Behind the Scenes with Potatoi: An Exclusive Interview with John Cha of Wave to Earth
- Angel Polito
- Aug 31
- 48 min read
Full Transcript:
Angel (00:00)
Hello everyone and welcome back to K-All. I am your host Angel and today's episode is truly something special. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm joined by none other than Potatoi, also known as John Cha of Wave to Earth.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (00:17)
Hey guys, it's Potatoi, great to be here and actually my first English interview in my whole life doing it as Potatoi so yeah, let's find out like we have lots of questions and like answers coming up
Angel (00:32)
Yes we do and we're looking forward to it! I mean, as the bassist of the globally beloved band Wave to Earth, Potatoi has captivated listeners around the world, and since their debut with a single Wave on August 23rd in 2019, Wave to Earth has only continued to rise. Their accomplishments include viral success on platforms like TikTok and Spotify, especially with their song Bad which topped the viral 50 global chart.
They sold out their first major solo North American tour in 2023, followed by another sold out tour in 2024. And just this year, they took home the best band award at the 34th Seoul Music Awards. Pretty incredible, but we're not done. Because in addition to his work with Wave to Earth, Potatoi has launched his solo project to express his own musical direction and identity. Releasing his debut solo EP,
Toy in February 2024, and now he's back with a brand new release, his heartfelt wedding song, She wanna Blue. So without further ado, let's welcome Potatoi!
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (01:39)
Okay ⁓
Angel (01:44)
Yeah, we got it, we got it! Yes we
do. Okay, so I am so excited. I have a lot of questions for you because there's just so much to discuss when it comes to your music. But we need to start off with She wanna Blue. First off, congratulations on the release.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (02:01)
Thank you,
Angel (02:03)
course.
This track feels both super dreamy and incredibly heartfelt. When did this idea for the song first come to you? ⁓
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (02:11)
Okay, where should I start? Usually, you know, like I have some period of like creativity process. Okay. Like random ideas just like pop in my head very like just spontaneously. And so I think it was last year some somewhat like maybe after after the American tour when I was like usually
taking some personal time in my house and when I was taking a shower, some melody just popped in. So it was like... That melody just popped in my head first and then the word... is actually in Korean it means like fresh cold blue.
Angel (02:59)
Yeah. So is that why you did the ice cube reel?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (03:02)
Yeah, yeah, I think so. was like a random thing. So actually in Korean, like, Siwonhan Blue is like Fresh Cold Blue and it sounds like She Wanna Blue, right? Yeah, the idea just like kept going from that melody and then like the phrase of that. So I tried to make it as like puzzle pieces. So it started from that.
Angel (03:17)
Yeah, it does.
Yeah. Cool.
I have a question. When you were taking that shower, was it a hot shower or a cold shower since it's She Want Cold Blue?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (03:37)
It was a hot shower. I never take cold showers. Yeah, it's too... Too brutal. Yeah, too brutal.
Angel (03:45)
Yeah, definitely. That's really incredible that the melody came first. And I think it's such a catchy melody. Like I have been singing it around my house nonstop. So has my mom. She's a big fan. We've just been like, "I am the one who's not so appealing". It's incredibly catchy. So the fact that just came to you in the shower is incredible.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (04:05)
Yeah, usually I get lots of ideas during showers. Maybe the other members like to get some random melodies and ideas during their daily basis. maybe Daniel has get some ideas like when he's riding a bike or something. But particularly for me, was like just... shower. Yeah, it's the shower. I got lots of melodies during the shower.
Angel (04:29)
You know what? Me too. Sometimes from time to time I write music and it's always the shower.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (04:34)
It's very fresh, you know.
Angel (04:36)
Yeah, I think because you have no other thoughts. Your head is empty, it's relaxing, and all of sudden the melodies just come to you. That's really amazing. Wow, I love that. So in the song, I did just sing the lyric, but when you say, am the one who's not so appealing, I was wondering what inspired that line because when I watch you perform in concerts, you come across as such a light and a genuine soul on stage, and I think that makes you very appealing. So what prompted you to write that lyric?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (05:05)
So how the idea was it is like I tried to first write the chorus lyrics as like something containing She Wanna Blue.
Angel (05:14)
Mm-hmm.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (05:15)
So, but you know in English the blue is actually like maybe has maybe like a what do say that not depressing vibe but
Angel (05:25)
Like it has a sad undertone. Yeah
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (05:27)
Right,
so maybe if I say like she wanna blue I thought that it would be a little bit like depressing so yeah, two down so I had to kind of change it ⁓ so it became like then how if I say it like she ain't no blue ⁓ So and it was really my wife that I met she She's very like energetic and like sunny vibe
Angel (05:35)
down.
Yeah.
Yes.
Aw, very positive. Yeah, bright.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (05:59)
huh, so it was like, okay, like she isn't blue. Like I like the way that she's very happy. Yeah, it was like a puzzle of things.
Angel (06:11)
Yeah, to merge it together perfectly.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (06:14)
Yeah, so it went like that and then I just put some like ⁓ false story. What if I just put like I'm not that a cool guy and I'm not that charming but like I don't get why you like me so. huh, yeah.
Angel (06:30)
why she's drawn to you. It's really
beautiful, I love it, and I think that it's a very relatable feeling. Like lot of people feel they're not cool enough, even though you clearly are, and when there's someone that bright and airy who comes into your life, they can really make the world a different shade of blue. So perhaps the she ain't no blue is that darker blue, the darker sadness, and then she wanna blue is that light, beautiful, like waves color blue.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (06:56)
Yeah, that's right. So at the song verse 1 and verse 2 chorus is in English, but I used the Korean lyrics on the very back end so Actually in the Korean chorus the lining is if you can translated ⁓ Like my clumsy life She came like the rainy clouds ⁓
Angel (07:06)
Yes, yeah.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (07:24)
And in my heart, my burning heart, like, fresh cold blue, fresh cold blue, it goes like...
Angel (07:31)
Yeah, so she like doused out the burning heart the rain and calm that burn That's so beautiful. So it's like this refreshing blue. Yeah, it's a waving healing blue I love that so much
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (07:42)
Yeah, I think. So
when I first got the Korean lyrics, I thought that maybe I just don't use it because I thought it was maybe too like counter thing. So like maybe English and Korean. But what I found it was going out to be a single and why not? I just do whatever I want. ⁓
Angel (08:04)
Yeah, I agree because
you're the artist. Yeah, you should leave it there. Yeah, I'm glad that you did because I think it fits really beautifully and it even makes the song more meaningful. The Korean lyrics, it helps bring another sentiment to it and it adds layers. So I like that. ⁓ You did perform this track at your wedding with your Wave to Earth bandmates and I feel like that's such a poetic way to debut a song. So how did you know that this was the right song for that moment?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (08:21)
and thank you so much.
