From the explosive collision of pop melodies and high-spirited, rock energy, Catch The Young, an up-and-coming band from South Korea, emerged with a special mission to capture the fond memories of youth. While K-Pop has seen its fair share of instrument-clad performances, the arrival of the five-member band on November 1, 2023 with the debut single “YOUTH!!!” marked a fresh, electrifying take on the genre. On April 3, 2024, Catch The Young returned with their second album Catch The Young : Fragments of Odyssey with the title track “Voyager,” as a direct storyline continuation of their debut album Catch The Young : Fragments of Youth. 

In an exclusive Zoom interview with EnVi, while in preparation for their comeback, Catch The Young members Sani, Jungmo, Kihoon, Namhyun and Junyong shared details on their new mini-album, the band’s journey to establish a unique “youth pop rock” genre, and future goals.

Voyaging into a New Chapter

The debut album Catch The Young : Fragments of Youth served as the introduction to the group’s identity, capturing the essence of youthfulness and energy as the foundational direction of their music. Now, continuing the series with their sophomore album, Catch The Young : Fragments of Odyssey, Catch The Young delve deeper into their journey as each track reflects the growth and development they’ve experienced, symbolizing the path they embark on. 

The title track “Voyager,” in particular, communicates the desire to move forward together amidst challenges and decisions that they may face in the adventure of life. “It is about asking questions — if it’s right or wrong, when taking a certain path and making certain choices while we are living in this life,” Sani, leader and bassist of the group, said.

Inevitably, emotions were running high among the members of Catch The Young while gearing up for their first comeback after their debut.

“Honestly, it’s very nerve-wracking because we want to show the better sides and the improved versions of ourselves through this comeback, so there’s definitely a little bit of pressure coming along with this,” Kihoon, the band’s guitarist, shared.

Amid the member’s nerves, however, lay a strong sense of anticipation to once again capture the spotlight with new music they have been working on for a while: “We are very excited to be able to bring this new album and show the new sides of Catch The Young to our fans, CATCHERS. We are working and practicing really hard every day,” main vocalist Namhyun added.

Members’ Picks

For drummer Jungmo and Namhyun, the English track “The Legend” holds a special place due to the challenging techniques the song required, since it boasts a hard rock style the band hasn’t explored before. Although chosen to be on their album not solely for the language but for the prospect of an electrifying stage, “The Legend” signals the band’s intent to continue releasing English tracks in the future.

“We want our fans all around the world to enjoy our music together without the language barrier,” Sani said. “If the opportunity is given, we hope to maybe complete a whole album with English tracks, or we can reinterpret the Korean songs that we have released in the past into English songs — I think that would be really interesting.”

Namhyun also named “Always, Forever” as one of his favorites, due to the lyrics that tell a love story. Sani, on the other hand, picked “Sentimental Journey”, citing the intro as “gold.” “Just the recording from the album is great, but once you watch the live performance, I think you will know what I mean.”

The track “Light on Me (1101),” chosen by Kihoon, is the band’s first fansong, and extends gratitude to those who have stuck by their side. “It’s really about comfort and resonance with each other, and asking someone to be my guiding light — or I can offer to be the guiding light for someone else,” Kihoon added.

Lastly, maknae and keyboardist Junyong chose the title track “Voyager.” Junyong shared that, “Once you take a look at the lyrics and the bassline or the guitar riffs, all the elements within the song really go well with the overall concept and message of this album, so that’s my favorite track.”

Strength in Self-Producing

The band takes pride in being self-produced, emphasizing the importance of directly writing their music and lyrics while they push forward with a genre called “youth pop rock.” “Some of these songs took extra details and care from the demo, arrangements, and performances, therefore I feel like they’re my own children,” Sani even wrote in a press release.

For one, the instrumental layering in “Voyager” significantly enhances the song’s atmosphere and message. Anticipation and intensity steadily build up, culminating in a final chorus accentuated by a guitar riff that deepens its impact and leaves a lasting impression.

“As a band, it’s really important to really understand our colors and concept,” Sani said. “We can add more depth to the message because we are fully aware, and understand exactly what we want to convey in our music. So that is a very meaningful process for all of us for sure.”

Because Catch The Young aim for a highly specific genre, the members’ involvement in the creative process fosters a strong sense of ownership in their music, and intensive collaboration. “Sometimes we can be a little bit sensitive while working because we are always aiming for perfection. But we are constantly discussing and practicing — working together to really convey our colors,” Kihoon said.

From Passion to Profession

A band is nothing without its blend of instruments, each one adding its unique timbre to the harmony. The members of Catch The Young, all of whom are music majors, came together in a fated journey despite different backgrounds and challenges.

Jungmo’s path to music was an unexpected turn. Unlike other musicians, his introduction to playing the drums started relatively late, at 20 years old. Nevertheless, his passion ignited and led him to audition for the program The Idol Band: Boy’s Battle, where after the show, a casting manager contacted him and set into motion his involvement with Catch The Young.

“There were times that I just ran into the wall of reality because I started so late compared to other people. I just had to compare myself to them constantly. I was seriously considering quitting music and finding another career in the future,” Jungmo muses. “But then I wanted to leave some mark on this journey. I wanted to do something where even if I quit, I could still look back on it in the future and not regret it.”

In contrast, Namhyun started playing the piano, drums, and various other instruments at a very young age. His commitment to music intensified when he set his sights on pursuing a university program as a vocalist. Through disciplined practice and determination, he secured admission. He then started uploading his entrance exam practice and wedding singer gig videos online, eventually capturing a casting manager’s attention which led him to the other members.

Similarly, Sani picked up the bass at church and felt the desire to study it more seriously, thus pursuing it as a major. In 2018, he was also a participant in the SBS show 영재 발굴단, roughly translated as Little Genius, where his prodigy in bass and producing music at a young age also caught the company’s interest.

Another member whose beginning had twists of fate, however, is Kihoon who grew up as an athlete focused on his sport, but unfortunately suffered an injury that forced him to quit. Despite being an athlete, he was still very immersed in music and music dramas which made his new career pursuit a very obvious choice. “I was thinking about possible careers I could take [on] other than sport — and music just came to my mind because I loved doing it so much,” Kihoon added.

Last to complete the group’s origins is the youngest Junyong, whose journey went from attending music academy in elementary school to joining music competitions in which he won awards. Junyong also began to dip his toes in musical acting and training to be an idol, but his decision to focus on making music rather than dancing and performance prevailed.

As the members’ paths intersected, they ignited each other’s passion for music, which allowed the band to continue progressing in the industry. “I think meeting my members here really made me think more seriously about music. […] As we are making music together, I get to paint a bigger picture and see a better vision as a band together. So I think it worked out really nicely after all,” Jungmo remarked.

On Covers and Choreography

Equally essential to the journey of Catch The Young are their covers, interpreting songs from a wide range of iconic artists such as U2, Official髭男dism, Harry Styles, Jung Kook and fellow Korean band Day6. 

The members see covers as an opportunity to showcase their own style through songs already familiar to most, as they experiment with arrangements that convey their colors best. This is especially evident when they are turning pop songs into rock, and vice versa. “It’s really important to show our uniqueness because I believe not only as a group, but as individuals, we have a lot of charms to share,” Sani said.

Kihoon added that the members also try their best to reinterpret the songs with much respect to the original. “We will always break [the song] down into different parts and really find the core essentials, and then add our colors onto it so it’s with much love and respect. We have very high confidence in putting our own colors into already existing songs so that’s why we are always experimenting.”

Despite being a band, Catch The Young don’t shy away from sharing dance content with fans, given that some of them have idol training backgrounds. You will periodically see this when they’re doing fun TikTok dance trends, as well as in how they incorporate synchronized movements on music stages, especially with their debut song “YOUTH!!!”

“We would think about each other’s movements and how we interact on the stage as well. It’s a lot of fun to work on the choreography and perform with a [few] dance moves, because I think it really adds a nice touch to the hearing pleasure as well as the visual pleasure,” Junyong said.

The movements they add certainly elevate the energy, allowing the crowd to find something new in every performance. “We want the audience to have a lot of fun. That is the essential core of the idea of ‘youth pop rock,’” Kihoon added.

Global Superband Aspirations

Looking ahead, Catch The Young envision themselves as a band that shares its music and unique colors with audiences worldwide. As for this year, Kihoon said they have the goal of performing concerts at bigger venues with at least 1000 seat capacity, in the desire to meet more fans and make a mark on the industry.

“We want to be a global superband who can really share good music and just interact and perform in front of everyone who loves and listens to our music,” Kihoon shared. “And we are really ready to visit anywhere and to perform for anyone. Because what we’re really looking for as a band is to communicate, and interact, and have fun with our fans and listeners.”

To stay updated with Catch The Young, follow them on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok! Watch the music video of their new song, “Voyager” here. 

Want to read more exclusive interviews? Check out EnVi’s interview with LIL LEAGUE here!

The post Catch The Young Talks Comeback “Voyager” and Journey as Youth Pop Rock Band appeared first on EnVi Media.

As the familiar melody of “In the Hall of the Mountain King” drifts into our ears, the ringing tune accompanies blossoms of lollipops that threaten to spill through your screen — this is the opening scene of the “Lollipop” music video, the title track of LIL LEAGUE’s newest album TRICKSTER. 

A six-member Japanese boy group, LIL LEAGUE debuted in January 2023 with their single “Hunter.” Officially released on February 28, TRICKSTER marks a milestone in the group’s career and discography as their first album. 

TRICKSTER includes the highly-requested digital recording of “FeiLong,” an up-tempo track previously only performed at live events. The rest of the album is lined with tracks like “15分” and “Okay,” which were all performed during the group’s first solo hall tour, “LIL LEAGUE LIVE TOUR 2023 ‘LIL GATEWAY.’” Of course, the list is topped with the title track “Lollipop” — a modern twist of a traditional jingle — that conveys the juxtaposing theme of “front and back.” 

For this comeback, EnVi caught up with members Kodai Yamada, Tatsuhiro Nakamura, and Haima Momoda over email about TRICKSTER, “Lollipop,” and their visions for the future. 

Stardom vs. Behind the Scenes 

The nostalgic, ominous melody paired with LIL LEAGUE’s playful and catchy vocals seamlessly intertwine to express the contradicting themes of “Lollipop.” Personal to the young artists themselves, the song’s “front and back” motif resonates with their experiences as people who stand under the spotlight of stardom. Though their seemingly exciting positions are yearned for by many, one wrong word or move can send them spiraling off the stage instantly.

“We hope that listening to [“Lollipop] will be a window into the true feelings of our members, including the struggles and conflicts we’ve felt behind the scenes of the glamorous world of show business,” said vocalist Kodai Yamada. 

The staccato and sharp lines at the beginning of the song’s choreography gradually transition into larger, more playful frames, complimenting its sentiments. For vocalist Tatsuhiro Nakamura, the final dance break is the most exciting part of the song to perform. 

“There are no lyrics, but I put a lot of meaning into the choreography and facial expressions when transitioning to this part,” said Nakamura. Another favorite part of the song for Nakamura is main dancer Matora Okao’s rap. 

“His wild and cool voice stands out,” described Nakamura, who chose this as the part he would like to swap for with another member. 

For mood maker Haima Momoda, it’s Sora Nanba — the youngest member — with whom he wants to swap so he can improve his bass vocals. Meanwhile, or Yamada, it’s Nakamura’s part. “I like the lyric, ‘Let me still hide the real face behind me,’ so I’d like to sing Tatsuhiro Nakamura’s part,” explained Yamada. 

TRICKSTER: A New Era 

From the start of 2023 with the group’s debut to the start of 2024 with their first album, TRICKSTER paints the group’s discography with a new definition — “difference.”

“We’ve been expanding our range of expression and have recorded a wide variety of songs as a result,” explained Yamada, who summarized TRICKSTER with this word. Upgrading from singles to a curated album, he describes how the album left different impressions on each member due to the range of songs they have presented with TRICKSTER.

“This release will be a major turning point for us, so we had a lot of discussions with the staff and carefully considered the direction of this release so as not to make a mistake,” said Nakamura, speaking true to the message of the song “Lollipop.” “We spent quite a lot of time working on our own music, and we’d like to continue our trial-and-error process to deliver even better songs in the future.” 

