EVNNE Evolves in ‘Badder Love’

With tens of millions of viewers around the globe tuning in and casting votes for contestants within the Ok-pop survival present Boys Planet, contestants who didn’t make a spot within the remaining band left this system with followers desirous to see their subsequent steps. No group maybe higher embraces such potential than EVNNE, the seven-member boy band shortly ascending the Ok-pop ranks and proving themselves as excess of only a easy spin-off act.

Famous for an intense collective charisma, the boy band’s debut with hard-hitting singles “Hassle” and “Ugly” spoke to a viewpoint because the convention-defying underdogs able to show themselves to the world. The group scored number-one hit songs and awards on Korea’s aggressive music applications, and this summer season launched into their first U.S. tour to increase their worldwide fanbase and showcase their dynamic performances throughout a number of cities.

“We didn’t count on it, however we actually needed it,” EVNNE’s chief Keita says of the group’s skill to interrupt out past Korea and tour the States. “We felt that there have been loads of followers everywhere in the world cheering for us whereas we have been doing such a program like Boys Planet…it’s actually a dream come true.”

Nevertheless it’s not simply the awards and accolades that outline EVNNE’s success. In lower than a 12 months, the group has proven outstanding evolution of their musical model, transitioning from the rebellious anthems of their debut to a softer, extra romantic sound with their third EP, RIDE or DIE from June. The lead single, “Badder Love,” a soothing rock-pop monitor recorded in each Korean and English, marks a brand new chapter for the group.

“The rationale we got here out with the idea of unhealthy guys after we made our debut was as a result of we needed to indicate the general public what we are able to do finest,” Yunseo says. “However we launched a refreshing album like this as a result of we needed to indicate a brand new facet of us.”

With accomplishments each in awards and aristry, Keita, Hanbin, Lee Jeonghyeon, Yunseo, Seungeon, Mun Junghyun and Jihoo have managed to carved their place within the business and present lasting potential even when the group’s time collectively could also be quick. Learn on for why else EVNNE is a bunch to look at as Billboard‘s Ok-Pop Rookie of the Month for August 2024.

Congratulations on the success to this point and being named Billboard‘s Rookie of the Month! I ponder how you’re feeling about your achievements over the previous few months?

YUNSEO: We’ve been by means of quite a bit with our members and collectively we’ve achieved loads of issues, however time is de facto flying by so quick — sooner than I believed. It feels surreal that we’ve been spending a lot time collectively and in a position expertise loads of issues in such a short while, however it additionally has been very quick. Even so, now we have realized that there are extra followers and extra individuals actually supporting us, giving us a lot love, so we’re simply very joyful and grateful for all the things.

SEUNGEON: I wish to add that I’m so joyful to have the ability to come to the U. S. tour following the Asia tour and so excited to fulfill individuals from totally different locations. We actually imagine that profitable on the music reveals and with the ability to go on excursions in several international locations is all due to our followers’ love and assist for us. So, we’re very grateful for that. We’re additionally very joyful and excited to be named because the Rookie of the Month on Billboard. Now we have been actually wanting this so thanks a lot.

Whilst you didn’t earn a spot within the remaining group for Boys Planet, you might be right here now profitable awards and occurring tour. Did you guys count on all these items to occur?

KEITA: We didn’t count on it, however we actually needed it. We felt that there have been loads of followers everywhere in the world cheering for us whereas we have been doing such a program so we all the time dreamed that we needed to go to many cities, carry out for a lot of followers, share our vitality and talk with them. It’s actually a dream come true.

How has touring the U.S. been for you?

JIHOO: So we have been actually joyful that the gang cheers have been a lot larger than we anticipated. From what I perceive, there’s about 500 individuals per venue for this tour, however from what we felt on stage, it actually felt just like the cheer was coming from 5,000 and even 50, 000 individuals — it was actually loud. I really feel like we’ve been actually desirous to share our vitality with the viewers, however in return, I believe we received much more vitality and motivation from them.

MUN JUNGHYUN: We have been in a position to sing the English model of “Badder Love” for the primary time, and I believe the response was good as a result of the followers sang alongside to the entire tune which made us actually joyful. Additionally, we have been in a position to present “XO” with its choreography in full for the primary time on this U.S. tour and it felt like have been cheering a lot for that tune.