So I always had this dream. So what if I sing my song in my wedding? That would be really cool. That was the first thought. So I had to like prepare the wedding in a very like middle of tour. So I only had like two weeks when I was in Korea. And at that time I had the demo ready. So I just asked. Usually people would think like what if you're gonna play a song like
Angel (08:54)
That's crazy.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (09:03)
It would be like wave to earth song, but I just had like a urge to maybe if I play unreleased song and the song that I wrote, that would be really cool. So I asked my friends and like, can you guys help me? And we rehearsed it and we just brought all of our like gears into the wedding hall.
Angel (09:26)
That's so cute. And you have a lot of gear.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (09:28)
Yeah,
right. So I made it quite minimal as possible. But yeah, but the main problem was like it was raining before that day. So we had, we kind of put our gears in that rainy day and then in that very after like, like the next day, the actual wedding day, it was raining in the morning too. So like we...
Angel (09:38)
No.
my god.
Darn it.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (09:57)
Yeah,
the first idea was to play outside because it was like half outside and half indoors and like we Yeah, we just had to put the gears inside because it was raining in the morning. In Korean weddings the like the actual What do you say me and my wife has to kind of like greet the other people who's coming? So, okay. Yeah the tour members so
Angel (10:09)
You had no other choice.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (10:22)
The sound engineer were going together He was setting up when I was greeting people I had no idea I was just begging, please not rain during the wedding
Angel (10:29)
That's so funny.
No. ⁓ It's kind of poetic though because in the song you say how she's the rain cloud with your burnt heart. You might have done that to yourself with the lyrics.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (10:50)
Exactly, literally. But during the wedding, it was a miracle. It didn't rain and just right after finish, yeah, it just started pouring that day.
Angel (11:01)
See that was miraculous. That means that God was blessing your wedding kept the rain away in the right moment
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (11:07)
Mm-hmm. That was a miracle.
Angel (11:09)
That is a miracle for sure. And speaking of miracles, I think one of the lines in the song, she looks at me with a mind of healing, is a very miraculous lyric. It has such a beautiful sentiment and I want to know a little bit how you came up with that lyric.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (11:23)
I really like don't have like intentions writing lyrics So like in some some way it just comes like that But what I think in my unconsciousness I have like maybe religious inspiration, I think yeah Mm-hmm. So like, you know, I respect like various religions, but in my just personal religion like, you know God gives like
Angel (11:41)
Yeah, that's what I felt from it.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (11:53)
love and glory to everyone. Yeah, it's you don't need to pay it and like I think that that kind of idea just like went into the lyrics somehow but yeah so you know she she looks the world or like she looks at me with a mind of healing I think that came from that.
Angel (12:03)
beautiful.
Yeah, I think that's beautiful. I'm Christian as well. So I also believe in that sentiment. And I think it's really beautiful the way you switch the lyrics from she looks at world with a mind of healing to she looks at me with a mind of healing because it has kind of two meanings like you're her world, but also love turned the world into you guys meeting and her looking at you with a mind of healing. So that's really beautiful.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (12:35)
So to be honest, that wasn't super intentional. The lyrics came itself and I believe that when the creativity process comes in, it has to be that way. It's not me writing the lyrics. It's the song. Yeah, the song is just writing itself. That's what I...
Angel (12:51)
intentional.
That's so
cool! That's incredible, I love that. I think that that's what creates the most powerful songs too, when the song just writes itself. You just feel it flowing through you. And then it all makes sense later on. Very cool! So speaking about the instrumentation for this song, it has like a funky four beat groove and some Prince-like swagger. Were you listening to anything in particular when you were working on this song? Like what inspired the sound?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (13:18)
So,
you know, I pretty much, I think I posted a few songs about like Prince. So Prince was like maybe five years ago, six years ago, like before my military service, that was one of my favorite artists. So like I had it on mine and there's a song called I Feel For You that was one of my best songs. Wow.
Prince composed it first and maybe like some artists like the legendary like Shaka Khan also like had a cover of it and one of my favorite like artists just did that on their like small gigs or something so I was very familiar with that song and then you know always there's some idea like what if I try to make a song a bit funky like Prince and like I feel for you so it was
Angel (13:58)
So cool.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (14:13)
like my own maybe like recreativity I think sonic wise yeah so that was it yeah that pocket groove like the the dancy like thing the main idea was like prince so yeah you know originality I just give a big praise for him like and the early early 80s a disco funk and something I also like listened to it so that that was the inspiration sonically I think
Angel (14:39)
I see. I think it translated really well and it definitely suited your style. It's very fun, very groovy. You can't help but dance when you listen to it, so I think you did a great job. Of course, there's some retro synths in it and I really love a good synth, so I appreciated that a lot. And you're also really great with vocal layering. It gives a very nostalgic feel, you know?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (14:49)
Thank you, thank you.
I first, you know, I never thought myself being a vocalist, but you know, starting Potatoi, it was like my very first lyric composing and then like vocal thing. Before that, I've never tried to sing and I thought that it was like, it doesn't suit for me. Like it doesn't suit for my characteristics. And I thought that it was more for outgoing people and like the front man. I thought it wasn't my thing.
My debut album is actually like instrumental jazz tracks So I always have like I love to compose stuff and every time I like make those tracks and like Maybe what you say those like jazz tracks or instrumentals or hip-hop beats or something I tried to search out for like top liners who actually can like make melodies on it But I find it difficult so what I say
Angel (15:31)
I see.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (16:01)
I realized this, like, what if I just sing it my own? And one of the encouragements that came out that that era, it was Daniel. He always like encouraged me to like, yo, you can make your own song. You can sing. And so I got that idea and just applied it. that was Popsicle. My debut single was actually my first ever written lyrics and first song that I sang. Wow.
Angel (16:29)
Wow, that's incredible. And it's a great song too, so you did a good job for your first try.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (16:35)
Yeah, it took really long actually. So yeah, you know the first projects really takes very long and like I try not to be like perfectionist for that song, but I don't know why it took a year to get like one song ready
Angel (16:50)
No, that makes a lot of sense because when it's your own project, it's a lot more personal too. And it's like your baby almost. So you need to the time to really make it perfect for you. And you're being very vulnerable by putting yourself out there and singing for the first time. Yeah.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (17:05)
That's right, you know, it really needs encouragement to put something out. Cause like at first time, like you have this like fear.
Angel (17:14)
I get it, I totally do. And look at you now, you're releasing a brand new single and maybe other music on the way too, you never know.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (17:16)
Yeah, thank you, thank you.
Yeah, right. for now, I'm trying to like, the whole goal is to like produce a whole album, the full length album, maybe containing like 10 to 12 songs. Not every song goes into like wave to earth albums, right? So like maybe some songs wouldn't fit in that kind of category. like I always have leftovers, you know.
