BIG OCEAN: INTERVIEW

April 30, 2026

by martina rexrode

When Big Ocean debuted on April 20, 2024, the Day of Persons with Disabilities in South Korea, it was immediately clear that they were something special. Members Jiseok, Chanyeon, and PJ are all hearing-impaired — a first for a K-pop group — but that’s just one aspect of their identity as idols and people. Their recent comeback, a mini-album titled THE GREATEST BATTLE, saw the group reaching new sonic heights in each of the mini-album’s tracks as well as the awe-inspiring choreography of “One Man Army.” As they near their second anniversary as a group, BIG OCEAN is already returning to the U.S. for their second tour. We spoke to the members about THE GREATEST BATTLE, tour, and everything fans can expect from their new performances.

Your third mini-album, THE GREATEST BATTLE, has almost been out for two months. How are you all feeling now compared to how you felt in the time before its release?

Jiseok: “Before release, honestly, there was a lot of tension. This album felt like the most exposed we've ever been. So during the teaser period, we were genuinely excited to finally start sharing pieces of it and see how Pado would respond. Now that it's out, hearing that people actually connect with the songs and understand the messages we put into them... that means everything. And if anything, it's made us even more excited to bring these songs to life on stage that we can't wait for the tour.”

When you look at this mini-album, what stands out? Is there something you delivered here that you hadn’t brought forth before?

Jiseok: “What stands out the most is that our color as a group comes through clearer than ever before, and that means everything to me. Our first album was about offering comfort. Our second revealed the mermaid, that feeling of not fully belonging anywhere. But with this one, there's no metaphor, no layer in between. It's just Big Ocean as we are, and I think you can feel that in every single track. We've never shown ourselves this directly, and I think that's what makes this album feel like the most us thing we've ever made.”

Your second U.S. tour takes place throughout the month of April! How excited are you to return here and perform across nine cities to Pado?

Chanyeon: “We are so ready. Last time gave us a taste of what it feels like to be in the same room as Pado in the U.S., and ever since then we've been wanting to come back and give them even more. Nine cities is nine chances to do that, and this time we're bringing THE GREATEST BATTLE with us, so the energy is going to be on a completely different level. Honestly, we've been counting down.”

Which new songs are you the most excited to perform?

Jiseok: “‘One Man Army,’ without question. Performing it with twenty dancers, the crane-wing formation unfolding through sign language, the whole room feeling the weight of that battle — it's unlike anything we've done before. Every time we run through it, I still get chills.”

Can you tell us a little about what type of show fans can expect from you this time around?

PJ: “It’s definitely going to be more fierce this time. The whole show is built around that battle energy, from the big moments to the smallest details. There are parts where you might lose track of everything for a second, so just come ready to feel it.”

When you’re on tour with any amount of downtime, are you more likely to stay inside and rest or explore the area?

Chanyeon: “Rest is real and necessary. But new cities carry new energy, and it never feels right to leave a place without having absorbed even a little bit of it. Whenever we get the chance, we want to make the most of the time we have here: go explore, take photos, capture those little moments. We always want to share that with Pado too, so that fans who aren't there can still experience the cities with us in some way. You know, one hour outside does something for me that sleep can't.”

How does your identity as the first all hearing-impaired K-pop boy group affect your day-to-day life? How do you hold onto and live out this groundbreaking label?

PJ: “This identity is a part of who we are, and that's something that keeps us motivated every single day. But honestly, we don't think about the label every morning when we wake up. We think about how to make the next song better, how to keep improving our performances, how to keep finding new ways to connect and make an impact. And I think that's exactly how you live it out by refusing to let it become a ceiling. Every time someone watches us perform and feels something they didn't expect to feel, that's us living it.”

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AMPERS&ONE: INTERVIEW

April 9, 2026

by martina rexrode

The current generation of K-pop is full of multifaceted, diverse talent unlike anything the industry has seen before in such a large quantity. AMPERS&ONE is one such group. Consisting of members from South Korea, Canada, Australia, and the U.S., the seven-member boy group utilizes their multicultural identity to their full advantage — catering both their music and their imagery to fans from all over the world. We spoke to AMPERS&ONE about their fourth mini-album, DEFINITION, how they define themselves over two years into their career, and their upcoming U.S. tour.

How are you all feeling with your fourth mini-album, DEFINITION, dropping in just over a week?

