Okay-pop group P1Harmony on ‘Ex,’ Being Idols and Their Bond

Okay-pop group P1Harmony can’t get any nearer.

It’s KCON weekend, and the six-member group is working on little or no sleep amidst busy schedules all through the weekend, so maybe they erupt into laughter when Jiung, a rapper within the group, suggests they’ve been collectively a lot they’re primarily “marinating” in each other. They themselves can’t consider they’ve spent over 5 years collectively day in and day trip.

Recognized for his or her dynamic performances and numerous discography, P1Harmony – consisting of members Keeho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul and Jongseob – appears to at all times be evolving. Their newest launch, Ex, their first English-language EP, is not any exception. The five-track album, led by a lead single of the identical identify, is the group at its greatest. The album is partaking, enjoyable and will get any potential fan hooked.

The album’s fifth observe is one other first for the group – a Spanish model of their title observe. Keeho, who’s a local English speaker, making him the group’s de facto translator for this dialog, says it was vital to incorporate a Spanish model if the group was going to advertise an album within the U.S.

Under, P1Harmony speaks with The Hollywood Reporter about making Ex, rising nearer to at least one one other, studying the right way to discover themselves and the way they need the world to see them.

You’re getting ready to launch your new English album, Ex. What had been a few of the thrilling and challenged elements that got here with that?

JONGSEOB I really feel prefer it’s the precise timing. Our North American [leg of the] Most Wished tour is an all area tour. I really feel like in case you can perceive [a group’s] tune lyrics, you may relate extra carefully. I hope they prefer it. There’s an entire bunch of wonderful songs in there. It was a really enjoyable expertise and course of. Once we put together this [album], we shot the [album] jacket first, and we determined what was going to be our title tune. I really feel like [it was] fairly hectic, however for me personally, I really like [the song] “Ex.” I made a decision we have now to decide on this tune for the title observe.

KEEHO Additionally, English is just not a straightforward language. I imply, for me, I’m OK.

You might have a little bit of a bonus.

KEEHO I’d hope so (Laughs). Simply being within the sales space with them and in search of their English pronunciation, stuff like that, you may by no means be too harsh on them as a result of you may’t blame them. That’s not their native language. But in addition on the similar time I’m like, bro, why… sorry [directed toward his group members], why can’t you simply say it like that? However clearly it’s simply that barrier, so [it was] plenty of hours within the recording sales space, getting the precise pronunciations down. We even have a Spanish model of “Ex.” Shout out to the girl that was in there serving to us with our pronunciations.

I believe undoubtedly the language was the toughest and likewise getting it out on time. We had been on such a time crunch, and I believe we had been nonetheless selling “Duh,” on the time once we had been doing it. We had been prepping for in between [other schedules], and it was only a actually, actually loopy time, on high of prepping for tour. However hopefully it’ll be enjoyable for our followers. We actually, actually hope to possibly do some little bit of [the new album] on tour as properly once we’re right here.

The album’s actually enjoyable. You do have a big international fan base. Does that play into why you need to launch songs in several languages?

KEEHO I don’t assume it’s vital as a result of I really feel like Okay-Pop followers like Okay-Pop as a result of it’s Korean, not as a result of it’s simply English, however I believe there’s additionally that facet of wanting to only get a bit of nearer, with the ability to relate. It’s higher to have it there than not have it there. We’ve achieved English releases earlier than with completely different collaborators with Pink Sweats and New Hope Membership. We did “Fall in Love Once more” with Tough [Stewart], however I used to be like, why don’t we simply do some with simply us this time? We’ve by no means achieved it earlier than, so we would as properly. These songs additionally resonated very well with our followers, and so we thought it was simply the precise time proper earlier than tour to launch it.

Are you able to share extra in regards to the expertise recording a tune in Spanish?

JIUNG The toughest half was undoubtedly as a result of it’s a tune that’s not made in Spanish initially, it’s an English tune that we modified to Spanish. Typically the syllables could be type of off. If we stated, I really like apples, typically apples in Spanish shall be not simply two syllables, it’ll be three. However you continue to have to suit it in that very same pocket, so it was onerous to translate that and get it [right] as a result of it might be so quick at some elements.

