He’s smiling!
David Choi, a song writer, producer, and now singer, has got to be one of the most down to earth person I know. We decided to meet at a coffee shop to start the interview. Needless to say, I had no idea what to expect. His videos made him look aloof yet approachable so I just kept a clear head to find him already waiting for his caramel macchiato.
We sat outside and the first thing I noticed was his smile. Yes people, David Choi actually smiles, a lot. Unlike his videos where he usually is expressionless, in person he has many different ranges of emotion and if anything he made it easy for me by starting the conversation that led to the interview.
Here’s the interview below.
P.S.: How’d you start?
DC: When I was 16, I was in history class and a kid brought in a cd and played it for the class. until then I never thought about creating. I mean I played the violin and piano and read music but never created. That night, I [used] my synthesizer piano and composed my first instrumental.
P.S.: When was your big break?
DC: I entered a workshop at 19 held by ASCAP and Warner Chappell’s music’s rep was there along with other different producers. At the end she took me to her office wanting to hear some more of my work and then I got signed as a staff writer.
P.S.: When was your first youtube.com video post?
DC: February 2007 I posted up for fun and to experiment. I had no intentions of becoming who I am now.”
P.S.: Do you still feel awkward smiling in front of a camera?
DC: It’s not that it’s awkward it’s more like you smiling in front of a mirror. If you smile it is fake. I mean do you smile in front of the mirror? (P.S. not really) It’s like looking in front of a mirror and saying “hey guys”.
P.S. Where do you get your inspiration for your music?
DC: Everywhere. From real life experiences, other people, life, just about everything. Song writing is writing about everything not just personal life although you do that too.
P.S.: What song is closest to your heart?
DC: Kina and I talked about this and it’s harder to explain/talk about that because you already put your heart into a song and put it out. It’s hard y’know.
P.S.: Since you brought up Kina, the question people have been asking is, are you and Kina together?
DC: (laughs) Kina’s a good friend. You can put I’m single.
P.S.: Then I have to ask, what kind of girl is your style?
DC: I’m not picky. I look though for a good personality before looks because you can look great but be stupid and it’s just not cool.
P.S.: What was it like working with Wongfu on the music video?
DC: They’re amazing guys. They’re good friends now even if we don’t work together were just good friends because of the way we are. Great guys, really talented down to earth, you can’t say anything bad about them. They are all different and complement each other.
P.S.: Can you describe each of them in one word?
DC: Phil: Awesome. Ted: Nice. Wes: Cool.
P.S.: So you recently posted up a video of you and Paul Dateh, how’d that come about?
DC: We met at Kollaboration last year and have been in contact with him since. He is extremely talented. The best violinist ever, I think. He’s a really good guy and down to earth. I don’t say someone’s talented often but he is very musically talented.
P.S.: You’ve already collaborated with Kina, do you want collaborate with anyone else in the future?
DC: We’re actually collaborating on a new song. [as for collaborating in the future] it depends on how I feel and [our personalities need to click]. It’s worse when it’s for business/work because it takes away from [that process]. I got burnt out collaborating with over 50 people in two years.
P.S.: Are you working on a new project?
DC: Just new songs I have written. I have about 30 songs but slowly recording my 2nd album. I won’t record all of them but recording them.
P.S.: What’s different about this album from your first one?
DC: Less rushed (laughs) I’m taking my time and am going to feel it more.
P.S.: Do you listen to Korean music?
DC: Not really. I just listen to the ones my friends listen to, like that one song “…baby baby baby” and “lolli lolli lollipop”.
P.S.: What do you think about the Korean artists like Se7en, Rain, BoA, the Wondergirls, who are trying to break into the American market?
DC: There are two sides to it. The positive: good for them that they’re trying to achieve success. They’ve been able to collaborate with big producers. But just b/c you’re big in Asia you can’t move in. I think they way they managed to do it was wrong. As an artist, I think they need to interact with fans. I like the grassroots thing and I like interacting with them. I think they forgot to do that.
P.S.: What do you think about their music?
DC: The problem was that they tend to make it sound too American and people don’t like that anymore because it’s too processed, too synthesized, to corporate.
I mean I would love to see an Asian make it, I mean I am Korean.
The music is what connects people. I don’t want to see myself as a product or celebrity. I’m just a normal guy who does smile all the time and wants to make an impact.
P.S.: So you’re heading out to Korea sometime near the end of this year what are you looking forward?
DC: Going to my home home country. I’m Korean so I got to go. To meet the supporters in Korea and talk with them. Meet family, I haven’t seen my grandparents since I was five. (FYI: it’s his first time flying out to S.Korea)
P.S.: So how’d you get albums to be sold in Korea?
DC: A company contacted me and wanted a sub publishing deal. I was all for it and so agreed.
P.S.: What kind of Korean “things” have you seen/heard of?
