K-Pop Stars Enhypen on New Album and How Their Music Has Evolved: “We Are Growing Together”
“The vibe is so different this time around,” Enhypen’s leader, Jungwon, tells The Hollywood Reporter on a Zoom from Seoul, South Korea.
Enhypen – comprised of members Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo and Ni-ki – released their second full-length studio album Romance : Untold last week, with “XO (Only If You Say Yes)” serving as its lead single. Perfect for the summer, the JVKE-produced synth-pop track is a sweet and romantic anthem, a lighter affair than Enhypen’s typically darker pop offerings.
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“This time around, with this album, all seven of us participated in writing the lyrics, and Heeseung actually wrote and produced a whole song,” Jungwon explains, hyping up his fellow group member.
The seven-piece boy group, hailing from Korean entertainment company Belift Lab (a subsidiary of entertainment conglomerate Hybe), were formed through the music survival show I-Land. The show, a joint venture between Hybe and Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM, aired on the CJ ENM-owned channel Mnet in South Korea.
Enhypen have spent nearly four years weaving a supernatural storyline into their releases, and Romance : Untold is no different in that regard. From the haunting vibes of Enhypen’s debut music video “Given-Taken” to their show-stopping vampiric 2023 single “Bite Me,” the group’s latest music video for “XO (Only If You Say Yes)” offers romance with a paranormal twist.
“I think having a clear concept enhances the overall quality,” the group’s eldest member Heeseung says. “We can incorporate our own experiences into the album and it can actually make it more immersive.”
Ahead of the new album, Enhypen released UNTOLD Concept Cinema, a 12-minute long short film depicting the members of the group as vampires on the run, risking their lives to save their human protector, Chloe. Directed by Choong Hyun Lee, the action-packed short is based on the narrative of Romance : Untold, teasing “XO (Only If You Say Yes)” and how it came to be within the group’s storyline at the end of the video.
The group’s youngest member, Ni-ki, notes that Enhypen hadn’t tried to tackle a short film concept trailer like this before. “It was the first time we had lines in the concept cinema, so we had to practice acting,” the 18-year-old says.
“It was new to us,” he continues, adding that he knew Enhypen’s dedicated fanbase, collectively known as Engenes, enjoyed the concept cinema and “receiving their love” helps the group’s confidence during their album promotion.
While the storyline continues to weave throughout their releases, Enhypen says the new album is a pivotal moment for them. Jungwon points out that the group’s music is evolving with them. “I think we [Enhypen and their music] are growing together, and our growth is encapsulated into this album,” the 20-year-old says.
Jay, a Seattle native, agrees, later adding: “I think this is a very important moment in time when we talk about our career.”
“We’re opening up a new chapter of Enhypen with this album and I think it’s going to be a turning point, which will open up new potential for us,” the 22-year-old says, noting that they worked with a variety of professionals in creating the album, preparing for it to serve as a new chapter in the group’s story.
The nine-track album spans genres from soft synth-pop to alternative R&B to rock-influenced songs like Romance : Untold‘s sixth track, “Paranormal.” Jungwon points to the upbeat song as one of his favorites from the album.
“I think if you put the word ‘youth’ into a song, this would be the exact song that would really portray what youth is,” the leader explains. “It really makes your heart flutter.”
Sunoo adds that his favorite from the album is “Hundred Broken Hearts,” a synth-pop track that the group is promoting alongside the album’s lead single on Korean weekly music shows (think MTV’s TRL, featuring performances pre-recorded in front of live audiences with the top-charting and top-voted song awarded live on-air).
“Jungwon participated in writing the lyrics, and I especially liked the part that he wrote,” Sunoo elaborates, earning the 21-year-old a bashful “thank you” and hand shake from his group leader.
Enhypen’s connection with their fans, Engenes, is strong and only growing, according to Jake. “I think after debuting, and around four years have passed, I think we are now really starting to know and feel the connection between our fans,” the 21-year-old explains. “And the true love we feel towards our fans is fully growing.”
As a way to express gratitude towards Engenes, the group’s new album includes their first fan song, “Highway 1009” – “1009” is a reference to the day Enhypen’s fandom name was announced and “highway” is used as a metaphor for the journey ahead. (Fan songs are a K-pop phenomenon in which bands release songs dedicated to their fanbases.)
Produced by Heeseung, the song was written by all seven members of the group. “Because this is our first fan song, it really means a lot to us,” Heeseung says. “So, it took us a long time to finish it, but we still really love it.”
The 22-year-old adds that “if Engenes sing along with us, then I think it’ll be just a wonderful experience.”
When asked which genre the group would like to try in future, a chorus of voices unanimously agree on jazz. “Not a lot of K-pop artists work on jazz or incorporate jazz into their album,” Heeseung expands upon the group response. “So, if you have a jazzy track, then it’ll be wonderful.”
Looking ahead, the seven-piece group continues to push for growth. “As a group, I think Enhypen needs to keep evolving, so we shouldn’t stay complacent,” Sunghoon says.
“We’re really happy that we get to meet Engenes more with all of these gigs that we’re doing, and we want to go higher,” the 21-year-old later continues. “We are just working really hard for that.”
Reaching new heights and trying new things seems to be a theme for Enhypen at the moment. “We have a lot of things in store for you,” Jay promises. “So get ready and stay tuned.”
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