KEEHO [As] to the rationale why we selected to do [a version] in Spanish, I believe it’s as a result of the Latin American fan base is so big. Additionally, in America, Spanish, the tradition and the language, has such an enormous place right here. Not even simply in America too, on the planet too. We felt like if we had been going to advertise an album in America, simply having an English tune wouldn’t actually make sense. I believe having Spanish would additionally resonate with plenty of completely different individuals. We all know we have now plenty of followers in Latin America, and likewise we’re going to tour in Latin America quickly too. We thought it was a very vital factor to incorporate as many individuals as doable.

You’re about to go on tour, and I do know that is your largest tour but. Do you are feeling that provides extra stress to you?

SOUL I’m undoubtedly scared (Laughs). I’m scared as a result of it’s not solely the truth that the dimensions is getting greater, there’s so many issues that observe that as properly as a result of the dimensions will get greater. We now have dancers this time on tour. We now have an entire bunch of different getting ready simply because the dimensions obtained greater. Though we have now extra to arrange for, the period of time we have now to arrange for it’s both the identical and even lower than earlier than. Having to arrange all of that whereas having that burden of needing to degree up and do one thing completely different, even from my solo stage. Final tour, I assumed he did a very good job, however this time having to type of one up, that simply looks like an enormous burden.

KEEHO However I believe we at all times determine a means.

How do you are feeling as a bunch, you’ve got developed collectively? How has your relationship with each other modified?

SOUL We will’t get any nearer to one another.

JIUNG It looks like we’re marinating in one another at this level.

KEEHO We perceive one another very, very properly. Everybody can’t get alongside 100% [of the time]. There’s some elements the place we’re like, “I want you can change a bit of bit about your self.” I believe that’s additionally very wholesome. With the ability to talk that in a means that’s not offensive, we’re so good at that now. We’re so shut now. It’s type of loopy. It’s been 5 years.

That’s a very long time

KEEHO Day-after-day [for] 5 years.

JONGSEOB I really feel prefer it’s over 5 years, [it’s been] seven years.

KEEHO Not even on and off, each single day for a number of hours, straight for hours, so, I imply, we’re actually marinated (Laughs).

I’ve to be trustworthy, I don’t know a single individual I may see day by day for seven years. Clearly, you need to work at that relationship although, I assume, to brazenly talk with each other.

KEEHO I believe the entire job that we have now is basically psychological Olympics as a result of you need to be on. So many individuals count on a lot from you. Your members count on a lot from you. There’s simply that type of hidden rule to only be. There’s no such factor as a day the place you might be type of meh. However in the case of your members, I believe you’re allowed to be a bit of extra human. Be a bit of completely different once we’re with one another.

That concept is one thing I’ve talked about different teams which have even handed that 10 yr mark and the way that affected them, not even significantly in a unfavorable means. Nevertheless it simply adjustments the way in which you reside your life when you find yourself at all times on, in a profession. How do you are feeling that that has modified your relationship with your self, and your relationship with one another?

KEEHO I believe with your self, it’s actually loopy. Typically, I simply take a look at myself, I’m like, wow. It’s similar to, wow, you’re employed so onerous, and typically you variety really feel dangerous for your self. I don’t know if that’s a great factor to say, however that is very humanly insane. Nevertheless it’s so loopy that, in case you put our thoughts to it with self-discipline, you may nonetheless do it. Typically since you’re being perceived [by others] a lot, typically you overlook who you might be, and typically you keep in mind your self as the way in which different individuals understand you. Typically you’ll say one thing or do one thing and individuals are like, oh, Keeho is such a individual [or] he’s such a individual. I’m like, am I that sort of individual? Typically issues get blown out of proportion – constructive issues, unfavorable, no matter it might be – some days I’ll be like, “Oh, I actually like carrots,” for instance. However then I truly don’t actually carrots. I don’t know why I stated it, however now everybody thinks I like carrots. You simply really feel like you might be obligated to carrots now. Typically you simply consider the way in which you’re perceived, I believe. There’s a bit of little bit of a bizarre self-finding second there that you should have. However I believe what’s actually cool while you’re together with your members is [that] they’ve identified you longer than anybody else has. They’ve identified you earlier than you had been even well-known, proper? I assume they’ll see you for who you might be with out having to undergo the entire layers that had been type of pushed onto you from all of the years of being within the highlight. I believe that’s what makes your members particular.

What do you guys do to floor your self and handle your self throughout busy schedules?

