Interview: K-Pop Boy Band Catch The Young Reflect on Their Debut & First Mini-Album
ComingSoon Lead Writer Varsha Narayanan spoke to Catch The Young about their group identity and their debut days, leading up to their first mini-album, Catch The Young: Fragments of Youth.
K-pop boy group Catch The Young debuted on November 1, 2023, with their first mini-album, Catch The Young: Fragments of Youth. The group comprises five members: Sani (leader), Kihoon, Namhyun, Junyong, and Jungmo. Their first mini-album encapsulates the varied experiences of one’s youth, crafting compelling lyrics about growth, love, and self-discovery, among other elements.
Catch The Young’s talent speaks for itself in their lyrics, their arrangements, and the emotions portrayed throughout the first mini-album. Catch The Young: Fragments of Youth is the group’s attempt to showcase a transformational experience. The tracklist consists of seven songs, all written or co-written by the members, which also is a testament to their uniqueness. They have made their presence well-known in the industry through their establishment as an alternative pop-rock band.
Photo Credit: Evermore Entertainment
Varsha Narayanan: I might be late, but congratulations on a successful debut! Can you please share information about your group’s name and how it represents your group’s identity?
SANI: Our group name quite literally means “Catch the Young.” We wanted to represent the energy that comes through the youth and convey the concept of “youth” to everyone who listens to it – no matter what age group they are. So we can all just enjoy the music and have fun together.
Varsha Narayanan: What do you remember most about your pre-debut preparations? What were your concerns before introducing yourselves to the audience?
SANI: I think the most memorable moment for all of us before our debut was the fact that we held our first solo concert even before our debut. It was a challenge to fill 2 hours and put in a show for that long without any album at that time. So we performed a lot of cover tracks and songs that we wrote ourselves. The fans and the audience had a lot of fun. They gave us lots of cheers and support, for which we are thankful.
Another experience that I remember is that we went busking around Korea. There were a lot of unexpected incidents that came along with it. I remember one day we had to cancel the whole show because it was raining too hard or we couldn’t see too far because it was too dark. But, overall, it was a very good experience. It’s something we can look back on and cherish.
As for our concerns, we were worried about whether we would be taken well within the industry because I think there are not many bands or teams with our concept or type of music. So we thought it might be a little bit foreign to some of the people who love K-pop. It’s a concern that we are still holding on to. It’s like homework we need to carry and keep studying more to grow ourselves to solve that concern.
Varsha Narayanan: What was the message behind your first mini-album, Catch the Young: Fragments of Youth? What inspired you to create the album?
SANI, KIHOON: Our debut album, Fragments of Youth, has a lot of meanings. It means the beginning of our path and journey and the youth and the energy surrounding it. It’s a concept that we are all comfortable and confident with and something that we can do best. The album provides a lot of the directions and journey of us as the band together.
The whole concept behind the album has been present ever since the band formed. While there are a lot of things that inspired us, we are taking the inspiration and aiming to create our own music. We want to create something of our own, creating our own originality as the band together. One of the identities of Catch The Young is that we want to be ahead of the game. We don’t want to follow; we want to create our own music.
Varsha Narayanan: The title track YOUTH!!! is incredibly catchy and has a feel-good vibe. It has also garnered immense views and streams. Can you please walk your fans through the process of creating the song and the message behind it?
SANI: We initially worked with another producer or songwriter for that song. I remember listening to the demo version for the first time, and it was more of a pop genre rather than band music. So, we incorporated the idea of adding more rock elements into it to make it our own. We eventually arranged the song to be more fitting for the band.
I think it’s a song that really represents the whole concept and identity of Catch The Young. It was the first song that we were presenting in front of the audience. So I would say that’s the song we put a lot of effort into out of the whole debut album.
Varsha Narayanan: Do you have any other favorite songs from your first album?
JUNYONG: My personal favorite from the album would be the first track, “My Own Way.” I really like the atmosphere of the song, as well as the lyrics. If you look at the lyrics, there’s a line that goes something along the lines of “Don’t be afraid, everything will be alright.” I almost think of it as my life motto because it describes how we should be in this life. I also think it sets up a good tone for the overall album and a message for the band to convey together. It was a great song to announce the beginning of Catch The Young.
You can listen to Fragments of Youth on Catch The Young’s streaming platforms, including YouTube and Spotify. The band is coming up with their second mini-album, Catch The Young: Fragments of Odyssey on April 3, 2024, at 6 p.m. KST.
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