Hello and welcome back to HallyuTones – always focused on sound, stage, and substance.
Platforming artists with unique concepts is at the core of this site. When we first approached PTMRS, an independent co-ed rotational project group for our first interview, we were fascinated by their unique approach to music production.
With production, song writing and recording handled by the members, their music always feels authentic. Furthermore, with a rotating line up with different artists featuring in different songs, each release feels fresh, distinct and fun.
While our previous interview covered PTMRS as a whole, today we bring you a different style of interview as the second part of our HallyuTones ‘Hallyu-Ween’ series. We recently interviewed PTMRS members Uki and Yuting on their latest release – a single titled ‘First Bite’, that is perfect for the Halloween season. Read on below to find out more about the song, and their careers so far!
Interview:
Both Members:
Q1. Could you please introduce yourselves to the HallyuTones readers?
Uki: Hi, I’m Uki! Nice to meet you!
Yuting: Hello~~I am Yuting!! So happy to see you again.
Q2. Could you tell us some more about your new collaboration/duet song ‘First Bite’?
Uki: It’s a dark fantasy track that’s both cute and sexy, expressing uncontrollable emotions for someone through the imagery of blood, like a vampire.
Yuting: This song is cute and sexy, but also a little dark. It feels kind of like a vampire slowly taking over someone.
Q3. This song mixes together English, Korean, and Japanese language! What inspired you to bring so many different languages together within this track?
Uki: We use Korean, Japanese, and English because we want people all around the world to be able to understand at least one phrase and enjoy our music. More than anything, PTMRS believes in using every language we can so that our songs can reach the fans we love everywhere, without being limited to just one language.
Yuting: Because I want to be active in Korea, singing in Korean feels essential. Youngbae always checks with me beforehand to see whether I want to sing the lyrics in English or Korean. During the recording process, he and Jay PD also help me adjust my Korean and English pronunciation. Using different languages also makes the song sound richer and more dynamic.
Q4. With Halloween being so recent, do either of you have any personal scary stories to tell?
Uki: I’ve never personally experienced anything scary, but I really love the Halloween season! Every year, I celebrate with my close friends. I also enjoy watching horror game streams, so I watch them quite often!
Yuting: I don’t think I’ve ever actually experienced anything supernatural. But I did have a nightmare recently where something spooky happened. I dreamed I was at the bathroom sink washing my hands, and I kept hearing someone talking to me. I’m really a scaredy-cat, so I can’t watch horror movies or read scary stories at all. If I did, there’s no way I’d be able to sleep!
Uki:
Q1. You use your voice as a tool for essentially every aspect of your career. How do you take care of your voice between performances?
Uki: Taking care of my voice is quite a challenge. I eat a lot of honey like a bear, take warm baths to keep my throat relaxed and hydrated, and avoid cold drinks—only warm ones for me! If that’s still not enough, I visit the doctor and get some medicine. I always do my best to take good care of my voice!
Q2. You’ve worked as a voice actor and singer in Japan and have now immersed yourself in the Korean industry. What are some major differences in creating music for the different audiences?
Uki: There aren’t really any major differences. Sometimes there’s just a language barrier. When I receive feedback or direction in Korean or English, it often needs to be translated into Japanese, and in that process, some nuances can get lost or feel a little different. So the only real challenge is trying to fully understand the meaning behind the language.
Q3. What has been the most interesting thing that you’ve learned since joining PTMRS?
Uki: Since joining PTMRS, I’ve been able to work on my English and Korean pronunciation and get exposed to different languages. It’s been really educational and a lot of fun!
Q4. What was your favourite part of recording your latest duet, First Bite with co-member Yuting?
Uki: Yuting worked really hard to teach me English pronunciation, which was such a big help!! It was so much fun recording together while supporting each other. Plus, since we were able to record in Japan, I was really happy that my teammate came to Japan!
