June 24th, 2022

POPROX: On this week's edition of Star's Spotlight, we have a very special guest with us today. You already know their names, they're the biggest duet act to take over the world in the last decade, it's none other than: Rising Stars!

*cheering*

POPROX: So, you two were originally independent artists and signed to separate labels. How did you two end up connecting with each other?

JAE: Am I taking this one? Or are you?

Seraphine: I can take it. Jae and I actually met in college. We shared the same class, and ended up being partners for an EP project. You can find the project, and all of our other EPs online if you just search my name or his. We had a… disagreement, and separated for some time, but we managed to find ourselves again and reconnect. And the rest is history, I suppose.

POPROX: So you two have known each other for a long time now?

SERAPHINE: I wouldn't exactly call three years a long time, but we've gone through a lot. So it definitely feels like we've known each other for awhile.

POPROX: I see, I see. So, before the both of you united and became Rising Stars, you wrote and released your solo albums. Can you talk about your experience working alone and then working collaboratively with each other?

JAE: I'm not speaking for Ser when I say this, but I personally had a lot of trouble working alone. After making music with her for basically an entire year, and then switching to creating my solo album all on my own was pretty jarring. It was like I was missing something, and even though the songs I wrote during that time were good and catchy, they weren't genuine.

SERAPHINE: I'm in the same boat as Jae. There's a reason why my debut album was called ALONE, it wasn't too far from what I was feeling during the time that I worked on it.

POPROX: And how was it to work with each other again?

SERAPHINE: It was great.

JAE: Frustrating.

SERAPHINE: *laughs* I just give Jae a hard time. He's particular about the details and has a plan for every little thing, but I just go all out in the studio and do things by ear.

POPROX: But it's good to see that you two have good chemistry, especially in the studio. Did your labels give you any trouble for collaborating on something like this?

JAE: Mine didn't. SHINE is an artist-first company, and its safe to say that without them, I wouldn't be here today.

SERAPHINE: Same goes for me. ICONS is great. And having K/DA's support also really helped.

POPROX: Good! Having labels and people that support and foster your creativity is important to growing as an artist. So, Jae, you've released two solo projects since your debut album, do you mind talking about the inspiration behind those releases?

JAE: Oh. *clears throat* The Lost Tapes series acts as a sort of a time capsule of the music I created during my time looking for a label. The first edition features a lot of my normal style of music, and the squared edition is experimental stuff, sounds and styles of singing that I was trying out to see whether or not they suited me.

SERAPHINE: Brokenhearted; Sunset is probably one of your best songs, and it bothers me that you didn't save it for the album.

JAE: The same can be said for Better Than I Could, Ser.

SERAPHINE: *grumbling* Still doesn't change anything.

POPROX: Speaking about your album, is there a reason that you two chose to release tracks over time instead of as a whole project?

SERAPHINE: We… Jae and I are taking things slow, with our music and with each other. We want to make sure that whatever we're putting out is music that is genuine and truthful to who we are, and who want to become.

POPROX: I see, I see. How do you two decide on which tracks to release and which tracks to hold back on?

JAE: Most of the time, it's just a feeling. We both know when something is ready for release, and then we work on the track for a bit longer, and then we set a release date. After that, it's just back to making more music, writing, producing, singing.

POPROX: Speaking of singing, now that we're finally able to meet in person, do you two have any plans for live performances and concerts?

SERAPHINE TO JAE: *quietly* Are we allowed to talk about this?

JAE: *shrugs* We won't disclose too much.

SERAPHINE: We do… But it's still in the works right now. We'll give more updates as the plan develops.

POPROX: *nodding* That's completely understandable! We're excitedly waiting for updates. Now, back to the music. Is there a reason you two are choosing to release songs that don't feature you singing together?

SERAPHINE: It was Jae's idea.

JAE: I figured that a bit of teasing wouldn't hurt. The album's got a lot of duet songs, and we want people to focus on us as individual singers before they get to hear us together.

SERAPHINE: And if people really want to hear us sing together, then they can listen to our old songs while waiting for a new one! grins

POPROX: Fair enough, fair enough. Now, I'm only asking about this because I learned about it fairly recently. But Jae, apparently you are rather close friends with Luxanna Crownguard?

SERAPHINE: *smirks* "Close friends" is putting it lightly.

JAE: *rolls eyes* Besides Seraphine, Lux is my best and closest friend. It's not an understatement to say that because of her, I'm able to be here today. She's someone that I owe the world to.

POPROX: Then, is it not too far of a reach to assume that you two are dating?

SERAPHINE: *laughs*

JAE: She and I aren't dating. We're just good friends.

POPROX: I suppose we should just ask the question that is on everyone's minds then. Are you and Seraphine in a relationship with each other?

JAE: Eh. Depends.

SERAPHINE: *glares at Jae* Rude.

JAE: *chuckles* Like Sera said earlier, we're taking things slow. There's a lot of history between the two of us, and even though we've been a duet for a year now, we're still learning more about each other every day. But… I doubt anyone would be surprised if we revealed that we were dating.

SERAPHINE: What he said.

POPROX: So when's the wedding?

SERAPHINE AND JAE: *laughs*

SERAPHINE: This fall, actually.

POPROX: Wait, seriously?

JAE: Not this fall. This winter.

Seraphine: I thought we reserved it for fall?

JAE: *shakes his head* I think Yasuo's wedding is in fall.

SERAPHINE: *nods* Ah... That makes a lot more sense.

POPROX: Hold on. I want to take a step back. I thought you two said that you were taking it slow? What happened to that?

SERAPHINE: *rolls eyes* Do you really think that a couple as young as us could take it slow? I mean, he and I fell in love with each other in the first two months of meeting. And for the record, I totally saw his proposal coming from a mile away.

JAE: No, you did not. Stop pretending that you were.

SERAPHINE: I did too.

JAE: Did not.

POPROX: So, how long have you two been in a relationship with each other? Assuming this isn't all a joke, of course.

JAE: Around five months. And as much as we've been dancing around it, it isn't a joke.

POPROX: The wedding, or you two dating for five months?"

SERAPHINE: Both.

POPROX: So, you two are getting married.

JAE: *nods* We figured that announcing it sooner rather than later would be best. We've teased people long enough about our relationship status, and there are more than a few inconveniences with being out together in public.

SERAPHINE: We just want to be a normal couple for once and not have to worry about nosy press. But we know that we'll never get the chance to really be "normal" now, especially with how successful we are now.

POPROX: Do you miss it? The quiet, unbothered life?

JAE: No. I don't. My life before being a singer was so unpredictable, unstable, and unhealthy that I would never want to go back. And saying that I miss it would be a disservice to my fans who've supported me so well up until now.

SERAPHINE: Same goes for me. My life was… pretty awful before I became a singer. And as irritating as some paparazzi can get, nothing beats the feeling of being recognized in public by a fan and having the chance to interact with them.

POPROX: Well, as we round out the last bit of our interview time, do you have anything to say?

JAE: *to the viewers* Hey! We're Rising Stars, and we'd like to thank everyone for turning into PopRox's Star's Spotlight . After this show, we're releasing our newest single: "lost"

SERAPHINE: *continuing* And surprise, surprise: it's a duet! We hope that everyone enjoys the song— it's a little different from everything we've released so far.

POPROX: There you have it folks, Rising Stars releasing a new single tonight! Enjoy the song, everyone. This has been Star's Spotlight, and goodnight!

One more.