[INTERVIEW] NEWBEAT gets 'Louder Than Ever' with all-English K-pop album

Members of K-pop boy band NEWBEAT, from left, Seohyun, Taeyang, Yeojeong, Minseok, Minsung, Yunhoo and Riwoo, pose during an interview at The Korea Times headquarters in Seoul, Oct. 23. Korea Times photo by Pyo Kyung-min

When NEWBEAT first stormed onto the scene earlier this year with "RAW AND RAD," the seven-member boy band positioned itself as a blend of hip-hop swagger and unfiltered drive.

Eight months later, the act — Minseok, Minsung, Yeojeong, Seohyun, Taeyang, Yunhoo and Riwoo — is turning that energy outward. The group's first mini-album, "LOUDER THAN EVER," released Thursday, marks a bold turn — four tracks, two title songs and, most strikingly, lyrics sung almost entirely in English.

"It's our way of saying we're ready for the world," said Minseok, the group's leader, during an interview at The Korea Times headquarters in central Seoul, Oct. 23. "During the eight-month break, we thought a lot about our fans and about how to show something new to everyone, not just in Korea. We sharpened ourselves for this comeback."

The record's twin centerpieces, "Look So Good" and "LOUD," reveal two sides of the same confident coin. The former revisits early-2000s pop-R&B with slick retro polish, while "LOUD" crashes forward with bass-house pulse and rock-infused hyperpop bravado.

Both, the members say, orbit around the same message: "loving yourself loudly."

"We tried old-school hip-hop before, but this time in 'Look So Good,' it's retro pop, which feels cleaner, smoother," Minseok explained. "Meanwhile 'LOUD' connects back to the first album, carrying the same spirit but with even more energy."

Behind the polished sounds lies a cross-continental creative team. British producer Neil Ormandy, known for working with K-pop acts like aespa, and Candace Sosa, American songwriter and producer who collaborated with BTS, helped steer the album, giving NEWBEAT its most international project yet.

K-pop boy band NEWBEAT / Courtesy of Beat Interactive

Releasing an all-English album remains a rarity in K-pop — and for rookies, a risky experiment. Yet for NEWBEAT, the choice felt natural.

"Even before debut, we often performed overseas," Yeojeong recalled. "We wanted a language that could connect instantly. Pop music is our base, and English fit that sound."

For Riwoo, the youngest, pronunciation became a marathon.

"I honestly had a hard time learning nuances of a native English speaker. I spent hours listening and repeating to get the accent right," he said.

"Recording was tough," Minsung agreed. "My English isn't great, so sometimes I couldn't catch feedback from the overseas producers. Thankfully, Yunhoo speaks the language well, so he became our translator in the booth."

Still, the group was mindful of their Korean fans.

"We're a K-pop group, so we knew some people might feel left out," says Yeojeong. "But this was about trying something new. Our first album explored variety in genres; and now the second challenges boundaries."

"We wanted to show that 'different' isn't 'wrong.' If the message of self-love reaches people, that's what we consider success," Minseok added.

K-pop boy band NEWBEAT / Courtesy of Beat Interactive

Since debuting in March, NEWBEAT has already logged a whirlwind of major stages including KCON, LOVESOME Festival and even the F1 Grand Prix halftime show, where they commanded a 40-minute megacrew performance.

"Every stage was unforgettable, but the F1 show felt extra special," Yunhoo said. "We built a new intro, and a new set of choreography. The scale of it felt out of this world."

The members measured growth not just in scale, but in detail. Minsung admitted he's become a perfectionist.

"I rewatch every fancam. Each time, I find something to fix. Expression, control, energy, for instance. I push myself harder now," he said.

Seohyun laughed that his focus has shifted to selfies.

"After debut I thought I'd naturally look good on camera, but the photo cards proved me wrong. Now I study angles like choreography," he said.

K-pop boy band NEWBEAT / Courtesy of Beat Interactive

Before fame, NEWBEAT's connection was forged through street performances and late-night talks.

"Those days taught us endurance," Yeojeong said. "We learned each other's struggles and became tighter."

Minseok shared their ritual of daily debriefs — affectionately called "jongrye," or "homeroom" in Korean — keeps that spirit alive. "We talk about everything, from what dreams we had to what we ate for lunch. Sometimes it's serious feedback, sometimes just laughter."

In their downtime, food, in particular, becomes the group's glue.

"We're all foodies," Minseok said. "Even while dieting for promotions, we talk about what to eat next."

"I'm the dessert guy. I even got the members hooked on Dubai sweets," Riwoo added with a beaming grin, as Taeyang jumped in, saying, "Seohyun and Minseok have a bit of pride about how much they can eat. It's almost like a competitive sport."

The boy band's next few months look equally packed.

"We'll be at university festivals in Japan, then a fansign, and we're preparing to release a Chinese version of 'Cappuccino,' our digital single released in summer," Yunhoo said. "Next year, a North American tour is in the works."

Still, amidst talk of passports and pop charts, NEWBEAT's goals remain grounded. "We want to become our own genre," Yeojeong said. "To reinterpret familiar stories in our way."

Minseok concluded with quiet conviction.

"Our goal is to stay healthy and happy, because if we're not, none of it matters. We hope our fans stay the same."

InterviewNEWBEAT gets 'Louder Than Ever' with all-English K-pop album