Since many of the 14 B-sides are songs performed while on tours, the members could reminisce over those performances and memories with fans when they formally recorded the songs. With each song having such personal meanings, it was hard for the members to pick a favorite B-side when EnVi asked for a recommendation. For Nakamura, his recommended track is “Higher.”

“When we performed it on the concert hall tour, I was very anxious because it was right after the release. But I felt the warmth of the fans when they sang along with us at the performance. This song reminds me of how I felt at that time,” said Nakamura. 

Yamada, meanwhile, is excited about the song “Okay.” “It’s performed by waving towels around. We hope that everyone overseas will get excited with their towels in hand.” 

Momoda chose to relive his audition with “Rollah Coaster” as a reminder of how far the members of LIL LEAGUE have come. “We’ve been singing this song since the audition; I think the dreams we’ve been chasing and our identities are all in this song.” 

Aside from “Lollipop,” “Tungsten” and “I Don’t Care” are two other songs on the setlist that have not been performed in front of fans yet. Unlike their previous tracks, the two songs are sung separately by two and four group members, and Nakamura looks forward to showing them to the fans. 

Redirecting Dreams and Visions for the Future

Now charging through the industry in their second year, the members reflect on their goals and visions for LIL LEAGUE. 

Yamada hopes for a dome tour. “We’d like to work hard this year. We want to carry out new approaches toward a dome tour together with what we want to achieve individually,” he said. 

For artists under the spotlight especially, support will always be the most solid ground they stand on. Momoda thanks those around him who have supported his dreams from day one, saying, “I would like to say that you should be grateful and work hard at what’s in front of you first.” 

Their fans are one of the largest sources of support that keep LIL LEAGUE going. Though this one-year-old group has mainly been active within Japan, they hope to expand their reach. 

“Thank you for your support,” said Yamada. “We’re mainly active in Japan, but we’d like to make many opportunities to meet you. We still have a lot of things we want to give to you, so we hope you will receive them someday.”

For more LIL LEAGUE content, follow them on Instagram and TikTok! Don’t forget to also watch the “Lollipop” music video here to see LIL LEAGUE in action. 

Want more boy-group content? Check out EnVi’s interview with K-pop group VANNER here!

The post LIL LEAGUE’s First Album “TRICKSTER” Is a Sweet Symphony of Contradictions appeared first on EnVi Media.

In a sea of hundreds of K-pop groups, there is one group that continues to proudly hold up their flag — calling our attention. Though this group’s road was rocky to say the least, they never gave up on their dreams to become the diamond-dusted performers that we now see on stage. They are, of course, VANNER.

VANNER shocked the world of K-pop in 2023 with their breakout performances and dedication to the arts on JTBC’s survival-competition show, Peak Time. Crowned the victors of the TV program that comprised 24 debuted K-pop groups, such as DKB, Kingdom, and former B.A.P member Moon Jongup, VANNER had a lot to prove once the show concluded. And they certainly did not disappoint. Riding the high of their win, the five-member group released their mini-album Veni Vidi Vici in August 2023. Five months later, in January of this year, VANNER returned with an even stronger presence with their new mini-album, Capture the Flag. Recently, they also announced their first concert in Seoul, which will take place this coming April.

In an interview conducted over email, EnVi asked about members TAEHWAN, GON, HYESUNG, SUNGKOOK, and YEONGGWANG’s hopes and dreams and the process it took to bring Capture the Flag to their fans, also known as VVS. As expected, we were met with VANNER’s sunshine-like personalities in the responses. In true VANNER-fashion (and lyrics), let’s enter the world of VANNER: “가자~! (ka-ja!)”

VANNER Rides with the Top Hitmakers of K-Pop

A VANNER album would not be complete without Ryan Jhun producing it. The star producer helped materialize major hits, such as MONSTA X’s “Beautiful Liar” and IVE’s “After Like.” As a conclusion to Peak Time, Jhun hopped into the recording studio with VANNER and exited the booth with “Prime Time.” In part because of Jhun’s words of wisdom on-and-off camera, VANNER’s musicality enhanced, catching more audience’s attention. VANNER’s increased visibility would lead them to even more industry hitmakers.

With their newest EP, Capture the Flag, VANNER set a new career-high, bringing on legendary songmakers from NATHAN, who has written for WOODZ and PENTAGON in the past, to BTOB’s LIM HYUNSIK, in addition to Jhun. More noticeably, this new EP features the participation of two PENTAGON members, HUI and WOOSEOK, behind the scenes. HUI, like VANNER, also competed in a survival competition, Boys Planet, in 2023. Surely, the group and HUI’s shared experiences have contributed to the production of this EP.

Known for his masterful arrangements, such as his rendition of Blackpink’s “Shut Down” on Boys Planet, HUI has a knack for capturing the audience through piercing sounds. VANNER’s title track on Capture the Flag, “JACKPOT,” oozes with HUI’s sassy arrangements right from the start. His participation in the track allows the members to fully exercise their vocal ranges — revving up from casual chest tones to seductive falsettos. More importantly, as the youngest VANNER member YEONGGWANG shared over email, “I heard [HUI] made ‘JACKPOT’ for us, so it was such an honor for us!”

Leader and main vocalist TAEHWAN and lead rapper SUNGKOOK also shared similar sentiments. “Working with HUI was an honor… because we wished to have a song written by HUI someday! So it was such a dream!” TAEHWAN wrote, in a cheerful tone. “I liked PENTAGON since I was young, so this process with HUI was an honor…” SUNGKOOK wrote. Main dancer and rapper GON and lead vocalist HYESUNG, on the other hand, treasured their moments with HUI in the studio. “It was such a big learning experience [for us] that we only listened to HUI’s instructions,” replied GON. “[HUI’s] directions amazed me and made me feel like I was learning so much during the recording session…” HYESUNG shared fondly.

The Songs that Captured VANNER’s Hearts

It’s no surprise that a group of five bright and talented individuals would have different choices as their favorite tracks off of Capture the Flag. This just further demonstrates their unique flares and musicality.

SUNGKOOK’s pick was the heart-pumping title track, “JACKPOT,” while GON picked the other power bop — or workout anthem, as we’d like to call it — “CIRCUIT.” Both tracks evoke the imagery of engines revving and rubber on tar, perfect for a midday drive down an open road. Shifting gears and turning over to our vocalists of the group, they went with the charmers of the album. TAEHWAN’s pick, “After Party,” is a vocal-heavy pop song written by GON, laced with smooth falsettos. “It’s a song that we have never shown before, so listeners would feel free and light when listening to it,” TAEHWAN added. HYESUNG chose “PONYTAIL (Korean version)” because “the song’s vibes [gave him] a heart-fluttering feeling.” Maknae of the group, YEONGGWANG, surprised us with his pick. He chose what could be this generation’s Valentine’s Day theme song, “Be My Love,” sharing that “it was the first R&B genre song we put out as a group, and I believe VVS would love it too.”

VANNER Bare Honest Emotions in “Across the Stars”

VANNER do not shy away from a good ballad, considering they won a competition show by showcasing their raw vocal abilities. “Across the Stars” is a new addition to their arsenal of pop-ballads, after “Savior” from their previous mini-album, Veni Vidi Vici. When asked how they would describe the process of recording this song, TAEHWAN gave us a surprising response. Considering how straining this song would be vocally (for the average person), the main vocalist shared, “I felt that this song required singing with less power compared to other songs, so I found it a bit challenging to lower my energy when I was recording it.”

On the other hand, GON thanked fans for loving the track, despite his vocal limitations: “I tried hard to be honest with my emotions.” Similarly, HYESUNG found beauty in the song, citing, “The message in the song is really good… I practiced hard to put my emotions through the lyrics.” SUNGKOOK and YEONGGWANG thanked their producers for the fruition of the song. “There was pressure about [recording] the song, but the producer directed us well…” SUNGKOOK wrote. YEONGGWANG added to SUNGKOOK, “I was so thankful that I was the first to record this song in the studio. The producer gave me a lot of feedback, and I was imagining [how a music video would look like] for this song while recording the song in the studio, haha.”

Behind the Lyrics of “JACKPOT”

Oftentimes, it’s easy to assume a pop song carries no meaning, but that’s never the case for VANNER. Their new title song, “JACKPOT,” is a pot-full of meaningful lyrics. In particular, SUNGKOOK and YEONGGWANG pointed at the first five seconds of the song: “Since 2019, it’s our story.”

“This part contains VANNER’s story in it,” SUNGKOOK shared. YEONGGWANG quickly added, “that part reminds me of our debut.” HYESUNG recalled a lyric that seemed to bring him motivation: “It’s not over till it’s over.” But GON’s favorite lyric has to do with connecting with fans: “We can’t lose.” He added that he chose this “as [his] favorite lyric because [he loves] the exhilarating feeling when singing it with fans,” recalling the moments when the group performed this song live on music programs. TAEHWAN’s favorite lyric is more introspective. “In the ‘JACKPOT’ lyrics, there is a lyric, ‘La vida loca,” which means a madly happy life in Spanish. The reason why I chose this job and the meaning of these lyrics are the same.”

From Part-Time to Prime Time

Fans of VANNER would know about their gripping story, which was first broadcasted on Peak Time. The five-member group did not begin on a strong note, as their debut did not amount to the stardom that other boy groups that debuted in 2019 did, such as CIX, WayV, and TXT. The cutthroat nature of the K-pop industry is not a secret. Those who do not make a sound right from the start would have an even harder time maintaining their relevance in the market, as dozens of new groups debut every year.

During VANNER’s downtime, despite having successful songs like “FORM,” they all took on part-time jobs to fund their group’s music videos, hair, makeup, and wardrobe. This is the harsh reality of groups who are not part of a major record label. EnVi wanted to learn more about how the members managed to stay together as a group despite the financial realities required to keep a K-pop group going, and VANNER had the following to share:

TAEHWAN: That moment was very precious, and a much-needed time for us. We learned many things through meeting many people! Even if I was having a tough time in my dramatic life, if you choose to take that moment as destiny and being part of the process and keep going through it, I believe you will arrive at a place where your happiness comes to you in twofolds!

GON: During that time, I felt anxious about the uncertain future [of our group] and couldn’t see a future ahead. But I believe that if you consistently make an effort, no matter how small, and don’t compare yourself to others, you will eventually see success! Each person has their own timing for success, after all!

HYESUNG: While I was at a part-time job, I met a fan. I still remember what my fan said. “You are brilliant on the stage, as well as off the stage, so please don’t give up. We will meet again when you’re on stage.” Don’t forget we are all shining people, so keep that in mind!

SUNGKOOK: Doing a part-time job while we participated in Peak Time was a moment when me and my members were going through a tough time. But it helped us forge a stronger bond together because of it.

YEONGGWANG: While working part-time, I also met various people. Through conversations, I realized that everyone has their own, unique circumstances and plans! That’s why I’d like to encourage others to find their own pace and direction, rather than trying to keep up with others.

From being part-timers to taking the crown on Peak Time in 2023, VANNER truly demonstrated their grit and formidable spirit.

Getting Personal with VANNER

A year later, VANNER are busier than ever. So we wanted to know how VANNER make work in the studio feel less like work. TAEHWAN finds pride in “a personality that can’t enjoy my work. Especially when [he’s] the person who is always being more sensitive than enjoying the music.” He added, “I try not to show my inner feelings while working.” 

“For me, if my work’s result is good enough, then I don’t think it’s work anymore. I always set my end goals and work hard toward it,” HYESUNG shared with us. Similarly, SUNGKOOK saw it this way: “Because it’s something I love [doing], it’s manageable. But still, I think another way to enjoy work is to minimize the pressure as much as possible.”

Free-spirited GON told us, “I don’t think music is my work. I see it as singing in my own little room.” Likewise, YEONGGWANG added a little more to GON’s sentiment. “I try to make it as comfortable as possible, but at the same time, I keep thinking about the details and try not to miss any. But then I would also think, ‘This isn’t a recording studio. It’s a karaoke room! Haha!’” he shared jauntily.

Carrying the weight of the group is often a trait bestowed on the leader. As a show of appreciation for VANNER’s leader, EnVi asked TAEHWAN what he usually does in order to reduce stress these days. “It’s understandable that our schedules are busier now. And it can be challenging to find time for myself. In my case, I find that when I have a day off, I like to spend the day alone and tackle any unfinished cleaning tasks to help relieve my stress. Recently, I cleaned my bathroom!” he shared, cheekily ending his response with a smiley-face emoticon for VVS.

