[EXCLUSIVE] Interview with Producer Bruce “Automatic” Vanderveer: Working with XIA Junsu on “Uncommitted” and “Incredible”

Back in the summer of 2012, many fans were excited to learn about the release of Junsu’s (XIA‘s) new English single album, “Uncommitted.” The album opened a new understanding towards the singer’s ability to digest and express different musical ranges. Many have wondered about the American producer behind the English song “Uncommitted”. The question might have occurred again this past summer, when the same producer of “Uncommitted” had worked with Junsu to create the song “Incredible,” the Korean and English title song featuring Quincy Brown in Junsu’s second solo album.

American producer Bruce “Automatic” Vanderveer, CEO of InRage Entertainment, is the mastermind behind “Uncommitted” and “Incredible,” two completely opposite styled songs that managed to fit perfectly with Junsu’s vocals. While “Uncommitted” will make you shed tears as you grasp the heart-wrenching lyrics, “Incredible” will make you throw away the tear-moistened tissue as you dance along to the upbeat rhythm.

Despite his busy schedule, I had the opportunity to interview producer Bruce “Automatic” in obtaining the exclusive scope of what it was like to work with Junsu, as well as what the processes of creating two incredible hit songs entailed when working in the realm of K-Pop as an American music producer. Having worked with world famous singers such as Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera, producer “Automatic” provides a musical perspective to K-Pop that leads the way for Korean pop to be identified as a world renowned genre.

I.Said.Hi: It’s a pleasure to have this interview with you!

Bruce “Automatic” Vanderveer: Hi! Awesome, I’ve been waiting for your call. I’m here at the studio right now.

I: I just have some questions for you that I know our readers are curious about. So, let’s get started! First off, you’ve worked with Junsu twice now, producing both “Uncommitted” and “Incredible.” Let’s go back to the beginning. How did this relationship form?

B: C-JeS actually contacted me. It was a very unique situation. They had an independent A&R (Artist and Repertoire) person named Niddy who was reaching out to different producers. He asked me if I could contribute any songs for Junsu’s album, but I didn’t know who Junsu was. My daughter knew who he was and she was so excited to hear that Junsu wanted new material. I have worked with Pink, Christina Aguilera, and so many other acts, but I’ve never worked with anyone in K-Pop. But my daughter was into JYJ, BIG BANG,TVXQ, G-Dragon, EXO, and all these different groups. She convinced me, and I submitted many songs. Junsu chose “Uncommitted,” but “Uncommitted” was a song I wrote four years ago, so I didn’t really think he would take the song. It was a good song, but I didn’t think he would choose it. I was so surprised when he chose it.

I: Well, I know that many readers are curious about your experiences working with Junsu. What was it like to work with him? Do you have any funny or interesting episodes while working with him?

B: Junsu, when he is in a creative environment, is relaxed and so funny. He’s just a really down-to-earth guy. When we were recording “Incredible,” we were trying to help him re-cut some of the Korean parts, and I was trying my best to pronounce Korean. So sometimes, he would start laughing at my pronunciation. We were joking all the time. After we would do a take or two, he would start practicing Korean with me.

I: Do you remember any of the Korean words or phrases you learned?

B: ‘Anyeonghasaeyo’ (‘Hello’ in Korean) is all that I’ve got so far [laughs], but we are making it important to start learning Korean. The fact that we have so many fans in Korea and all around the world makes us want to start learning.

I: Since “Uncommitted” was sung in English, what was the process like to produce an English song for a Korean singer?

B: My partner, Ebony Cunningham, is the one who guided him through the English lyrics of “Uncommitted.” She really helped him with the sounds and vowels, and also helped him with the American dialect. Junsu is such a fast learner, and it was really amazing because he was able to capture Ebony’s pronunciation very quickly. Also in the studio at the time was the CEO of C-JeS, Mr Baek (Baek Chang Joo). Mr. Baek was sitting there and also learning the English lyrics. It was a great feeling and vibe because this was the first time we were working with Junsu, and we were all feeding off of each other. Junsu was being a little shy when trying to pronounce the English, but we were all applauding in the studio saying, “You got it, you got it!” It was just a real great cultural experience between people who were learning to communicate with each other. Junsu was a real warm person, so he made us feel comfortable right away.

