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INTERVIEW EPEX to tell stories of young with new album
K-pop boy band EPEX takes part in an interview with The Korea Times at a studio in Gangnam District, Seoul, March 19. Korea Times photo by Do Hien Thao
By Pyo Kyung-min
EPEX is back and making waves on The Korea Times' K-pop channel POPKORN for the third time, proving itself as more than just a fleeting sensation in the K-pop world.
With every appearance, this dynamic boy band continues to cement its presence, showcasing its musical evolution and undeniable impact on the scene.
Comprising eight members — Wish, Keum, MU, Amin, Baekseung, Ayden, Yewang and Jeff — EPEX debuted in 2021 and has since embarked on a continuous journey to define its musical identity. The members have constantly navigated through a repertoire ranging from youthful, refreshing tunes to intense tracks articulating the challenges of youth, all the while exploring various musical genres.
Upon a recent observation, the group was brimming with more confidence than ever before. The group's youngest members — Ayden, Yewang and Jeff — have recently reached the symbolic Korean age of 20, transitioning into adulthood.
Bidding farewell to their adolescence, the members told The Korea Times of their ongoing struggles to fully grasp the reality of being recognized as "adults," during a lively interview at a studio in Gangnam District, Seoul, March 19.
"I don't sense any substantial change just because we've reached adulthood," Jeff said. "It's akin to graduating from school. While the label 'adult' can be intimidating, I don't feel its weight just now."
Yewang, echoing this sentiment, said, "I did engage in some heartfelt conversations with older members to mark this transition, but truthfully, I don't feel a significant shift in my mindset."
He added, laughing, "Besides being able to casually partake in drinking alcohol with the members, I don't sense much else that's changed."
K-pop boy band EPEX poses during a press event held to mark the release of the group's new album, "Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days," at Blue Square Mastercard Hall, Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Marking the milestone, the band released its first full-length album, "Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days" earlier this month. Keum characterized this album as the herald of the members' young adulthood.
"Now that we've all reached adulthood, this album marks the onset of our young adulthood," he said.
"It encapsulates the anxieties, joys, worries and aspirations shared by our generation as we embark on the first chapter of our journey."
Given its thematic focus on young emotions, crafting the album demanded heightened effort. Ayden highlighted his endeavor to capture the essence of being a young adult.
"When you envision being young, you imagine vibrant and lively emotions. Hence, during the recording process, I paid meticulous attention, infusing my vocals with young energy to resonate with our audience," he shared.
The title track, "Youth2Youth," embodies this spirited essence.
Baekseung added, "While practicing our new lead single's choreography, I aimed to convey a sense of freedom while still maintaining synchronicity."
"I placed extra emphasis on harmonizing our moves during dance rehearsals."
Just like its music, EPEX epitomizes the overflowing vibrant energy of young people.
K-pop boy band EPEX performs the group's new lead single, "Youth2Youth," during a press event at Blue Square Mastercard Hall, Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
While its members exude professionalism in their work as idols, they revealed they indulge in typical boyish pastimes during their downtime.
"We wouldn't call ourselves particularly diligent, to be honest," Keum said. "When we're not on idol duty, we tend to catch up on sleep and relax, recharging after hectic schedules,"
Their hobbies include playing video games, shopping and watching movies — activities that define boys their age.
"Originally, our dorm didn't have computers, so there was this collective yearning among us to play computer games ... We did recently buy computers, fulfilling this long desire. Now, we occasionally lose ourselves in gaming sessions in our rooms," Baekseung said. "I guess this aspect is something that is unknown to our fans."
In a light-hearted exchange, EPEX members playfully teased the group's leader, Wish, about his hobby, exposing his surprising penchant for collecting cute keychains.
"At first glance, Wish may appear intimidating due to his strong demeanor, but he's quite the opposite. He possesses this unique tender-heartedness," Keum said. "I recently witnessed him purchasing a teddy bear keychain. It was amusing to see him pondering over what to name it."
"I'm not particularly fond of collecting keychains; they're fashion items," Wish said somewhat bashfully.
K-pop boy band EPEX poses during an interview with The Korea Times at a studio in Gangnam District, Seoul, March 19. Korea Times photo by Do Hien Thao
Despite being young, EPEX has already spent three years immersed in the world of K-pop. The members said their goal is to achieve widespread recognition solely by their name.
"We aspire to be a group that can confidently represent ourselves as EPEX wherever we go ... We envision becoming the kind of group where not only we, but also our fans, proudly proclaim our group name when identifying themselves abroad," Keum said.
The success of the group's latest album, heralding the beginning of its ambitious dream, is also a key objective.
"As this album marks the onset of adulthood for all of us, I hope it serves as a turning point, propelling us forward and enabling us to ascend even higher," Wish added. "Even for those unfamiliar with us, I hope they give our album a chance, as it's brimming with high-quality tracks."
"Your support through listening would be greatly appreciated."