Roundtable Interview: ALL(H)OURS is Making a New Wave with Second Mini-Album, ‘WITNESS’ and Drift Phonk Title Track, “도깨비 SHOCK”
Photo Courtesy of EDEN Entertainment
"We make a new wave."
– A lyric from ALL(H)OURS’s new song “Blah Blah”
ALL(H)OURS is determined to show their potential and ambition with the return of their second mini-album titled, WITNESS. With this first comeback since their debut, the seven-member South Korean boy group comprised of members KUNHO, YOUMIN, XAYDEN, MINJE, MASAMI, HYUNBIN, and ON:N show growth and a fresh perspective on their music, as mentioned in this previously published HALSUG article. The five-track mini-album includes “WITNESS,” the title track “도깨비 (SHOCK),” “PSYCHO MANTRA,” “‘Bout That Issue,” and “Blah Blah” which was written by all members of the group.
For the title track, “도깨비 (SHOCK),” the group challenged themselves to blend Drift Phonk — a genre rooted in the EDM scene characterized as having a fast tempo, heavy bass, and cowbell rhythms — with K-Pop, showcasing their unique style and desire to explore new music. Given that Drift Phonk is rarely heard in K-Pop but is gaining traction on platforms like TikTok, the members shared what inspired their decision to fuse Drift Phonk with their music for the title track, “도깨비 (SHOCK).” HALSUG also had the opportunity to delve deeper into their comeback by asking some questions during a media roundtable interview.
Compared to the group's debut album ALL OURS which showed their beginnings and ambitions as rookies, WITNESS shows their effort and energy in a raw and powerful way. The group said they went through extensive discussions and practice sessions to find the harmony and final product to show their fans something new in this mini-album.
When YOUMIN said his favorite look was from the “PRISM” concept (as seen in the photos throughout this article), he described how that concept represented the album’s meaning. “The album's title, WITNESS, symbolizes seeing another side of ourselves or our inner selves through the prism (reflected mirrors as seen in the jacket photoshoot). With that in mind, that scene was particularly meaningful to us, and I really liked the outfits we wore in that scene.”
Photo Courtesy of EDEN Entertainment
As the title track “도깨비 (SHOCK)” also has the name 도깨비, meaning goblin, which is represented within the song. ON:N and XAYDEN have said the song portrays the character of a goblin within our inner selves.
“Everyone has their own goblin, and it doesn’t necessarily mean a bad thing...”
– XAYDEN, member of ALL(H)OURS
Given that “도깨비 (SHOCK)” is a fast-paced, high-energy song, ON:N said, “The most challenging part, which we would all agree on, is the dance break. After the bridge, leading up to the highlight, there are several fast-paced and energetic dance moves. It was difficult to express and execute them effectively. We practiced extensively, closely monitored our progress, and worked on enhancing our strength and energy to perform the choreography. On the other hand, the most enjoyable aspect was the paired choreography, which we had more parts compared to our previous title track, "GOTCHA." Working on that was a genuinely fun experience for us.” Compared to previously released songs from the debut mini-album like “GOTCHA” and “WAO WAO” the intensity grew, therefore, they practiced a lot. KUNHO said he found inspiration from the film series Fast and Furious for this comeback because of the themes of speed and power.
The final track, “Blah Blah,” shares an encouraging message to All(H)OURS’s fans, Min(ut)e, with lyrics expressing how “not to care about what others say or think and hold onto their own self-worth because each person is the main character of their own story.” As a newer group in the competitive music industry, there are certain things they will need to overcome or deal with such as expectations, pressures, or judgments as they embark on their music careers.
When HALSUG asked ALL(H)OURS how they overcome or deal with expectations, pressures, or judgments, YOUMIN said, “I think it is through endless trials and efforts. We're proud to be back with an amazing track, but in case our song doesn't gain popularity, we'll keep coming back with even better songs and diverse genres. Our aim is to consistently improve and present better versions of ourselves to our fans and the public alike.” When faced with challenges, YOUMIN said they want to push forward and are motivated to work harder.
Photo Courtesy of EDEN Entertainment
KUNHO added to what YOUMIN said — “Furthermore, with many eyes on us and high expectations, we feel the pressure to consistently showcase a better version of ourselves. This mindset drives us to continually strive for improvement.” If and when given expectations or judgments, KUNHO said that the group won’t try to take it negatively but take it all as motivation that inspires them to show better versions of themselves in the future.
Photo Courtesy of EDEN Entertainment
Later, when asked about which track or genre the members enjoyed working on or performing the most, XAYDEN mentioned: “For me, preparing the song "Blah Blah" was a lot of fun. I have mixed feelings about this song because HYUNBIN and I faced quite a few challenges while writing the rap part for the second verse. It was our first time working on the rap part, and we wanted to showcase our skills within a very short time frame — just 10 seconds. Despite the difficulty, the process of making a rap part that I truly enjoy and cherish was very fun.”
Photo Courtesy of EDEN Entertainment
ALL(H)OURS is a fifth-generation group that debuted only six months ago. They have the rookie spirit inside of them that carries ambitious dreams and are motivated to excel in the K-Pop and music industry. The group's name, ALL(H)OURS, cleverly plays on the dual meanings of “all hours” and “all ours,” symbolizing their commitment to dedicating their full efforts and time to everything they take on.
The members find fellow K-Pop groups Stray Kids and SEVENTEEN to be admirable. For some members, YOUMIN admires San from ATEEZ, aspiring to embody San's powerful performance, while also drawing inspiration from Justin Bieber; ON:N looks up to SHINee’s TAEMIN.
They are also managed under EDEN Entertainment, founded by Cho Hae-sung, the former vice president of JYP Entertainment, who managed groups such as Stray Kids, TWICE, and ITZY. ON:N shared a lesson received since the group’s debut is from who they consider an uncle figure, which is Producer Jinyoung Park (JYP). JYP’s advice was how ALL(H)OURS’s journey is “‘being a marathon and to maintain our pace until the end’ [which] has stuck with me. As we progress, we will face trials and errors, and through that process, maintaining our chemistry and harmony as a group has been crucial.”
Photo Courtesy of EDEN Entertainment
Not only are the members showing their potential and ambition with this comeback, but they are also growing and learning. When the group was asked how they have personally grown, MINJE said, “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.”
Photo Courtesy of EDEN Entertainment
Keep an eye on the 도깨비 (goblins) that each of the members holds within them as the group strives to reciprocate the love from their fans and show their unique style. XAYDEN said they have several events planned both in Korea and abroad. ON:N said he hopes their music can reach a global audience. “It would be amazing if we could have every seat filled on our world tour one day…and seeing our song on the Billboard charts would be a dream come true.” He said he would 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.”
What song is your favorite or that you relate to the most from WITNESS? Let us know by leaving a comment below or by reaching out to us on Instagram or X (Twitter).
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Edited by Divina Aloisa Tolentino