KAMDEN: “Super hyped to be back after eight months, and I'm really curious about how the ANDEARS would think of our new album.”

BRIAN: “I'm feeling super excited and nervous at the same time. We made a comeback in over eight months, and we hope this comeback will do well!”

JIHO: “We’re really excited as the comeback gets closer day by day, especially since we put so much effort into preparing this album. We’ve practiced a lot, so we feel confident—and honestly, we can’t wait to come back.”

SIYUN: “I’m incredibly excited and thrilled to finally show everything we’ve prepared.”

KYRELL: “Very excited but also very nervous. It’s always nerve-wracking towards the end because you never know how people will respond when they first hear the album.”

MACKIAH: “I’m very excited for this album because it has been eight months since our last comeback! I’m excited to be back on stage and to be able to meet our ANDEAR again!”

SEUNGMO: “Since it’s our first comeback in eight months, we’re really eager to show our performances to our fans as soon as possible. All of the members worked incredibly hard on this album, so we’re even more excited for what’s to come.”

Do you feel that this mini-album presents AMPERS&ONE in a different light? Did it allow you to dive into new sounds?

KAMDEN: “It's a very new sound that we have never shown before, so in that way, kinda nervous to show it to ANDEAR, but at the same time, we are really confident with the new album.”

BRIAN: “I think this album definitely shows us in a different light because we've never done this type of concept before. The sounds in this album are pretty unique in my opinion, so I can't wait for people to listen to it.”

JIHO: “We believe this comeback marks a new chapter for us. Musically and performance-wise, it’s a fresh and highly conceptual album, so we’re excited to show a completely new side of AMPERS&ONE.”

SIYUN: “Starting from the intro of the title track, the drum sounds and overall production really highlight a new side of us.”

KYRELL: “Absolutely, I think this mini album presents a much more mature side of AMPERS&ONE. We tried some new sounds as well. Our title track, ‘GOD,’ is a great example of that as it incorporates a blend of traditional Korean instruments with modern sounds.”

MACKIAH: “Definitely! This album has many unique sounds, and I think the most unique would be our title track, ‘GOD.’ We’re always trying new sounds, and I’m excited for the reaction of our fans to this album!”

SEUNGMO: “It’s a concept we’re trying for the first time, and it incorporates traditional Korean sounds, which makes it feel even fresher. It was definitely a new challenge for our team.”

What is each of your favorite tracks and why?

KAMDEN: “Personally, my favorite one is ‘All Eyes On You’ because it makes me really happy and warm when I listen to it.”

BRIAN: “My favorite track in the album is ‘All Eyes On You’ because I like more of a pop/bright sound rather than the other tracks, which are kind of more serious and hip hop.”

JIHO: “My favorite track is ‘My Way.’ I run quite often, and whenever this song comes on, it naturally boosts my energy and motivation. It also made me think how fun it would be to perform this track at concerts, which is why I grew to love it even more.”

SIYUN: “My favorite track is ‘Tears In Your Smile.’ It’s a genre I really love, and the lyrics are so beautiful that I naturally became attached to it.”

KYRELL: “I like ‘All Eyes On You!’ It’s a fun song that’s easy to sing along to and just makes my day better when I listen to it.”

MACKIAH: “My favorite track on the album right now would be ‘My Way’ because it has such an exciting vibe to it, and I personally like the rap part, which I wrote. :)”

SEUNGMO: “My favorite track is ‘Tears In Your Smile.’ It’s a genre I usually enjoy singing, so I felt confident while recording it. It’s also a style of music I personally listen to often, which makes me like it even more.”

Why did you decide to name the mini-album DEFINITION?

KAMDEN: “We wanted to show that we, the team, make identity and direction ourselves, also the future that we will see from now on.”

BRIAN: “We decided to name this mini album DEFINITION because we think this album really defines us as a group, and also because of the various genres of music in this album. This correlates to the previous albums.”

JIHO: “Through this album, we wanted to establish our identity and define a new side of ourselves. That’s why we chose the title DEFINITION.”

SIYUN: “We wanted to clearly establish our direction and identity as a team, so we chose the title DEFINITION to represent that.”

KYRELL: “We felt like this mini-album acted as a stepping stone into a new beginning for our team. From here, we are going to be ‘redefining’ what it means to AMPERS&ONE. We wanted to capture the process of evolving and finding a clear direction.”