DC: I heard about Epik High through Far East Movement, haven’t listened to any of their songs though. I watched “Old Boy”, I really liked it, twisted and disgusting. I remember this one from awhile back WangCho and Byul. I listened to a little bit of H.O.T. (starts singing part of Candy). I wasn’t really interested in Korean Entertainment.
P.S.: Any Influences by people as you were growing up?
DC: Everyone was a n influence. Everyone is a product of your past. I am who I am today because of my past. It all has to do with who I am now.
P.S.: While discussing the difficult nature of contacting “bigger stars”.
DC: If you want a real connection but if you have a label it’s hard to have a close connection. That’s why I do it all myself and it’s the only way to do it. I’m totally myself in the videos and in person. Maybe I smile more in person. =)
Fun random facts about David Choi
Boxers or Briefs?
Hard Candy or Chocolate (dark)
Favorite Color: Green. It’s calming.
Favorite Food: Korean, you want to know why? Because it takes a long time to prepare. For hotdogs you just cook the hotdog and stick it in a bun but when you go to a Korean restaurant they give you banchan. And each one takes like 20hours to make (I’m probably exaggerating because I don’t know how to make them) each with it’s own recipe then there is the main food with its own recipe. And it’s healthy.
Favorite Drink: Sweet Leaf Tea’s Pomegranate green tea
Favorite celebrity: Don’t really have one. They’re all normal people to me. I have people I respect like Angelina Jolie, Oprah, Bill Gates, b/c they all have done a lot for the world. I respect people who try to make a change.
Favorite Phrase to say 
on’t really have one but I do love quotes b/c it encourages me throughout the day.
What fortune would your fortune cookie say?:You are lucky. You are blessed.
Favorite Outfit to wear: At home I like to wear comfortable clothes, nothing too flashy. As you can probably tell from my videos. Sleeveless shirts because its open but not naked feeling and it’s as naked as you can feel but covered up there and boxers.
By the way, for those of you who wanted to book him for something, the easiest thing to do, according to David Choi, is to contact him yourself. So go for it! Don’t be shy.
Also to find out more about him check him out and join/follow/friend/subscribe to David on
twitter
facebook
myspace
youtube
1st
David Choi Rocks…
BUT COME ON DAVE! Do you REALLY expect us to believe you and KINA aren’t together. We can all just tell just by looking at how you interact!
AND…
You’ll abso-freakin-lutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Korea. Seoul is the best City. Make sure they take you to: Myong Dong, Hong Dae, Apkujeong, Gangnam, Coex, Itaewon, Insadong…. you gotta see seoul nightlife Dave. It’s like NOTHING you’ve seen in the States. Also, the girls are a million times hotter!!! i mean HOT!
Just don’t forget to tell the korean media when you’re flying in, your fan club will be waiting for you at InCheon… It’s like this for all folks who have a fan following. Korean Fans are nothing like american fans. they are freakin amazing. they will expect you to have a fan meeting though! I would choose the COEX in front of Bandi and Luni book store. A lot of folks have events and signings there. I’ve seen half a dozen celebs (back when I lived in one of the COEX hotels as an expat for work).
Cheers Dave!
….
he’s smiling
hahaha. Aww lol his responses are rather cute 
i quite agree when he responded about what he thought of some kpop these days :/ the artists do have nice vocals but they’d prefer synthesising it more D:
I love Davidddd
DDD & Wongfu too xD
yeay popseoul !
Cool and direct person !! Love the voice and music!!! Keep it up ~ Korean food is the BBQ lool Best of best Quality
Awwwwhh~~
“Favorite celebrity: Don’t really have one. They’re all normal people to me.”
That’s awesome!!! Haha
Wow. David Choi really inspires me!!
SARANGHEYO!!
LOL David choi is smiling happily…I love his music!
never heard of him but he seems cool
He listens to Big Bang! LOL.
Baby Baby Baby & Lolli lolli lollipop!
Hha
Great interview. David Choi is certainly a very chill and down to earth guy, just doin’ his thang with his music.
Ahh i so agree with him about the whole Korean entertainment industry. He sounds really laid back
Thanks for the interview. I hope David does well in Korea.
I agree with the fact that Korean artists trying to break in to the US really need to cultivate a fan base just like they have done in Korea.
Its like starting all over again and Korean artist are so busy I don’t think they will allow themselves the time to grow a fan base here (which will mean relocating at least for a while) and risk losing the ones they have in Korea.
timeless! hahaha
great job david choi
yay my question got answered :]!
anyone can explain me who he is? i’m clueless! thx b4
boring. why is this guy on this blog. why the interview? i just don’t get it. i wish him the best, but honestly, these youtube people are dime a dozen. i’m more korean than this guy.
