Composer, producer and actor John Paul Ouvrier is one half of the duo John Paul and Linda, who claim to be the first Indonesian-American singing group to perform for an Indonesian presidential candidate after playing "From Indonesia With Love," at a campaign rally for Prabowo Subianto in 2013.
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Since then, Ouvrier wrote and produced the pilot for a "Twilight Zone"-styled series called "Cult 11." He also acted in and composed the music for the upcoming martial arts comedy "The Dream," for director Jennifer Linch.
Earlier this week, in an exclusive interview with KpopStarz, the producer-actor-composer spoke about the need for Hallyu artists to become mainstream in America.
Ouvrier admits that he "only started following K-pop earlier this year," but claims he was "blown away by the raw talent and experimentation that the artists have."
"These kids are pushing the boundaries, and it's a blessing that K-pop showcases them," Ouvrier added.
"Mark my words, the sounds and structural evolutions from the artists here will change the way we know pop," he continued.
He believes that change is because of the hard work Hallyu artists put into their productions.
"As a writer of both music and lyrics, I sweat the smallest details of my productions and I get inspired when I see the K-pop artists doing this," Ouvrier said. "Sometimes mainstream American pop plays it too safe and producers copy the artist before. I don't play that way and neither do most of the artists I see in K-pop."
This is why he is drawn to the newly-formed three-piece K-pop girl group Bebop.
"I like Bebop right now, they are so amazing with their ideas," Ouvrier said.
"They follow their gut for an idea, into full song development and they play their own instruments. Kudos to them."
The actor-producer believes Bebop also pay attention to artistic detail in their music videos.
"The classical opening in 'I'm the Best,' introducing the band and then flipping into another style all together is amazing," Ouvrier said. "And the black and white slap with red blood shots are a nice bit of film-making," he explained.
And he doesn't have a problem with not speaking Korean.
"When an artist is true to their heart, when they write or sing or perform, I am your biggest fan," Ouvrier said. "I cry when you cry, smile when you do, get excited. The language doesn't matter. Music is the language that unites us all."
"This is not an uneducated audience," he added. "K-pop followers are sophisticated...the music is fantastic. I feel that the biggest problem is that second-rate American bands who know how to market their music are getting the attention, because they know how the US markets work."
To break in the States, Ouvrier urged Hallyu artists to "spend some time everyday marketing in areas you're not comfortable with until you're mainstream."
"That's the business side of the music business," he said. "You've heard that before, now hear it from an American producer."
But the music industry veteran does believe the fight to get their music heard in the West is worth it for Hallyu artists
"Believe it or not, over here, we are longing for something new and original," he said. "K-pop artists, we need you, desperately."
Listen to John Paul Ouvrier's theme for the upcoming film "The Dream" RIGHT HERE
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