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.

Identified 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, isn’t any exception. The five-track album, led by a lead single of the identical identify, is the group at its finest. The album is partaking, enjoyable and will get any potential fan hooked.

The album’s fifth monitor is one other first for the group – a Spanish model of their title monitor. Keeho, who’s a local English speaker, making him the group’s de facto translator for this dialog, says it was essential 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 1 one other, studying tips on how to discover themselves and the way they need the world to see them.

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

JONGSEOB I really feel prefer it’s the best timing. Our North American [leg of the] Most Wished tour is an all enviornment tour. I really feel like in the event you can perceive [a group’s] track lyrics, you’ll be able to relate extra carefully. I hope they prefer it. There’s a complete bunch of fantastic songs in there. It was a really enjoyable expertise and course of. After we put together this [album], we shot the [album] jacket first, and we determined what was going to be our title track. I really feel like [it was] fairly hectic, however for me personally, I really like [the song] “Ex.” I made a decision we’ve to decide on this track for the title monitor.

KEEHO Additionally, English isn’t a simple language. I imply, for me, I’m OK.

You may have a little bit of a bonus.

KEEHO I might hope so (Laughs). Simply being within the sales space with them and searching for their English pronunciation, stuff like that, you’ll be able to by no means be too harsh on them as a result of you’ll be able to’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] loads of hours within the recording sales space, getting the best pronunciations down. We even have a Spanish model of “Ex.” Shout out to the woman that was in there serving to us with our pronunciations.

I believe undoubtedly the language was the toughest and in addition 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 after 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 perhaps perform a little little bit of [the new album] on tour as effectively after we’re right here.

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

KEEHO I don’t assume it’s essential 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 simply get a little bit nearer, with the ability to relate. It’s higher to have it there than not have it there. We’ve performed English releases earlier than with totally different collaborators with Pink Sweats and New Hope Membership. We did “Fall in Love Once more” with Difficult [Stewart], however I used to be like, why don’t we simply do some with simply us this time? We’ve by no means performed it earlier than, so we’d as effectively. These songs additionally resonated rather well with our followers, and so we thought it was simply the best time proper earlier than tour to launch it.

Are you able to share extra concerning the expertise recording a track in Spanish?

JIUNG The toughest half was undoubtedly as a result of it’s a track that’s not made in Spanish initially, it’s an English track that we modified to Spanish. Typically the syllables could be type of off. If we mentioned, 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 will be so quick at some components.

KEEHO [As] to the explanation why we selected to do [a version] in Spanish, I believe it’s as a result of the Latin American fan base is so large. Additionally, in America, Spanish, the tradition and the language, has such a giant place right here. Not even simply in America too, on this planet too. We felt like if we had been going to advertise an album in America, simply having an English track wouldn’t actually make sense. I believe having Spanish would additionally resonate with loads of totally different folks. We all know we’ve loads of followers in Latin America, and in addition we’re going to tour in Latin America quickly too. We thought it was a very essential factor to incorporate as many individuals as doable.

You’re about to go on tour, and I do know that is your greatest tour but. Do you are feeling that provides extra strain 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 effectively as a result of the dimensions will get greater. We’ve got dancers this time on tour. We’ve got a complete bunch of different making ready simply because the dimensions acquired greater. Regardless that we’ve extra to arrange for, the period of time we’ve 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 stage up and do one thing totally 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 a giant burden.

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

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

SOUL We are able to’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 effectively. Everybody can’t get alongside 100% [of the time]. There’s some components the place we’re like, “I want you might change a little bit bit about your self.” I believe that’s additionally very wholesome. With the ability to talk that in a approach 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 by 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 daily for seven years. Clearly, it’s a must to work at that relationship although, I assume, to overtly talk with each other.