Who cares if you’re more Korean than this guy, no one asked. People who don’t get it are a dime in a dozen.
what? you’re retard. i don’t think anyone cares that you’re korean…
David Choi is my hero!
he’s so cool
Haha, I think he should try out Epik High. They’re not as mindless artists as some other synthesized labels.
Saw him around youtube anyway..we agree on one thing. I don’t care how pretty you are or miss queen of the world godly hot..have some god dang sense not just looks. Cause some Asian girls be wo..loco..in the head.
lol
cooooooool
he seeems very…himself.
ii likeeee(:
COOL .!
he is very direct to all the questions!!
david choi is so chill ;D
he smiled;D
great personalityy
LOL he was talking about big bang! xD
baby baby baby: last farewell
lolli lolli lollipop: lollipop
how lovely. (: haha i love david choi~
i wonder if he can speak korean well.
i think the baby baby baby was referring to gee- by snsd.
x] but lolli lolli lollipop; yeah thats big bang’
david choi rockssss
Are you guys in Fullerton?! haha
great interview!
david is smiling. hehe
I really like his music, but he kind of seems like a douche… one of those asians who refuse to be associated with their particular ethnicity. I get if you’re white washed because, come on, we’ve grown up in America, but he gives off the vibe that he doesn’t like being Korean, and not just because he dislikes/doesn’t bother to listen to Korean music (we all know that Korean music is for entertainment… not soul searching… at least for the most part).
Then again, I don’t know him. Just an impression I get.
why would not listening to korean music make him less Korean? It seems his musical goal is to not be a manufactured product that most kpop artists are. He seems to have adaquete knowledge about his own culture, just because he hasn’t been to the motherland doesn’t mean he’s less Korean either. He is a product of how he was raised, and how he hangs out with…
basically, you are wrong.
yawn? probably ’cause I’m a guy.. yeah a definite yawn…
This guy is cool
David Choi. Random since he doesn’t seem like he’d go for this kind of Kpop gossip column interview thing but such a nice surprise to learn more about him!!! Too bad you couldn’t post more pics:(
BTW, I totally thought, unlike some of you guys, that the ‘baby, baby’ line was referring to SNSD’s Gee song-.- Perhaps…
not korean
Epic High TTablo ssipseki mo Canadian!
go to hell
hahaa.~~cool
lol he really does like “down to earth” things..he said that like 3 times…hehe
LUV YA DAVE!!!
What songs did he wrote ????
ahh david choi!
omg i’m sucha big fan! he sounds so chill
and down to earth!!
david choi i freakin love you! and i love your
song ‘won even start’ it’s my myspace song(:
man he’s so cool
ahh! thanks for posting this interview!
Seems like a good guy, but his songs are bland. I like soft, moody music, but he reminds me way to much of guys like Jason Mraz and Plain White T’s. Gentle, but only something I would listen to on the background.
Does he speak korean?
Hey, I’m from Philippines and I’ve seen most of David Choi’s music in Youtube. He’s an amazing guy, really talented. Hope he continues doing what he does especially in Youtube because we like that thing, the grassroot thing. That’s how you can get close with people you want to share your music with. ^_^
I’m a fan of David Chois’
And I subscribed to him on youtube.
I’m glad that he’s going to go out to Korea and hopefully have a good experience there and learn new things about his culture.
And i’m looking forward to his upcoming album. and collab with Kina. Cause she’s also awesome. XD
Funny how my fave drink is the same as his!!
“Sweet Leaf Tea’s Pomegranate green tea”
david choi is super bomb! i was late to a concert of his, maybe i’ll get him dark chocolate to make up for it. his smile IS nice =D
this interview is BOGUS!!
all this info is on his blogs if your a member on his website this doens’t even QUALIFY!!
BOO POPSEOUL!!
lol you suck~
y not interview snsd? they are pretty and defintely talented yo!
This David Choi is already westernized. Lol
agreed
banana to the max =P
wtf
woah i re-read this interview and noticed the location in this picture!!~ man i know where that is… if i were there i would of gotten an autograph T^T
WOO DAVID CHOI<3
i know where it is too!!! (;
I LOVE DAVID CHOI
I kinda agree to him when he talked about the Asian artists trying to be successful in America, i love them but they’re making their music a bit similar to American beats. I mean that’s why some Americans loved Asian music is because it’s one of a kind , but recently, I observed even Asian music is loosing it’s own originality, they’re adapting the american music too much
woahh~ i can’t believe it.. i subscribed to him for months now(or is it last year? i can’t recall).. but i only found out he’s a singer !! ^O^.. just~~ woaHHHHH~~ ^^
i LOL-ed hard when he posted a video of him smiling!! xDDD
sorry for the bad english. ^^
some of his answers are pretty 느끼해…
seems like he’s trying to fill the “im a down to earth cool with everyone/everything guy with the perfect personality that goes against everything mainstream”
i wouldnt be able to stand it after a while.