VANNER’s Next Checkpoints

As VANNER’s presence in K-pop continues to expand with one starlit performance after another, VVS and casual fans may wonder about the group’s next moves. From one checkpoint to the next, VANNER have conquered many obstacles through the years. To no surprise, VANNER have big plans and big dreams ahead — in 2024 and beyond.

During our interview, the members have collectively shared their aligned goal for now: to win the first place at a local music program, such as KBS’s Music Bank, SBS’s Inkigayo, or MNet’s M Countdown. HYESUNG added, “I want to deliver VANNER’s musical color and energy on the stage to more people!” 

“I want to meet more VVS both domestically and overseas — with more album promotions!” SUNGKOOK replied, endearingly, as he thought about his fans and their support.

In our conversation, GON and YEONGGWANG managed to tease a bit of exciting news to EnVi. “I also want to win first place in a music program and hold VANNER’s solo concert. If we get the chance to go on a world tour, I definitely want to visit New York!” GON wrote, ending his response with a smiley face. YEONGGWANG dittoed GON, writing, “our goal is to hold VANNER’s solo concert.”

On February 21, seven days after the group’s fifth anniversary, VANNER announced their first concert in Seoul across their social media platforms! Titled “2024 VANNER FIRST CONCERT [THE FLAG: A TO V] IN SEOUL,” the concert will be held at the YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on April 27 and 28.

Messages & Greetings from VANNER

At the time of our interview over email, it was Seollal. As we opened the interview with a new year’s greeting, “새해 복 많이 받으세요!” (the greeting used during Seollal, meaning “Please receive lots of good luck in the New Year”), VANNER wanted to dedicate some time to give VVS and EnVi readers encouraging and comforting messages.

TAEHWAN: Hi, VVS, did you all have a great holiday? In 2024, I wish VVS — and those who are loved by VVS — a happy and healthy new year. Please be with us for many more moments! We love you!

GON: Thank you and happy holidays to VVS, who continually support and look forward to us every time! We always miss you! You are precious, and we love you for being together in our lives.

HYESUNG: Every VVS who is reading EnVi Media’s interview, I hope you are happy and healthy and make good memories in 2024. We love you!

SUNGKOOK: EnVi readers and VVS, in 2024 I hope your wishes come true. Be happy and healthy in 2024! And I want this year to be your “JACKPOT” year!

YEONGGWANG: Happy Holiday in 2024! I hope you receive lots of blessings in the new year, and I hope it’s a “JACKPOT” year for you as well, just like our new song ‘“JACKPOT”! I wish you good health throughout the year, and please continue to show VANNER lots of support and love. Thank you!

Be sure to mark your calendars for their first concert in Seoul this April! Follow VANNER on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Stream their new EP, Capture the Flag, on Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music.

Want more EnVi exclusives? Check out our interview with K-pop group CIX here!

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If you’ve watched K-dramas like True Beauty, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Thirty-Nine, and more, chances are you’ve already heard Korean singer Car, the garden’s addictive yet soothing sound. Car, the garden is the literal translation of the singer’s real name, Cha Jung-won. Cha has been making a name for himself internationally through not only his romantic OSTs, but his knack for comedy on online variety shows. This month, he is once again bringing his music to North America with his “Harmony” tour. 

The tour shares a name with his album, Harmony, which was released on September 12, 2023. Since last year, Car, the garden has been continuing a successful streak — having his first North American tour in the spring, performing a sold-out show at Seoul’s Olympic Hall in the fall, all the while making appearances on YouTube variety shows, and serving as a producer on Mnet’s vocal competition program, Super Large Karaoke Survival. 

Ahead of his shows, EnVi had the chance to catch up with Car, the garden over email to learn about his tour preparation, how he balances being an entertainer and a musician, and his music-making process. The tour starts in San Francisco on January 23, and will hit Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Somerville, New York, and Toronto.

Being Both a Musician and Entertainer 

In addition to his official music channel, Car, the garden recently started another YouTube channel called “My name is Car, the garden” which features him embarking on a variety of comedic pursuits, like directing his friends through an earpiece on blind dates. It’s not his first foray into variety shows, as he’s previously suffered through subway cleaning with the singer Bibi for the part-time job show, Workman. 

Car, the garden also appeared on comedian Jang Sunggyu’s morning show, Celebrity’s First, where he was hilariously candid about being “house poor,” meaning that he spent all his money on his housing and leaving little to use on other items. His unfiltered personality and reactions make his appearances a delight to both fans and non-fans, but interestingly, Car, the garden makes an effort to not cross-pollinate his success, only wearing one hat at a time. “I don’t try to balance everything specifically, but there is one thing I keep doing when I appear on entertainment shows: I never talk about music. I never take myself seriously, and separate the two aspects of mine,” Car, the garden said.  

But, don’t let his comedic side fool you. He’s still a very dedicated artist, and aside from the aforementioned videos, he recommended fans to check out his performances online. “I recommend the official music videos and concert live clips on my official YouTube channel,” Car, the garden noted. 

Making Music Layer by Layer

For his album Harmony, Car, the garden drew inspiration from past relationships and leaned into the emotions he felt when he was alone. Songs like “Tomorrow” and “Foolish World” speak to that loneliness, yet somehow remain upbeat and energetic. 

Car, the garden is known for spanning diverse genres, so EnVi wanted to know how his workflow enabled him to work between different sounds so easily. For Car, the garden, song-making starts with a musical base that gets developed with the help of collaborators. “I start with a single sound from an instrument, create the skeleton of the melody, and then add flesh to it with the other musicians. Lastly, I add lyrics,” he said.  

But, if there’s one song that new listeners should listen to, Car, the garden recommended “Home Sweet Home.” He said it’s “a modern rock-based song with a mix of Korean ballad sentiment.”

Taking Music to the Stage

Having gained experience from last year, Car, the garden is making sure that this upcoming tour gives fans an even better live experience. This time around, there will be an augmented band set featuring triple guitars. “After experiencing last year’s tour, I started trying to really read and understand the atmosphere in the audience to reflect it in my sets (in the way I open my shows, building up the flow between songs, etc.). This year, with the addition of one more guitarist, I am excited to deliver a much richer sound,” he said. 

The tour stops have also increased from four cities to seven. Expectedly, Car, the garden is looking forward to visiting places that he’s never been to before, like Seattle, Chicago, and Somerville. “The fact that I can perform in these cities and that there are people out there coming to see me is exciting. Exploring the cities themselves is something I’m looking forward to as well,” he shared. 

Besides being excited to perform in new places, he had one last word for the fans who made it all possible: “Every year, I plan to diligently engage in album activities and performances and try my best to follow up, so please look forward to that. Thank you.” 

Car, the garden will be touring the U.S. and Canada from January 3 through February 6. Get your tickets here.

Follow Car, the garden on Youtube, Spotify, and Instagram.  

Interested in keeping up with the hottest stars of South Korea’s music scene? Check out our interview with 82MAJOR here.

The post Car, the garden on his Second North American Tour and Being an Entertainer appeared first on EnVi Media.

3, 2, 1. “This is happening right now,” Yoon Ye Chan recounted; it was the only thought running through his mind backstage. Hwang Seong Bin, who is also unable to forget the group’s nerve wracking debut, chimed in with his own recollection before they took the stage. “I just kept feeling nervous,” he interjected his thoughts, assuring us he had a great time as he added, “and also excited.” 

On October 11, Nam Seong Mo, Park Seok Joon, Yoon Ye Chan, Cho Seong Il, Hwang Seong Bin, and Kim Do Gyun’s lives changed forever as they stepped onstage and debuted as Great M Entertainment’s first boy group, 82MAJOR. The six members held a showcase for their debut single album ON, featuring tracks “FIRST CLASS” and “Sure Thing.” 82MAJOR displayed their youthful charm and raging passion with an album that leader Seong Il described as an effort to “expand [their] musical spectrum” and “build [their] own color.” 

The newly debuted group made the transition from trainee to idol look seamless while executing clean choreography, and strong vocals, in killer performances. However, it has been nothing less than a whirlwind. Before they could take it all in, their schedules quickly became a push-and-shove of radio shows, music shows, photoshoots, and interviews. Just as their fans are experiencing the group’s beginning, 82MAJOR are also adjusting to the novelty that is life as K-pop idols. 82MAJOR joined EnVi on Zoom to spill all about their debut, trainee memories, and party tricks. 

First Time for Everything

I spoke with 82MAJOR who had palpable charisma across the screen of a Zoom call. Their energy bubbling, the members matched my curiosity with eagerness. Question after question, the artists gave enthusiastic “oooooh,”’s, nodding in satisfaction, and articulating each answer thoughtfully. Their warm and professional demeanor made it easy to forget they are new to it all. 

“The time between being a trainee and an artist is so short, you really don’t get to digest. So you just try your hardest in the matter of a couple of hours,” Ye Chan said. Their first challenge? The “FIRST CLASS” music video. 

Music video recordings come with their own set of challenges: navigating camera angles, maintaining dance quality, and surviving long shoots. An intricate and edgy video filled with deep timbre rap verses, impressive motorcycles, and powerful choreography, “FIRST CLASS” sets the tone for the group’s hip image. In particular, the rain scene, as cinematic as it was, wasn’t planned. Rain started pouring during their shoot, and instead of calling it off, the members carried on. Trying their best on slippery floors and inclement weather, they had a distinct memory of looking up into fat rain drops for an overhead shot. Staring up into the sky and holding back the reflex to scrunch their face, the members came to understand that adaptability and perseverance is what determines success in this industry.

Jot It Down

82MAJOR’s name comes from Korea’s area code, 82, and their passion to be a major force in the industry. A name like that requires delivery of innovative ideas and plenty of earworms. Putting pen to paper, the members weren’t phased by the pressure of writing their debut tracks. After all, writing got them started in their careers. 

A diary assignment in elementary school inspired Seong Mo to be an idol. Introspective enough at his young age to plague himself with an existential crisis, the rapper asked himself, “Hm, what do I want to be in the future? What is my dream?” The answer came easy for his colleague Seong Bin. “I want to be famous,” he stated plainly. “If you become famous, your words gain strength.”

Honoring his childhood goal to make people “laugh and cry with his music,” Seong Mo and his members composed the lyrics to “FIRST CLASS” and “Sure Thing.” Their songwriting process entailed an initial meeting to settle on ideas, vibes, and what they wanted to convey. “I want [our fans] to take away ‘Oh, 82MAJOR is this type of group.’” Ye Chan said. “Oh, they can do that? And they can do that? Are they good at this as well? Oh, and they’re good looking?,” he added, pursing his lips with a smug expression.

That said, it was a challenge to figure out how to establish the group’s color. Deciding to not settle, they composed two distinct tracks. “Sure Thing” is an upbeat pop song with the members adopting a youthful schoolboy concept. A change of pace, “FIRST CLASS” is a beat forward, hip-hop song with a bad boy concept. 82MAJOR went all out for their album, showing us their versatility and range as performers. 

Risk and Reward 

There isn’t much 82MAJOR can’t do. I mentioned the whispers of one of the members being double jointed, and the idols beckoned Seong Il to show me. I didn’t know what to expect. Stepping up to the camera, he bent his thumbs backwards — lo and behold, a one of a kind thumb heart. My incredulous reaction sent the boys into full-blown belly laughs, covering their mouths and clapping their hands in satisfaction. 

Their jovial spirit makes you almost forget their debut required tremendous sacrifice and hardship. The K-pop industry is a unique system. Teens as young as 12 years old enter a training bootcamp until they are deemed ready to debut — or get cut. The process is competitive and grueling, yet it doesn’t stop people from dedicating their lives to being an idol. Ye Chan relocated from Canada to Korea, following his brother, P1Harmony’s Keeho, to audition. He went on to become a trainee for six to seven years. Do Gyun came from the countryside of Korea, growing up harvesting potatoes and tending to farm animals.

Moving to a new place came with its fair shares of awkwardness and allure. Do Gyun remembered being enamored by the sheer height of Seoul’s buildings. He attempted to hold in a smile, failing at the sound of his members giggling. The jokesters were prepared for the punchline. “The height of the buildings in Seoul are about twice or more where I come from!” He prefaced. “There was a really tall building and I was trying to look up and count how many floors are in that building, and I almost fell.” Dropping his head in embarrassment, Do Gyun received playful slaps from his members, astonished by his dorkiness.