Yeah, it feels very bad if I just like leave it somewhere in my hard drive or something. So yeah
Angel (17:58)
Yeah,
no, I understand. You want to bring those songs to life too. Yeah, right. You're actually answering my next question. So I was gonna say, how do you know when a song belongs to Potatoi and not Wave to Earth?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (18:10)
So like talking for that I usually take all of my songs to Daniel because he's producing wave to earth and I respect that like totally so and like we just listen to it together like What if this song do you think this song will fit or not? And then we we did a whole run through of my 14 songs that I wrote during tours or like maybe when I wrote in spare times and he choose the
Angel (18:23)
Yeah.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (18:40)
best three songs for wave to earth like the ones that i'm really yeah the i love the most and i thought that this is my pride and yeah he choose those
Angel (18:45)
love the most.
And he's like, give them to me.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (18:54)
was
like, okay, let's do this in wave to earth. And I was like, okay, you just picked the ones that I really like.
Angel (19:02)
Yeah, it's like you picked my soul song. ⁓
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (19:06)
Yeah, that means good because like he can distinctly distinguish those things like distinguish the good songs for it So he just kind of booked it and then the other ten songs is right now. I'm working on it. So You know As a small artist what I felt to just show up maybe come to the ground level and try to like promote myself in
Angel (19:21)
Okay, very exciting!
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (19:35)
a very constant way. So I had to like change my mind to show up to people like, okay, if I'm just gonna like release it in silence, like who would ever like listen to So to promote my song and try to share the whole process for the album making. But what I feel guilty is like in the video that I made, like I said, like I was ready for my next album, but the actual truth is like that meant I'm ready to release it, but not come out in
few months. meant like, okay, the demos are ready, but now I'm going to share the whole process to you guys. that, was.
Angel (20:12)
⁓ Well that's okay, it's good that you're clarifying now so everyone can listen and understand, but I think it's so incredible that you're showing the behind the scenes with your V-logging. It's a great way to show how the album's produced and your fans are going to be excited to listen to it whenever it is ready, so there's no rush. You gotta keep going with the flow, riding the wave until it's perfect.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (20:32)
Yeah, right. So the main point for it was to kind of make the community to feel the fans in the process together. the whole VLOG, like blogging thing and the documentaries and like those like shorts things. I think that's the idea of that, to be together.
Angel (20:52)
Yeah, I think that's great. I think you really get a sense of that togetherness and the way that you make the vlogs kind of hanging out with you like in the studio and seeing what you're creating or just your day-to-day life. It's very intimate and also cinematic the way that it's created. I love the little music you use in the background, the way that it's edited. Do you edit it yourself? You have a team.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (21:11)
No, actually... Yeah,
I have an editor so... So his name is Paul, actually. ⁓ He actually did the live video of Popsicle. So I have a... In Potatoi's YouTube, there's a few live videos and actually he made it and maybe the music video for Image was also Paul's work.
Angel (21:16)
Cool.
⁓ wow, I love that video. Like the karaoke-esque one. It's really cool.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (21:44)
Yeah, but our relationship starts like very... maybe... I think it was like almost nine to eight years ago. Wow. Yeah, when I was like not in the band and when I was just like a bass player, I like instrumental reviews in like such like instrumental shops. So yeah, he was filming all those like reviews and like sound comparison stuff.
Angel (22:07)
Very cool.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (22:13)
Back then and we we get along like after that and then like we first I started to kind of requesting him to do some like potatoi's music video and Yeah, it became the VLOG thing
Angel (22:25)
the content.
Yeah, that's really awesome. It's so great that you had such a great bond with him for nine years almost so you knew his work and his ability and you could trust him with that type of content.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (22:39)
Yeah, very trustful guy and also another thing is, you know, if you don't have that kind of bond, how could you ever get those like results? That's right. It's true. If I'm just like giving some, I tried also to like give some other works to other people, but it didn't came out like that level. So.
Angel (22:47)
Mm-hmm.
Exactly
Yeah, it's not the same. You need that perfect team synergy. So that makes a lot of sense. Yeah Speaking of the v-logs in every potatoi v-log so far i've noticed that daniel almost always shows off a new purchase Well that's become a official segment that we're gonna see in these videos first. There's like the stereo mic and the guitar
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (23:28)
You
know, he's such an enthusiast of ⁓ instrumentals and like audio gear. He always liked to express those new stuff. And I think it's very good way. For us, it was like a daily thing. Every time he brings up new stuff, we're very used to it. I think like showing on VLOGs, like people realize like, okay, is it a thing to get see like
Every each week Daniel's new purchase.
Angel (24:01)
It's quite funny, but that's just every day for you. it's like, nothing different.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (24:06)
It was very, yeah, nothing different. It was just daily thing for us.
Angel (24:10)
That's really cute. I love that. Well, the videos are very entertaining. You do a great job recording them and Paul does a great job editing them. And what's really cool is we're actually filming this interview on the sixth anniversary of Wave to Earth's debut.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (24:25)
Wow! So it was like 6 times worth of- Well thank you like that was a special day we just like booked it just like randomly
Angel (24:33)
Yeah,
see, but nothing is random. It's all preordained. That was a fateful intention, I believe. Yeah, and looking back, did you ever imagine the kind of global success that you would garner together as a group?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (24:40)
It was very faithful intention.
Who would expect that kind of big substance? To be honest, it's still surreal for me and the others. But the truth is, every time Daniel was starting this project, he still had a vision, a very clear vision to this band will go international.
Maybe globalized. Yeah, he felt it and like what I think is there weren't that many bands who or like singer-songwriters who wrote songs in English back back then So like if you go to some like contest or something the judges actually really said like why why don't you just write songs in Korean like why are you guys like writing this in English and something yeah, and every time we heard that
We're saying like, we're gonna go international. So, you know, still it was during COVID and we didn't much have to like opportunities to go outside the world. But after it finished, the first festival was in Thailand. And yeah, after going there, we just realized that there was a totally different world outside. So we tried to
Angel (25:42)
Yeah, you had the plan.
Wow!
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (26:08)
make something happen after that and because that was a very intense memory for us and we saw that there are actually people who are listening to our music so yeah like very
Angel (26:22)
eye-opening.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (26:23)
eye-opening and we had that visions from the very first start to expand ourselves to the worldwide and yeah, so we tried so we sought out some people who actually can help us like Break through the Western market or something and that was the effort behind the music so
Angel (26:43)
I see. And it was very successful and I think it's because your music is so universal. It has this really powerful essence to it that it could really convey across borders and just really translate and resonate with a lot of different audiences. So it's phenomenal.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (26:59)
Yeah, that's what I feel very unreal at this point. Why is it working? Of course, the music is good. That's a passive thing. there are a bunch of good music out there. Why is it particularly us? The music has to be good and the lots of elements that exist.