I: Then how was it like working with Junsu when producing “Incredible,” since the song is in both Korean and English?

B: What’s interesting is that we wrote “Incredible” and played it for Junsu the day we were recording “Uncommitted.” Junsu, for the year that he had been (promoting) “Uncommitted,” he would say or tweet certain things that gave us a clue that he still remembered the song. So he contacted us and let us know that he wanted to do the song and also translate some of the song into Korean. That’s when Junsu got involved in re-creating some of the lyrics. His writing ability is awesome. Through the Korean lyrics, he was able to not only translate the lyrics into Korean but add more dimension to the song; the lyrics became more beautiful. This is our first collaboration that we wrote together, and we are intending on doing more.

When releasing the video for “Incredible,” we sat and talked, and he was teaching me more Korean. I call him my Korean teacher [laughs]. He was saying that he’s looking forward to doing more songs together and was telling me to start working on it now. He works so hard, because here he is recording the video for “Incredible,” and we are talking about the next song. He’s always thinking in advance.

I: For the next song, what kind of music styles would you like to produce for Junsu?

B: The next couple of things we are going to do with Junsu are going to be a hybrid of different styles of music. I play certain instruments, so one of the advantages we have is to produce music of many different genres and styles. Junsu is one of the most versatile singers I have heard. He could sing in any genre. The next collaboration we work on is going to surprise a lot of people because it’s going to be different genres mixed with popular music, pop. It’s going to be very exciting.

I: Now that you have experienced both Korean and American music cultures, what are the traits of K-Pop that you find unique?

B: One of the things I love about K-Pop music is that it incorporates a lot of true musical styles that a lot of the times in America we don’t do any more. The stuff I produce in America is very technical and very advanced, but sometimes chord structure is not important as stylization and swagger. But a lot of K-Pop music I listen to really love strong chords, beautiful changes, and good lyrical content, so it helps me explore. As a producer who produced so many different genres K-Pop satisfies my artistic needs. A lot of times, I produce songs that don’t have a lot of chord changes, and its more focused on vocals. Yet in K-Pop, a lot of the songs I listen to are challenging because you can play it on the piano and on the guitar. It’s really beautiful, and I want to help expand K-Pop music in America so that this becomes a part of American culture and music.

You know, I got the interview for Junsu with the Grammys and he was on the front page of Grammys.com. The interview was through a friend of mine associated with the Grammys. I’m hoping that eventually the Grammys would start to recognize K-pop. They do have a world music category, but I want K-pop to have their own category.

I: Speaking of K-Pop awareness in American culture, we’ve seen the difficulties of big name K-Pop artists trying to break in to the American music industry. As an accomplished and experienced American music producer, what are some advice you would give to K-Pop singers trying to make it in the American Music Industry?

B: It’s important to plant seeds. As I listen to more K-pop, the artists seem to incorporate English in their work. G-Dragon did a collaboration with Missy Elliot. If we could continue to incorporate English in to K-Pop, and also try to do as many collaborations with established American artists, it would eventually break down those barriers. PSY has definitely helped to break down many barriers. When we have singers like Junsu who is more of a vocalist, I think Americans would understand that there are many dimensions to K-Pop artists. So we planted the seed because Junsu was the very first K-Pop artist to be on the Grammys (website). We worked real hard to have that happen, and we are going to keep on doing that, keep planting seeds, and help break some grounds.

I: Thank you so much for your time and sharing with us the processes of producing music with Junsu. We hope to (and we know we will) hear more from you soon. Thanks Bruce!

Note: parts unrelated to Junsu & JYJ were omitted.