Why don’t you meet him first and then judge him you idiot
It doesn’t take a genius to see that he’s not interested at all in Korean music, and that he does not like it for the reasons he stated(don’t touch base with fans, too corporate, too american(whatever the hell that means), etc). But honestly, you could make the argument that he’s talking out of his ass because if he doesn’t even bother listening to any of it, how the hell does he know what those artists do or how they interact with fans? He knows nothing about it and shouldn’t be commenting about why other korean singers won’t be successful in the US. And why did this silly interviewer ask “what do you think of their(korean) music”, after he answered “not really” to the question “do you listen to korean music”. You would think one would get the hint after the first answer.
He says he’s himself rather than a “product” or a “celebrity” but thats’ bullshid because “celebrity” just means someone who is recognized for their work and if he becomes really popular, he will be a celebrity whether he wants to call himself that or not.
I really enjoy the way he sings and he’s got a very unique singing voice for a Korean, but was no one else offended by the condescending way he answered questions when it came to Korean music?
David has been a musician for about 6-7 years, so I would assume he knows quite a lot about the music industry, thus he has some right and credibility to comment about Korean artists trying to break into America.
Although he states he doesn’t listen to much Korean music, I do believe David is fully supporting Korean music and the so called ‘Asian movement’. He’s even visiting his home country for the very first time just to show his support.
I don’t think the ‘don’t touch base with fans’ bit was an explanation as to why he didn’t like Korean music. I think he meant to say that before Korean artists come to the USA to try to make it big, they should try to interact with more North American fans, rather than hoping to ride on the wave of their success in Asia. SE7EN and BoA failed at this.
I believe his second point about the music being ‘too American’ was referring to BoA & SE7EN’s American music efforts — their music was definitely what David described — too American, too processed. The majority of the BoA and SE7EN fans were complaining the entire time because of the sole reason that they’re were ‘Americanizing’ themselves too much. Even Epik High made a comment about it — Korean artists trying to cross-over to America are trying to fit into this American music mould instead of being themselves. That’s the main issue; they’re not using a very good approach.
The exception to this now though is the Wonder Girls. They’ve stayed true to their music (mainly because JYP is still their producer, and they just basically made English versions of their songs), and it’s completely different. They’re not trying to Americanize themselves. And if someone wanted to bring up the touching base with fans issue, they’re not doing bad at all. They’ve had many meet & greets available, are easily accessible on Facebook/Twitter, as they update regularly.
**I think he meant to say that before Korean artists come to the USA and expect to make it big, they should interact more rather than hoping to ride on the waves of their success in Asia
? He’s going there to support himself, not to support Korean music. You can bank on that. How does it make sense to you that he supports something he doesn’t even care to listen to? The 2 don’t go together.
Who cares if he doesn’t like Korean music? Why does it matter to you? He never said he hated Koreans. At least he’s doing things for the “Asian Movement” in America. What are you doing other than trash talking?
Sam, if you’re gonna respond, then read my shid correctly b4 you respond, dooshbag. when the f did i say he hated koreans? when did i say that i care that he doesn’t like korean music? i stated a fact based on his reply. i never said i cared that he doesn’t like the music, i said i don’t like the condescending way he answered the questions when it came to korean music. And your stupid asss last comment is a retarded contradiction. if you’re gonna criticize someone for something you apparently don’t like, don’t do it yourself in the same fahking sentence telling them not to do it.
Actually he has listened to Korean music, but not as much as the average Kpop listener would. Remember what he said: “Not really. I just listen to the ones my friends listen to, like that one song “…baby baby baby” and “lolli lolli lollipop”. I don’t really blame him, since he was born in America, thus he is probably accustomed more to American music.
Although he did say that he doesn’t really listen to a lot of Korean music, this doesn’t mean that he doesn’t like Korean music, no? I understand how the context of David’s answer can be interpreted in a different way, but I don’t think he would be that arrogant to imply that he hates Korean music.
Whether or not he hates Kpop, he said he “would love to see an Asian make it” in America, which shows his support to his fellow Korean artists trying to break into America. (It’s quite confusing really, because you don’t know if he’s supporting Korean artists breaking into America or Korean artists in his home country. Maybe both?)
f12, my whole point was that the way he answered the questions when asked about korean music was in a very condescending tone and not in any way respectful towards the entire culture of Korean music. Him saying “would love to see an asian make it” is an obvious fake reply that says “they’ll never make it” if you take the whole context of why he said that to begin with. You know what i’m saying? That’s all. Also, you either do something because you like it or you don’t. If you don’t, then it means you have no interest in it which means you don’t like it. But again, I don’t care whether he likes it or not because that wasn’t my point.
so what if he like korean music he like it if he dont who cares.i only started finding out korean music existed after someone posted this video on this online game i would play forums. i seen the video kiss because i am a girl and was interested ever since.