Roundtable Interview: Catch The Young Express More Youth and Adventure in 2nd Mini-Album, ‘Catch The Young : Fragments of Odyssey’
Photo Courtesy of Evermore Entertainment
The five-member South Korean alternative pop-rock band Catch The Young hopped onto a Zoom roundtable interview in April to share about their second mini-album Catch The Young : Fragments of Odyessy. The band debuted on November 1, 2023, with their mini-album Catch The Young : Fragments of Youth, which is directly connected to this second mini-album that was released on April 3. During the interview, Sani, Kihoon, Namhyun, Junyong, and Jungmo coordinated in outfits of blue hues ranging from navy blue to light blue resembling the blue ambiance in some of their concept photos from this second mini-album comeback.
“This album feels very special because it contains a song we wrote a long time ago as well as a recently written song. Some of these songs took extra details and care from the demo, arrangements, and performances, therefore I feel like they’re my own children.”
– Sani, Member of Catch The Young
The seven-track album is composed of songs written by all of the members. This album tells the experiences and emotions one has during the adventure of life. From the beginning of their journey in the first album, they consistently convey the energy and emotion that resonates with listeners, while also showcasing the band's distinctive sound as they embody the youthful spirit that defines their band. The title track, “Voyager,” was released with a music video and encompasses how “the group can live harmoniously together even when each person has taken on different forms in life.” This album also includes “Light On Me (1101),” which is the band’s first fan song that details the gratitude they have for their fans (Catcher (캐쳐)).
HALSUG attended the band’s recent roundtable interview to ask some questions about their album release.
Congratulations on the release of your second mini-album, Catch The Young : Fragments of Odyssey. What did you enjoy the most during this comeback: writing lyrics, creating the music video, or learning something new in the music-making process?
Junyong: The filming of the music video for the title track of this album, "Voyager," was the most enjoyable for me. It was also the most challenging and demanding. The shoot day was very chilly, and there was a scene where we all ran together, which helped us warm ourselves up and energize as a team. It was quite memorable.
Your previous album, Catch The Young: Fragments of Youth, signaled youth and the start of your band's journey. Now, Catch The Young: Fragments of Odyssey and the title track “Voyager” seem to portray an adventure and the evolution of that journey. Can you share how this album aligns with your band’s distinctive style and the deeper significance behind your band's name?
Sani: Our second album encompasses various elements of the youth pop-rock genre. Tracks like "Sentimental Journey" capture the youthful spirit, "Voyager" and "Always, Forever" highlight the 'pop' element, and "The Legend" embodies the essence of 'rock'. This album showcases the colors and strengths of Catch The Young. Compared to our debut album, I believe we have grown and evolved significantly in terms of our music.
Namhyun: The current moment represents the youngest phase of our lives, and we aimed to capture this by likening youth to a journey, an odyssey. Through the tracks of the album, we expressed the feelings and experiences that one encounters throughout their youth.
We look forward to the voyage ahead for Catch The Young as they are just at the beginning of their journey, though it looks bright with the cheerful pop-rock songs they compose. Not only does their music make you feel the nostalgia of youth, but the group’s essence exuberates youth. Nearing the end of the interview, the youngest, Junyong, agreed with Jungmo during a question asking the band about each member’s charm and ensured to add more to his charm saying: “I do bring a certain cuteness factor being the youngest, but I don't obsess over it. I believe I also embody a mix of cute and sexy qualities, depending on the situation. As you get to know me better, you'll see more of the sexy side to my personality.” Kihoon let out a laugh while the other members began to smile, and Junyong looked to the right revealing a smile.
Catch The Young’s youthful journey continues over the summer as they will be performing at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival 2024 in August with artists like SE SO NEON, wave to earth, and Redoor.