ALL(H)OURS, the rookie boy group from EDEN Entertainment, made their first comeback with their second mini-album, "WITNESS," on July 2. This release signifies a pivotal moment for the group, aiming to highlight their unwavering ambition and showcase their growth since their debut. The members participated in the production of the "WITNESS" album with lyric writing. The album represents a significant step forward in their musical journey, with evolving artistry and commitment to making a mark in the K-pop industry.
The group has been rapidly gaining attention with their latest title track, "SHOCK." This electrifying song of a Drift Phonk genre has captivated K-pop fans with its unique sound and powerful performances, demonstrating ALL(H)OURS' distinctive musical style. "SHOCK" has not only stunned fans, and gotten rave reviews from critics, but also impressed veteran artist MIYAVI, who playfully expressed interest in contributing a guitar solo to the track. This endorsement from such a respected figure in the music industry highlights the impact and potential of ALL(H)OURS as they continue to rise in popularity.
Amid the busy schedule of ALL(H)OURS, the group held a media roundtable to discuss their new album in which KpopWise was in attendance.
All: Let us introduce ourselves. Hi, we are ALL(H)OURS!
XAYDEN: Hi, I'm XAYDEN, a sexy guy from ALL(H)OURS. Nice to meet you.
KUNHO: Hi, I'm KUNHO, the leader of ALL(H)OURS. Thank you!
YOUMIN: Hi, I'm YOUMIN, the energizer of ALL(H)OURS.
ON:N: Hi, I'm ON:N, the youngest member of ALL(H)OURS and someone who brightens up the group.
MASAMI: Hi, I'm MASAMI from Osaka, Japan.
MINJE: Hi, I'm MINJE of ALL(H)OURS.
HYUNBIN: Hi, I'm HYUNBIN of ALL(H)OURS. Nice to meet
you!
Since debut, how do you feel that you've personally grown?
MINJE: I think it’s my confidence. During our debut album, I was very nervous and felt pressured not to make any mistakes. For this album, I became more relaxed and found there were many things I wanted to show the audience. This is where I find my confidence.
How do you want your fans to feel when they listen to "SHOCK"?
YOUMIN: When the music video and performance for "SHOCK" were finalized, I felt confident that we would be able to showcase a lot of energy on stage. I hope the fans watching our performances feel the same way too, as we put in a lot of effort and tried very hard to transfer our energy to the audience. I hope the audience feels that energy as well.
Is there any specific message that you want to show with "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.
Is there a specific moments in music video that you'd like the fans to pay more attention to?
XAYDEN: There is a scene where a horn grows from me around the bridge part followed by YOUMIN's part. I personally like this scene so please keep a close eye on it.
YOUMIN: Just like horns growing from XAYDEN's body, there are scenes in the music video where characters like MINJE appear unexpectedly. There's also imagery like the earth splitting apart or XAYDEN and his horns, and ON:N being drawn into a crystal ball. These intriguing, goblin-like elements are scattered throughout the music video, something the audience can focus on and appreciate.
KUNHO: To add on, our music video explores the theme of discovering inner goblins. It would be enjoyable for viewers to spot symbolic objects like horns throughout the video, adding layers of meaning to the visuals.
'SHOCK' Music Video
What artists do you admire and who would you like to be?
HYUNBIN: Stray Kids is a group we all deeply admire, as well as Seventeen. I think we have a lot of things that we can learn from them.
Looking ahead, what is the next milestone that you individually want to achieve?
MASAMI: As I'm Japanese, I'd like to perform in my hometown. I want to perform at a large venue like Tokyo Dome and show my parents our stage. I want to make them proud.
MINJE: I also want to go on a world tour. I understand that the way people cheer varies by country, and I want to experience that in person.
ON:N: As for me, I'd like to win first place on a music show. When we appear on music shows and see other senior artists win, I imagine what it would feel like if we received the award. I know it would be a great honor. Additionally, the Rookie of the Year award is something you can only receive once in your career, so it is a milestone I'd like to achieve.
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