Angel (27:08)
Thank
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (27:29)
Everything has to be good, but the actual reaction from the fans is totally unexpected.
Angel (27:37)
I say, yeah, you don't see it coming.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (27:40)
When people say that it's very relatable and it has some touch emotionally and you get through it, those words is actually okay.
Angel (27:53)
You feel that from my music?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (27:55)
Do feel that? Is this real? Like still? Yeah. I don't get it. Every time I don't get it.
Angel (28:00)
Well, I think it makes a lot of sense. I think it's because all of you guys have such beautiful hearts and I think that is heard through your music. You can feel the soul in Waves to Earth's music. Whether it's you playing the bass or when you hear Daniel's voice or DongQ on the drums. It's just like so meaningful each track that you release that even if you don't understand in the process and you feel like there isn't an intention with the lyrics sometimes, it's definitely there. Everyone can just feel your
Sincerity, I think that's what it comes down to you're sincere with your music and that's it ended up resonating
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (28:36)
That's such a kind compliment, very generous.
Angel (28:40)
It's the truth.
I do want to segue back to She Wanna Blue, because I have some questions about your music video. And this is Potatoi's interview. So we're going to get back into the vibe. But I did watch the music video, and I absolutely loved it. And I wanted to know a little bit more about the visual direction and the creative concept behind it.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (29:06)
So the music video, it's also Paul's work and you know, what can I say? So we have some rules for potatoi's. So number one rule is you don't spend a bunch of money. yeah, we are in a very tight budget. So we have to, yeah. ⁓
Angel (29:27)
It's
like five dollars and a dream. ⁓
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (29:30)
That's right. The actual music video isn't five dollars, like comparing to those like big music videos and the massive production, everything goes in a very low budget. like we gather up our ideas. So She On A Blue has like a bluey feeling, that fresh feeling. So ⁓ we first scheduled to go to ⁓
Angel (29:46)
that. Yeah.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (29:59)
a beach place in Korea? We had like few ideas. Beach place, blue car, and then that was quite it. Yeah, that was the vision. So blue skies, blue ocean, like blue cars and... Yeah, blue everything. you know, yeah, blue popsicle. We schedule all the routings and stuff and...
Angel (30:11)
That was the vision.
Blew everything.
Go.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (30:29)
What ended up before maybe like two days Korea starts like pouring rain
Angel (30:35)
the rain again? You can't escape the rain?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (30:37)
Yeah, the rain again and then We just couldn't film film it because what what I realized was we had a mini tour in August So we had to finish it like before August like in July Yeah, so what we decided we just booked a flight to Fukuoka It only takes about like one hour and a half and then yeah, we didn't know the place
Angel (30:59)
That's.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (31:03)
So and because like, you know, we searched the place in Korea, but like going to Japan is like totally a new place. So we just we just took some cameras and went to Japan and then just rented a car and starting film filming those things. And that was it. like the main spots were Japan that wasn't in the idea initially. It the plan. It wasn't the plan at all. And then there
Angel (31:18)
Thanks.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (31:32)
After coming back to Korea, we had to film some B-rolls, like the alternative shots for it. So I suddenly ended up buying an actual blue car, like blue used car. was... So I made a permission for myself. I really wanted... The car was a new Beetle. it was like 2008 Volkswagen new Beetle. Yeah, it was very cute.
Angel (31:46)
you actually bought one?
Yeah, was very cute.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (32:01)
There's a blue car in the secondhand market and like I was like, okay Maybe if I'm gonna use it in my music video that I could make a permission for myself And then I ended up buying it and then actually using it on my music video Yeah, the waterfall there there's a waterfall in that music video and it yeah, it's in front of my house Yeah, so I just took
Angel (32:17)
That's so great.
really? So convenient!
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (32:30)
Alternative shots just in front of my house and with my car.
Angel (32:35)
That's so cute. I love it. No, but you're very resourceful. You wanted that car. It fit the blue vibe. So you got it. And it showed up in the video. Waterfall worked.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (32:45)
Yeah, the waterfall. it's It was very big and humongous but the fun fact is like in the video is like Where's that spot? But the truth is it's just like in front of my house
Angel (32:48)
Yeah.
You know what? It works. If it works, it works. And that's hilarious. You didn't have to go all the way to Japan for the waterfall, so that's pretty cool. I love it.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (33:07)
Alright, uh huh. So,
yeah, the main idea is to do it in a very budget-y way and then try to find some maybe inspirations just nearby, not like fancy inspirations.
Angel (33:22)
Yeah, and think you did a great job doing that, especially because there's like this childlike wonder that kind of runs through the video, especially when there's that part towards the end and you're like frolicking in the grass and like running around and jumping in the air. I really like that part. But were you trying to explore the idea of love as something that heals or reconnects us with our inner child or were you just having a good time?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (33:44)
So... For that, where should I tell the truth? Yeah, how much percentage that I have to be like true for it?
Angel (33:53)
again.
That's entirely up to you.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (34:02)
Okay,
okay, okay. I was just jumping around that spot. okay You know, we found a very like greenish spot it was also Japan and maybe it was before before we had the flight so we only had about like one hour and We actually don't have no idea About that place. So we just found some like some park area in Google map and just like went it
We just found out there was like a grass just random grass And I was asking like what if I just start like running because you know
Angel (34:34)
Yeah
I love it.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (34:44)
It was almost like over like 100 degrees. Really? Yeah, and very humid and I had a jacket on but like I started like running about like 30 minutes randomly with the camera like recording.
Angel (34:57)
That's true dedication.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (34:59)
Yeah, it is. like the only character coming out the music video is just only me. And I had to do something like every time I just can't like sing because it's bored. Like I had to kind of refresh the whole scene. Yeah. And like what I saw in some videos, ⁓ like actually running scenes are very like refreshing. It's like just like... ⁓
Angel (35:23)
They are very refreshing. Do you
think in music videos? Yeah, it's in motion. So it really like, grasps people's attention.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (35:33)
Yeah, the scene is very like grabbing the intention and I think running scenes are very raw. it all came in on consciousness, but I think that worked somehow and that was the most beautiful scene in that music video in my personal opinion.
Angel (35:39)
Yeah.
I agree, I think it fit really beautifully too with that instrumental bridge. It like went so well. I loved it. I thought it was really fun. Very fun and fresh. And speaking of all the blue within the video, you had the blue popsicle and I was wondering was that an intentional callback to your debut song popsicle?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (36:08)
It became like that but the blue... Yeah, not originally. So the blue popsicle thing was Paul's idea. When we were going to Japan, he tried to search like blue ice cream somethings. But we found that only in 7-Eleven or like Lawson, they had that blue thing. Yeah, we went for the blue popsicle and then just like...
Angel (36:13)
Not originally.
