ALL(H)OURS have been active on the K-pop scene for only a little over half a year, but their rookie passion and love for music already set them apart from the competition. Without a doubt, ALL(H)OURS is slated to be the next boy group to take the K-pop industry by storm.
KpopStarz was given the amazing opportunity to sit down with ALL(H)OURS for a media roundtable. Despite the call lasting for over two hours - reaching past midnight in South Korea - the seven members showed no signs of weariness. Instead, they were ecstatic as they passionately spoke about their latest mini-album, "WITNESS," the title track "SHOCK," and the other songs they released. It was refreshing to listen to a group so in love with what they do.
"WITNESS" marks the group's first comeback since their debut, and the album featured an array of uptempo songs that showcase the unique flavors of the group. When talking about the difference in preparing for their comeback from their debut, Xayden had this to say,
"For our debut, we focused on showcasing the songs and dances we had practiced so far. With our second album, based on our prior experience, we learned the importance of even the smallest facial expressions on stage. We paid attention to how we would be portrayed through the lens of the camera and made sure not to show our fatigue while performing strenuous choreography. I think these are areas where we've grown."
EDM and Drift Phonk are not genres commonly found in K-pop, but ALL(H)OURS took the challenge of utilizing these two for "SHOCK." Youmin revealed the reason they chose such an uptempo track for their comeback, stating, "For this comeback, we wanted to showcase our full potential and ambition. We decided that the best way to convey this to the public was through a song that excites and resonates with listeners."
ON:N spoke about how exciting it was to challenge themselves with a new genre, "For me, preparing the title track 'SHOCK' was the most fun. We challenged ourselves with a new genre called Drift Phonk, rooted in the EDM scene. Exploring and researching this genre was exciting. Creating a performance for the song involved a lot of discussion about how to pull it off, making the entire process very interesting. When we perform on stage, the EDM elements allow us to truly enjoy it."
When asked what kind of message they wanted to share with "SHOCK," ON:N had this to say: "Through 'SHOCK,' we wanted to portray the 'goblin' within us. Our performance aimed to convey a sense of freedom and novelty. Vocally, since the song belongs to the exciting Drift Phonk genre, we hoped our fans would listen, get excited, and have fun together."
Xayden explained their unique "goblin" concept further, stating, "Additionally, we convey our inner selves through the character of a 'goblin.' By doing this, we aimed to express our potential for growth. Choosing the goblin character was an intentional decision to intensely showcase this concept."
But "SHOCK" isn't the only song that is worth listening to. When asked what song they would want to introduce to fans, Minje selected "PSYCHO MANTRA," stating: "As for me, I like the song 'PSYCHO MANTRA.' I actually think the color of my voice and the color of the song are different. It's also a genre that I found challenging, which in turn sparked my determination to push myself. So, I felt proud while going through the production process."
Youmin agreed, revealing that he is excited to perform "PSYCHO MANTRA" for fans, "It has a different power compared to our title track, 'SHOCK.' While 'SHOCK' is very exciting and makes you feel like jumping up and down, "PSYCHO MANTRA" is darker and deeper, showcasing a different side of us, like sexiness. So, it's a song I look forward to performing."
The road for ALL(H)OURS seems to be laced with success. It's hard not to anticipate what activities they will have in the future. When asked about milestones they wanted to achieve in the future, the members did not hold back and showcased their ambitions.
Masami, who hails from Japan, revealed he wants to perform in his hometown. He also added, "I want to perform at a large venue like Tokyo Dome and show my parents our stage. I want to make them proud." Minje, on the other hand, wants to embark on a world tour and see how different countries cheer.
ON:N wants to win first place on a music show. Additionally, he hopes ALL(H)OURS can take home the "Rookie of the Year" award at a year-end awards ceremony.
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With their latest successful comeback, ALL(H)OURS always made sure to have their fans in mind. When asked if they had a special message for their loyal fanbase, Youmin stated, "I always express to our fans how grateful we are for their love and support, and we strive to reciprocate that love through our performances on stage. As we move forward, we will draw energy from your support during the promotion of 'SHOCK' and in all our future activities. We promise to keep evolving and showing you even better versions of ourselves. We love you all!"
Congratulations on your comeback, ALL(H)OURS!
KpopStarz Owns This
Written by Alexa Lopez