Being a trainee came with as many good memories as hard lessons. Although of Korean descent, the cultural formalities were unfamiliar to Ye Chan, specifically the honorifics. “I would just go around calling older people by their first names,” he said. My reaction of horror left him chuckling. “They would get super mad at me. I was like ‘Huh? What’s going on? What did I do wrong?,’” he said, imitating the doe-eyed expression and innocent whine of his younger self. 

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Six boys, worlds apart, were expected to work together to succeed. 

It’s these dear memories that make the basis for the “Sure Thing” music video. Seok Joon’s past is of undying perseverance, facing countless unforgiving opponents in taekwondo. Ye Chan’s cameos take place in a skatepark, where he spent most of his childhood in Canada. Do Gyun, the group’s maknae, shares his burning youth in memories of practicing in his school’s empty halls. An introvert and former Show Me the Money 11 contestant, Seong Bin shares his passion for writing lyrics. Seong Mo reveals his willingness to look beyond his shyness to collaborate with fellow musicians. Seong Il highlights his athleticism as a former badminton school representative and basketball hobbyist. The boys couldn’t be any more different from one another. 

I asked Seok Joon, an avid bowler, which member he would want on his bowling team, not expecting the reaction. The call erupted into a roar. Like school children, the members shot their arms into the air and appealed to him, some puffing their chest and proudly pointing to themselves. Seok Joon, preening on the attention, drew it out. “Seong Il” he said after much deliberation. Ye Chan, a king of reactions, dejectedly pouted. In return, he got a consolidation pat on the back. 

Their dynamic is of contradictions: interjections, quiet listening, teasing banter, and affectionate pats. Their energy feeds off one another, finishing each other’s thoughts and building up any conversation seamlessly. I asked the members to take a step back and reflect on their past. 

“There have been times in my trainee career where I have given up. I just gave up on everything,” Ye Chan recounted. Looking back at his trainee days, even though it isn’t so far behind him, he’d tell himself, “Keep going forward, cause there’s always a path ahead.” “Just keep going bro!” Do Gyun blurted, honing in on that one particular phrase amongst the sentimentality. One after another, they began to jump in. “A beautiful world is waiting for you, so don’t give up. Just push forward,” Seong Mo added, ever the poet. “Cheer up bro,” Seong Bin stated coolly. 

A dynamic Seong Il worded plainly as “a bunch of town kids” hanging out, it just works. As Ye Chan said, “82MAJOR is just [that] type of group.”

Keep up with 82MAJOR and their upcoming projects by following them on X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube!

Want to learn more about 82MAJOR? EnVi breaks down their tracks “FIRST CLASS” and “Sure Thing” here. 

The post Great M Entertainment’s First Boy Group 82MAJOR Is a Performance Powerhouse appeared first on EnVi Media.

Jimmy Brown — although needing no introduction — has become something of a household name in the Korean R&B scene. Garnering attention from the likes of K-pop idols such as BTS’ Jimin, Red Velvet’s Wendy, and GOT7’s BamBam, many have fallen head over heels for the singer’s marvelously romantic love songs. In 2021, Jimmy officially teamed up with rapper, singer/songwriter, and close friend Rovv, releasing several singles leading up to their first album. 

Since then, the pair have been unstoppable, blending elements of R&B, hip-hop, trap, and even Afrobeats into an endless pool of music ecstasy. Now Jimmy and Rovv are touring with their third album, Like the First Time, across 13 North American cities. Finally seeing how much their music has touched the souls of their global audience, the “Hip Drive” duo touched down in Chicago on November 7. Before the concert, they sat down with EnVi to dish on their latest album, tour life, and give a little behind-the-scenes insight into how they prepare for a show.

ICU Typing…

Every concert experience has its own story — ones filled with moments that are meticulously etched and stored away in the brain for years to come. For some, those moments could include the journey leading up to the concert, like attending the show in a city they’ve never been to before. For most others, it’s the show itself: the adrenaline kicking in when the lights go out and the music starts, unveiling the artist they waited “X” amount of time to see. But for me, those unforgettable moments happened backstage before the show, where I reconnected with Jimmy and Rovv in person since our last interview via Zoom. 

Tucked away in the cozy backstage lounge of the Chop Shop was Jimmy, Rovv, their guitarist who goes by ampoff, and DJ/producer Jin.K. Almost immediately after I entered the room, Jimmy, who sported two red rollers in his hair, went straight for the hug, with Rovv following suit. Both wore smiles that I’m sure were equally as big as mine. Behind them was a table covered with delicious foods and drinks, ranging from Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza to chocolate chip cookies and Jameson whiskey — all of which they had no problem sharing later on.

The duo’s photographer, Andy Sama, later confirmed one of them may have shed a tear after tasting the pizza, though Andy playfully wouldn’t confirm nor deny which artist it was. “It was on my wish list to try,” Rovv admitted, and as expected, Chicago did not disappoint.

As we began our interview, music from the venue blared through the walls while fans gathered inside. Specifically, it was South African singer Tyla’s viral hit, “Water,” soaring from the speakers. Jimmy, who was waiting for Rovv to join him on the couch, sang along with that familiar enchantment to his voice responsible for his loyal following. When I asked if he was a Tyla fan, despite already figuring out the answer, he looked down and chuckled before answering, “Yes.”

We started by talking about Jimmy and Rovv’s latest album, which boasts seven tracks total, including previously released singles “Hip Drive,” “Over and Over,” and “Typing…” As with most of their music, Like The First Time thrives on themes of sensuality, love, and flirtatiousness — adding to their catalog of music you’d likely play while dancing in the kitchen or staring up at the ceiling before fading off to sleep. But aside from the sensual nature of the album, Like The First Time is also a reference to their creative partnership and artistry. “It’s that excitement of a fresh, new start; he actually came up with the name,” Jimmy said, pointing over at Rovv. “[The album] was made with passion and shows we’re still learning about each other and ourselves,” Rovv explained. “That’s why we liked the name.”

While the album teeters between slow, romantic numbers to more buoyant, upbeat tracks, both artists have clear favorites and aren’t shy about choosing one above the rest. “I’m going to go with “Typing…” as my favorite,” Jimmy said. “It’s just simple and something everybody can easily sing along to.” Rovv, on the other hand, sticks with the track that has been his favorite since day one and reminds him of his favorite activity outside of making music. “Hip Drive,” he smiled. “I like working out and doing the hip drive exercises, so that’s why it’s my favorite.”

Touring All Over and Over The Place

With Jimmy and Rovv steadily building up a global fanbase, an international tour has long been a dream for the two artists. The duo first got their feet wet with two European shows last fall — one in London and another in Paris. Both served as a taste of what to expect when expanding this adventure. The following spring, Jimmy and Rovv officially announced their North American tour on May 20, with shows scheduled for Toronto, New York, Chicago, and many more across the States. 

This was everything they had hoped for. As Rovv put it, it was time for them to level up. “For Paris and London, it took us about two weeks to prepare, but for this, it’s been months in the making,” Jimmy stated. “I’m just here to communicate with our US fans and get to know them face-to-face.”

While preparing for any tour is tedious in itself, almost nothing is as strenuous or crucial as finalizing a setlist that satisfies both the artists and the fans. Between Jimmy and Rovv, the two have over 100 songs combined to choose from, from fan favorites to deep cuts to hidden gems. The task should seem like a headache, but for Jimmy and Rovv, it was nothing more than a walk in the park. “We just go with the vibe and whatever feels right,” Jimmy said nonchalantly. “There’s nothing we regret with choosing the setlist.” By this point, the singer had removed the rollers from his hair, presenting two perfect curls that matched the rest of his hair.

There’s something about Jimmy and Rovv’s calm and collected demeanor that’s very appealing. No matter what happens, they’re always sure of themselves and grounded in their decisions — or at least that’s how it comes off on the outside looking in. But that doesn’t mean they don’t get nervous or second-guess themselves. After all, creatives are known to be their own harshest critics; never fully satisfied with what they’ve made, but knowing when it’s finished. “I get nervous all the time,” Jimmy said, laughing at his own confession. “I’m nervous for tonight; I wish I could drink, but I can’t sing when I’m drunk.” Rovv is no different. “The first time I ever performed was at a university festival, and I was really nervous,” the rapper said. “I have no memory of being onstage; I just got out there and did it.”

After wrapping up the North American leg of the tour, the duo will head off to Australia in December and Europe in January. But don’t think for a second that once this tour is over so is their Like The First Time era. “We’re planning a deluxe album soon,” Rovv revealed. “We’ve already made two or three more songs to add.” Jimmy chimed in, “And maybe a physical album — we’ll see.”

VIP For the Night

Usually what happens during a backstage interview is simple: you get in; spend the allotted time given asking the artists questions about their life, music, and any other exciting events; and then you’re promptly escorted out so the artists can finish prepping for the show. This interview, however, was thankfully not your ordinary interview. Instead of feeling like a stranger in someone else’s world, I was treated as a guest — welcomed and seen as an equal rather than anything lesser.

As the formal interview came to a close, I was invited to stick around until showtime and observe all the behind-the-scenes work that comes with touring. Rovv left the room to grab his mic-pack, while Jimmy began his vocal warmups, singing, “Mommy made me mash my M&Ms” and going up the scale. Earlier, the singer revealed it’s a warmup he downloaded from YouTube, and according to their photographer Andy, it’s his go-to. “Every single day,” Andy laughed with a headshake. For around 30 minutes or so, Jimmy went from singing the tongue twister to singing the songs he had planned for the show. And yes, he sounded exactly like his recordings (like a dream). Rovv, however, admitted he doesn’t have any particular warmups other than shouting a few times — which he generously demonstrated as he was fixing his mic-pack.

Once the remaining hour was up, it was finally showtime. Jimmy, Rovv, and the rest of the crew huddled around the food-filled table before motioning for me to join them. After explaining the instructions of their pre-show team chant, each person placed their hand in the middle of the circle, one by one, and announced their respective hometowns before shouting, “Like! Like! Like! Whoo!!” It wasn’t until then that the show could truly begin.

Rovv rushed on stage from behind the curtains, and Jimmy followed soon after. I watched as the crowd absorbed the guys’ energy and tossed it right back to them tenfold. The fans in the front row, in particular, caught my eye as they held up signs that read, “Your voice and music soothe my soul” and “Hot girls listen to Jimmy Brown and Rovv.” Fandoms, in general, are amazing, but the passion and love of music fans is something you just can’t get anywhere else. Chicago’s attendees also had the honor of being the recipients of Jimmy’s first water toss, as he accidentally spills some of it onstage before flinging the rest of the bottle over the insatiably hyped crowd.

During the hour-long set, Jimmy and Rovv alternated between their solo tracks and their recorded songs. Some of these songs included Rovv’s “Chance” and “23,” Jimmy’s “heaven” and “kiss my lips” and duo songs like “On My D,” and “Like The First Time.” The set felt surprisingly short, especially for two artists with such a rich discography. But, the night couldn’t end without the song that first put Jimmy on the map: “Irene.” 

A Night of Ecstasy

Much to everyone’s delight, the events that transpired after the show were nothing but wholesome interactions. The two artists stood outside the venue to chat, take pictures, and sign autographs with everyone who stayed behind to wait for them. When Jimmy and Rovv said they were here to communicate with their North American fans, they weren’t kidding. Everywhere you turned, there was a smile, and I couldn’t help but feel lucky to witness it all unfold in front of me. Make no mistake: this may have been Jimmy and Rovv’s first time performing in the States, but from the way they handled the night, you would have thought they’ve been here a lifetime.

Like The First Time is available now on all streaming platforms, and be sure to follow Jimmy Brown and Rovv on Instagram for all the latest updates.

For more content on Jimmy Brown and Rovv, check out EnVi’s 2022 interview and Q&A here!

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In life, it appears that with time comes knowledge and capability. But in the K-pop industry that couldn’t be any further from the truth. In a profession where raw talent, skill, and dedication speaks volumes, 10-piece K-pop group, xikers, screams. With less than a year in the K-pop scene under their belt, KQ Entertainment’s monster rookie group, comprising members MINJAE, JUNMIN, SUMIN, JINSIK, HYUNWOO, JUNGHOON, SEEUN, YUJUN, HUNTER, and YECHAN, have shown that it doesn’t take decades of experience to become a master at your craft. With two mini-albums, two awards under their belt, and being an MNet Asia Music Awards 2023 nominee among other great K-pop artists and groups, xikers have proven why they’re a force to be reckoned with, only seven months into their career.

