EVNNE Evolves in ‘Badder Love’

With thousands and thousands of viewers around the globe tuning in and casting votes for contestants within the Okay-pop survival present Boys Planet, contestants who didn’t make a spot within the ultimate 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 Okay-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 time launched into their first U.S. tour to develop 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 capability to interrupt out past Korea and tour the States. “We felt that there have been a whole lot of followers everywhere in the world cheering for us whereas we had 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 exceptional evolution of their musical fashion, 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 dangerous guys once we made our debut was as a result of we needed to indicate the general public what we are able to do greatest,” Yunseo says. “However we launched a refreshing album like this as a result of we needed to indicate a brand new aspect 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 brief. Learn on for why else EVNNE is a bunch to look at as Billboard‘s Okay-Pop Rookie of the Month for August 2024.

Congratulations on the success thus far and being named Billboard‘s Rookie of the Month! I’m wondering how you are feeling about your achievements over the previous few months?

YUNSEO: We’ve been by way of loads with our members and collectively we’ve achieved a whole lot of issues, however time is basically flying by so quick — sooner than I assumed. It feels surreal that we’ve been spending a lot time collectively and in a position expertise a whole lot of issues in such a short while, nevertheless it additionally has been very brief. 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 every little thing.

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 satisfy individuals from completely different locations. We really imagine that successful on the music reveals and with the ability to go on excursions in numerous nations is all because of 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. We’ve been actually wanting this so thanks a lot.

When you didn’t earn a spot within the ultimate group for Boys Planet, you might be right here now successful awards and happening 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 a whole lot of followers everywhere in the world cheering for us whereas we had been doing such a program so we at all times dreamed that we needed to go to many cities, carry out for a lot of followers, share our power and talk with them. It’s actually a dream come true.

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

JIHOO: So we had been actually joyful that the gang cheers had been a lot greater 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 power with the viewers, however in return, I feel we received much more power and motivation from them.

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

SEUNGEON: , the worldwide followers who don’t essentially communicate Korean are inclined to hum to our songs, as an alternative of like singing alongside to the precise lyrics, which continues to be actually cute however we at all times had slightly 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 had been actually capable of do it and had been singing alongside to the music whereas we had been performing so it was actually a terrific expertise. It actually motivated us and, sooner or later, we might like to launch extra songs in numerous numerous languages sooner or later.

Any languages you would possibly wish to document in subsequent?

HANBIN: We go to Japan loads and there are a whole lot of our followers and individuals who assist us in Japan so I feel it will be good to make a model that may be executed 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 fundamental focus was to actually present a distinct aspect of ourselves in comparison with our first two albums. For our first and second mini albums, we actually needed to indicate that “cheeky rascal” aspect, which is extra highly effective and really simple. However with the third album, we needed to indicate extra of a romantic, a softer aspect of us.

YUNSEO: Really, the explanation we got here out with the idea of dangerous guys once we made our debut was as a result of we needed to indicate the general public what we are able to do greatest 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 aspect of us. We’ve at all times been in a position to do that, however we’ve proven you slightly little bit of a foul boy and a powerful picture, however this time, we’re going to indicate you a little bit of a distinct picture.

LEE JEONGHYOEN: We’ve some all-white outfits within the music video which are very becoming for summer time. There’s additionally no actually vibrant hair colours. Really, that is my first time dying my hair in brown so we actually targeted on exhibiting the best styling for the idea by way of this album. A number of the backgrounds within the music video are set within the ocean so in my view that actually emphasizes on that refreshing cool aspect with the music 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 spite of everything you went by way 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 feel 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 extremely nice expertise in general and such as you talked about, we had been capable of discuss and chat with many different artists as effectively 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 go away us a whole lot of time to satisfy in particular person or privately, however I used to be so joyful to satisfy my buddies that had 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 mentioned, “Hey, your pronunciation is just not as dangerous as I assumed!” however in Korean. So, I received a praise from him.

SEUNGEON: I feel followers who watched the present had been actually ready to see us all once more and a Boys Planet reunion sooner or later. 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 an excellent time usually. I felt prefer it was a college occasion in some methods as a result of there are a whole lot 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 had been at a college occasion all collectively. So, general 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 rang a bell in my memory like we had been again in class all collectively and we had been at a college occasion collectively fairly a TV present program.

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

YUNSEO: Initially, we had 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 title to an much more greater 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 music chart on the Billboard charts. We’ll work exhausting for that so it will be nice if the American followers and worldwide followers find out about us and ship us your continued love, assist and a focus.

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