MACKIAH: “We decided to name this album DEFINITION because it is the story of how we are defining ourselves and finding who we truly are.”

SEUNGMO: “AMPERS&ONE has explored a wide range of genres and concepts so far, and this album represents a new phase where we establish and redefine our identity as a group.”

How would you define AMPERS&ONE to those who are interested in diving into your music?

KAMDEN: “We have very different genres so far, so if you are interested in listening to our music, it would be easy to approach.”

BRIAN: “We definitely have a song for everyone. From cute to cool to sad and more. So, I am certain that we have music to your liking.”

JIHO: “We’re a team that constantly challenges a wide range of concepts and fully makes them our own. If you check out our comeback title track ‘GOD,’ you’ll definitely feel how fresh and unique we are.”

SIYUN: “We’re a team that showcases a wide spectrum of sounds and concepts. If you listen to our albums starting from our debut, you’ll be able to feel how we gradually build and define our unique color.”

KYRELL: “I would define our group as multicolored. We have music spanning various genres, and our members are also from around the world. I think that is the greatest strength.”

MACKIAH: “AMPERS&ONE is a group that has many different styles of music, and there is definitely a track for anyone and everyone! I would say our music has a very encouraging message of pushing forward through hardships, and I hope it can help listeners gain confidence and strength.”

SEUNGMO: “As a multinational group, we bring together diverse musical cultures from each member. I’d describe us as a group with a wide spectrum, capable of connecting people from all around the world through music.”

Your U.S. Born To Define tour begins on May 8 — and it’ll be here sooner than you think! What are you most excited about for your return to the States?

KAMDEN: “Showing our new album to the ANDEAR. For sure, the ANDEARS are gonna have so much fun with the new album.”

BRIAN: “I'm definitely excited to meet our fans and also just walking around the cities.”

JIHO: “We’re excited to show how much we’ve grown through even more fun and powerful performances. We’ll also be visiting cities we didn’t get to go to before, which makes this tour feel even more new and exciting.”

SIYUN: “I’m especially excited about hearing the fans’ cheers during our performances. Their energy really gives me strength on stage.”

KYRELL: “I’m most excited to see ANDEAR! We haven’t seen them in so long!”

MACKIAH: “I’m definitely excited for the love energy from all our ANDEAR!! The last tour was so much fun, and we were able to meet so many great people on the journey, which made it even better! I can’t miss out on the food, though, I’m waiting to have In-N-Out again!”

SEUNGMO: “When we went on our previous North America tour, the fans’ energy and support were incredible, and it left such a strong impression on me. I’m really looking forward to experiencing that again.”

What can you tell ANDEAR about what they might see on this tour?

KAMDEN: “Just us having so much fun that the crowd could also automatically just move with their body.”

BRIAN: “You can expect to see some new songs and covers, which I would say is the highlight of our concert.”

JIHO: “There are a lot of songs we haven’t performed before, and we’re also preparing some surprise stages beyond our own tracks. We hope everyone looks forward to it.”

SIYUN: “We’ll be showing a slightly more mature and refined charm—something clean, sharp, and subtly sexy, rather than just a typical ‘hip’ vibe.”

KYRELL: “Lots of new performances that they have never seen before. And some really fun cover songs!”

MACKIAH: “ANDEAR can expect to see new stages which we haven’t performed before, and there may also be some special stages to look out for too!! 😉”

SEUNGMO: “The stages will have a different vibe compared to our previous tour, and since this is our first official concert, fans will get to see many performances that haven’t been revealed before.”

After debuting in late 2023 as a prominent multinational K-pop group, how do you think you’ve grown in the last two-plus years?

KAMDEN: “I feel like the attitude that we put during each stage has changed a lot. We know how to control different moods and styles, which has become very natural.”

BRIAN: “We've definitely matured a lot as a group, knowing when to help each other and give each other real feedback. So I think we grew a lot as a team.”

JIHO: “We’ve grown a lot in terms of stage presence—our immersion, gestures, and understanding of how to perform in a way that translates well on camera have all improved significantly.”

SIYUN: “All of our members have developed stronger stage attitudes and a clearer sense of individuality. Over time, we’ve grown into artists who actively try to express our own colors, and we’ll continue to improve in our respective roles.”

