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 Welcome to a new year and another edition of Soshified Spotlight. Just like every other month, we’re once again highlighting a regular member in Part 1, and a Soshified staff member in Part 2. (I wish I didn’t have to say that each time.) Anyway, this month we’re featuring SNSDrummer in Part 1, and doe in Part 2, which you can read if you click the link. SNSDrummer, or Mark, was one of those members who got sucked into Soshified because of the subbed videos, and then decided to stick around after catching the SoShi virus. Of course, “Run Devil Run” for example now has been played over 3,500 times on his iPod since he became a SONE last year. Mark, however, has many interests besides Girls’ Generation, especially musically, whether it’s different musical genres or instruments. He’s also training to be a police officer while working and partaking in his wide variety of passions, leading to what you can imagine is quite a busy life. ***** What is your first name?
Mark How did you find out about Soshified and why did you decide to join?
I found out about Soshified when I first discovered SNSD and was just randomly searching for information about them. I came across a youtube video taken from Intimate Note and I wanted to know how I could get these shows! A comment said that you have to go to Soshified.com and post 50 non-spam posts to unlock the Soshi Subs area and then go to September 2009 for the episode. (I can’t believe I even remember where it is lol) So yeah… I did 50 posts in like… 2 hours. How did you come up with your screen name?
I’m very into music, and I play drums mainly so I wanted to include “Drummer” in my name somehow, and SNSD is the group so I combined them. However, the “D” in SNSD means “Dae” and adding Drummer at the end confuses people… In retrospect I’d rather my name be “SoshiDrummer”. It’s less confusing. Haha. Whoever’s in charge of name changes, please change my name! Lol Where are you originally from, and where do you currently reside (city and country for both)?
I’m originally and currently live in Toronto, Canada. Patiently waiting for a SM Town or just SNSD concert at the Rogers Center or ACC haha. If we were visiting you where you live for one day, where would you take us? Why are these places so significant?
I’d definitely take anyone to Canada’s Wonderland basically because it’s the biggest amusement park in Ontario with tons of rides, and there’s also a water park for swimming. Of course, we’d have to go during summer because Canada has winter.
Also, I would take you to Pacific Mall, which is the “Asian” mall located in Markham. It has a CD store that sells K-pop merchandise, and it’s where I like to go to blow money on CD’s. I’ve bought my Run Devil Run album and Korean Gee album there, not to mention basically all my posters come from there. They also have an All You Can Eat Korean BBQ place right next door which is DELICIOUS, all for under $15. Not on the all you can eat menu you can find things that SNSD eats all the time: Jjajangmyun, Ddukbokki, Kimbap, etc. These places are great because one is an amusement park, and it’s a place where people should go if they visit Ontario as a tourist. Pacific mall is significant because it gives us a little taste of Korea, away from Korea.  Tell us a little about your life. What do you do full time and in your free time?
I attend College for Police Foundations. I’m learning about laws and arresting people and court systems so I can become a police officer and possibly a Detective. If you guys see a cop in he future around Toronto blaring SNSD from his cruiser, it’s me.
I also work while I’m not in school, for the extra money because as we all know, being a Sone = being broke.
My free time consists of playing League of Legends if I feel like it, jamming to K-pop on drums, working out so I can keep fit, in the summer I do parkour or free running and of course, hanging out with my friends whom I love so much. Where do you work when you’re not in school?
I work at a factory that produces screw parts and car parts. Not the most exciting thing… In fact it’s probably the least exciting thing next to watching paint dry. It package the parts and help ship them out to the customers. What’s good about it is since the factory is very loud, everyone wears earplugs; and since the job is boring, I can sing Soshi songs and nobody cares, or hears me… Thankfully cause I’m a terrible singer. What's the most interesting thing about you and/or that has ever happened to you?
Hmmm… The most interesting thing about me?… A lot of people find my taste in music weird. People will look through my iPod and find a multitude of things like SNSD, then jump to Eminem, then go to a band like Slipknot (Also 9 members, it’s magical! D=), then you’ll also find some Jonas Brothers, Metallica, some Jazz Fusion music like Hiromi Euhara, then some weird progressive rock like The Mars Volta. Just plugged a lot of groups lol.
I’m pretty strapped for interesting things that have ever happened to me. I can say that there have been some weird coincidences with SNSD and myself such as, my birthday being September 12th, 12 being my favourite number, Sunny being my bias, and she wears the number 12 in the “Oh” music video. I thought that was pretty coincidental, but also pretty rad. You really do have an eclectic taste in music. How did you become interested in so many different genres?