I see.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (36:38)
bought it but for the scene I had to like eat two of it two of it yeah cuz it was melting every time and to get the right yeah it was so hot it was like melting I had to buy like two and ending up like eating two popsicles
Angel (36:55)
It
was a good popsicle, did it taste good at least?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (36:57)
Yeah,
it was the soda taste. like so I mean, ⁓ do you guys also have like blue soda ice cream in the States?
Angel (37:07)
soda.
We have like blue raspberry maybe? So it's like a soda flavor.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (37:14)
It's not like the coke soda flavor. So in Korea and Japan, we have blue ice cream and it's not like a berry-ish flavor. But what can I say? It's just like the blue soda. We call it the soda ice cream.
Angel (37:31)
Interesting. I've never heard of it. I'll have to check it out.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (37:33)
Yeah, when you come to Korea, ⁓ just find like soda, soda pop or like something like that.
Angel (37:39)
Yeah,
look for it. This is like totally off topic, but is that why the song from K-Pop Demonhunters is called Soda Pop? Was that like a fun little... ⁓
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (37:51)
I don't know, I have no idea but like we have that soda ice cream though, the blue soda one. Interesting. It's like, yes, some people like it but some people don't. it's very like, very... Yeah, it's very, it's like Dr. or something.
Angel (38:04)
specific taste.
okay, I see. Interesting. All right, I'll definitely have to try it if I get the chance to go to Korea one day. For sure, and I'll let you know what I think. But something I did want to talk about in the video is the moment where the popsicle turns into a microphone. I really like that scene. And also, I probably read into it too much because I like to analyze everything. But was that a nod to staying grounded in your art as a musician, even when you're in love because the popsicle melted and became a mic?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (38:15)
Okay.
Okay. So actually this is the mic that I used it. Yeah, it's the exact one. This mic I take all over the world for like demo recordings. So it has been to like states and like Europe and also in South America. It goes everywhere with me.
Angel (38:44)
Really, the exact one?
Wow, it's a very precious mic.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (39:04)
Yeah, but it's squeezed a little bit.
Angel (39:07)
Aw, yeah, it looks a little dentive.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (39:09)
Yeah, and for me, I can't like take expensive mics through this like, you know abroad So I just decided to bring this to and the message for it It was just a fun idea Like what if like this popsicle just turns into like a mic and you just started like singing But you know all video has like little like hooks. So we it was an idea for like a hooking thing
Angel (39:36)
Yeah, like a key moment.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (39:38)
key moment yeah the nice intro
Angel (39:42)
Yeah, it was really nice. I liked it a lot.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (39:44)
Yeah, but like we we were a little bit concerned for being like what if this was too like too a gag moment Yeah, we we tried to find a spot not to feel like very light and just like only just for fun But yeah, we were talking about this scene a lot. Like do you feel this is too like non-artist thing?
Angel (39:54)
Hehehehe
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (40:12)
or not but like I think it was okay with it and if we were not using that like key point we pretty much didn't have anything to open the music video in a hooking way
Angel (40:15)
Yeah. ⁓
Yeah, so you needed that moment. And I think it fit the vibe of the song really well because it is that like disco funk fun little poppy vibe. So it's cute. It's like a fun little moment and you're like, whoa, get to your attention.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (40:37)
huh. Thank you, thank you.
Angel (40:39)
Of course. And speaking of the song Popsicle, since you mentioned it a little bit before, I also really love the Wavy Seoul performance that you did with DongQ and Daniel, where they really let you shine in the spotlight, the ketchup and mayonnaise to your potat toy, as you mentioned in the V-log. It was really cute. But how does it feel to be supported by your bandmates, especially when you're sharing your own personal song like that?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (41:05)
Because you know, having a very supportive friends nearby, that's a very honorable thing. They actually helped me making the music because they're also good instrumentalists and good producers individually. So it has a feeling for being a little bit sorry to like suggesting, hey guys, would you be in my live performance video?
And still they kind of say, ⁓ yeah, we love it. So I'm very thankful for it. Like they're really supportive for that.
Angel (41:42)
Yeah,
you can see they love doing it. It's really sweet. Yeah.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (41:45)
Really nice.
it kind of continues to those like the polls like we being supportive to the polls and like wave towards we trying to be like family as much.
Angel (41:58)
Yeah,
it's like a whole full circle moment. You're always supporting each other. And because you are all so talented when it comes to producing and composing and instrumentalism, that's what you love. It's what brings you joy. So no matter what project you're working on, you can work together.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (42:12)
Yeah, that's right. You know, we just have like great musicians just in next room. So that's that's Very convenient and very nice
Angel (42:17)
Yeah, it's very convenient.
Yeah, it comes in handy. That's so cool. I love that. Now when you wrote this song, when you wrote Popsicle, did the melody come first as well before the lyrics? If you remember, was a while back.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (42:33)
I think the instrumental came first because at that period I was usually writing like hip-hop beats and like somewhat like those so I think the beat came first and then I yeah the melody after it and then the lyrics were the last so it was my first lyrics and what I feel about it is like very uncompleted in lyric lyric perspective so
I find myself like it's just too random. The lyrics felt like too random for me. It was like my first English lyrics and ⁓ I just put some words like working in that melody so that ended up being like those lyrics but to be honest it was like just finding the right bottom. The pronunciation for that note.
Angel (43:26)
Yeah,
I see. That makes sense. Well, I think you picked really good words, even if it feels a little bit incomplete to you. I think it-
almost read like poetry the way that you're talking about like the popsicle and there's like this really beautiful sense of childhood sweetness but there's also a bitterness to it too like you feel like the sad parts especially with the if i had a time if i had a time like that's very like melancholic almost but then the chorus is more light and airy so i think you did a good job with that contrast
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (43:57)
So that's the part that I'm everyday like impressed. If I still...
Angel (44:04)
some time.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (44:06)
If I make it out and have these concerns, I feel very incomplete and I also don't get the message for it by myself. some people actually have their own ⁓ interpretation for it. I think that's the charming part of art and music.
Angel (44:24)
Interpretation.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (44:33)
There could be various kinds of interpretation throughout music. Exactly. I just make it and drop it and from that on, it's just everyone's interpretation. I like that.
Angel (44:44)
Yeah,
yeah, I think it's really beautiful. I think that's the power of music It is such a creative outlet and by you first creating and making the song Anyone who listens to it can make their own creation with it. They can interpret it in their own way So that's really really cool. I love that and towards the end of that track There are a lot of fun little bursts of sound that almost feel like video game effects I don't know if you know what I'm referring to there's like little blips almost like asteroids being shot in a video game
Were those samples that you pulled from somewhere or did you create them using like piano presets or something?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (45:18)
That was all made in house. cool. Usually there's like music effects like you know what I like to use is to it's like a Totally musical thing, but there's a tape delay called space echo it's from Roland and Like if you put it on the stereo track like the whole Usually they put it on one instrument, but I just put it in the whole stereo track
So and then I just started messing around those things and that's why it has that totally glitchy thing and what I really loved Tame Impala in person. So like he always has like this instrumental thing going like in some some of his songs and he also messes a lot with those like music effectors. Yeah, that was that was the idea. That was the inspiration for me and I
Angel (46:09)
I say.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (46:15)
I decided to do it in my own song, because if the music goes instrumentally plain, I think that it's not hooking that much, and I enjoy just messing around. It feels non-commercial.