KYRELL: “I think we’ve become a lot more confident, we’ve become more sure of ourselves and of each other. I think a key point is overall teamwork and communication as well.”

MACKIAH: “In the last two years, we have been able to perform on many different stages with many different styles of music, and through the journey, we’ve grown our confidence on stage as well as our performances.”

SEUNGMO: “Since we’re a team made up of members from different countries, communication could have been a challenge at first. But by spending time together and sharing our cultures every day, we’ve become much more in sync. Our communication has improved, and our teamwork on stage has grown even stronger.”

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'GOOD, LIKE IT SHOULD BE' / BER: REVIEW

April 8, 2026

by lauren kovolenko

Good, Like It Should Be is a sonically charged album with joyous moments, but also melancholic tone. With each listen, find yourself deeply intertwined with Ber’s lyrics about life and what it means to, well, live. Upon first listen, I was hooked instantly. Whether it was the beats and sounds of the pop focused indie tracks or the lyrics, Ber has something to appeal to everyone.

The first track opens the album with an upbeat vibe and takes you straight into her life story. She explores themes of love and what is true or real. “Cool, Boy” is an exciting track about trying too hard… with super quirky lyrics. “Don’t act so cool boy, get your ass up and dance!” We did just that. You can’t help yourself!

Metaphors fly throughout this album—maintaining interest through each track. This album is an extremely fun listen. You can’t help but bop your head and shake your hands in the air.

“Who’s This?” is a story of being yourself while faced with adversity. Themes like this trickle through the whole project with each proceeding track.

Halfway through the project shows an album slow down. With more guitar and soft pacing, Ber continues.

“Hey, Bluebird” has some beautifully large moments about respecting yourself and choosing yourself at the end of the day. This song almost feels like a big sister note to yourself. It’s a great reminder we all need when we are, and can be, too harsh on ourselves. The next songs come with themes of proving yourself to a potential love interest, to take a chance on yourself.

“Give It All Away” is a personal favorite of mine. This song has themes that I think many of us can relate to. Finding it tough to live in a society which promotes a culture of putting others wishes first before our own personal health. Debating what’s important or not so much.

At this point in the album, the song melodies are picking up, but the lyrics continue with the same depth we started with. It’s no doubt that Ber is a great storyteller, and extremely relatable. “Next To Me” most definitely belongs in the next coming of age romance movie. Why do opposites attract? A story as old as time.

The rest of the album continues with some more conversations about relationships: what they mean; and what they could turn into. The end track, same as the album title, is a perfect end credit scene.

If there’s anything this album does is make you feel something. An emotion of sadness, longing, or just the opposite—spontaneity or excitement for what the future holds. It’s an extremely dancey album for more reasons than one. Whether you want to feel good, or feel something — this is your album. As a first time listener of Ber, I most definitely am glad to have found this album and enjoyed her talents provided.

She’s going places.

ALL(H)OURS: INTERVIEW

April 6, 2026

by martina rexrode

ALL(H)OURS is a K-pop boy group that consistently presents themselves with power and integrity. Their music bursts through to listeners all over the world, allowing them to foster a devoted fanbase domestically in South Korea, at various events in North America, and everywhere in between. With K-pop continuing to grow their global popularity, groups like ALL(H)OURS offer a unique identity to those wanting to get into the genre. Their latest release, a mini-album titled NO DOUBT, makes the determination they’ve harbored since their debut known to all who tune in. We chatted with the group about this release, their creative process, and their evolution over the last couple of years.

How did the completion of your first North American Fancon, ALL the HOURS, prepare you for the release of your fifth mini-album?

KUNHO: “I think it gave us the motivation to create even better performances and results. Meeting Min(ut)es in many different regions helped us learn a lot about how we should perform on stage and how to express our own character, and through that experience we were able to grow even more.”

What does NO DOUBT represent to you personally and collectively?

XAYDEN: “This album carries the message of moving forward on our own path without doubting ourselves, even in the midst of anxiety, confusion, and fear. With that in mind, not only the title track but also the B-side tracks are filled with stories that reflect our determination and passion. We may not have achieved clear results yet, but this album reminds us once again of our determination to keep moving forward without doubt, continuing to love and enjoy what we do with the same mindset we have now.”

How does this comeback differ from previous releases? Is there a new side to ALL(H)OURS that shines on NO DOUBT with these five tracks?