A few days before the start of the U.S. leg of their TRICKY HOUSE : FIRST ENCOUNTER tour, EnVi met with xikers in New York for an exclusive interview to discuss all things music, their fans, and self reflection. As I stepped into the cozy conference room, I was immediately shown the charm that has captured the hearts of many. After being introduced by their management, the group stood and erupted in applause and cheers, shouting out my name followed by a resounding “EnVi Media!” and a scattered “Nice to meet you!” Their boundless energy and ability to warm a room didn’t stop there. After I complimented their outfits, the group turned it back to me, telling me I, too, looked cool. YECHAN even went as far as to say that we matched, since we were all wearing red. 

Within seconds, we were in the world of xikers — charms, tricks, joy, and all.

xikers Take Over NYC

With their energy high from the start, xikers set the tone for the interview from the moment we began so we jumped right in. Considering it was the group’s first ever tour, it’s to be expected that there were many things the members were looking forward to experiencing. I wondered if there was anything they wanted to experience while they were in the states, specifically New York, since it was their first stop after all. YUJUN bashfully answered that he wished to see road𝓨, their fanbase, and the entire group agreed. However, SUMIN, main rapper and ever the moodmaker of the group, was practically bouncing out of his seat to speak once YUJUN finished talking. He jutted his arm out, dramatically counting on each finger when he said, “Times Square, Statue of Liberty…Shake Shack, (YUJUN interrupting, “And Spiderman…Spiderman…Spiderman”) and Five Guys,” to which the entire group let out a low “oooo” in agreement. 

Coincidentally, SUMIN got his wish. The group wound up visiting Times Square through an event in which they collaborated with the K-pop/Hip-hop dance company I LOVE DANCE. Many of their fans shared their experience on X, absolutely floored by their idols’ abilities while also in awe of the chance to share such an intimate moment with xikers close.

This spurt of energy encouraged the other members to speak up about their dream experiences while in the Big Apple, since the whole group exploded into a flurry of conversation. Their interests ranged from going to the zoo — which HUNTER suggested while smiling — to watching an NBA game, a goal for the athletically inclined HYUNWOO. But inevitably, the conversation returned back to food with JINSIK concluding that he really wanted to try pulled pork. To many, these activities seem a bit lackluster, but for xikers these experiences are fun, new, and bring a glimmer to their youthful eyes.

Through the lens of their younger selves, we took it back to the beginning to discuss what brought the members to pursue music in the first place.

The Inception of Their Aspirations

Paying respect to the many artists that paved the way for them, a majority of the group agreed that they were inspired to pursue music after watching their seniors perform. SEEUN replied solemnly that he was inspired to pursue K-pop after watching performances of JungKook of BTS. HYUNWOO then piggy-backed off of him to say that his drive stemmed from watching labelmates ATEEZ perform with such vigor. Respect for their predecessors is at the forefront of xikers’ minds and they made it clear with the showers of compliments they gave to their seniors.

HUNTER, however, tenderly shared that a fellow dancer opened his eyes to the entertainment industry. “For me,” he said with a gentle smile, “I remember when I first started dancing I saw a dance video of a dancer [named] Matt Steffanina. He’s actually a dancer in LA, and I think he inspired me to start dancing. Once I started dancing I just wanted to become a K-pop idol, naturally, because I was always surrounded by the local culture. And so, I think Matt Steffanina was definitely one of the [biggest] inspirations for me.” 

Navigating Music as an Artist

On the topic of their inspirations, the conversation naturally flowed to music and how it defines their everyday lives and experience as artists. Music is a universal language and this sentiment is not lost on the group. xikers cannot navigate life without music. It’s like a crutch for them, something to always fall back on. SEEUN said that he listens to music all the time, “[…] not only when I’m practicing, but I listen to music when I’m showering, when I’m in the car going somewhere. When I listen to music I feel like it’s comforting me. It’s expressing my feelings,” earning a nod in agreement from all the members. SUMIN followed up by saying that music speaks to him and aids in uplifting his mood. I’m sure many of us can agree with them when they say that music really is like a saving grace for us all. 

Let’s not forget that, at the end of the day, the members work in the music industry. And they can’t pretend their perception of music has no impact on their growth as artists. HYUNWOO made that abundantly clear when he told EnVi that while listening to music, it makes him think of how he can improve as a singer.

“When I listen to music I want to feel the music [and the message] the singer is [trying to portray] through the lyrics. When I sing songs as an artist, I want to deliver [our] message fully to the audience.”

This desire to be able to fully express their feelings to their fans is evident in their music style. While the message may not be crystal clear to all listeners, the tone of their discography reveals quite a bit. With their debut mini album, the group kept the energy high and rowdy, highlighting the big feelings that accompany their teenage years. Meanwhile, with their latest album, the music is still upbeat and youthful, but also nostalgic, extending to the scariness of adulthood while reassuring their audience that everything will be okay. MINJAE, JINSIK, and YUJUN expressed that moving forward, the message they want to send to road𝓨 is that they can always depend on xikers to uplift them with their music. MINJAE softly said, “We want to give [road𝓨] a lot of energy. We want to try and put in more effort in our [future] albums and performances for road𝓨 to cheer up their daily life.”

xikers Discography and the Future of Their Sound

As the group discussed the future of their music, the topic of exploring new sounds arose. JUNMIN raised his hand when he began to speak, but SUMIN shouted over him, with joy clear on his face when he answered, “OLD SCHOOL!” The group erupted in laughter at his eagerness to respond with HUNTER coaxing him to explain why he chose that genre. The rapper laughed slightly before reiterating that he loves the chill vibe of old-school hip-hop. “These days,” he adds, “I listen to Tupac and Biggie a lot. I just love that vibe.” (Okay, taste!) And the vibe certainly suits them. Old-school hip-hop is a genre the group has dabbled in on their latest mini album, HOUSE OF TRICKY : HOW TO PLAY, as experienced in the track “Sunny Side.” This genre suits the rap style of the group while still letting their vocalists shine — I think road𝓨 would love to see more of this side of xikers!

JUNMIN went a different route, smiling shyly when he told EnVi, “Right now we’re a little bit too young still but later on, as time passes, we would love — in like two or three years — to do a more mature concept.” Though they have yet to try a daring concept, the group gave a taste of what their future holds at their show with JUNMIN and HUNTER’s performance of “Die For You” by the Weeknd. With more time to grow and mature themselves, road𝓨 absolutely have something to look forward to.

That being said, when it came to their own discography, JINSIK and SEEUN shared their favorite songs they’ve made thus far. For SEEUN, he said he loved their most recent title track, “DO or DIE.”

The title track is powerful and exudes the chaos of youth through its intense choreography and high energy. It’s what SEEUN likes the most about the track. Meanwhile, JINSIK went for the nostalgic drill track, “HOMEBOY.” He elaborated, “When I first heard the guide for the track, I had this feeling back then, and even now after recording it and releasing it, that it’s a song that gives me a feeling of comfort and really heals me. I find it really wonderful to listen to.”

The duo honestly couldn’t have chosen a better pair of songs that represent the vibe of the group. With “DO or DIE,” the instrumental is boisterous and the lyrics talk about not hesitating to do what you want — emphasizing the rebellious nature of youth. However, with “HOMEBOY,” the beat is more subdued, a gentle approach to drill hip-hop with lyrics that speak to the beauty in the unknown of growing up. 

When you think of xikers, the first thing that should come to mind is “performers” because they can put on a show. It doesn’t matter if the song is tame or wild, the members know that their music requires a powerful performance. And as such they are usually pretty hype to perform (along with their pre-show chant). In fact, it’s what makes their jobs seem much more real. HUNTER told EnVi that his favorite part of performing is, “…watching the audience’s reaction to our performance. Like, for example, when we first performed our song ‘XIKEY,’ at a music show, we were watching our fans’ reactions to our stages, it was also our first time performing that song on stage, and they were like really surprised by this performance so I just really look forward to our fans’ reactions everytime we perform.”

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Although the group has been launched into stardom, keeping busy since their debut, they never forget their roots. In just four months, xikers will be celebrating their one year anniversary. I asked, “What is something you want to tell your pre-debut selves?” The room went silent as a couple members sucked in a deep breath, the question seeming to resonate with them. SEEUN was the first to speak, leaving a hopeful message to his younger self.

“As you live on in life, there are multiple instances where you are going to come across obstacles and difficult times but [ultimately] all of those things will pass and as time continues to progress, there will be times where even harder things will happen. Enduring and learning from these moments is what is going to make life eventful for you, so don’t worry.” 

Hard work is not always fun, and sometimes it feels best to just push our way through it to see the other side. HYUNWOO fidgeted with his ring, spinning it slowly around his index finger when he shared he regretted doing just that. He said, “Before debut, I felt very rushed in order to get better at things, to be good at something and complete [my tasks] faster. But now that I think back to it, I would like to tell my past self to maybe take things slowly. It will make [the experience] more long lasting.” After all, you only get one chance to live out the journey you take to fulfill your dreams, you should never feel afraid to soak up every moment.

Pivoting back to a lighter tone, but still being completely logical, the group’s leader, MINJAE, wished he could tell himself to work out more. Not to maintain a better image, but because he had no idea how much work it would be to perform their songs. “Before we debuted, we didn’t know how difficult it would be to have a show and how hard live performances would be. Our songs are very high energy and we have to show off our choreography as we sing and I would just like to tell myself to workout more before you debut,” he laughed suddenly, “to make your body stronger and performances a bit easier.”

Despite taking the time to self-reflect, YECHAN shared that in the future xikers wants “to be the best that we can be and on top of that be a good influence for the artists that come after us!” And what a humble goal that is. 

Dear road𝓨

As our time together drew to a close, I asked the group what song they would recommend to people who don’t know xikers. The minute the question was asked — and I mean I barely got the words out — half the group shouted out “XIKEY” and “TRICKY HOUSE.” Though, YECHAN said it perfectly when he responded, “Actually, listen to all our songs. So sit down and put it on a playlist.” (Period!)

Before leaving, xikers shared some heartfelt messages that they wanted to send to road𝓨. JUNMIN wanted to ensure that the fans take care of their health due to the colder weather, which YECHAN punctuated with a loud and elongated message of love, “I love you, road𝓨! I miss you!”

SEEUN wrapped up the interview by tenderly stating, “Thank you so much for giving us your unwavering and unchanging love. We will work hard to become even better artists so please continue to look after us (YECHAN: And we will do our best!).”

Please note that member JUNGHOON was not present for the interview due to his temporary hiatus.

Keep up with xikers and their upcoming projects by following them on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube!

Interested in more xikers? Check out EnVi’s coverage of their debut mini-album here!

The post xikers on Touring, Tricks, and Connecting with road𝓨 appeared first on EnVi Media.

This month, Korean rock band Xdinary Heroes embark on their first European tour. Under JYP Entertainment’s sub-label, Studio J, the band’s name is an abbreviation of “Extra Ordinary Heroes,” meaning that anyone can be a hero. Following the footsteps of other bands in the industry, such as DAY6, CNBlue, and FTIsland, Xdinary Heroes are very hands-on, from contributing to their song making process to playing their own instruments. For both new and old rock lovers, they embody the classic teen rock band aesthetic — think ripped jeans, thick eyeliner, and heavy silver hardware. But, with every release, they’ve committed to showing audiences a different dimension of themselves. Those who have seen them perform will surely notice the synergy across the six members, Gun-il, Jungsu, Gaon, O.de, Jun Han, and Jooyeon, as something to behold. 

A few days after their performance at the Korea On Stage event in London, EnVi sat down with the band in a Zoom video interview. Especially since they’re inspired by UK rock bands, such as The Beatles, Oasis, and Queen – and just performed “We Will Rock You” in their first performance in London – it’s a very fitting start for this unique band. They already started their tour in Paris and London, but will soon perform in Milan, Frankfurt, Warsaw, and Madrid.

Xdinary Heroes Are Not Afraid to Get a Little Edgy 

The way Xdinary Heroes push the limits on authority in their music is refreshing, from video concepts depicting the group as everything from birthday party clowns to runaway criminals each breaking out of the confines of their environment. In real life though, they’re just your everyday music lovers.