Angel (46:30)
Yeah, no, definitely. I think that makes a lot of sense because it adds more variety to the song and it's more interesting for a listener to hear, especially wearing headphones. You hear the sounds a lot more. It's like really trippy, but it's cool.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (46:42)
⁓
That's right. So I really love that part So I think that's the little balance for me to being commercial and non-commercial the spot So I try to make this song a little bit catchy But yeah, just adding those kind of elements for those just fun. Yeah fun and maybe I liked it. I like to say that would maybe that would be my signature sound or something just
Angel (47:10)
style.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (47:12)
But to be honest, it's not my stuff. So I got it from someone else too, like the, the Roar motors that I really loved. So yeah.
Angel (47:22)
Yeah, but what's really cool is you're able to make it your own by reinterpreting it in your own way. You find that creativity and that style from another spot and then you make it your own. That's true meaning of an artist. It's very cool. I love that. That's awesome. So you spoke a little bit earlier about what is next for Potatoi, but I want you to go a little more in depth about that because you said you were thinking about making a full project, but right now it's going to be more the V-log behind the scenes for a little bit.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (47:51)
So we have to prioritize Wave to Earth first. Wave to Earth has lots of tours already planned, some album going on. But still, in my spare time, I'm just constantly working on my own stuff. And we can't work for the whole entire life. There will be some period that Wave to Earth has a little gap or maybe a break for bit. So when that time comes, I'm just grinding myself to
Kind of do the whole process like in the very first beginning with my single project Yeah, it's like a prep. think the preparation period for that and then I'm just trying to build my own fan base too at the same time It's a it's a daily effort. I think
Angel (48:26)
It is a daily effort and I think that the fact that you're taking all the right steps so you're ready for that moment and that day when you can tour once Wave to Earth has that little pause, I think that that's the best way to prepare yourself, just constantly creating and doing what you're doing. So I believe that you're gonna get there and you're gonna build up a really powerful fan base and I would love to help you in any way that I can.
Yeah, I mean it. Something I do want to mention is that you performed with Wave to Earth at the Governor's Ball in New York on June 7th earlier this year, and before that you did an intimate show called the Governor Ball After Dark at the Blue Note Jazz Club. So what I'm wondering is how did performing in a smaller, more intimate jazz setting compare to playing for that big festival later that weekend?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (49:29)
Okay, so you know, Blue Note is actually like, it's the legacy of jazz, right? So we all were studying, since we're like alternative, maybe like indie pop band, the members are very well educated musically. So for those like who actually study music that knows Blue Note is some kind of like a historical thing. So, and we...
all have like experience performing in small stages such like maybe much more smaller than Blue Note and like in small jazz clubs in front of like zero people or like just one table or two tables so we are very used to that environment you know I also grew up like started to play at jazz clubs in Seoul like when I was like 19 or like 20 wow did it like maybe two times per week or something that
Angel (50:13)
say.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (50:26)
I was already used to that, being in small stages and ⁓ that let us maybe play more ⁓ improvising and we could whatever I want. comparing to the big stages, we could just hang around musically and just do more jazzy stuff.
Angel (50:42)
That was really incredible.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (50:53)
hang around because like jazz clubs usually goes like that there's there's no like sheet music it just yeah just spontaneously happening every time
Angel (51:00)
Exactly.
It's more improvisational and it felt very free and open, free flowing. got that same vibe from the audience side because I actually had a chance to watch the performance. And I think that it was really incredible to see the way that you guys were able to improvise with each other. And I had watched your performance for the first time at Head in the Clouds. So that was like a very different experience. But at Blue Note, I could get that sense that you guys were very comfortable.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (51:30)
What we hear is also the tour team, maybe the tour manager says like you guys seem to be more comfortable on small stages. I was trying to say that it has like two parts. like we had a one hour show and we had like 30 minute breaks. that was the hardest part for that Blue Note. Yeah, we just...
Angel (51:54)
I can imagine.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (51:57)
blaze the whole set for an hour and then having like a quick 30 minute break and then do the thing again that was the really hard part
Angel (52:07)
Yeah, that's crazy. So how are you able to get back in this space so quick like that when you only have that short segment in between? You don't have a choice.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (52:13)
We- cause we have to!
Yeah, we don't have a choice. There's already people like sitting, you know, we just don't show up. No, that's not right. So like it was already on. Yeah, the show must go on. So it's not the motivation like driving us. It's the environment.
Angel (52:25)
Let's go on.
You gotta do that in a fast-paced society. The adrenaline just boosts you up and you just gotta get back on stage. There's no other way.
You mentioned how you performed at jazz clubs in your early like 19s and 20s, but what are some of your earliest memories of music in general? Were there any artists who really shaped your love for it growing up? I know you mentioned Prince before, but what about in the beginning?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (53:01)
In the beginning, in the beginning it was so I you know, I lived in Kenya, right? So I in my young ages, I lived in Kenya about for seven years and coming back again to Korea. I was the kid who wasn't like I could I barely spoke Korean that time. So, you know, but the first thing I remember was because I could I couldn't get educated piano in back in Kenya because the environment wasn't like acceptable like tutors back back then.
Angel (53:31)
I see.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (53:32)
The first time I came to Korea, the first thing that I did was I went to like a piano academy. So that was my maybe first memories about music. So I really enjoyed to be in those like academies playing piano all day. It was, it wasn't all day, like maybe like once an hour, once an hour a day, but.
Angel (53:47)
Yeah.
But that felt like all day to you because you loved it so much.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (53:58)
Yeah, the only thing that I did in just my intentions because like if it's not like maybe I could play games or something but that was it and I also went into the middle school band during Saturdays back then We have clubs so like somebody could do like tennis or somebody could do like whatever but I was the kid who went for an audition for the middle school band and
that ended up me being a piano player in that band club. But there was already a brilliant player in that band, so I never had a chance to play piano. No. I had some... Yeah, but you know, always bass is like, start bass like that. Bass was actually empty and the club teacher was asking people, who wants to start?