YOUMIN: “Our fifth mini-album, NO DOUBT, captures our intensity and the journey of finding ourselves at the end of darkness. While ‘DEAD MAN WALKING’ highlights the darkest and most powerful side of ALL(H)OURS, B-side tracks like ‘7 o’clock’ show a new side of us by delivering a brighter and more hopeful message to listeners. Through this contrast, we wanted the album to reflect our process of discovering who ALL(H)OURS truly are.”

Why did you feel that “DEAD MAN WALKING” was best suited as this mini-album’s title track?

ON:N: “As mentioned before, the title of our new album, NO DOUBT, carries the meaning of continuing to move forward without doubting ourselves, even in the midst of anxiety and confusion. In a similar way, ‘DEAD MAN WALKING’ portrays someone who refuses to give up and keeps walking forward even in the most desperate situations. That’s why we felt it was the song that could best deliver the message we wanted to convey with this album and decided to make it the title track. Also, when people think of ALL(H)OURS, noise music and hard-listening sounds are something that really represent us. Since this song allows us to show what we do best and fully express our powerful and dark energy, it naturally became the title track.”

What was the creative process like for this comeback? How did you go about pitching ideas and collaborating on composition and writing for certain tracks?

KUNHO: “We had the opportunity to participate thanks to the producers giving us the chance. Once the producers shared the kind of atmosphere they were looking for, the members gathered together to decide on a theme, collect the message we wanted to convey, and then began working on the song. ‘7 o’clock’ was created through the same process as well. At first, several themes were suggested, like 6 o’clock, 5 o’clock, and sunlight, but considering the overall message of the album and the contrasting feeling we wanted to express, we felt that ‘7 o’clock’ fit the best, so we decided to go with that theme.”

HYUNBIN: “Since our debut, we’ve often worked together on writing and composing. While working on this song, we gathered to discuss the direction and shared our ideas with each other, putting our sincerity into every line throughout the process.”

This mini-album includes two high-energy unit tracks, with YOUMIN featured in both similar to KUNHO on VCF. How does the group split off into sub-units and decide which member will fall into both groups?

YOUMIN: “The unit tracks are divided into a hip-hop team and a vocal team. Through these songs, we hope listeners can discover individual charms that might not come through as clearly in our full group tracks. As a vocalist, I participated in the vocal unit, but I also joined the hip-hop unit track this time. In that song, the vocals act a bit like seasoning to enhance the track’s energy. I happened to take part this time, but in the next album, another vocalist who can bring a different charm than mine might participate in the hip-hop unit track.”

MINJE: “For ‘7 o’clock,’ we approached the song with the intention of showing a brighter and more uplifting side of our energy. While many of our previous tracks highlight intense and darker elements, we wanted this song to express a sense of hope, warmth, and positivity that listeners could connect with. Because of that, we spent time thinking about what kind of sound and genre would best capture the message and atmosphere we wanted to deliver.

After discussing it together, we felt that a pop-rock style would be the best fit, as it naturally carries a lively and refreshing energy while still allowing us to express emotion and sincerity. The genre helped us emphasize the uplifting mood of the song and bring out the message we wanted to share with listeners.”

Where did the inspiration for “미쳤으니까 (Cause I’m Insane)” and its hip-hop/future bass elements come from?

HYUNBIN: “For the track ‘미쳤으니까 (Cause I’m Insane),’ it’s a unit song featuring the three members of our hip-hop line together with our vocalist, YOUMIN. Because of that lineup, we felt it was important to choose a genre that could naturally highlight both the vocal melodies and the hip-hop elements. That’s why we chose a style that allows both the rap and vocal parts to stand out while complementing each other.”

What are the biggest ways each of you have evolved in the two years since your debut? How do you hope to evolve as you move forward?

MASAMI: “I think we’ve been growing a lot over the past two years. In terms of our skills, we’re constantly practicing and working hard because we want to show even better performances. At the same time, we’re also trying to grow mentally and become more professional in everything we do. Personally, I hope to become an idol who continues to grow together with our fans.”

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SKINZ: INTERVIEW

March 29, 2026

by martina rexrode

photo courtesy of skinz

Today’s K-pop landscape includes the industry’s most diverse range of talent and concepts to date. Among the standard idol groups resides an emerging class of virtual groups vying for fans’ attention and succeeding at an impressive rate. SKINZ is one such group — a seven-member boy group promoting entirely through virtual avatars that perform choreography, speak to fans, and hold their own in cinematic music videos.

