of his life, too.
But what about your hair, I inquire.
Is this his favorite haircut?
(Hmmm, I’m curious what the future of Jay B’s hair holds.)
Just as he hinted atin our 2020 interview, Jay B finally painted his nails black.
Instead, the gothic paint job was a fun ode to his favorite manga.
“I likeNaruto, you know?”
Jay B asks me in English.
“I just copied him.”
(Last year, he was all about theodd eye lookwith different hues for each eye.)
Blackout lenses are on his agenda.
“Like an alien vibe?”
Both of us sought treatmentfor depressionand anxiety and now currentlytake medication.
Over the three or four years, Jay B admits he felt extreme pressure and burden as an artist.
However, he often hid those feelings away.
Through this honesty and time of recovery, Jay B has realized feelings are not facts.
They should be evaluated before accepting them as the latter.
“Maybe I feel a little bit depressed, but I would think, ‘Oh, is this right?
Let’s think about this again.'”
“It’s important for the other people, as well, to know you.”
“It’s really hard to distinguish those two identities,” he admits.
“But I want to do a perfect performance on the stage.
Jay B doesn’t have to take more than half of a second to digest the question.
“I think that goes for everyone, even you as anAllureeditor.
But as a person, it’s good to just relax and chill.
“Even when you’re not working, you might find other excitement,” he continues.
“it’s possible for you to get inspiration from that as well.”
But what exactly does he feel like he has to prove?
“That it wasn’t wrong that Jay Park chose me,” Jay B reveals.
And how will he measure that?
Up until recently, Jay B solely looked to streaming charts as validation.
Chart numbers are but a cherry on top of it all.
When picking three words to describe himself at his core as Lim Jaebeom, he sighs and hums.
This seems to be the part of the interview Jay B takes most seriously.
However, someone from his team jokingly answers in the distance, “Sexy, sexy, sexy?”
Nope, that’s not it.
“Just free,” Jay B corrects him in English.
“Very free and more human being.
And then,” he pauses to further ponder how he sees himself when no one is watching.
“I’m not cute,” Jay B adds with a smirk.
“How far into the future can you see yourself?”
Back then, Jay B was living moment to moment.
As of this moment, the future has become clearer to him now.
Jay B can see as far out as a fishing-filled retirement.
That’s what you’re able to expect from my answer next year.”