JIUNG This yr, I began meditating, and it helps me quite a bit. I’m at all times meditating. I’m making an attempt to meditate a minimum of 5 minutes within the morning, a minimum of 20 minutes earlier than I am going to mattress. It helps me to be within the current. Aafter I began that, I turned in a position to deal with what I’m doing proper now, who I’m proper now, what I can do proper now. It helps me to scale back any stress that I get.

KEEHO You realize what, I don’t have a method to stress. You simply kinda reside by way of it. I believe I wish to take holidays, however clearly that’s restricted. I believe for me, I like to only not overshare. I believe for the longest time I felt like sharing quite a bit is so enjoyable and funky, however I [realized] some issues, maintaining it sacred and maintaining it to myself makes it really feel extra particular. These issues simply type of maintain me grounded, and I don’t have to share all the pieces. I believe Okay-pop idols are very completely different, within the sense that oversharing is inspired and virtually wanted.

It’s like, what did you eat immediately? What did you do immediately? What time did you get up immediately? What are you doing immediately? For those who don’t share that, followers [will ask] why [you aren’t sharing]. However I believe, clearly there’s a stability that must be stored. Some issues I believe are cool to share. I believe [there are] some issues which can be cool to be personal. Having that stability, I’m beginning to now really feel that. I’m 5 years in, I’m beginning to really feel it now. However I believe maintaining issues a bit of extra personal, maintaining issues that should be mine to be mine is what’s particular and retains me grounded, much less harassed.

Do you, Keeho, really feel extra stress with that? Individuals with you particularly have put a character on you that possibly isn’t at all times how you are feeling. Do you are feeling that since you had been born in Canada and while you come to the U.S. followers converse with you extra freely, that you just really feel obligated to share extra due to that?

KEEHO Yeah, I believe so too. I’d by no means blame anybody for it, however I undoubtedly assume as a result of they’re in a position to connect with me in a means that’s not international. They’ll additionally really feel like, oh, that is simply my dude. But in addition there’s boundaries, so I believe that stability can be actually, actually vital. That’s why I really feel like I additionally have to take a step again and simply type of maintain some issues personal as a result of I’m additionally human too. These guys are additionally all human. However I believe the rationale why they appear a bit of extra additional away is simply due to the language barrier.

I additionally really feel like there’s undoubtedly ups and downs to it as a result of as an English speaker, as a result of they really feel like they’ll simply see somebody like me at college and even at work, they only really feel like they’ll resonate with me, which is an effective factor. However I additionally really feel like there additionally comes with plenty of accountability in the case of that. They type of count on a sure factor from me as properly too. I imply, I really like all of the stress and all of the stress, all of the ups and downs that comes with it, however I believe there’s undoubtedly that facet.

As a bunch, you don’t at all times get to decide on how the world perceives you, however I’ve to imagine you’ve got a means you’d like individuals to see you. What does that appear to be for you?

JONGSEOB I really feel like my ideally suited imaginative and prescient is that I need to attempt one thing that I need in that second. I write my very own lyrics and I write my songs, and I really feel I need to attempt extra numerous genres. I need to maintain [pushing] my very own artistic boundaries. That’s my ideally suited imaginative and prescient.

KEEHO For me, I believe it ties into the final query. Being within the highlight and likewise similar to you stated, being an English speaker in a Okay-pop group that promotes in Korea, I believe I’m simply so used to pleasing individuals and simply being a individuals pleaser. Though it doesn’t profit me, I’ll say or do issues that I do know will profit the group or profit me or no matter it might be. I like being perceived that means, however I want I may simply be a bit of extra uncooked. I want I may simply, I don’t know. It comes out every so often, and that’s why everybody’s like, oh, he’s so sassy and whatnot. However I’m truly a really, very, very simple, and I wouldn’t say the nicest, individual. I don’t assume I’m.

That’s OK, you don’t must be.

KEEHO I believe I’m a very trustworthy and a really simple individual, and I believe typically that scares individuals. However that’s who I’m honestly. As time goes by I need individuals to variety see… so we’ll see how that performs out.

INTAK For a very long time, I assumed that wanting cool, wanting bougie and like [a] famous person was what was wanted to be perceived. However I believe now at this level, I simply actually need to everybody to see the group as simply as trustworthy as it may be. [We’re] just a few dudes, some boys, which can be simply chasing our desires, working actually onerous. [I want them to] see it as virtually type of like a film, type of like a fictional story. [I want them] to see how onerous we’ve labored and the way onerous we’re keen to work and to see it as a romanticized model of our lives.