After debuting nearly a year ago, Dovin, Dael, Theo, Finn, Jaon, Ilang Kwon, and Yull are back with their first mini-album, SKINZ IS SKINZ, a collection of tracks that forms a fearless image of the group’s bright future. We spoke to SKINZ about this release, their musical influences, and how they’ve evolved in such a short period of time.

Congratulations on the release of your first mini-album! What was the collective goal for creating SKINZ IS SKINZ going into this release? How do you hope to achieve this goal now that the mini-album is out?

Dovin: “We wanted to share the message we carry with our KINDY fans and listeners about the uncertainty of youth and the process of overcoming it. Moving forward, we’ll continue to work hard and present more of our music to those who support us.”

Theo: “With SKINZ IS SKINZ, our goal was to show what ‘SKINZ-like music’ truly is. We wanted to naturally express our honest emotions and each member’s unique musical color. Going forward, we hope to keep developing and expanding our identity.”

Finn: “The most important thing for us was to show who SKINZ is through the music itself. Rather than having someone explain to us, we wanted the audience to feel it first. Each track has a different color, but they’re all connected by one attitude. Now that the album is out, I hope people start to have those moments where they listen and think, ‘Oh… this is SKINZ.’ Even if it happens little by little, I think that’s how we can keep carrying that goal forward.”

This project includes a wide range of genres, vocal deliveries, and concepts — each of which are pulled off flawlessly with incredible production and undeniable talent. Of these five tracks, which is each of your favorite and why?

Dovin: “My favorite track is ‘25.14.’ I truly love all the songs since we worked on each of them, but this one feels especially meaningful to me. Our biggest motivation throughout this album was our fans, KINDY, and since this song is dedicated to them, I naturally feel more attached to it.”

Jaon: “My favorite track is ‘YOUNG & LOUD.’ I see it as the beginning of our story. It captures SKINZ’s energy and message the best, which makes it particularly meaningful to me.”

Theo: “Personally, my favorite is ‘Poison Ivy.’ I think it brings out the members’ musical strengths in a very natural and effortless way.”

Finn: “My favorite track is ‘Poison Ivy.’ It’s a song where each member’s strengths really stand out, and the R&B-based melody is especially captivating.”

Ilang Kwon: “I like all the tracks, but ‘25.14’ is my favorite. It’s a song dedicated to our fans, KINDY, and it also has a different style compared to the other tracks, which makes it stand out even more.”

Yul: “My favorite is ‘WHY U MAD.’ It’s very powerful both in terms of performance and vocals, and I think it really shines on stage. I hope listeners can feel a stronger sense of confidence and bold energy when they hear it.”

Dael: “My favorite track is ‘Poison Ivy.’ While tracks 1 through 4 are all strong and carry a similar intensity, ‘Poison Ivy’ stands out with its smoother melody and distinct R&B vibe, which makes it especially appealing to me.”

How would you describe “Poison Ivy” to those who haven’t listened to the track yet in order to lure them in?

Jaon: “For those who haven’t heard ‘Poison Ivy’ yet, we’d first like to draw them in by showing the song’s mood and message through our performances and content. By expressing its story and energy on stage, we hope people naturally become curious and think, ‘What song is that?’ And once they listen, I believe they’ll quickly get pulled into the track’s addictive atmosphere.”

Ilang Kwon: “‘Poison Ivy’ is a track that fully captures SKINZ’s unique color. It has a strong storyline and a well-structured progression, which really sets it apart. I hope listeners can fully immerse themselves in the world of ‘Poison Ivy’ and experience what makes it so distinctive.”

Apart from the obvious difference of you being a virtual idol group, how else would you say SKINZ sets itself apart from other K-pop groups within your music or more generally?

Theo: “I think we’re a group that doesn’t place strict limits on genre. Because of that, we’re able to explore new sounds and styles more freely each time. The fact that it’s hard to predict what kind of music we’ll release next is what makes us different.”

Finn: “We don’t really try to define our music by genre. Whether it’s rock-driven or hip-hop inspired, we see it all as part of how we express ourselves, rather than completely separate concepts. So even if our sound changes, the attitude at the core stays the same — honest, a little rebellious, and sometimes unexpected. I think that sense of freedom is what really defines SKINZ.”