SEUNGEON: , the world followers who don’t essentially communicate Korean are inclined to hum to our songs, as a substitute of like singing alongside to the precise lyrics, which continues to be actually cute however we all the time had a bit little bit of remorse that and need everybody may actually sing alongside collectively from begin to end. However with the English model [of “Badder Love”] they have been actually in a position to do it and have been singing alongside to the tune whereas we have been performing so it was actually a terrific expertise. It actually motivated us and, at some point, we’d like to launch extra songs in several numerous languages sooner or later.

Any languages you may wish to document in subsequent?

HANBIN: We go to Japan quite a bit and there are loads of our followers and individuals who assist us in Japan so I believe it might be good to make a model that may be carried out in Japanese.

Going again to “Badder Love,” it appears like this album is centered round a softer picture and fewer intense than the ideas in your singles like “Hassle” or Ugly.” What does EVNNE wish to show this time round?

JIHOO: Our predominant focus was to actually present a unique facet of ourselves in comparison with our first two albums. For our first and second mini albums, we actually needed to indicate that “cheeky rascal” facet, which is extra highly effective and really easy. However with the third album, we needed to indicate extra of a romantic, a softer facet of us.

YUNSEO: Really, the explanation we got here out with the idea of unhealthy guys after we made our debut was as a result of we needed to indicate the general public what we are able to do finest whereas speaking to the corporate. That’s how we made our debut. We launched a refreshing album like this as a result of we needed to indicate a brand new facet of us. We’ve all the time been in a position to do that, however we’ve proven you a bit little bit of a nasty boy and a robust picture, however this time, we’re going to indicate you a little bit of a unique picture.

LEE JEONGHYOEN: Now we have some all-white outfits within the music video which are very becoming for summer season. There’s additionally no actually shiny hair colours. Really, that is my first time dying my hair in brown so we actually targeted on displaying the fitting styling for the idea by means of this album. Plenty of the backgrounds within the music video are set within the ocean so in my view that actually emphasizes on that refreshing cool facet with the tune and the music video.

I noticed you guys compete within the Idol Star Athletic Championship and reunite even with a few of the Boys Planet contestants. How was that in any case you went by means of?

HANBIN: We participated in two of the occasions throughout this system and we actually ready ourselves to do our greatest in it whereas making ready for this tour. We needed to discover little moments right here and there to actually put together for ISAC, however I believe it was a terrific alternative for us to advertise who we’re and what we are able to do to much more individuals. So, it was a very nice expertise in total and such as you talked about, we have been in a position to discuss and chat with many different artists as nicely together with ZEROBASEONE. It’s really been awhile since we received to speak and reunite with them so it was actually enjoyable to be reconnecting.

YUNSEO: Our schedules don’t actually depart us loads of time to fulfill in particular person or privately, however I used to be so joyful to fulfill my buddies that have been at Idol Star Athletics Championships, discuss, and play sports activities and video games collectively.

KEITA: I met Matthew and I informed him, “Hey Matt, I’m finding out English!” and he stated, “Hey, your pronunciation just isn’t as unhealthy as I believed!” however in Korean. So, I received a praise from him.

SEUNGEON: I believe followers who watched the present have been actually ready to see us all once more and a Boys Planet reunion at some point. This was really our first alternative for all of the Boys Planet teams and artists to come back collectively, actually reunite, discuss to one another and simply have a superb time basically. I felt prefer it was a faculty occasion in some methods as a result of there are loads of idol seniors, juniors and colleagues however all of us have the identical dream and keenness for music and artistry so it actually felt like we have been at a faculty occasion all collectively. So, total it was a really, very enjoyable occasion.

HANBIN: I really bumped into some buddies who I educated with so whereas it felt actually very new, and it additionally stroke a chord in my memory like we have been again at school all collectively and we have been at a faculty occasion collectively somewhat a TV present program.

Do you’ve got a message you’d wish to share with worldwide followers who’re ready to see you?

YUNSEO: Initially, we have been chosen because the Rookie of the Month so I’d wish to say thanks a lot. It’s a terrific honor and starting with this, we’d like to indicate you all extra and promote our identify to an much more larger viewers around the globe so we are able to actually share our artistry and who we’re to everybody around the globe. And sooner or later, we actually hope we are able to sometime have our tune chart on the Billboard charts. We’ll work laborious for that so it might be nice if the American followers and worldwide followers find out about us and ship us your continued love, assist and a spotlight.

SEUNGEON: We’ve been actually desirous to share unbelievable performances by means of this tour and please please sit up for all our actions and performances sooner or later as nicely. It’s a terrific honor, once more, to be chosen because the Rookie of the Month with Billboard.