How would you describe your inner goblin? Mine is definitely disheveled and chaotic, think Labyrinth meets Chucky.. AFTER he was thrown in the fire. "Everyone has their own goblin", says South Korean based group ALL(H)OURS, who take on the concept within their latest explosive track '도깨비(SHOCK)’. The seven members use their expression of goblin to showcase their own selves, growth and freedom.
Amidst their comeback WITNESS, ALL(H)OURS sat down to discuss debuting, their latest EP, what makes them unique and even gave us a glimpse into their pre show hype routine. MIXTAPE 317 was excited to join the media roundtable and chat with Kunho (건호), Youmin (유민), Xayden (제이든), Minje (민제), Masami (마사미), Hyunbin (현빈) and ON:N (온).
Congratulations on the release of "Witness!" Why did you choose [the name] “Witness” as your follow-up mini-album?
ON:N : The album WITNESS is named to signify that you'll be able to witness our growth and potential. Our debut album conveyed our beginnings as rookies and our ambition for the future. In contrast, this album showcases our vigor in a more raw and powerful way.
Coming back so soon after your debut, what has been the biggest difference this time around, beyond showcasing a new color and discovering a new sound?
Xayden : 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.
Youmin : I personally think that to pull off the song 'SHOCK', a certain level of muscle mass was needed. So all the members worked out diligently not only to lose weight but also to build physical strength and power.
K-pop is a popular music genre of the world. In your opinion, how is ALL(H)OURS different from other K-pop groups?
ON:N : ALL(H)OURS stands out because we always try new things. In our latest album, we explored a new genre called Drift Phonk for the title track. Trying out different genres and giving unique performances is what makes us different.
Kunho : Moreover, being only 6 months into our debut, we strive to showcase our energy and ambition as a rookie group to as many people as we can. The qualities that On:N mentioned, along with our rookie spirit, are what distinguish us.
Is there any specific message that you want to show with "도깨비(SHOCK)" to your fans?
ON:N : 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 : 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.
As fans look forward to seeing more performances and shows from you, do any of you have a song that you are most looking forward to bringing to the stage?
Xayden : For me, it would be the track 'Bout That Issue'. We don't have the choreography for that song, but it's an exhilarating song with many parts where we sing together. I believe it's perfect for a lively performance where we can interact with fans, singing into hand-held microphones and jumping around. It promises to be an exciting song to perform at concerts.
Youmin : As for me, I'm excited to perform 'PSYCHO MANTRA'. 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.
While on set or before performances, how do you hype each other up to get the energy up and get excited?
Kunho : Before going on stage, we gather to warm up by doing things like stretching. Our group chant changes with each promotion by including different song titles, but we'll show it to you.
Xayden : For real?
All Members laugh and do their current chant
Xayden : The chant changes with each promotion, but we will soon choose a fixed chant that we'll use for all future promotions.
What song would you recommend to a new fan or a listener to make them your fan?
Xayden : I choose "'Bout That Issue." It is a song that really fits my style and I like that chic vibe yet exciting towards the end.
Kunho : I choose the title track of this album, 'SHOCK'. We have prepared a lot for this album, and I think many can gain energy from listening to it.
Youmin : I also choose 'SHOCK' because this song really appeals to the public and it is very exciting that once you give it a listen, you will automatically start dancing.
ON:N : I choose 'ALL OURS' from our first album that we wrote. This song really conveys our thoughts that we had preparing for the debut.
Hyunbin : I choose the title track of this album, 'SHOCK' because I think this song really highlights our colors.
Minje : I choose 'Blah Blah' because this is a song that we worked on the full lyrics to the first time, and by doing that we can effectively show our own colors.
Masami : I'm most fond of our debut song, 'GOTCHA'. I want as many people to listen to this song, and the more you listen to it, the more you'll like the song.
After debuting just earlier this year ALL(H)OURS has come out swinging. With their introduction of Drift Phonk into K-Pop, their dark energy and high powered choreography and sound the group is proving to be one to watch. Listen to WITNESS and title track ‘도깨비(SHOCK)’ on streaming platforms.
Translations Tiffany Bae Photos courtesy of EDEN Entertainment
Comments