KEEHO I believe the entire job that we’ve is basically psychological Olympics as a result of it’s a must to be on. So many individuals anticipate a lot from you. Your members anticipate a lot from you. There’s simply that type of hidden rule to simply be. There’s no such factor as a day the place you could be type of meh. However on the subject of your members, I believe you’re allowed to be a little bit extra human. Be a little bit totally different after 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 notably in a detrimental approach. Nevertheless it simply modifications the best way 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 have a look at myself, I’m like, wow. It’s identical to, wow, you’re employed so onerous, and typically you variety really feel dangerous for your self. I don’t know if that’s an excellent factor to say, however that is very humanly insane. Nevertheless it’s so loopy that, in the event you put our thoughts to it with self-discipline, you’ll be able to 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 best way different folks understand you. Typically you’ll say one thing or do one thing and persons are like, oh, Keeho is the sort of individual [or] he’s the sort of individual. I’m like, am I that sort of individual? Typically issues get blown out of proportion – constructive issues, detrimental, 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 mentioned 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 best way you’re perceived, I believe. There’s a little bit little bit of a bizarre self-finding second there that you could have. However I believe what’s actually cool while you’re together with your members is [that] they’ve recognized you longer than anybody else has. They’ve recognized you earlier than you had been even well-known, proper? I assume they will see you for who you might be with out having to undergo all the 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 maintain your self throughout busy schedules?

JIUNG This yr, I began meditating, and it helps me loads. I’m at all times meditating. I’m attempting to meditate no less than 5 minutes within the morning, no less than 20 minutes earlier than I’m going to mattress. It helps me to be within the current. Aafter I began that, I turned in a position to concentrate on what I’m doing proper now, who I’m proper now, what I can do proper now. It helps me to cut back any stress that I get.

KEEHO You already know what, I don’t have a approach to stress. You simply kinda stay by it. I believe I prefer to take holidays, however clearly that’s restricted. I believe for me, I like to simply not overshare. I believe for the longest time I felt like sharing loads is so enjoyable and funky, however I [realized] some issues, conserving it sacred and conserving it to myself makes it really feel extra particular. These issues simply type of preserve me grounded, and I don’t have to share all the things. I believe Okay-pop idols are very totally different, within the sense that oversharing is inspired and virtually wanted.

It’s like, what did you eat right now? What did you do right now? What time did you get up right now? What are you doing right now? When you don’t share that, followers [will ask] why [you aren’t sharing]. However I believe, clearly there’s a steadiness that must be saved. Some issues I believe are cool to share. I believe [there are] some issues which might be cool to be non-public. Having that steadiness, I’m beginning to now really feel that. I’m 5 years in, I’m beginning to really feel it now. However I believe conserving issues a little bit extra non-public, conserving issues that must be mine to be mine is what’s particular and retains me grounded, much less confused.

Do you, Keeho, really feel extra strain with that? Individuals with you particularly have put a persona on you that perhaps 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 simply really feel obligated to share extra due to that?

KEEHO Yeah, I believe so too. I might by no means blame anybody for it, however I undoubtedly assume as a result of they’re ready to hook up with me in a approach that’s not international. They will additionally really feel like, oh, that is simply my dude. But in addition there’s boundaries, so I believe that steadiness can be actually, actually essential. That’s why I really feel like I additionally have to take a step again and simply type of preserve some issues non-public as a result of I’m additionally human too. These guys are additionally all human. However I believe the explanation why they appear a little bit 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 will simply see somebody like me at college and even at work, they simply really feel like they will resonate with me, which is an effective factor. However I additionally really feel like there additionally comes with loads of duty on the subject of that. They type of anticipate a sure factor from me as effectively too. I imply, I really like all of the strain 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 a approach you’d like folks to see you. What does that appear like for you?

JONGSEOB I really feel like my perfect imaginative and prescient is that I wish 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 wish to attempt extra numerous genres. I wish to preserve [pushing] my very own inventive boundaries. That’s my perfect imaginative and prescient.

KEEHO For me, I believe it ties into the final query. Being within the highlight and in addition identical to you mentioned, being an English speaker in a Okay-pop group that promotes in Korea, I believe I’m simply so used to pleasing folks and simply being a folks pleaser. Regardless that 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 approach, however I want I may simply be a little bit extra uncooked. I want I may simply, I don’t know. It comes out once in a while, and that’s why everybody’s like, oh, he’s so sassy and whatnot. However I’m truly a really, very, very easy, and I wouldn’t say the nicest, individual. I don’t assume I’m.

That’s OK, you don’t should be.

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

INTAK For a very long time, I assumed that trying cool, trying bougie and like [a] famous person was what was wanted to be perceived. However I believe now at this level, I simply actually wish to everybody to see the group as simply as trustworthy as it may be. [We’re] just a few dudes, some boys, which might 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 prepared to work and to see it as a romanticized model of our lives.