Today I asked: Timothy ‘Bos’ Bullock

 

Timothy ‘Bos’ Bullock. Photo provided by Bullock.

From bad to really bad, Red Velvet have had a busy 2018. And yet, they managed to look good while doing it.

At the top of the year, Red Velvet released a repackage of their second album, aptly named The Perfect Red Velvet, and the title track, “Bad Boy.” The track itself was immediately a hit, putting a brighter spotlight on the group, and the group would go on to convert that energy into momentum throughout the rest of the year.

Summer was treated with Red Velvet’s Japan debut with #Cookie Jar, and still had a trick up their sleeves with Summer Magic. Coupled with the Red Room and Redmare solo concerts held throughout the year, it was a dream come true for fans of the group.

It was a busy 2018 for Red Velvet. But they weren’t about to slow down.

On Nov. 30, the mini-album RBB was released onto the world, accompanied by title track “RBB (Really Bad Boy).” In calling back to the song that got Red Velvet hitting the ground running at the beginning of the year, this new title track acts as a sort of victory lap as 2018 begins to wind down. The song reflects this, too. Where “Bad Boy” is sultry and mysterious and velvety, “RRB (Really Bad Boy)” is so red it breaks the equalizer. Immediate and bombastic, almost celebratory. Lively horns, a booming bass, and piercing screams all work together with a manic energy to take the listener and make them dance along.

And while the song has the intensity of a big band, there is a logic to things, a leader at the front conducting every instrument. Timothy ‘Bos’ Bullock is that bandleader’s name, the producer behind hits like Tiffany’s “I Just Wanna Dance,” NCT U’s “일곱 번째 감각 (The 7th Sense),” and EXO’s “Artificial Love.” He is not a stranger to center stage, and isn’t about to break a sweat when stepping into the spotlight with Red Velvet. Where they have momentum, he knows how to direct it.

I recently had the chance to ask the man himself about his process producing Red Velvet’s newest hit, and what goes into producing a song for the K-Pop scene in general. Enjoy, everybody.