Angel (54:41)
So sad.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (54:52)
learning bass and I was like that shy kid who like just rose their hand and maybe I'll just try it and because yeah and I played some like Korean band songs and then I went to my dad and said like hey dad I think I'm gonna go up in a like middle school festival stage and I don't have a bass and could you buy me one and he just bought me maybe something like a $200 cheapbass
Angel (55:00)
sweet
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (55:22)
and I just got it and just started like smashing it myself from that I was listening to a bunch of Red Hot Chili Peppers records so it was maybe about like 2010 I think at that time when I was 13 or 12 yeah I think it was 13 so when I was 13 at that time YouTube wasn't that big so like whatever yeah yeah no yes
Angel (55:27)
You
Okay. ⁓
No, no,
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (55:50)
⁓ what I remember there wasn't like actual like professional content but there was cover videos always like coming up so I started to like watch those cover videos bass playing stuff and decided to like post my own covers in YouTube it's all down now but like I yeah I made it like on public but maybe the first first ever video that I played is on YouTube somewhere
Angel (56:09)
Yeah.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (56:20)
Yeah, but I started to post like 30 videos like about like red hot chili peppers and like I got quite famous in the Korean like community that time
Angel (56:33)
Yeah, I'm not surprised, because you're an incredible bassist. You have a natural talent.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (56:37)
But
I mean like in a good way in a bad way cuz like yeah, so I have you know You Koreans are we're saying if you're not doing it in a right position, so they're really judgy So at that point like I was just slapping like yeah, so yeah He has a like a distinct position and it's it's not like I mean the
Angel (57:04)
traditionally correct.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (57:06)
traditional correct way so I was doing the same thing and like the comments were blowing up like you think you're flea and like if you're not if you're not doing it the right way you will like grow up as like ⁓ so they said bad words to me and I was I was I was the one who was like fighting them fighting them no matter they like yeah no no matter they commented I was just like just pushing myself just doing it the flea way
Angel (57:31)
Yeah,
do it even more. Good for you. That's the way to do it.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (57:35)
So that was, I was very controversy that time.
Angel (57:39)
I love it. I love that you were controversial.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (57:41)
Yeah, so talking as the inspiration, the first inspiration was Red Hot Chili Peppers and I always dreamt to be like a cool band thing at that moment. And then after I went to like an art high school, and then I started to like do the traditional things like the real like educational music stuff.
Angel (58:05)
Yeah,
because you had to.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (58:07)
I had to but I really liked it that way so like so that's why I got introduced to like lots of like jazz and like fusion jazz and like instrumentalist and some point I just totally became like a radical jazz guy I never listened to songs that have have lyrics so that's awesome yeah and I became like a judgy guy also like a jazz so so what what happens
Angel (58:28)
That's really cool.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (58:36)
If you're too into jazz, you kinda like...
Angel (58:40)
You become a little elitist, like you think you know what's best when it comes to certain music.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (58:45)
That's right. So I started like judging like maybe pop artists that well I was like, okay, if it's if it has lyrics, it's shit music. Like I had that period Yeah, but it's very embarrassing but like still I think it's like a music musical
Angel (58:50)
I see.
That's fun.
It's like your progression, your natural musical arc as you were learning what worked for you.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (59:09)
I think it's a time for like early musicians, like so that kind of radical thoughts really Yeah, push yourself to the limits of instrumentalists and something so and then I was listening to artists when I was in high school like nobody knows so like they have maybe 5,000 monthly streamers something like that, but I was transcribing all of those like musics the plays
back then and I also went to like a music school for university or college yeah so and then I became more more radical
Angel (59:50)
I see. Yeah. It just got more from there.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (59:53)
Yeah,
so that's why I was like playing playing in like jazz clubs back then and I really loved it so And then when I went to like what you say, I went to the military army. Yes Yeah, but as a band so there's a military band, right? Mm-hmm So went there and if I'm not doing like the military events or something I had pretty much time to practice my own stuff. So that's great. Yeah
Angel (1:00:01)
Yeah.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:00:21)
From that, I suddenly went very into like Motown music, like 70s and like 60s. like such as like Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield and like the Jackson 5s and Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, those like... Of course. So I was suddenly became a Motown guy.
Angel (1:00:41)
Very cool. I love that. I love the whole new transition.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:00:45)
So you know, every era I was introduced to like very ⁓ specific genres and then after like doing my duty I met Wave to Earth and then they were like listening to lots of alternatives such as like Mild High Club and Nick Hakeem, like King Cruel, Puma Blue, they introduced to another whole like scene.
Angel (1:01:09)
A new world, yeah, new music world.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:01:12)
And you know, I'm a studying guy and I like to like search out stuff. So like I started listening to those and at first it was very, very weird to me because like the songs that they were listening, it wasn't clear. It's very like foggy. The musics are very foggy. And then you actually can't hear the lyrics that much. The melody isn't like clear. Yeah, it's more drowned out and like the instrumentals are also having that psychedelic feel.
Angel (1:01:33)
drowned out.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:01:40)
So it really just took time to kind of appreciate that music and then it continued like that.
Angel (1:01:44)
Yeah.
That's interesting because you had to retrain your brain after that. You were listening to a certain type of music for a while and then they showed you a whole new thing and you had to do your research there and that's got to play with your head a little bit.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:01:58)
That's right. So, you know, for now, I'm really proud of myself that I have not just one segment. I have experience in band music, the traditional band stuff, the radical jazz stuff, the early disco funk and motown music, and then the alternative songs that are going viral these days.
Angel (1:02:24)
Yeah, so you're very well-rounded and that really comes through your music because you're able to create all different kinds of sounds based off of what you've heard throughout your history as a music researcher.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:02:35)
Mm-hmm. That's right.
Angel (1:02:37)
Yeah, that's wonderful. So for you as Potatoi, what song do you feel best represents you as an artist out of the music you've released so far? Is there one song that you feel is most you?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:02:49)
I think the debut single popsicle is the most like representing that was the whole idea of starting like Potatoi and other things maybe yeah the one song if I have to pick it's popsicle that yeah it's a mixture of my first vocals and the like instrumental inspiration at that time and my whole thing and
Angel (1:03:04)
Yeah, good choice.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:03:15)
Even though it's like a little bit uncompleted in my personal opinion, but still the most representative thing that I created.
Angel (1:03:23)
Cool. Yeah. So when you're not creating music, what do you do to recharge creatively, since you're working most of the time?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:03:31)
You know, because
I have family right now. I just try to spend as much time with my family. like in weekdays, maybe if I'm not in the studios, I just go straight to my house and just spend time with my wife and also in weekends too. So today it's Saturday in Korea after this interview.
Angel (1:03:51)
Yeah.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:03:56)
I'm going for a haircut and then coming back to pick up my wife and my dog and going to the dog cafeteria. And then after that we have a dinner with my mom and dad and my family too, so.
Angel (1:04:03)
Have fun!
