ENHYPEN‘s sequence of albums have detailed the septet’s highway to turning into an arena-filling boy band with 4 entries on the Billboard 200 after simply two-and-a-half years collectively. The outcomes converse to the connection the Ok-pop stars have made with followers, inspiring a magical musical expertise for his or her newest launch.
As a substitute of taking direct inspiration from their skilled and private lives, the Ok-pop stars to look at used inspiration from assembly their followers—affectionately often known as ENGENEs—throughout their Manifesto World Tour to ship an elevated emotional expertise for DARK BLOOD, which entered World Albums at No. 14 final week and is anticipated to make a serious splash on the Billboard 200 subsequent week after the bodily album dropped final Friday, June 2.
“Whereas our earlier albums have been largely influenced by our private experiences, DARK BLOOD takes our expertise and feelings of getting met our followers in particular person via our tour a step additional by incorporating fantasy-like components to reinforce the enjoyment of ENGENEs and listeners alike,” explains group chief Jungwon.
The six-song EP takes inspiration from ENHYPEN’s fantasy novel/webtoon sequence DARK MOON : THE BLOOD ALTAR, which stars vampire characters impressed by the seven group members. Described in a press launch as “a brand new roadmap for Ok-pop,” DARK BLOOD rolls ENHYPEN’s rising artistic world and IP into its musical, visible and dance world.
“It’s really a delight to see ENGENEs absolutely immersed in DARK MOON : THE BLOOD ALTAR and genuinely having fun with the story,” Jake displays. “With many connections between the webtoon and our album, taking note of these facets will certainly make the listening expertise extra enjoyable.”
Sunoo provides, “Seeing characters based mostly on ourselves was actually cool, and it felt like we’re the precise characters within the webtoon. This sort of expertise doesn’t come round typically, so it’s been a enjoyable and refreshing alternative for us to attach it to our album and convey one thing new.”
As new of an expertise DARK BLOOD marks for ENHYPEN’s profession, the band can also be taking the time to recollect the place they started.
To have fun the EP’s launch, ENHYPEN held a “particular showcase” live performance for followers in Seoul, the place they carried out “Into the I-Land,” the theme music of the boy band competitors present I-Land that finally created the group. Alongside their new single “Chunk Me,” plus tracks “Payments” and “Karma,” the efficiency acted as a reminder that ENHYPEN is as grateful for the ENGENEs with them from the beginning as these with them in the present day.
“It was a really particular efficiency that served as a reminder for all of us to remain grounded and always remember the place all of us began,” Ni-ki says earlier than Sunghoon provides, “We knew how a lot our ENGENEs wished to see this music carried out dwell, so we particularly ready it only for them; form of like our approach of claiming ‘thanks.’”
ENHYPEN will proceed to pay it again to followers after they head out on their upcoming FATE World Tour, kicking off subsequent month in Seoul earlier than touchdown Stateside in October. Within the meantime, the fellows inform Billboard that they’re exhausting at work prepping their largest present but whereas additionally maintaining a tally of which songs followers are utilizing throughout their accounts.”
“I’m on social channels fairly typically so I actually take pleasure in seeing how our music is obtained by the broader viewers in addition to our followers,” Jake says. “It’s enjoyable and rewarding to look at our followers participate in our challenges or use our music to create their very own content material.”
Ni-ki is bound to say that “We’re set to start our second world tour ‘FATE’ this coming July with exhibits in Seoul and we will likely be persevering with to Japan to host dome live shows an’s full d our U.S. leg features a stadium venue, so we’re very a lot wanting ahead to assembly a much bigger variety of ENGENEs in a single place this time. We’ll be giving it our all to arrange, so please sit up for it!”
Learn on for ENHYPEN’s full track-by-track breakdown of DARK MOON together with studio tales, music reflections and extra.
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“Destiny”
JUNGWON: “Destiny” serves because the narrative spine of DARK BLOOD. By our narration and vocals, this monitor takes you thru the story of the cursed boy and the way he comes to grasp his destiny. It captures the essence of DARK BLOOD in a nutshell.
JAY: [Recording this song] was memorable for me as a result of it was my first time narrating in Korean.
JUNGWON: When it got here to narrating, I discovered myself needing to get within the zone much more so than recording a music. So, I keep in mind turning off all of the lights and even closing my eyes when recording my half—it helped me absolutely immerse myself to ship the feelings I wished.
JAKE: Because the opening monitor of this album, it units the tone and temper for the songs to return. If you take heed to the whole album, you’ll discover how every music is intricately related, notably when “Chunk Me” seamlessly follows “Destiny.”
SUNOO: Beginning with this fourth mini album, ENHYPEN will attain new heights and obtain larger feats. Let’s make this “destiny” of ours come to life collectively!
