With thousands and thousands of viewers world wide tuning in and casting votes for contestants within the Okay-pop survival present Boys Planet, contestants who didn’t make a spot within the ultimate band left this system with followers wanting to see their subsequent steps. No group maybe higher embraces such potential than EVNNE, the seven-member boy band shortly ascending the Okay-pop ranks and proving themselves as way over only a easy spin-off act.
Famous for an intense collective charisma, the boy band’s debut with hard-hitting singles “Bother” and “Ugly” spoke to a viewpoint because the convention-defying underdogs able to show themselves to the world. The group scored number-one hit songs and awards on Korea’s aggressive music packages, and this summer time launched into their first U.S. tour to develop their worldwide fanbase and showcase their dynamic performances throughout a number of cities.
“We didn’t count on it, however we actually needed it,” EVNNE’s chief Keita says of the group’s potential to interrupt out past Korea and tour the States. “We felt that there have been numerous followers everywhere in the world cheering for us whereas we had been doing such a program like Boys Planet…it’s actually a dream come true.”
Nevertheless it’s not simply the awards and accolades that outline EVNNE’s success. In lower than a 12 months, the group has proven outstanding evolution of their musical model, transitioning from the rebellious anthems of their debut to a softer, extra romantic sound with their third EP, RIDE or DIE from June. The lead single, “Badder Love,” a soothing rock-pop monitor recorded in each Korean and English, marks a brand new chapter for the group.
“The rationale we got here out with the idea of dangerous guys after we made our debut was as a result of we needed to point out the general public what we are able to do finest,” Yunseo says. “However we launched a refreshing album like this as a result of we needed to point out a brand new facet of us.”
With accomplishments each in awards and aristry, Keita, Hanbin, Lee Jeonghyeon, Yunseo, Seungeon, Mun Junghyun and Jihoo have managed to carved their place within the trade and present lasting potential even when the group’s time collectively could also be brief. Learn on for why else EVNNE is a gaggle to look at as Billboard‘s Okay-Pop Rookie of the Month for August 2024.
Congratulations on the success up to now and being named Billboard‘s Rookie of the Month! I ponder how you’re feeling about your achievements over the previous few months?
YUNSEO: We’ve been by means of loads with our members and collectively we’ve achieved numerous issues, however time is de facto flying by so quick — quicker than I assumed. It feels surreal that we’ve been spending a lot time collectively and ready expertise numerous issues in such a short while, however it additionally has been very brief. Even so, we now have realized that there are extra followers and extra folks actually supporting us, giving us a lot love, so we’re simply very completely satisfied and grateful for the whole lot.
SEUNGEON: I wish to add that I’m so completely satisfied to have the ability to come to the U. S. tour following the Asia tour and so excited to satisfy folks from totally different locations. We actually imagine that successful on the music exhibits and with the ability to go on excursions in several nations is all because of our followers’ love and help for us. So, we’re very grateful for that. We’re additionally very completely satisfied and excited to be named because the Rookie of the Month on Billboard. We now have been actually wanting this so thanks a lot.
Whilst you didn’t earn a spot within the ultimate group for Boys Planet, you might be right here now successful awards and occurring tour. Did you guys count on all these items to occur?
KEITA: We didn’t count on it, however we actually needed it. We felt that there have been numerous followers everywhere in the world cheering for us whereas we had been doing such a program so we at all times dreamed that we needed to go to many cities, carry out for a lot of followers, share our vitality and talk with them. It’s actually a dream come true.
How has touring the U.S. been for you?
JIHOO: So we had been actually completely satisfied that the group cheers had been a lot larger than we anticipated. From what I perceive, there’s about 500 folks per venue for this tour, however from what we felt on stage, it actually felt just like the cheer was coming from 5,000 and even 50, 000 folks — it was actually loud. I really feel like we’ve been actually wanting to share our vitality with the viewers, however in return, I feel we bought much more vitality and motivation from them.
MUN JUNGHYUN: We had been in a position to sing the English model of “Badder Love” for the primary time, and I feel the response was good as a result of the followers sang alongside to the entire track which made us actually completely satisfied. Additionally, we had been in a position to present “XO” with its choreography in full for the primary time on this U.S. tour and it felt like had been cheering a lot for that track.
