Choreographer Parris Gobel rocketed towards monumental success in 2015, through her critically-acclaimed work with YG Entertainment artists Big Bang, CL, and Canadian pop vocalist, Justin Bieber. Her explosive appearance with the ReQuest Crew, an all-female New Zealand-based dance consortium, on the Bieber hit, "Sorry," has racked up more than 288 million YouTube views, garnering praise from media outlets including ELLE. In her latest KpopStarz interview, the international dance sensation discusses her latest K-pop choreography for "Hello Bitches" and shares her experience at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA).
KpopStarz: 2015 was a pivotal year in your career, as your choreography spans work with Justin Bieber in “Sorry,” Big Bang’s “Bang Bang Bang” to CL’s “Hello Bitches.” What were your favorite projects of the year?
Parris Goebel: Definitely creating 13 videos for Justin in 22 days. That was the highlight of the year and then performing with my girls at MAMA for YG Entertainment.
KpopStarz: What have you learned about Big Bang and CL from working them that might surprise some fans?
Parris Goebel: That away from the spotlight and fans that they are great people and so enjoyable to work with.
KpopStarz: Audiences eagerly awaited the premiere of “Hello Bitches.” When did you become involved with the choreography of the track?
Parris Goebel: I was contacted by YG Entertainment to do the music video.
KpopStarz: I had the opportunity to see your awesome live performance with ReQuest at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards. How long did it take to stage the choreography for MAMA?
Parris Goebel: We worked on the routines for about three days in Seoul before heading to the awards to perform.
KpopStarz: What were your thoughts about participating in the event and the subsequent return of 2NE1?
Parris Goebel: It was a fantastic event and all of the top artists there. Seeing 2NE1 return was a surprise part of the show, which all the fans loved.
KpopStarz: In our previous interview, you discussed your work with YG Entertainment, which had a strong presence at MAMA as one of the leading agencies in Korean pop. What qualities do artists like CL and Big Bang have that appeal to you, as a choreographer and dancer?
Parris Goebel: All of the artists at YG are very passionate and driven. I really enjoy working with them, as they all work hard in the studio, they all can dance, and they really embrace my choreography. It’s a great marriage of music and dance.
KpopStarz: Your choreography continues to emphasize a strong image of female dominance. What feedback have you received from audiences in regards to your work with CL and Justin Bieber?
Parris Goebel: For CL, it is really about bringing to life her strength as a woman and her swag, so putting ReQuest behind just makes it bigger. For Justin [Bieber], it was great to bring dance to the forefront with his music and with so many different styles, used with the 13 songs, which was such a huge boast for dance around the world.
KpopStarz: “Sorry” continues to rack up views on YouTube, with the total surpassing 288 million. How your appearance in the video, with ReQuest and the Royal Family, changed your career?
Parris Goebel: It's currently at 524 million views – amazing. The video hasn’t changed my career, as it is what I have been doing all the time, but it was definitely a lot of fun to create. I was blessed to have the creative freedom from Justin and Scooter [Braun] to bring the song to life.
KpopStarz: On your Twitter account, you recently posted a photo featuring Missy Elliott and Eve. Which iconic hip-hop artists or pop stars do you draw inspiration from?
Parris Goebel: I have always loved Missy from when I was young. She is such an icon and I love creating pieces to her songs.
KpopStarz: Can you discuss your future plans with ReQuest and the Royal Family? Do you have any upcoming competitions or projects, in the works?
Parris Goebel: We are just continuing to do projects that excite us and work with artists who want to make a statement and change the game.