That's
really sweet. That's lovely. Well, I hope that you have a wonderful Saturday, and I'm honored that you took this time to speak with me this morning. So thank you for that. I really appreciate it.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:04:19)
Thank you too, you know I appreciate it, you know the interview it's very as a small artist Yeah, it's very good to be in everywhere. So like Yeah, I'm very glad that you kind of suggested the interview for me and like it was really fun and Yeah, I was really good too good that I could speak such a long time like casually
Angel (1:04:31)
Yes.
Yeah, yeah, you did a wonderful job. I really enjoyed speaking with you and I do have just about two more questions if you don't mind me Okay, cool. If that's all right with you another song that I really love from your discography is plain life I think it's such a pretty song and it almost feels like a call to action when you sing in the chorus I'm gonna color up your day. So I was wondering what does coloring up someone's day mean to you as an artist?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:05:15)
Hmm coloring up coloring up a day. What does it mean for me? Those kind of questions Daniel will kind of answer it very in an artistic way But what can I say? Okay coloring up
Angel (1:05:25)
Yeah.
I gave you too many of the deep questions, I'm sorry.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:05:37)
You know, I'm like just a straight forward guy.
Angel (1:05:42)
Yeah. Well
that is the vibe you get from that song because it's about enjoying everything in our plain lives and existing mindfully. So you think that that's a very important value to live by?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:05:54)
Yeah, to just live as myself, you know, that was my main thoughts for such a long time. Because, you know, if you're entering like a massive stage, like you try to pursue yourself to be in the like the big markets. If you're starting to enter that thing, what I felt is like I had to be someone else. You know, I have to be like a bit more like artist and like to be more.
aesthetics and like chic or something but that was the conflict just in myself so like you know maybe that kind of idea was the continuous of that thing like just just live a plain life you know just flop around the bed and just like just be yourself and something like that yeah and so maybe coloring up like somebody days is maybe just be as yourself i think that's what i could say
Angel (1:06:50)
Yeah,
think that's beautiful. I think that was a beautiful response.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:06:54)
Yeah, don't need to act like to be someone
Angel (1:06:57)
Exactly. You don't need to have any false pretenses. Simply being yourself is the best thing that you can be.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:07:03)
Yeah, that's why so suddenly I remember like some comments like John. Thanks for your like presence. That's such a nice nice comment though. Like just it's They're thanking you for just being you like existing. So that's that's how nice
Angel (1:07:20)
It is. It's a really powerful thing. And just to know that you are enough to be loved just by existing, your presence is lighting up someone's day or coloring up someone's day. So that is really beautiful.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:07:32)
very beautiful interpretation for you
Angel (1:07:36)
Yes, it's a very beautiful interpretation, exactly what I wanted as a little lyric analyzer. My other question for you is also wave to earth related, but how did your before show prayer ritual begin? Have you prayed together since high school? Because I know you met in high school as well, right?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:07:53)
So actually we were in the same high school but like we weren't doing the same band at that time. But what I heard is Daniel, The Poles actually was the like first band that Daniel did in his whole life. So when he had like some contest going around and like the first ever shows that they did, they started praying from that point.
Angel (1:08:08)
Yeah.
⁓ okay.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:08:20)
So that
was maybe about like 14, yeah, when he was 14. He started praying like when he was 14 and we're now praying to, yeah, till now.
Angel (1:08:29)
That's beautiful. That's really sweet. Well, it seems to be a powerful ritual because look how far you've grown.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:08:35)
Yeah, that's why I think in life time, also just meeting the right persons and just going successful. And that's what I feel very like miracle stuff. as some Christians, they say that it's not like we didn't do it. It's the God who actually did it. So that's kind of a confess, I think, just a personal confess and just doing that ritual thing. It has been...
such a long time doing that so I think yeah I never thought not doing it before stage
Angel (1:09:10)
Yeah, now it's just part of you. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. It's really cool. And also, before we go, I noticed that you have an autographed guitar that you're planning to do a giveaway for for She Wanna Blue. Did you know about that? Yes. you it around? Can you show it to us?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:09:13)
Yeah, right.
It's actually at my studio, it's my house right now, so... But I made a video promoting that thing. So like, after the release, I'm gonna upload that video. What is it like... If you post something related to your coolest blue, it could be like a photo or like a reels or shorts, whatever, and you just like tag SheWannaBlue and make anything, I'm gonna pick some people.
Angel (1:09:33)
I
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:09:57)
for like creativity and some like random five and then just started to give away that bass. ⁓
Angel (1:10:04)
Alright,
what kind of bass is it? Do you know like the exact model or what color is it?
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:10:10)
So
I bought a cute red bass for the music video. So it's the one that I used it in my music video and it was like a mini bass. So it's usually for maybe some kids who are actually trying to learn basses. But yeah.
Angel (1:10:30)
comes
in handy to fans who don't know, who want to learn.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:10:33)
That's right, I'm just like wondering if I should do the autograph in front or the back plate.
Angel (1:10:40)
Mmm. Yeah, it's a good question. I feel like the front plate would be pretty cool.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:10:44)
⁓
So then I'll do it in the front. And I have different signs with John Cha of wave to earth and Potatoi. So I'm gonna do the Potatoi thing.
Angel (1:10:47)
Yeah.
love it. think that's awesome. I'll definitely be entering, be putting a lot of videos in, and I'm sure all of your fans are going to be doing the same.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:11:02)
Okay, thank you. You know, how should I how should I make the dance move? Like I'm so like
Angel (1:11:08)
I'm so glad you asked. I'm glad you asked because I've been working on some dances and workshopping for you.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:11:14)
Wow, okay, so I have to find myself like I have to maybe study someone else or maybe make my own but I'll try to do my best. Yeah
Angel (1:11:24)
I think you'll do a great job. saw the reel you posted today. There was like a little slight dance move that you were doing to when Daniel was playing the guitar.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:11:32)
I look like an NPC like game character.
Angel (1:11:35)
Yeah, that was definitely the vibe. But it's it's authentically you.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:11:41)
Yeah, authentically me, but I'm a really bad dancer, so...
Angel (1:11:45)
Everyone has their own natural moves and I think whatever you come up with will be fantastic Of course, but I believe that is the last question that I have for today So I think we have covered everything but this has been Potatoi. Thank you so much for joining the show I am so grateful that I got to speak with you today. It was so much fun
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:11:49)
Thank you
Thank you so much and you know Angel you guys have to check other like radio stuff and yeah check mine too
Angel (1:12:16)
Yes, definitely. Make sure you tune in to She Wanna Blue, which is going to be out August 29th. It will be released by the time that this episode is out, and you don't want to miss it. Listen to it on all streaming platforms.
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:12:27)
Yeah, thank you guys. It was your boy Potatoi and see you again sometime. Yeah, have a great day too.
Angel (1:12:33)
Yeah,
have a great day! That's all for K-ALL! Bye everyone!
Potatoi (John Cha of wave to earth) (1:12:37)
Bye!
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