𝗞 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 (𝗡𝗼𝘃 𝟭𝟬, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲): 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻 Sandara Park (DARA of 2NE1) is starting full solo activities in Japan under the name Sandara Park, through a Japan-focused music project called “rePRISM.” A new Japanese-language song is scheduled for digital release in December. ~ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘄 After 22 years in the industry, she wants to show a side of herself people haven’t seen. Many people in Japan outside K-pop fandom don’t know her yet, so she sees a chance to make music without being judged by her old image. She says fans mostly remember her as the cute younger version of herself from her Philippine days, or as “2NE1’s DARA,” and often focused on her fashion more than her music. She likes Japanese music for its variety and its lyrical, story-driven songwriting, which fits the music she wants to make. Singing in a new language feels unfamiliar, and she says that unfamiliarity actually gives her courage. ~ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 Her image has always been yellow or orange, including in 2NE1. For rePRISM she chose blue, the opposite color, to represent who she is now. She regretted not doing many solo releases before, but now sees it as a good thing because she still has so much left to show. ~ 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿 She recently started playing guitar on stage with her band and plays second guitar. She first bought a guitar as a trainee after being moved by the Japanese film Taiyou no Uta (Midnight Sun). She had little money then, so she bought the cheapest one. 2NE1 kept her too busy to practice until recently. The new album includes ballads and other genres, and she wants to show more singing and instrumental work rather than mainly dance. ~ 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘀 She describes them as very loyal, like longtime friends. Some have been coming to her shows for about 15 years, and many turned up for the tour in Japan two years ago. Korean fans tend to call her “cool,” while Japanese fans call her “cute.” She jokes it may be because her Japanese isn’t good yet, and hopes to earn a “cool” from Japanese fans someday. She can do stage MCs in Japanese, but interviews are still hard for her. ~ 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻 She has a list of favorite curry, ramen and katsudon spots, regular shops, and is friendly with the staff at clothing stores. She tried gyaru makeup at a popular shop in Shibuya. She always buys the small-size cup udon, which she likes because Korea doesn’t have those small sizes. ~ 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 She works out 3 to 4 times a week with personal training and Pilates. Her skincare centers on massage to improve circulation. ~ 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 Performances will be band-centered and mostly sung in Japanese. She is both nervous and excited. If she forgets a Japanese word during an MC, longtime fans in the front sometimes help her, which she says is part of the fun. ~ 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 She feels her musical “color” as Sandara Park isn’t clearly defined yet, but she’s started finding it through this album. She wants to be remembered as someone who never gave up on what she wanted to do, at any age. 🔗 Photos & interview © K Side #SandaraPark# #Dara# #산다라박#