ALL(H)OURS is back with its second mini-album, WITNESS, six months after its debut. This new group is striking the right chord with its comeback, reflecting its meticulous focus and commitment to music. The title track, Shock, which combines K-pop and drift fonck, has impressed fans and music critics. (Also read: BTS’s Jimin, NCT 127, aespa, Dreamcatcher and others plan Kpop comeback in July 2024)
All(h)ours spoke to Hindustan Times about their music, maintaining their position in the competitive but thriving K-pop industry, and more.
Congratulations, and I love your name ALL(H)OURS. It’s a very clever name, how did it come about?
Kunho: Our team name, ALL(H)OURS, combines two meanings: “all hours” and “all ours”. It reflects our commitment to always give our all in every moment and cherish the time spent with everyone. We want the time we spend with our fans to become “our time together”. It reflects our determination to always give our all to our fans.
With new K-pop groups debuting every month, what makes ALL(H)OURS different in terms of music and harmony? What will listeners get to see that they haven’t seen before?
Youmin: We hope everyone can accept our distinctive and unique music, hardcore performances and live singing. Within this, we believe that our vibrant live performances are our strength. We are constantly practicing to give the best performance to our Min(ut)es and ALL(H)OURS listeners.
After All Hours you are back with Witness and ready to stun the listeners. So what is the difference this time in terms of music and writing? Also, do you see any changes in yourself as an artist since your debut?
Zyden: In our first mini album, All Ours, we represented the beginning of All(h)ours and our aspirations for the future. Our second mini album, Witness, reflects the boldness and youthful energy of our first comeback. It marks another stage of our growth and potential!
Minje: Since our debut, I can confidently say that we have grown as artists. We have put a lot of thought and effort into how we blend our voices in different parts of new songs and how we convey energy to our audience and fans through our expressions and actions during performances.
When you performed at Gyeongbokgung Palace, what was it like to perform on the same stage with Hyolyn and Newgins? Please share your full experience of that performance.
Masami: First of all, it was a really amazing and heartwarming experience to step on stage with senior artists. It was a great honor for me to watch the performance of senior artists whom I have been listening to since my trainee days. Seeing their performance inspired our members to come on stage with the mindset, “Let us work harder and do our best.”
on:n: The stage at Gyeongbokgung Palace was really beautiful. Performing hanbok at a historical place like Gyeongbokgung felt like we were dreaming. I was so happy to share the stage with other artists at such a beautiful place.
Why do you think K-pop is such a popular music genre?
hyunbin: K-pop really utilizes a variety of styles, such as our title track “Shock,” which combines drift funk, an emerging EDM genre, with K-pop. Just as these diverse styles harmonize within K-pop, I think it can also bring enjoyment to people who appreciate a variety of music styles. K-pop can be one of those things that brings people with different tastes together!
Kunho: Also, if you look at the lyrics of K-pop songs, many of them have stories in them! You can get a cinematic or novel-like feeling from them. Our song “SHOCK” also gives you the feeling of encountering a real ghost, so please continue to send a lot of interest and love for our title track “SHOCK” as well!
Who or what has been an influence on your music? Is there any artist you would love to collaborate with?
Masami: We have always dreamed of collaborating with different artists. We would love to learn a lot by collaborating with Stray Kids. Their amazing performance, energy and stage presence inspire us a lot.
on:n: We also look forward to collaborating with other international artists. We want to explore different genres of music, so collaborating with globally renowned artists will help broaden our musical spectrum. We can’t forget to mention our fans, the Min(ut)us, who inspire us so much, and we are working hard to create even better music to share with the Min(ut)us!
As accessible as your music is, so are the expectations. What does it take to be an idol and how do you deal with the pressure?
on:n: In my opinion, the most important mindset as an idol is to never lose your initial enthusiasm and sincerity. I have always thought about this and maintained it since my trainee days. We always consider the image we want to present to the public and our fans. It is not only us, our members, but everyone who has accompanied us throughout our journey who made our debut and performances possible. We will never forget this and will try to do our best.
Zyden: It seems that before every performance, we always think carefully and give our best to give the minis a great stage show. The minis devote their precious time to support us, so we feel a responsibility to show everything we have during our performances.
What advice would you give to aspiring singers and role models?
Kunho: I also started my trainee life late, felt lost and faced a tough time without knowing anything. Due to my age, I had many doubts about choosing this path. However, because I endured and overcame those difficult moments, I believe I was able to stand in a better light in front of people! Don’t worry about being late – just keep trying and start moving forward now!
Are you familiar with Indian movies and Bollywood songs and do you have a favorite song?
on:n: We haven’t experienced Bollywood yet, but we’ve heard it’s a major genre. Many of the actors are known for their passionate dancing and acting. We would love to experience Bollywood! If you have any suggestions, please share them with us.