Q5. You have extensive experience as a voice actor in many famous anime. As Halloween is approaching soon, which anime that you worked on would you say is the scariest and why?
Uki: I was the lead voice actor in the anime Uzumaki, based on Junji Ito’s original work. When I first read the manga, it was so scary that I was honestly afraid to turn the pages!
Q6. You are also a member of Japanese idol group 9nine. Could you tell us about some of your favourite memories during your time with the group?
Uki: I used to be an idol in Japan as a member of a group called 9nine. Through our music activities, we had the opportunity to travel to many different countries and perform live! Because of that experience, I realized that it would be such a waste to limit myself to Japan. Knowing that there are people around the world supporting us somewhere out there—and actually feeling that connection—was really special to me. Visiting so many countries made me fall in love with different cultures, and it made me want to meet even more people who haven’t discovered us yet.
Yuting:
Q1. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
Yuting: Rather than saying a specific artist influenced me the most, I’d say that music itself has had the biggest impact on me. Many songs and stages have helped me through difficult times and given me strength and hope. So I hope that one day, my work can also be a source of comfort and strength for others.
Q2. It was previously mentioned that you are currently a trainee in the K-Pop industry. Are there any things you’ve learnt about yourself through this journey that have surprised you?
Yuting: Along this journey, I’ve been taking vocal lessons with Youngbae, and it was actually my first time learning to sing in a proper, structured way. I’ve always been really insecure about my singing, but during every lesson, my teacher gives me so much emotional support, which helps me a lot. I even realized that my vocal range isn’t as low as I thought! (But I still need more practice!)
I’ve also gotten to know my body better. Most of our practice time is spent managing our weight, and I’ve tried both good and not-so-good ways along the way. Through that process, I’ve learned how to take care of my body properly. So I really hope everyone can also pay attention to looking after themselves!
Q3. What has been the most interesting thing that you’ve learned since joining PTMRS?
Yuting: Since I joined, I’ve noticed that everyone is really passionate about their own field. Whenever there’s something to discuss, everyone actively shares their opinions. I usually speak Korean and English with Youngbae and Jay PD, but I’m not very familiar with Japanese yet (I really need to study harder!). Even so, Uki and I always try our best to communicate with each other, and she has given me so much help.
For example, the hair and makeup for my First Bite cover photo were all done by Uki — I’m really thankful to her!
Q4. What was your favourite part of recording your latest duet, First Bite with co-member Uki?
Yuting: Uki is always full of energy and really adorable. Being around her always makes the mood happy and fun. It was the same during recording, so everything went smoothly.
The most memorable part was that the cosplay for this cover was my first time trying cosplay seriously. I felt a bit shy after wearing the outfit, but Uki noticed it and kept saying nice things to me while doing my makeup. Thanks to her, I felt much more comfortable. I’m really thankful to her.
Q5. You’ve journeyed from Taiwan to pursue your dream of becoming a K-Pop idol– what is something from your home country that you hope to share with the K-Pop industry?
Yuting: Recently, the Pride Parade in Taiwan just ended, and it reminded me how open and accepting people are toward love and diversity. Many artists in Taiwan express these messages of love and understanding through their songs. I want to bring that same spirit of openness and sincerity into the K-Pop industry.
Q6. As the youngest member of PTMRS, what are your goals for the future of your career?
Yuting: Because I am the youngest member, I want to keep growing as an artist and improve every day. My goal is to develop my skills, explore different music styles and one day create performances and music that really touch people’s hearts.
Thank you so much to Uki and Yuting of PTMRS for this thorough and insightful interview! To hear their unique insights showcased their breadth of knowledge and experience, and showcased their endless potential.
You can follow PTMRS at the links below:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDNjNHj2ATGvZUSwmVWjOEw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptmrs.official
Uki Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/9nineuki
Yuting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiennening
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3uN0HRAIJVJ8r7FCO6djFz
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/ptmrs/1830260869
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