Gun-il, the drummer and the oldest, took the lead in the interview, but all the members were enthused to speak about their music and what they’ve done so far.

Jungsu, the keyboardist and main vocalist, said that this year has really allowed the band to show listeners the whole range of their music. “I think we’re showing more and more of our own music. In the future, we’re going to show even more powerful sound-based tracks,” he promised.  

Their latest release, “Break the Brake,” is filled with powerful guitar and bass riffs and it leaves no room for questions about what they can do. In a way, they are more an anti-hero than a traditional hero – but that twist is a characteristic of the rebellious and counter-culture attitude that makes rock so fun. The cherry on top is that their fans are called Villains because, without them, the band could not exist as heroes.

Xdinary Heroes debuted in 2021 with “Happy Death Day,” but from the jump they have delivered hardcore sound and skillful shredding on their guitars – not your typical K-pop release.

A Look Into Their Lyrics and Creative Process

Earlier this year, they also dropped the super ‘80s-styled “Freakin’ Bad.” Smack dab in the middle of the song is Jun Han’s powerful guitar solo that builds its way to the climax where it explodes into the addictive chorus chants that make up the song’s title: “Freakin’ bad, bad.” 

“Freakin’ Bad,” like each one of their tracks, is a welcome display of their raw talent and adolescent defiance, but this song in particular is only augmented by its mischievous word play that channels pop icon Britney Spears. Towards the song’s end, they sneak in the verse, “If you seek it, why owe you?” which can also be heard as “F-U-C-K Y-O-U.”

Members O.de, who is in charge of the synthesizer; Jun Han, the guitarist; and Jooyeon, the vocalist and bassist all contributed to the song, but the creative line could not really be traced back to any single member, O.de shared. 

“That phrase was something that came from all of us. I’m so thankful that many Villains and also the listener loved it!” O.de said.

For “Break the Brake,” all the members ended up contributing to the song. Gun-il said it is actually a very collaborative and democratic process to make sure everyone is proud of the final product.

“We all participate in every single process, especially in melody-making and lyric-writing. We write our melodies together and choose the best melodies. We also exchange ideas for the title and lyrics until we get to an agreement,” Gun-il said. 

As for how disagreements get resolved, the answer was simple. “We vote,” Gun-il said simply. 

From Being Rock Fans To Rock Musicians 

Since they have so many live stages ahead of them, EnVi had to find out what sparked the band’s passion for music and how they’ve improved their performances since their debut.

For Gun-il, he fell in love with drums when he saw his friend playing the instrument at his local church. He started playing drums to his favorite rock songs, and it landed him in Xdinary Heroes, where he has been able to grow by playing for crowds and seeing other bands’ drummers perform.

Gaon, Jun Han, and Jungsu all chimed in to say that practice – especially the boring stuff – has been really key to their improvement. Finding a role model and listening to a lot of different music also helps them to keep motivated.  

“Repeating and practicing is the best method to improve your playing skills,” said Gaon.  

“Practicing the boring stuff, like chromatic scales, really helps you to improve,” said Gun-il.

But, as for onstage performances, the real secret is just confidence and really knowing what you’re focusing on delivering in that moment. 

“Having confidence. I think that’s the biggest thing you can give,” said Gun-il, translating for Jungsu. 

“Believe in yourself,” another member added. “Enjoying the moment,” another chattered.

When asked about any stage mistakes, the band chuckled. In fact, despite their perfect looking performances, the band admits they do make a lot of blunders. But, it really doesn’t affect the moment at all – it might even add to it, which is what makes any live performance special. 

“We actually make a lot of mistakes on stage, because when we get hyped up with the crowd, our energy goes up and we get so excited. We sometimes play the wrong note, but that’s not the important thing. We’re not there to play perfect music, we’re there to communicate with fans and share our energy together,” said Gun-il.

As for what role models they have, Xdinary Heroes pulls from a variety of influences – some you may not even expect. As much as they are musicians, they’re also fans. They cited many classic rock bands as their inspirations, and it definitely shows in their music.

For Gun-il, he said, “MUSE will always be my biggest musical inspiration.”

For Gaon, the front man, it seems only fitting that he is influenced by Green Day. “From when I was young, I really loved Green Day,” he said.

O.de said, “My favorite artist is DAY6! They’re the trigger that made me want to start [performing] as a band.” 

Jooyeon said, “All kinds of band music [inspire me], including 5SOS. [They] are my greatest inspiration for our music.” 

For Jungsu and Jun Han, they took a slightly different approach. 

Jungsu actually shouted out Justin Bieber as his role model. “He could be very different from our musical color, but his performance and music, also the attitude of the music from Justin Bieber is exactly what I want to have. I think the reason why I love him, so far, is that he can interpret all things with his own music,” Jungsu said.

Meanwhile, Jun Han pulled inspiration from everywhere – even the public. “The music that I heard on the street also comes up as an inspiration for composing our music. Among them, I mostly listen to Plini, a guitarist from Australia,” he said.  

What’s Next For Xdinary Heroes

Although the band are just getting started, it’s also worth looking back on the many activities they have done so far and their favorite concepts. For Gaon, his favorite was the rider concept from their Livelock album. In the future, he wants to elevate this and try out a more vintage concept. 

“If there is a chance, I’d love to try a concept where all members ride on an old car wearing suits with red ties,” Gaon said.

Aside from their showstopping rock hits, the band demonstrates their versatility with slower songs that are equally as impactful. For new listeners, Jooyeon recommended “PLUTO” and “Good enough” as more public-friendly songs that are a great way to get introduced to the band.  

“Almost all of our tracks seem to be a little bit hard to attract you on the first listen, but those two songs are very comfortable to hear while maintaining our own color,” Jooyeon said.

While Xdinary Heroes admits their music may be a bit intimidating for new listeners, their dedication to their music is electrifying and has what made so many convert into their fans, Villains. Off-screen, their jamming translates even better on stage, and EnVi can’t wait to watch the band grow as they continue touring through Europe.

Before they signed off, they left EnVi with these messages for Villains. 

Gun-il: Hey everyone! Thank you so much for your continuous love for Xdinary Heroes. I can’t wait to go to the city near you to see you guys in person! Please stay healthy and safe until then! Love you!

Jungsu: It’s an honor to do an interview! We’ll show our great music and cool things from us so please keep supporting us! We must meet in real life global Villains!

Gaon: Xdinary Heroes is still growing up at the moment! We’ll keep going and [make] all global Villains happy!

O.de: Hi all Villains around the world! Thank you always for your support. We’ll come to you with our best and love you all!

Jun Han: We just want to give our fans happiness even though we cannot meet each other often. We love you guys and your support. Thank you so much!

Jooyeon: Please look forward to our future. We want to keep our words to become the world’s best band ever so please be with us forever Villains!

Stream Xdinary Heroes’s music on Youtube, Spotify, and Apple Music. Follow them on TikTok and Instagram.

For more interviews with your favorite rock bands across the Asian diaspora, check out EnVi’s concert recap and interview with Korean rock band SURL.

The post Xdinary Heroes on Being a Rock Band, Making Music, and Messing Up appeared first on EnVi Media.

Despite it being the middle of the night in Seoul, the fourth subunit of tripleS, LOVElution, happily logged on to Zoom to discuss all about their upcoming endeavor: hitting the United States. While saying a brief hello and a mini round of applause, the members’ (Xinyu, Park SoHyun, Seo DaHyun, Nien, Yoon SeoYeon, Gong YuBin, Kaede and Jeong HyeRin) warm and inviting energy was palpable through the laptop screen. Before hopping on a plane for the “Authentic” USA tour, the girls chatted with EnVi for an exclusive interview to give us the 411 on everything, from their new hit single “Girls’ Capitalism” to their very own self-care tips.

First of All, Love Yourself

Despite the heart-fluttering pop tunes featured on the album, the girls emphasized how comfort is a common thread that holds their debut album and music video together. “Dance When You Feel Ugly,” “Don’t Be Scared to Be Crazy,” and “Just Be(You)tiful” are just some of the bold imagery in the “Girls’ Capitalism” music video that brings their message to life. 

By challenging societal pressures that girls and women face, the music video for “Girls’ Capitalism” champions for a world in which we can be our own unique individuals. Supporting this message, Sohyun mentioned, “The song is about you may have your flaws and your challenges, but no matter what, please take care of yourself and learn how to love yourself.”

Sohyun continued explaining their wishes for their listeners. “While listening to our music, we want listeners and fans to have self-confidence and really love yourself because you are worthy of that. Taking care of your own self is so important for having self love.”

Smiling gleefully, SeoYeon energetically added, “As you can tell from our unit name, we really wanted to portray that lovely and lively concept through this album. So, we focused on collecting the songs that everyone would enjoy and feel comfortable while listening to it.”

Diving Into LOVElution <ↀ>

All tied together by a ribbon of self love, the extended play LOVElution <ↀ> features multiple genres: K-pop, retro RnB beats, and ever-so-trendy pop rock songs. The group mentioned how they wanted to express their message through different genres because they want a vast group of people to be able to relate to their music. Diving into the specifics of the album, the girls shared their favorite songs off of the album. 

Seoyeon chose the 1980s-inspired pop B-side “Black Soul Dress.” Characterized by its signature hook “#DARKMODE,” the upbeat anthem empowers listeners to dress however they like despite societal pressures. Besides its impactful message, SeoYeon chose it for personal reasons, stating, “The most meaningful song for me is ‘Black Soul Dress’ because it was written and produced by Sohyun. She helped us a lot during the creative process and recording. I’m thankful for all her work and it was a really fun experience that we don’t get to do often.”

“Cry Baby” is another B-side off the album with a tender message. With lyrics like “cry baby,” and “You’ll be fine baby,” this upbeat song is a pat on the back to those who feel restricted to freely express themselves. DaHyun chose this ode to self-expression as her favorite. She mentioned, “When I first heard ‘Cry Baby,’ I thought it would be a sad or dark song, but it is a total twist because it is bright and hopeful. The song is so emotional and our members really tried to channel that while recording the song. It is so emotional I almost cried in the recording booth.”

Preparing to Become LOVElution

Ahead of their debut, the girls candidly gave us a peek into what life was like before becoming the fourth subunit of tripleS. “Honestly, we didn’t have much time to practice as just one unit,” DaHyun sincerely explained. Always keeping physical and mental health on the forefront, the girls had some timely tips that any team could benefit from.

Echoing the meaning of the title track “Girls’ Capitalism,” LOVElution focused on showing each other their most genuine selves amongst the long nights at the studio. DaHyun continued her answer by saying, “Our main focus leading up to our debut was let’s make sure we build our teamwork and become one team. We wanted to match each other’s energy so we could lean on each other when challenges come. Now, we don’t have many hardships because we opened our hearts to each other.”

Since the girls went on the fast track to stardom, they only recently filmed their debut music video “Girls’ Capitalism.” Gummy worms, ceremonial dollar bills, and a whole lot of dancing could describe this “love teen” concept music video. As the room erupted in giggles, the group emphasized that the music video shoot was equally as fun and playful on and off screen. “Since it was raining the night before, the grass that we were dancing on was wet and we had to lay on the ground in a heart formation. Our clothes got all wet and there were bugs all over the ground! Our staff and crew members did great work to help and we really tried to end off on a good note,” they recalled.

Self-Care = Self-Love

Kindly take care of yourself as you would a friend or a close relative. This is synonymous to what LOVElution emphasized. As “Girls’ Capitalism” is all about cherishing your inner beauty, we discussed the idols’ favorite hobbies and products they each for when dealing with extra stress. 

As the life of a K-pop idol can be hectic, SoHyun shared, “Every day, I try to make sure I take time for myself. But when I really feel like I need to take care of my emotions, I like to meditate, stretch, and listen to my favorite songs on loop.”

Make sure to get a whiff of HyeRin’s aroma at concerts because the maknae shared her adorable way she cares for her emotions. She passionately said with a smile, “I wear rose and floral perfume everywhere I go and I think it’s very uplifting. If I spray my favorite perfume on stage, I think it really boosts up my confidence.”

Finishing up the list of self-care recommendations, Xinyu shared which musician in particular she gravitates towards. “I really like Melanie Martinez’s songs and her music video styles and how it reflects social problems. So if we have a chance, I really want to collaborate with her,” she said.