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“Sacrifice (Eat Me Up)”
Picture Credit score: BELIFT LAB SUNOO: As expressed via the title, it’s a monitor that guarantees the final word sacrifice and dedication for one’s future. It does an excellent job of exhibiting the identification of the general album and what we wished to painting. I actually hope everybody likes it as a lot as all of us do.
JUNGWON: I attempted to think about myself as the principle character within the monitor to totally specific it whereas singing.
NI-KI: I completely cherished the low notes within the bridge. It’s just a little TMI, and never essentially concerning the recording, however I discovered the choreography for this music to be fairly difficult.
SUNOO: Being the one to open the music, I undoubtedly felt a little bit of stress to set the appropriate temper. Nonetheless, I’m actually pleased and glad with the outcome.
JAKE: Personally, this music jogs my memory of “FEVER.” I feel each songs have that form of alluring R&B vibe that attracts you in.
SUNGHOON: I feel the darkish and alluring traits of the vampire goes very nicely with ENHYPEN’s distinctive shade as a gaggle. Many facets of DARK BLOOD draw inspiration from it and “Sacrifice (Eat Me Up)” sings of sacrifice for one’s future, so I feel our listeners will be capable of really feel an analogous vibe to “Chunk Me.”
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“Chaconne”
:SUNGHOON: “Chaconne” is my favourite monitor due to its melody. I perceive that “Chaconne” originates from the Seventeenth-18th century and has been known as “music to resurrect the useless.” As per its that means, our monitor has a darkish really feel and tells a narrative of a boy who turns into utterly consumed by his personal self and dancing, ultimately dealing with his downfall.
SUNOO: This monitor has lots of low notes so I went into recording with lots of observe beforehand.
HEESEUNG: And I attempted to include extra of my vocal shade into this monitor to make it extra dynamic.
SUNGHOON: This can be a monitor I attempted writing lyrics for, and though they weren’t included within the closing model, I keep in mind instantly falling in love with the melody and going into recording with lots of pleasure.
NI-KI: And It’s well-known within the group that hip-hop is HEESEUNG and JAKE’s favourite style, however I additionally take pleasure in listening to hip-hop music and the [soulful hip-hop feel of “Chaconne.”]
HEESEUNG: “Hitman” Bang [Si-hyuk] takes the artistic lead for our albums, which is basically a collaborative course of between the members in addition to various producers and studio administrators. He helps information us within the respective route for every of our albums and undoubtedly performs a task in our progress as artists.
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“Payments”
JAKE: That is my favourite monitor from the album as a result of it’s an easy-listening music.
SUNOO: It’s my favourite due to its lighthearted and refreshing really feel.
NI-KI: It’s only a nice monitor that’s tremendous catchy.
HEESEUNG: The monitor is basically a love music that displays the feelings that comply with a breakup, however “Payments” is a metaphor for the remorse and worth one pays after letting a cherished one go.
HEESEUNG: I used to be within the studio for lower than two days for this monitor and felt very snug in my very own pores and skin all through. The monitor felt nicely suited to me and my voice so I feel that contributed to the graceful recording course of.
SUNGHOON: I keep in mind making an attempt to not make this monitor sound an excessive amount of like a ballad, however extra so mirror the temper of it.
SUNOO: I did my finest to give attention to the that means of the lyrics and put myself within the sneakers of the protagonist of the monitor whereas recording.
JUNGWON: I feel the most important “invoice” thus far [as ENHYPEN] was for our customized mics and in-ears.
SUNOO: With the massive variety of members and the employees mixed, the invoice provides up once we all exit to eat collectively.
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“Karma”
JUNGWON: “Karma” and “Payments” are two of my favourite tracks from the album, but when I had to decide on one, I’d go along with “Karma” because it has extra of a enjoyable efficiency facet to it.
JAY: My favourite monitor is “Karma” due to its cool and refreshing sound. It’s a monitor that tells the listener to always remember the one you might be related to by a future predetermined out of your previous life. To us, ENGENEs are our future and this energetic monitor is supposed for us to sing alongside collectively and really feel related.
JUNGWON: The considered performing this monitor in live performance made me put much more effort into the recording course of. I couldn’t cease smiling within the studio imagining singing it along with our ENGENEs.
HEESEUNG: It’s an uplifting music, so the recording course of was additionally enjoyable and lighthearted.
JAY: I used to be fairly hyper all through the recording course of to match the power of the monitor.
JAKE: I keep in mind having essentially the most enjoyable recording this monitor.
SUNGHOON: I attempted to mirror the rock sound and temper via my voice whereas recording.
JUNGWON: And I’m a believer in karma—I imagine good issues come to those that do good.
JAKE: I feel I imagine in it considerably?
NI-KI: I feel I imagine in it. Just like JUNGWON, I feel you may obtain good with good intentions.