Dael: “This is something we see as both a challenge and one of our biggest strengths. Although this is only our first mini-album, we want to continue exploring a wide range of styles moving forward. We hope people will keep watching and growing with us.”

Who are some of your biggest influences as idols and artists?

Dovin: “I have a lot of respect for artists in the alternative rock scene, but I was especially inspired by YUNGBLUD. I really admire the way they express themselves, and that’s something I hope to bring into my own music as well.”

Jaon: “One of the artists who has influenced me the most is Justin Timberlake. Not just his performance and stage presence, but also the way he interprets and delivers a song in his own style really impressed me. The way he seamlessly connects music and performance into one complete stage has been a huge inspiration for me.”

Theo: “Ed Sheeran, Mac Ayres. I love their music so much.”

Ilang Kwon: “The artist who has influenced me the most is G-Dragon. I’ve been a huge fan since I was young, and his music is what led me to pursue music myself.”

Yul: “The artists who have influenced me the most are BIGBANG. I was deeply impressed by their energy and confidence on stage, and how clearly they express their unique identity through both music and performance. What stood out even more was how they expanded the influence of K-pop globally, reaching fans all over the world. That had a big impact on me and inspired me to dream of becoming an idol and artist.”

Finn: “I’ve been influenced by artists across a variety of genres, especially music that blends R&B, pop, and rock. I listen to The Weeknd a lot — not just for the sound, but for the atmosphere and emotional flow within his songs. There are moments that feel almost like scenes from a film, and I hope to create that same kind of immersive experience in my own music.”

Dael: “BIGBANG. The way they blended different genres and still kept such a strong identity really shaped how I see music today.”

Were any of you involved in the creative process as far as songwriting, production, or ideation goes? If so, how did you approach this process in your own way?

All: “While the level of involvement varied by track, every member actively participated in the songwriting and composition process.”

How have each of you noticed yourselves or your peers evolve since your debut nearly a year ago?

Dovin: “First of all, I think our visuals have improved a lot [laughs]. But beyond that, we’ve also grown significantly in how we express ourselves and in our musical abilities.”

Jaon: “As it’s been almost a year since our debut, I feel that all of us have grown a lot in terms of our skills. With more stage experience, our performances and expressions have improved, and we’ve come to understand each other much better. Personally, I also feel that my love for our fans has grown even more. Experiencing their support firsthand makes me want to show an even better side of myself.”

Theo: “I’ve become much more comfortable and confident using different vocal techniques across a variety of genres.”

Finn: “At the beginning, everything felt new and moved very quickly — from performing on stage to the entire creative process. Over time, we’ve come to understand each other better — what kind of expressions we each prefer and what kind of energy fits our team best. Because of that, we’re now able to communicate more naturally when working on music. While preparing this album, I felt that more than ever. Compared to before, we’ve become much more comfortable expressing who we are as a group and the kind of atmosphere we want to create.”

Ilang Kwon: “As time passed, we’ve all grown a lot not just in terms of skill, but mentally as well. I also think we’ve become much closer as a team.”

Yul: “Over the past year since our debut, I feel like I’ve grown a lot by learning from the older members, especially in dancing and singing. During practices and performances, we constantly inspire each other, and those moments have really helped me improve. Most of all, I think I was able to grow even faster thanks to the love and support from our fans. I’ll continue to learn from the members and work hard to show even better sides of myself.”

Dael: “I’ve experienced so many new things in every aspect, but above all, it was my first time receiving this much love and attention from so many people. I’m truly grateful and happy, and it motivates me to work even harder to give that love back.”

What are your biggest goals as a group? Is there anything you hope to accomplish this year?

Dovin: “Our goal this year is to release as many albums as possible. We want to keep showing ourselves consistently to our fans. And one of the biggest dreams is to return to the Tokyo Dome, where we had our debut stage, but next time with our own solo concert.”

Jaon: “Rather than setting one big goal, I think I want to meet our fans more often than we did last year. I hope to create more opportunities to connect with them through performances and various activities and grow closer little by little throughout the year.”

Finn & Dael: “It’s not just a goal for this year, one of my biggest goals as SKINZ is to hold our own solo concert!”

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