“The vibe is so totally different this time round,” Enhypen‘s chief, Jungwon, tells The Hollywood Reporter on a Zoom from Seoul, South Korea.
Enhypen – comprised of members Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo and Ni-ki – launched their second full-length studio album Romance : Untold final week, with “XO (Solely If You Say Sure)” serving as its lead single. Good for the summer season, the JVKE-produced synth-pop observe is a candy and romantic anthem, a lighter affair than Enhypen’s sometimes darker pop choices.
“This time round, with this album, all seven of us participated in writing the lyrics, and Heeseung really wrote and produced a complete track,” Jungwon explains, hyping up his fellow group member.
The seven-piece boy group, hailing from Korean leisure firm Belift Lab (a subsidiary of leisure conglomerate Hybe), have been shaped by the music survival present I-Land. The present, a three way partnership between Hybe and Korean leisure large CJ ENM, aired on the CJ ENM-owned channel Mnet in South Korea.
Enhypen have spent practically 4 years weaving a supernatural storyline into their releases, and Romance : Untold is not any totally different in that regard. From the haunting vibes of Enhypen’s debut music video “Given-Taken” to their show-stopping vampiric 2023 single “Chew Me,” the group’s newest music video for “XO (Solely If You Say Sure)” presents romance with a magical twist.
“I feel having a transparent idea enhances the general high quality,” the group’s eldest member Heeseung says. “We are able to incorporate our personal experiences into the album and it might probably really make it extra immersive.”
Forward of the brand new album, Enhypen launched UNTOLD Idea Cinema, a 12-minute lengthy brief movie depicting the members of the group as vampires on the run, risking their lives to save lots of their human protector, Chloe. Directed by Choong Hyun Lee, the action-packed brief relies on the narrative of Romance : Untold, teasing “XO (Solely If You Say Sure)” and the way it got here to be throughout the group’s storyline on the finish of the video.
The group’s youngest member, Ni-ki, notes that Enhypen hadn’t tried to deal with a brief movie idea trailer like this earlier than. “It was the primary time we had traces within the idea cinema, so we needed to apply appearing,” the 18-year-old says.
“It was new to us,” he continues, including that he knew Enhypen’s devoted fanbase, collectively referred to as Engenes, loved the idea cinema and “receiving their love” helps the group’s confidence throughout their album promotion.
Whereas the storyline continues to weave all through their releases, Enhypen says the brand new album is a pivotal second for them. Jungwon factors out that the group’s music is evolving with them. “I feel we [Enhypen and their music] are rising collectively, and our development is encapsulated into this album,” the 20-year-old says.
Jay, a Seattle native, agrees, later including: “I feel this can be a crucial second in time after we discuss our profession.”
“We’re opening up a brand new chapter of Enhypen with this album and I feel it’s going to be a turning level, which can open up new potential for us,” the 22-year-old says, noting that they labored with quite a lot of professionals in creating the album, getting ready for it to function a brand new chapter within the group’s story.
Enhypen on stage on the group’s media showcase for ‘Romance : Untold.’
Courtesy of BELIFT LAB
The nine-track album spans genres from delicate synth-pop to various R&B to rock-influenced songs like Romance : Untold‘s sixth observe, “Paranormal.” Jungwon factors to the upbeat track as one among his favorites from the album.
“I feel for those who put the phrase ‘youth’ right into a track, this could be the precise track that may actually painting what youth is,” the chief explains. “It actually makes your coronary heart flutter.”
Sunoo provides that his favourite from the album is “Hundred Damaged Hearts,” a synth-pop observe that the group is selling alongside the album’s lead single on Korean weekly music reveals (suppose MTV’s TRL, that includes performances pre-recorded in entrance of dwell audiences with the top-charting and top-voted track awarded dwell on-air).
“Jungwon participated in writing the lyrics, and I particularly favored the half that he wrote,” Sunoo elaborates, incomes the 21-year-old a bashful “thanks” and hand shake from his group chief.
Enhypen’s reference to their followers, Engenes, is robust and solely rising, in keeping with Jake. “I feel after debuting, and round 4 years have handed, I feel we at the moment are actually beginning to know and really feel the connection between our followers,” the 21-year-old explains. “And the real love we really feel in direction of our followers is totally rising.”
Enhypen
Courtesy of BELIFT LAB
As a method to specific gratitude in direction of Engenes, the group’s new album consists of their first fan track, “Freeway 1009” – “1009” is a reference to the day Enhypen’s fandom identify was introduced and “freeway” is used as a metaphor for the journey forward. (Fan songs are a Okay-pop phenomenon by which bands launch songs devoted to their fanbases.)
Produced by Heeseung, the track was written by all seven members of the group. “As a result of that is our first fan track, it actually means rather a lot to us,” Heeseung says. “So, it took us a very long time to complete it, however we nonetheless actually adore it.”
The 22-year-old provides that “if Engenes sing together with us, then I feel it’ll be only a great expertise.”
When requested which style the group wish to strive in future, a refrain of voices unanimously agree on jazz. “Not loads of Okay-pop artists work on jazz or incorporate jazz into their album,” Heeseung expands upon the group response. “So, in case you have a jazzy observe, then it’ll be great.”
Trying forward, the seven-piece group continues to push for development. “As a bunch, I feel Enhypen must hold evolving, so we shouldn’t keep complacent,” Sunghoon says.
“We’re actually completely happy that we get to fulfill Engenes extra with all of those gigs that we’re doing, and we need to go increased,” the 21-year-old later continues. “We’re simply working actually laborious for that.”
Reaching new heights and making an attempt new issues appears to be a theme for Enhypen for the time being. “We’ve loads of issues in retailer for you,” Jay guarantees. “So prepare and keep tuned.”