I think it’s just the way I’ve been exposed to music as I was growing up. I’m Chinese and Trinidadian so my family constantly bombards my ears with Soca music (National music of Trinidad; Similar to K-pop and South Korea). So that’s one. I also grew up listening to Hip-hop like Wu Tang Clan, Biggie Smalls, and Eminem. Then in grade 8 I got hooked on heavy metal music (Metallica, Megadeth, Slipknot, System of a Down, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, etc). Since I’m also a musician myself, I enjoy discovering new music that catches my ear. So basically, as I got older, I just discovered new artists and enjoyed a lot of things I heard.
Which brings me here. Although I may not understand what the girls are saying, I enjoy the feel of the music. The softness of Into The New World, the upbeat tempo of Gee, the electronic dance feel of Genie, the intense vibes of Run Devil Run and The Boys. Looking up translations is the same thing as looking up lyrics, but I also learn Korean words too! For people who are first meeting you (like most of us), how would you describe yourself?
At first, I’ll probably be really shy and not too talkative, but I do try my best to not make it awkward. I have a tough shell to crack, and only my close best best best friends know everything about me, so I’d be pretty closed off. Once you get to know me I’m nice, and I like to listen to people talk and if they need someone to talk to I’m always there. I guess you could say I’m kind of like Sica? xD
I guess it works out cause I don’t like cucumbers either. Tell us some things that most people don't know about you that you think they should.
Most people on Soshified, with the exception of my best friend who is on Soshified, don’t know that I’m a black belt in 2 martial arts. One being Korea’s own Tae Kwon Do, and the other being Shotokan Karate which is Japanese. I have my 1st degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and I have a 3rd degree black belt in Karate. Students call me “Sensei”. It feels pretty cool  Two black belts? That must’ve taken a lot of dedication and time. When did you start with martial arts, and how did you get involved in the first place?
Definitely a lot of dedication and time haha. I’m currently 20 years old and I started when I was 4… So I’ve been doing martial arts for 16 years.
I got involved when I was 4 years old, watching the Power Rangers. I ended up breaking things in the house trying to imitate them so my mom signed me up for Tae Kwon Do. And it just snowballed from there to getting my black belt in Tae Kwon Do at 11 years old, and then moving onto Karate which I do now, and I mainly teach. Is there anything big in your life that you're working on? (This can be related to school, career, hobbies, family, friends, etc.)
I’m working on getting a killer bod so when SNSD meets me they’ll be like, “Omo, look at that fine specimen.”
Lol… Joking…. But that is something I’m working on as a personal goal. I’d like my body to be something like… Kim Jong Kook? The most beastly Korean ballad singer ever. What are your interests outside of Girls' Generation?
My interests outside of SNSD have already been stated. I play drums, do martial arts, fitness, play video games, I do like anime but I’ve been so hooked on variety shows I haven’t been able to watch any. lol How did you first become a fan of Girls' Generation?
Oh boy. I found out about SNSD through youtube. I’m subscribed to a youtube channel where a guy named “Kingsley” rants about stuff, and I find him hilarious. Anyways, he included Ke$ha’s version of Run Devil Run in a blooper video and people were messaging him saying, “They thought it was SNSD but it was just Ke$ha, Kingsley couldn’t be that cool.” So he made a retaliation video saying that he knows about SNSD but he likes Ke$ha’s version cause he understands what she’s saying. So… I was like, “Who’s SNSD?” And I searched them and I fell in love immediately. Taeyeon grabbed my heart from the moment she appeared on screen in the Run Devil Run music video. I told my best friend about them, but turns out he already knew about them since Genie… Clearly I’m just late. Who is your favorite member and why?
I said that Taeyeon made me fall in love with SNSD, but my favourite member is SUNNY! LEE SOONKYU!!!
Yeah Sunny is like… THE hottest girl I’ve seen in my life. I noticed her later on when I started to watch more variety shows. I loved her on Intimate Note, and after Invincible Youth I just fell in love. She’s essentially my ideal type of girl: Shorter than me, Cute over Sexy (but still keeps the sexy), intelligent, funny, hard working, etc. She’s just the perfect package of amazing. What is your favorite Girls' Generation song and MV and why?
It’s insane for me to choose one song as my favourite. There’s definitely a tie.
