INTERVIEW Now it's rookie boy band 8TURN's turn to 'Excel'
A teaser for K-pop boy group 8TURN's new mini-album, “Uncharted Drift” / Courtesy of MNH Entertainment
8TURN returns with new hip-hop song 'Excel'
By Dong Sun-hwa
How is the Korean dish budae jjigae (or “army base stew”) similar to K-pop boy group 8TURN?
At a glance, the popular stew ― made with canned ham, sausages, vegetables, baked beans, instant noodles, kimchi and gochujang (red chili paste) ― seems irrelevant to the fledgling K-pop act that just arrived on the music scene.
However, 8TURN's Korean Kiwi leader Jaeyun drew parallels between the two during a recent interview with The Korea Times, saying both of them are emblematic of diversity and harmony.
“Budae jjigae combines various ingredients together, but still creates a great harmony of flavors,” he said in an interview at a studio in Gangnam, southern Seoul. “Likewise, all 8TURN members have different looks and distinctive characters, but we can still form harmony and display solid teamwork.”
After likening themselves to different ingredients such as sausages and noodles, the eight bubbly members ― Jaeyun, Myungho, Minho, Yoonsung, Haemin, Kyungmin, Yungyu and Seungheon ― began sharing what makes each of them unique.
“I am a big fan of fantasy movies and dramas,” Kyungmin, who first made his name known to the public on the 2020 audition program “I-LAND,” said in an excited tone. “I first watched the Harry Potter series about a year ago and immediately fell under its spell. So, I recently bought a pajama set and a cup featuring Harry Potter and downloaded an application just to watch the series over and over again.”
Member Minho's hobby is reading the news.
“I am very interested in the things happening in our world, so I frequently read the news, especially about culture and entertainment,” he said. “I recently saw an article about how K-pop juggernaut BTS and its global fans celebrated the group's 10th anniversary.”
K-pop group 8TURN / Courtesy of MNH Entertainment
On June 26, 8TURN rolled out its second mini-album, “Uncharted Drift,” which came out about five months after the octet's January debut.
“For our debut EP, we could not showcase everything we had because it was our first time going before the public,” Yoonsung said. “We are more thrilled than pressured to reveal our unexplored sides this time.”
“Uncharted Drift” is fronted by the lead single, “Excel,” a catchy track fusing the sounds of old-school hip-hop and hard rock. Through its lyrics, the members show their determination to walk their own path and take accountability for their actions.
“It is a very energetic song clearly showing our musical style,” 16-year-old Seungheon, the youngest member of 8TURN, explained.
Jaeyun chimed in, “Compared to our debut track 'Tic Tac,' 'Excel' is far more daring and powerful in terms of sound and lyrics. At first, we were anxious that we might not be able to pull it off on stage, but we managed to do so after training hard. I think we have successfully reinterpreted this track in our own style.”
The members of K-pop act 8TURN laugh during a recent interview with The Korea Times at a studio in Gangnam, southern Seoul. / Korea Times photo by Yun Da-been
“Uncharted Drift” also carries four other tunes: “World,” “Walk it Out,” “Sketch” and “ING.” Overall, it centers on the theme of escape. Asked about the greatest escape in his life, Yoonsung brought up a story about his school days.
“I used to go to a cram school when I was a middle school student, but I quit it without telling my mom because I could not handle its tough schedule,” the 19-year-old recalled. “I later told her the truth and promised I would study hard on my own. Thankfully, my grades did not fall after dropping out of the cram school, so I think I took responsibility for my action. That is why I can easily relate to the lyrics and the messages of our new song.”
Kyungmin also shared a childhood anecdote. ”When I was an elementary school student, I had a sleepover at my friend's home without telling my parents,” he said.
The eight members of K-pop act 8TURN / Courtesy of MNH Entertainment
For those who are not yet familiar with 8TURN and its music, Myungho recommends them to listen to “Tic Tac” first, as it best captures the group's musical identity that is often characterized by free-spiritedness and confidence.
Blue-haired member Yungyu added, “If they already heard 'Tic Tac,' they can now listen to 'We,' a tune highlighting our tireless energy.”
Like most other budding stars, 8TURN's first and foremost goal is to win rookie recognition.
“We want to win rookie of the year awards,” Jaeyun said. “Our role model is SEVENTEEN, a K-pop boy group that all of us love so much. We hope we can follow in its footsteps by showcasing great music and performances while boasting strong team chemistry.”
Yoonsung said, “We want to be active for a long time. It will be great if we can bring joy to the world with our music.”