[HA for DROKU] Aziatix’s Message Of Love

“Music bonds us together,” says Nicky Lee, member of Korean American R&B group Aziatix. “It doesn’t matter about where we go or the language barrier.”

Lee, and his group members Eddie Shin and Flowsik have each worked independently in the music industry before being introduced to one another by mutual friend, Jae Chong.

Chong, a member of the very first Korean R&B group “Solid,” has produced tracks for popular Asian artists such as Van Ness Wu, Uhm Jung Hwa, Coco Lee, BoA, Kim Gun Mo, JYJ and more.

In 2002, Chong began working with Lee. Now he is Aziatix’s full-time producer.

“They are a great group of guys,” says Chong. “When I brought them together, I didn’t want it to feel like a military camp; I wanted them to have a good time.”

The music industry can be brutal, says Chong, but his vision for the group is to represent what Asian artists can be overseas.

“Solid was basically formed the same way Aziatix did, by meeting each other at church and then forming our group,” he says.

Lee was based in Taiwan, promoting his work as an actor, singer and songwriter in the Mandarin market for over seven years. Shin also debuted as a singer and songwriter in Korea in 2005 and has worked with some of Korea’s biggest groups, including six-member male group Beast (B2ST) and female quintet 4Minute.

During South Korea’s G20 Summit, Shin even took part in a joint project featuring some of Korea’s most prominent celebrities – IU, 2PM’s Junsu, SNSD’s Seohyun, Beast’s JunHyung, MBLAQ’s GO and many more – co-writing and vocal directing the “G20 Song.”

Rapper Flowsik, on the other hand, comes from the underground music scene in the States, and has even collaborated with Ice-T, and was featured in Yoochun’s (of Korean group JYJ) solo “I Love You.”

Flowsik met Chong through Facebook, who in turn introduced Flowsik to Lee. The pair met Shin playing basketball, they say, laughing as they reminisce. With Shin being a fan of Solid, Chong soon envisioned that the three men would form into the group Aziatix.

The name “Aziatix” is the brainchild of Chong. Even though their roots are all based in Korea—or Asia in general—they still come from very different backgrounds and cultures, he explains.

“Our sound is trying to find a balance between the East and the West, and be up-to-date with the pop market of today,” Shin chimes in.

With that in mind, the members want to take Aziatix as far as they can, in order to touch the upcoming generations and become role models across the world. Of course, they plan on taking Asia and the United States by storm.  The members would love to visit countries like Egypt, Jerusalem, and even Turkey.

In fact, Aziatix held their first performance in April in New York at the Circle Club.

“It was good to see all the new, and familiar, faces,” says Flowsik.

Aziatix impressed the crowd with their fresh fusion of R&B and hip hop, and they are booking shows throughout the U.S.

Aziatix also had their first gig in Korea, which was at the “Jisan Valley Rock Festival.”

In addition, the trio released a full album “Nocturnal” which debuted on top 10 on R&B/Soul iTunes charts; we even get to see a new look and hear a new sound. Their vision for the months to come is to make fresh music for their fans all over the world.

Chong tells us that he gives the members freedom to write their own lyrics and music for songs like “Whatcha Know About Us,” “Cold,” and “Go” featured on their first self-titled EP.

Their lyrics, they say, are based on daily life, with songs such as “Whatcha Know About us,” which tackles themes like perseverance, goals, and striving to succeed together and getting through obstacles to make you stronger.

“At the end of the day, you need your family and friends, and we try to encourage each other,” explains Flowsik.

Describing their sound as “happy,” the members say they want fans to receive positive energy listening to their songs.

They want to send a message to their listeners about love, dreams and the happiness of pursuing success.

With the message of love to their Korean and international fans, otherwise known as Aziaddicts, they say: “We love you; you’re all special and beautiful.”

Be sure to visit their YouTube channel and their Facebook page. Buy their newest album “Nocturnal” on iTunes now!

Interviewed by: Michelle Nakaji

AZIATIX Fun Questions:
If a Genie can grant you one wish, what would you wish for?
•    Nicky: World Peace, World Love, Stop Hunger
•    Eddie: Constant flowing stream of inspiration
If you could adopt any animal as a pet, what would you choose?
•    Flowsik: Pocket Bully (small version of a pit bull)
•    Eddie: Never had a pet before “I like dogs when I see them”.
What instrument describes you and why?
•    Flowsik: Drums “very rhythmic”
•    Eddie: Piano “only instrument I know how to play”
Which film or drama explains your life and why?
•    Nicky: Rocky
•    Eddie: Shrek
•    Flowsik: Forest Gump
What is your dream house like? Where would it be and how would it look?
•    Nicky: Just a home full of love. Doesn’t matter how many rooms or how big it is.  “A house is
not a home unless you got love” says Lee.
•    Flowsik: A home where he can start a family. Wants a pond in the backyard so he can go fishing.
•    Eddie: Moved around a lot, from Boston, to Chicago, New York and  Los Angeles. He would love to move around, doesn’t like to stay in the same place.

Who does AZIATIX want to work with?
•    Nicky Lee: Collaborate with Drake
•    Flowsik: With IU and Sandara of 2NE1
•    Eddie Shin: Work with Jeff Niahara (producer)