I’m not just saying this because it’s their first song that set them off, but I really really really love Into The New World. It’s one of those songs where the melody feels nostalgic, and it was when they used less effects on their voices. Although I’m one of those Sones who can tell who’s singing during a song and when, it’s SO much easier in Into The New World.
Next song to tie is Genie, because the song itself is just epic. At the end when Taeyeon gets her solo, every time I hear it I feel excited, like it’s the first time I heard it. On days where I’m dead tired and feel like I should fall asleep, I’ll put on Genie and get a sudden burst of energy. It’s really strange. Favourite MV…. Also a tie between Genie and The Boys. Both of those MVs brought something new to the table that SNSD hasn’t done before, and of course they looked completely sexy in those MVs. Genie’s concept there’s just no words for it… just magnificence. The Boys, let’s just say they brought the boys out.  What is your favorite Girls' Generation moment and why?
My favourite moment that includes all of the members is anything that happened on Intimate Note xD
That show for those of you who haven’t watched it yet, it’s arguably the best variety shows SNSD has been on ever. So many great moments, but Fany wasn’t there.
So, to wrap up favourite Soshi moments I’ll tell you my favourite Fany moment. When SNSD was on Win Win, Kim Shinyoung mentioned that Fany was ordering a movie on the movie channels and she ordered “Female Secretary” which is a very inappropriate movie. So since then they’ve called her Secretary Hwang. LOL What about the girls’ appearance on Intimate Note made you want to find more subbed videos? I remember there were a lot of amazing and hilarious moments in that show. What was your favorite?
I really just found the girls quite charming. All of their unique senses of humor had me smiling and laughing non-stop the entire show. After seeing those personalities together, I wanted to see more. So I began to watch Hello Baby, Invincible Youth, Horror Movie Factory, etc.
Definitely, my favourite moment of Intimate Note is whenever Yoona does that impression of Ahn Youngmi. That voice kills me. “QUEEENNNEUUUU!!!” How has Girls’ Generation impacted your life, in specific areas or even as a whole?
Honestly, SNSD has made me a happier person. It’s true that listening to happy music will lift your mood, because for the past year and a bit, I’ve been listening to A LOT of K-pop, mostly SNSD and I’ve generally just turned into a happier person. Before, I listened to heavy metal as my main form of music, and not that I wasn’t happy, but I’m happier now enough to where I notice there’s a difference.
The girls have also impacted my life in that I want to pick up Korean as a language. I’ve already learned how to read Hangeul, I just don’t know what it means. haha. They’ve also opened my eyes to Korean cuisine, and I would like to visit Korea for at least a month after I graduate. What do you like most about Soshified, and why? Any section in particular you’re attracted to?
I really enjoy the community that Soshified has. Everyone is friendly, and it’s a place where everyone gathers because they share one big common interest. It’s a place where as far as I’ve seen, there’s no hate, on anything. We support our Girls, and we also don’t bash other groups.
One section of Soshified I enjoy a lot are the DJ shows. Since all the DJ’s have different schedules and some live in different time zones it’s hard to me to catch a lot of their shows; but when I do I listen and I’ve enjoyed many shows by different DJ’s. I’m an avid listener of DJ Cesca’s show though, because she lives in the same time zone, and she also is just really awesome, funny, entertaining, and has amazing shows that never fail to make me laugh. Hello Cesboxers Haha, Cesca is quite a popular DJ, and she’s mentioned your name quite a few times before. How did you come across her show?
I really don’t know it was so long ago. I think it happened when Soshified had the banner at the top saying whenever a DJ was online and it said, “DJ Cesca is online! Tune in here!” So I clicked it out of curiosity and I was like, “Dang, this girl is hilarious. When is she on normally?” And I guess the next time I tuned in, it became a regular occurrence. Is there anything else about you that you would like to add?
I think I’ve pretty much covered everything here. I wrote a lot. I guess I can just say that I hope our Girls keep working hard (not too hard), get lots of rest, eat well, and keep fighting till the end! ***** Huge thanks goes out to Mark for participating in Soshified Spotlight this month. As usual, you can submit nominations for future Soshified Spotlights if you’d like to participate or if you’d like to get to know a fellow member better. Instructions on how to do so can be viewed at the Soshified Spotlight Solicitation announcement. Compiled by: residentbenchwarmer@soshified
Images (as tagged) courtesy of: SNSDrummer@soshified
Graphic by: cioco@soshified Have a news item that you think Soshified should know about? Leave us a tip or e-mail us at tip@soshified.com.
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