LOVElution Hit the States

LOVElution are about to be in states near you – this is a statement that fans and listeners are very pleased to hear, and so are the girls themselves. As the group was days away from packing up shop and flying abroad, their first United States tour, “Authentic,” was a hot topic of discussion. 

When asked what states they were excited to visit, Seoyeon immediately had an answer saying, “New York! Before debut, I visited the city with HyeRin and it left such a lasting impression. Now, I am really looking forward to getting to meet fans in that city as LOVElution.” Chicago was also mentioned as Nien discussed her excitement of the windy city’s specialty cuisine – deep dish pizza. “Chicago pizza is really popular and famous, and I’d love to try it. I think it’d be a very energizing food that would keep us motivated to finish the tour,” she said. 

Since LOVElution are natural storytellers, they share just about anything on YouTube: cooking videos, cafe vlogs, and behind-the-scenes tapings. When mentioning their upcoming travels, Xinyu happily shared her wishes saying, “If it’s possible, I hope we could do travel or tour vlogs while in the United States.”

Meeting WAV

As time was fleeting, the idols quickly discussed their plans and dreams for the future. Since their upcoming travels to the United States were on their mind, they shared this heartfelt message. “This is our first time going on a United States tour and meeting American WAV. This is such a cherishable opportunity we have coming up. We look forward to meeting them and having fun on the tour with them. I hope they consider the moments they spend with LOVElution memorable for life,” they said. 

Just a handful of days ago, the girls’ wishes of spending time with fans came true. On September 30, LOVElution attended an event held by EnVi Media at Cafe Joah in New York City. While the cafe was filled with their uplifting tunes, the girls got to chat and relax with their fans. As the afternoon consisted of cute drinks and beautiful memories, we hope this is a day that LOVElution and WAV will cherish forever. 

LOVElution <ↀ> and its lead single, “Girls’ Capitalism,” are available for streaming on all platforms. To keep up with LOVElution on tour and future activities, you can follow their official social media profiles.

Want to read more exclusive interviews from EnVi? Check out how cignature celebrated their cheerful ode to summer here.

The post tripleS’ LOVElution Give Us the 411 on Their First US Tour and How They Cherish Self-Love appeared first on EnVi Media.

At 11:00 p.m. Korean time on August 24, K-pop group cignature logged on to our scheduled Zoom meeting. Despite the time and the fact that they had just finished a different schedule, CHAESOL, JEEWON, SELINE, CHLOE, SEMI, and DOHEE were all energetic, smiling consistently throughout the call. Originally a septet, one member, BELLE, was not present due to her participation in SBS’ idol survival program Universe Ticket. Ahead of their comeback, cignature chatted with EnVi for an exclusive conversation about their new music, summertime, and their career thus far.

Smooth Sailing

“Crystal ball,” “cignature’s road,” and “letter” are three phrases CHAESOL, SELINE, and SEMI, respectively, would use to describe their latest musical venture, US in the Summer. The group’s fourth mini album features four tracks that tap into pop, electronic, and ballad to capture the fleeting feelings of summer as it comes to an end.

“Just like ‘Smooth Sailing,”’ our title track, we want our journey to be smooth in the future,” SELINE said, earning a round of enthusiastic nods from the rest of the girls. The other words, “crystal ball” and “letter,” reflect the nature of the comeback. In US in the Summer, cignature present a pure and sincere side to themselves in a sincere message to their audience.

“Smooth Sailing,” the group’s new title track, delivers upbeat percussion that evokes bright and positive feelings in the listener. cignature’s members dive into summer in the music video, which resembles Nobuhiro Yamashita’s 2005 film Linda Linda Linda with its school uniforms, swimming pool and stage sets, and unapologetically youthful theme.

It’s fitting, then, that the music video was filmed over the course of four days entirely in Japan, making it cignature’s first time traveling abroad for a comeback shoot. “We got to eat delicious meat while we were working hard, and in the short breaks we had fun and enjoyed our time to the max while we were staying there,” SELINE reminisced. At the mention of meat, CHAESOL, CHLOE, SEMI, and DOHEE chime in with immediate sounds of approval, making JEEWON crack a smile. 

“We’ve always said that our chemistry is our signature, but I would like to say that it upgraded, and you can see that through our performance and music video as well,” CHLOE added, smiling at her play on the group’s name.

cignature in the Summer

US in the Summer marks the release of cignature’s first full-blown summer comeback. As CHAESOL and JEEWON put it, with an array of content captured outdoors and a mix of energetic and mellow tracks, the group successfully presents the feelings of both bright summer days and refreshing summer nights. “I think even though it’s coming a little bit later in the summer, it’s really suitable for the summer season itself as a kind of wrap-up,” CHAESOL said.

To match the mini album’s tentatively nostalgic sound, cignature sported a series of outfits with elements of throwback fashion for their comeback content. DOHEE’s favorite was the set of cohesive white top-denim shorts looks, because “the members came out really lovely [in the photos], and it really brought out the best of cignature.” Meanwhile, CHLOE pointed out fans’ positive reactions to the schoolgirl uniforms, characterized by simple plaid skirts that fit in with the music video’s school set. “It reminds you of first love and brings out our usefulness,” she described.  

Popular recent trends, both visual and auditory, also shine in the group’s latest materials. Notably, because they noticed a recent liking for an ‘easy-listening’ and ‘chill’ style of pop, the group maintained an emphasis on it throughout their mini-album production. “When we were working on this album and deciding on and recording this title track, we wanted to have an ‘easy-listening’ track and add our own bubbliness on top of it,” JEEWON elaborated. Then, turning to this era’s makeup and styling, cignature pointed to the heavy blusher and freckles used to reflect the sunkissed, youthful look associated with US in the Summer’s girl-in-love concept.

cignature’s excitement about the summer season shines through in their positive expressions in the “Smooth Sailing” music video and their stage performances. Though the present sextet primarily spent their summer this year diligently preparing for US in the Summer, they share a love for swimming in the summertime. When given the chance, they enjoy swimming anywhere from the beach to an outdoor pool, or even brooks — as SEMI shared she’s done with her family since she was young — to make the most of their summer.

Road From Debut

In the more than three years since cignature’s 2020 debut with “Nun Nu Nan Na,” the group has explored various genres as they developed their unique sound. With a discography that spans from bubblegum pop to emotional ballads, cignature continually showcase their versatility.

Amongst their past releases, two concepts stand out for members CHAESOL and SEMI. CHAESOL’s favorite concept so far has been “Boyfriend” from the group’s second mini album. In contrast to the group’s explosive debut track, “Boyfriend” has a slow tempo and a simple, percussion-biased instrumental. “I think that song showed a new side of cignature that not many people expected from us,” CHAESOL said. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is the high-energy, upbeat song “I’m Okay,” which was SEMI’s pick because of its tempo and choreography. “I hope we get the chance to try a rock concept or genre for a future comeback,” she shared.

Building their musical identity has taken both time and effort. As a result, the members of cignature are more comfortable than ever when performing. Whereas their earlier days were dictated by a tense need to execute each performance flawlessly, they now feel less intimidated by the possibility of messing up. “The goal is still to give a perfect performance every time,” SELINE explained. “But now it feels like there is a little more room to make mistakes and handle them without overthinking.”

Not unexpectedly, the girls dedicate a substantial amount of energy towards preparing tirelessly for each performance. CHAESOL accredits their ability to demonstrate confidence on stage towards the many hours of hard work that goes into each schedule. For SEMI, all it takes to get hyped up for a performance is cignature’s group cheer, which they do right before getting on any stage. “Whenever I make eye contact with my members or our fans, it instantly gives me confidence — those moments make me a lot happier when performing,” JEEWON chimed, rounding out the group’s pre-, during, and post-performance sources of confidence.

For signfan 

cignature’s first summer comeback, US in the Summer, is a touching four-track narrative about a young girl’s experience with love. It’s a youthful, bubbly new side of cignature that brings the summer to a pleasant end. Its “good energy” and “positive vibes” — as CHAESOL put it — are a welcome surprise as seasons begin to change. Additionally, as SEMI shared, the mini-album stands as cignature’s way of expressing their gratitude for their fans, signfan. “We want to repay all the love and support we’ve been getting from SIGN, so we want to share the good energy as our way of thanking our fans. I hope you all enjoy our comeback!”

US in the Summer and its lead single, “Smooth Sailing,” are available for streaming on all platforms. To keep up with cignature’s current comeback and future promotional activities, you can follow their official social media profiles. 

If you want to see more exclusive content with your favorite K-pop groups, take a look at EnVi’s backstage interview with KARD or cover story with CIX!

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Formed back in 2012, Travis Japan is a seven member group consisting of Chaka, Umi, Shime, Noel, Shizu, Genta, and Machu. Throughout their career, the group explores a variety of genres from pop, hip-hop, to even jazz! Last year, the group migrated to the U.S. to start a new era in their career along with a re-debut under Capitol Records. To get an inside look on their big move and new beginnings, EnVi had the chance to catch up with the members of the group in an exclusive email interview. 

All About the Moving Pieces

Last May, the group released their debut EP titled Moving Pieces. The EP also features their single with the same name that’s produced by renowned producer, Poo Bear. This time around, the boys sported a more sleek and laid-back style that allows fans to see the group in a more mature and suave light. In the music video for the single, the boys show off their dancing skills as they perform the song’s choreography in sharp synchronization. But despite the unity they show in the choreography, the song still manages to showcase each of the member’s individuality.

Shime shared, “The concept is a cool and modern theme for Travis Japan. I think the lyrics ‘keep moving’ represents who we are right now.” The group’s resident fashionista, Machu, added on, “‘JUST DANCE!’ and ‘Moving Pieces’ are completely opposite from one another, style wise! ‘JUST DANCE!’ is energetic and with a message that everyone should have fun and dance! Very exciting song! ‘Moving Pieces’ is sexier and cooler than ‘JUST DANCE!’”

The Big Move

Before working on their re-debut, the group moved to Los Angeles to study English while also sharpening their vocal and dancing skills. Making such a big move can be scary, especially when the members aren’t fluent in English and have never lived abroad before. “I couldn’t see my family or our fans, so I had a lot of worries. But I’ve gotten used to living in LA and I learned to communicate with people overseas more than before,” Machu confided. However, he also shared that making time to get on a call with his mother daily helped him during the big move.

The group then flew to Miami to work on Moving Pieces with Poo Bear. During this recording process, Umi tells us that the group sang right beside Poo Bear instead of recording in a booth. The group was able to feel more relaxed during the song’s recording as they didn’t feel alone. The boys also worked with choreographer Travis Payne to create the choreography for the song. A fun fact is that the group was named after the renowned choreographer as a homage to how Payne helped shape the group. This time, Payne created choreography that incorporated Michael Jackson’s influence with Travis Japan’s style.

“Working with those great teams are some of the most unforgettable memories for us! Even though there were some cultural differences between the U.S. teams and Japanese teams, that didn’t hinder anything. In the end the goal was the same,” said Noel. “When I entered the U.S. scene for the first time, I was really surprised. It wasn’t something I was used to. However, after a while I got used to it, cultural differences and all! After all, whether in the U.S. or Japan, it’s totally the same that people who create something they love to take each other’s hands to work together! We love both!”

Behind a New Beginning

This debut EP marks a new chapter in Travis Japan’s story, with Noel comparing this EP to a family picture for him. But of course, making a debut in the music industry is never easy, let alone a foreign one. Umi got sincere and confessed to EnVi that the scheduling for the EP was tight despite having so much to get done. “I didn’t have enough time to learn the songs actually,” Umi said. “I got to listen to these songs five days before the recording session. But I worked very hard and was able to learn them by listening to them every night and every morning.”

However, these challenges are balanced out with the excitement and anticipation that the group had toward the EP. The members also felt a personal connection to the album’s music, making the arduous work a labor of love. “I like my part of the song called ‘Charging!,’ which is ‘I’m weak alone, but the impossible and the pain disappear.’ I like the part as the lyrics overlap with my feelings,” Shizu said as an example. 

Now that the EP is out, the members hope that this debut will allow them to see their fans more.

“Whatever it is, or was, or will be, we just want to spend time with all the fans,” Genta shared,“and I hope that more people will get to know the songs of Travis Japan as well as the members at the same time. I really like the EP. I hope you love the songs as much as we do.”