SEUNGEON: You understand, the worldwide followers who don’t essentially communicate Korean are inclined to hum to our songs, as an alternative of like singing alongside to the precise lyrics, which remains to be actually cute however we at all times had somewhat little bit of remorse that and need everybody may actually sing alongside collectively from begin to end. However with the English model [of “Badder Love”] they had been actually in a position to do it and had been singing alongside to the track whereas we had been performing so it was actually a fantastic expertise. It actually motivated us and, in the future, we might like to launch extra songs in several varied languages sooner or later.
Any languages you may wish to file in subsequent?
HANBIN: We go to Japan loads and there are numerous our followers and individuals who help us in Japan so I feel it could be good to make a model that may be achieved in Japanese.
Going again to “Badder Love,” it seems like this album is centered round a softer picture and fewer intense than the ideas on your singles like “Bother” or Ugly.” What does EVNNE wish to show this time round?
JIHOO: Our predominant focus was to actually present a unique facet of ourselves in comparison with our first two albums. For our first and second mini albums, we actually needed to point out that “cheeky rascal” facet, which is extra highly effective and really simple. However with the third album, we needed to point out extra of a romantic, a softer facet of us.
YUNSEO: Truly, the rationale we got here out with the idea of dangerous guys after we made our debut was as a result of we needed to point out the general public what we are able to do finest whereas speaking to the corporate. That’s how we made our debut. We launched a refreshing album like this as a result of we needed to point out a brand new facet of us. We’ve at all times been ready to do that, however we’ve proven you somewhat little bit of a nasty boy and a robust picture, however this time, we’re going to point out you a little bit of a unique picture.
LEE JEONGHYOEN: We now have some all-white outfits within the music video which might be very becoming for summer time. There’s additionally no actually brilliant hair colours. Truly, that is my first time dying my hair in brown so we actually targeted on exhibiting the correct styling for the idea by means of this album. Quite a lot of the backgrounds within the music video are set within the ocean so for my part that actually emphasizes on that refreshing cool facet with the track and the music video.
I noticed you guys compete within the Idol Star Athletic Championship and reunite even with a number of the Boys Planet contestants. How was that in spite of everything you went by means of?
HANBIN: We participated in two of the occasions throughout this system and we actually ready ourselves to do our greatest in it whereas getting ready for this tour. We needed to discover little moments right here and there to actually put together for ISAC, however I feel it was a fantastic alternative for us to advertise who we’re and what we are able to do to much more folks. So, it was a extremely nice expertise in general and such as you talked about, we had been in a position to discuss and chat with many different artists as properly together with ZEROBASEONE. It’s truly been awhile since we bought to talk and reunite with them so it was actually enjoyable to be reconnecting.
YUNSEO: Our schedules don’t actually go away us numerous time to satisfy in individual or privately, however I used to be so completely satisfied to satisfy my associates that had been at Idol Star Athletics Championships, discuss, and play sports activities and video games collectively.
KEITA: I met Matthew and I advised him, “Hey Matt, I’m finding out English!” and he mentioned, “Hey, your pronunciation shouldn’t be as dangerous as I assumed!” however in Korean. So, I bought a praise from him.
SEUNGEON: I feel followers who watched the present had been actually ready to see us all once more and a Boys Planet reunion in the future. This was truly our first alternative for all of the Boys Planet teams and artists to come back collectively, actually reunite, discuss to one another and simply have an excellent time generally. I felt prefer it was a faculty occasion in some methods as a result of there are numerous idol seniors, juniors and colleagues however all of us have the identical dream and fervour for music and artistry so it actually felt like we had been at a faculty occasion all collectively. So, general it was a really, very enjoyable occasion.
HANBIN: I truly bumped into some associates who I educated with so whereas it felt actually very new, and it additionally stroke a chord in my memory like we had been again at school all collectively and we had been at a faculty occasion collectively reasonably a TV present program.
Do you might have a message you’d wish to share with worldwide followers who’re ready to see you?
YUNSEO: To begin with, we had been chosen because the Rookie of the Month so I’d wish to say thanks a lot. It’s a fantastic honor and starting with this, we’d like to point out you all extra and promote our identify to an much more larger viewers world wide so we are able to actually share our artistry and who we’re to everybody world wide. And sooner or later, we actually hope we are able to sometime have our track chart on the Billboard charts. We’ll work arduous for that so it could be nice if the American followers and worldwide followers find out about us and ship us your continued love, help and a focus.
SEUNGEON: We’ve been actually wanting to share unbelievable performances by means of this tour and please please look ahead to all our actions and performances sooner or later as properly. It’s a fantastic honor, once more, to be chosen because the Rookie of the Month with Billboard.