A Sweet Candy Kiss

After releasing their debut EP, the group continued to release a new single titled “Candy Kiss.” It is an upbeat and lively track that’s an earworm and is sure to be a mood booster. For its video the group takes on a colorful sci-fi concept where they get the party going with a crowd of extraterrestrials. Ultimately, the group shares that the song is meant to encourage people to get up and dance!

Compared to their usual songs, the group shares that this one felt more laid-back as they recorded things in a more impromptu way than they usually do. “During the recording, the producer added ad-libs that weren’t there originally,” Machu elaborated, explaining this new creative process. “It was very American style, which was an exciting experience. Very different from Japan, where things are usually locked well before we enter the recording booth.”

With so many exciting releases in 2023, the group has successfully entered into a new chapter of their story. As they continue to hone their skills and work on new exciting music, we can’t wait to see what else Travis Japan has up their sleeves. Despite the many accomplishments and feats they’ve received in the new era, they remind us that this all wouldn’t be accomplished without their fans. Chaka said, “I want to deliver our songs, performances, and personalities to as many people as possible, and I want it to be loved by them! To create great works with fun and love! We believe in the fans who are supporting us now while training ourselves together.”

Want to learn about more artists? Check out EnVi’s spotlight on From20 and HELLO GLOOM here!

The post Travis Japan’s New Beginnings appeared first on EnVi Media.

Close your eyes and think of some of the most perfect summer comebacks—who do you see? Chances are, every K-pop fan has a go-to summer song; after all, summer is one of the most anticipated seasons for music releases. But while the roster always seems to be packed during this time of year, with many groups aiming for a spot on the list of summer anthems, others have just naturally become synonymous with the season, and mixed group KARD is no exception.

In an exclusive Q&A, EnVi caught up with BM, Somin, Jiwoo, and J.Seph backstage in Chicago for their “PLAYGROUND World Tour,” where we talked all things fun in the sun, including childhood memories, dream vacation destinations, and why summer is such a special season for KARD. As each member walked into the dressing room area—some in their stage outfits and others in stylish streetwear—I was reminded of what makes KARD appealing: they’re just effortlessly chic and one of a kind.

What Time Is It? Summer Time!

EnVi: Welcome back to Chicago! Since we’re smack dab in the middle of summer right now, let’s take a trip down memory lane for a bit. What were some of your favorite summer memories when you were growing up?

Somin: One of my favorite memories was when my mom would make bingsu, which is shaved ice in Korea. I also remember cutting up watermelons in the summer and going to the waterpark—there’s one called Caribbean Bay, it’s pretty fun.

Jiwoo: I remember a carpet made of bamboo pieces threaded together, and sitting on that in front of a fan was a cool memory.

J.Seph: I remember going to a small lake where you can swim, and jump off rocks…some of them have fountains, but I specifically remember going to one with my family and we would go fishing together with a net and catch 30 fish at one time.

BM: And for me, what did I do in LA? I think I just remember going to the mall a lot with my friends with no intent to buy anything, but just to window shop, flirt with some girls sometimes, eat popcorn, go to the movies, and just do regular LA stuff.

EnVi: Interesting, did you ever have any summer flings?

After doing some translating, BM quickly relays the group’s answers.

BM: So all of them don’t, but I think I’ve had a couple…yeah (smiles).

EnVi: Any stories you feel like sharing?

BM: I mean, it was when I was super young, but they didn’t go for too long. There were just a couple of one-time movie hangouts, but we definitely did some stuff in the movie theaters…lips locked—you know, all the usual stuff.

EnVi: So did you ever have to work summer jobs in high school or anything?

BM: Not in high school, I don’t think. Jiwoo and Somin were busy with their trainee time, so they weren’t able to work.

J.Seph: I delivered pizza before, and I worked at a convenience store, as well. I also worked at KBBQ restaurant and an internet cafe, but that was when I was really young.

BM: Oh, you were a pizza boy—nice! I think the only time I worked was when I taught English in Korea…not during the trainee process at first, but after a while when it was getting a bit shaky, that’s when I started working and going around to houses and teaching two kids at a time.

Jiwoo: I did work at a chicken shop for a while.

Somin: And I worked in a cafe after high school.

BM: Yeah, wow, I guess we all worked after high school.

Summer Style Evolutions & Regrets

EnVi: I feel like we’ve all made some questionable fashion choices when we were younger, but can you describe what your summer wardrobe looked like when you were 15?

Upon hearing the question, Somin gasps as if a few hidden memories had just been unlocked.

BM: Ooh, I was heavily influenced by G-Unit—just any hip-hop track that was coming out back then, I was heavily influenced by so I was wearing the triple AAA white tees down to my thighs and really baggy Dickies.

Jiwoo: I’ve always been interested in fashion, even then, one of my biggest influences was 2NE1, so I took after them a lot regarding style. I dressed a little bit baggy and hip-hop.

J.Seph: There’s a brand called Teeny-Weeny that I wore a lot and my choice of pants was Dickies, as well.

BM: (to J.Seph) Were they baggy?

J.Seph: Very baggy (laughs). 

BM: Yeah, that’s when baggy was really in.

Somin: I loved my pink Chuck Taylor’s and dressed a bit simple—just a white tee and for my bottoms, I was very into denim.

EnVi: Do you regret any of those choices you made?

Jiwoo: I remember having those two rubber bands that you would intertwine as bracelets (laughs). I thought it was cool at the time, but looking back, it was a little bit whack.

EnVi: Remember the Silly Bandz too?

BM: Oh man, those Silly Bandz—I used to get them a lot at Hot Topic. Anything I bought from Hot Topic at the time I think is a regret now, except for some things. I like their graphic tees, like the tour ones, those are cool…but the accessories, I don’t know.

J.Seph: There’s been a time when I wore a very long yellow tee, the tall tees, my pants were skin-tight black skinny jeans, and my shoes were rainbow-colored Adidas high tops.

Jiwoo: Skinny jeans now are just so…(she exhibits her disdain with an unpleasant face).

BM: Watch someone bring it back though, fashion is very funny.

Somin: I regret wearing sweats that weren’t really short-shorts, but shorts to right below the knees…I wore a lot of pink back then too.

BM: Pink is a good color though, especially right now because of the Barbie movie.

EnVi: Are you planning on seeing Barbie?

BM: We are, but we’re gonna wait ‘til we get back to Korea so we can have the subs.

No Sleep ‘Til Summertime

EnVi: So we talked about our childhood summers, but what about now? What have been your favorite summer memories as an adult so far?

BM: Touring for me, it’s definitely the biggest part of my life right now. It’s such an extraordinary thing, like, not everyone gets to make music and take it out to perform in front of tens of thousands of people, and see tens of thousands of faces in such a short amount of time. Touring is and is gonna be one of our biggest memories.

Somin: Me too.

Jiwoo: And comebacks—every summer, we come back. We never have summer vacation because we’re always touring around this time or coming back (laughs).

BM: It’s not all just work though, it’s very fun and there’s a lot of passion going around that we give out and get back at the same time.

EnVi: Does that mean you prefer having summer tours over touring in other seasons?

Jiwoo: I actually like touring in the fall because it’s not too hot, not too cold. When we go to South America in the summertime, it’s actually winter over there, so I’ve experienced both but I like the fall the most.

BM: I think I’m the same, I like fall…I think we’re all the same.

EnVi: Because a lot of KARD’s music is naturally tied to summer, what’s one song of yours that you feel perfectly defines summer and why?

Somin: “Hola Hola” because it’s very fresh and it did come out in the summer, so it has a very tropical vibe, as well.

BM: I like “Bomb Bomb” because it’s just more heat for the summer so it’s like fighting fire with fire.

J.Seph: “Hola Hola” because we shot the music video during the summer and it includes a bunch of sights that you normally go to in the summer.

Jiwoo: I’ll say some B-side tracks like “Whip!” and “Good Love” because they have a very good vibe to drive to.

Ride On the Wind

EnVi: On a relatively hot day, like today, what are your summer must-haves to help cool you down?

Jiwoo: I don’t really like getting tan, so I like keeping on long sleeves and very thin fabrics.

Somin: J.Seph and I don’t really like going out on a day that’s too hot—we would rather stay at home and chill with the AC.

BM: I think I’m the same, but if it’s fashion-related, I need to have beaters. I try to carry around two or three in case I get really sweaty.

EnVi: Any brand recommendations for summer wear?

Jiwoo: I actually received this shirt yesterday as a gift, it’s a brand called Ksubi and I really like this other clothing brand called Fucking Awesome. 

BM: That shirt is fucking awesome too!

Jiwoo was wearing a black oversized long-sleeve with bright neon graphics, which she later revealed during the concert, was a gift from a store employee who turned out to be a fan of KARD’s.

BM: For me, I just keep my beaters with the original Hanes and those do me okay (proudly smiles).

EnVi: What’s your go-to summer beverage?

Jiwoo: I just want an ice-cold beer. There’s something in Korea where there’s draft beer, but on top, the foam, it’s a layer of ice, that’s how cold it is.

J.Seph: I’d really like an ice-cold white wine.

BM pauses to think of an answer before Somin and Jiwoo chime in on what they believe is his favorite.

BM: Pink lemonade? Oh yeah, Simply Lemonade…light. I don’t necessarily like the light lemonade, but I prefer it because it’s fewer calories. Simply Raspberry is my #1 go-to—I just carry it around, it’s so good.

Somin: He gets the big ones too (laughs). For me, I’d say iced coffee or the Dragon Drink from Starbucks.

BM: Shout out to Starbucks, maybe you should do something with Somin.

EnVi: And with you—your hair is kind of Starbucks-colored right now.

BM: Oh yeah, you’re right (BM briefly looks at his green hair in the mirror and the others giggle.)

EnVi: How about food?

BM: Tacos for me, I love tacos. My favorite go-to place is King Taco when I’m in L.A. and they just have meat, tortilla, and a gang of cilantro and onions, with red sauce on top and I’m good.

Somin: Cold buckwheat noodles.

Jiwoo: There’s a soup made of beans and it’s very cold…

BM does his best to translate and describe Jiwoo’s favorite Korean bean soup, hinting that it may include radish but bashfully admits his translating is a bit limited.

J.Seph: I like to eat raw fish (mulhoe in Korean) mixed with vegetables and a little bit of soup mixed with gochujang (red chili paste).

EnVi: I might have to try some of these on my own time.  Any dream locations you’d like to spend the summer that you haven’t visited already?

BM: For me, it’s Greece, I really wanna try going to Santorini on the side of the mountain where the little rooms are. I saw a couple of vids where the hot tub is connected to the house and you just have your personal hot tub—that’s a place I really want to visit.

Jiwoo grabs her phone behind her and shows me photos of Copenhagen on Google.

Jiwoo: I think Copenhagen looks beautiful in the summer, so I’d love to go there.

Somin: There’s an island in Spain I want to visit—I’m going to look it up.

J.Seph: I want to go to Boracay again (laughs). I’ve been there before but that’s definitely a place I want to revisit.

Somin chimes in with her response after spending some time searching it on her phone.

Somin: Majorca in Spain—I’d love to visit one day.

EnVi: Great choices, all of those sound so relaxing and peaceful. Well, my last question for you is, what kind of sounds and smells do you associate with summer?

J.Seph: I think of mosquito repellent because it’s a #1 must-have and the mosquitos in Korea will definitely get you.

Somin: Lemon, for me. I like the smell of citrus in the summer.

Jiwoo: There’s a bug in Korea that’s really loud—it’s like this sound (referring to the soft buzzing sounds of the dressing room we’re in) but turn up the volume times ten, and it’s a sound that you hear from those bugs in the summer.

EnVi: That sounds a lot like cicadas here.

BM: Oh, I think it’s the same thing! Cicadas is the English word for them. But for me, for smell, I think of wet cement like it’s so musty, my goodness (laughs). And for sounds, just the sounds of air conditioners and fans.

As we graciously wrap up the interview, approximately 40 minutes before showtime, the quartet exits to make their final preparations and wardrobe changes. By the time I see them again, they’re greeted with another warm, inviting sound that deserves a very special mention: the thundering cries of their fans as the group opens the show with their latest single, “ICKY,” expertly coating the stage with blistering allure and ready to make Chicago their playground. And they do.

Listen to KARD’s ICKY EP on Spotify and Apple Music!

Looking for more KARD? Check out our recent interview on the making of ICKY here!

The post Backstage With KARD: A Sizzlin’ Summer Q&A appeared first on EnVi Media.