With tens of millions of viewers world wide tuning in and casting votes for contestants in the Okay-pop survival present Boys Planet, contestants who didn’t make a spot in 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 way over only a easy spin-off act.

Noted for an intense collective charisma, the boy band’s debut with hard-hitting singles “Trouble” 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 expect it, but we really wanted it,” EVNNE’s chief Keita says of the group’s skill to interrupt out past Korea and tour the States. “We felt that there were a lot of fans all over the world cheering for us while we were doing such a program like Boys Planet…it’s really a dream come true.”

But it’s not simply the awards and accolades that outline EVNNE’s success. In lower than a 12 months, the group has proven outstanding evolution in their musical type, 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 observe recorded in each Korean and English, marks a brand new chapter for the group.

“The reason we came out with the concept of bad guys when we made our debut was because we wanted to show the public what we can do best,” Yunseo says. “But we released a refreshing album like this because we wanted to show a new side 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 in the business and present lasting potential even when the group’s time collectively could also be brief. Read on for why else EVNNE is a gaggle to look at as Billboard‘s Okay-Pop Rookie of the Month for August 2024.

Congratulations on the success to this point and being named Billboard‘s Rookie of the Month! I ponder how you are feeling about your achievements over the previous few months?

YUNSEO: We’ve been by means of rather a lot with our members and collectively we’ve achieved plenty of issues, however time is de facto flying by so quick — quicker than I assumed. It feels surreal that we’ve been spending a lot time collectively and in a position expertise plenty of issues in such a short while, nevertheless it additionally has been very brief. Even so, we’ve realized that there are extra followers and extra individuals actually supporting us, giving us a lot love, so we’re simply very pleased and grateful for all the pieces.

SEUNGEON: I need to add that I’m so pleased 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 actually consider that successful on the music reveals and with the ability to go on excursions in completely different international locations is all due to our followers’ love and assist for us. So, we’re very grateful for that. We are additionally very pleased and excited to be named because the Rookie of the Month on Billboard. We have been actually wanting this so thanks a lot.

While you didn’t earn a spot in the ultimate group for Boys Planet, you might be right here now successful awards and happening tour. Did you guys anticipate all these items to occur?

KEITA: We didn’t anticipate it, however we actually needed it. We felt that there have been plenty of followers all around the world cheering for us whereas we have 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 have been actually pleased that the gang cheers have been a lot larger 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 obtained much more power and motivation from them.

MUN JUNGHYUN: We have been in a position to 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 track which made us actually pleased. Also, we have been in a position to present “XO” with its choreography in full for the primary time on this U.S. tour and it felt like have been cheering a lot for that track.

SEUNGEON: You know, the worldwide followers who don’t essentially communicate Korean are likely to hum to our songs, as an alternative of like singing alongside to the precise lyrics, which remains 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. But with the English model [of “Badder Love”] they have been actually in a position to do it and have been singing alongside to the track whereas we have been performing so it was actually an ideal expertise. It actually motivated us and, someday, we might like to launch extra songs in completely different varied languages in the longer term.

Any languages you would possibly need to document in subsequent?

HANBIN: We go to Japan rather a lot and there are plenty of our followers and individuals who assist us in Japan so I feel it will be good to make a model that may be finished in Japanese.

Going again to “Badder Love,” it seems like this album is centered round a softer picture and fewer intense than the ideas to your singles like “Trouble” or Ugly.” What does EVNNE need to show this time round?

JIHOO: Our foremost focus was to actually present a unique aspect of ourselves in comparison with our first two albums. For our first and second mini albums, we actually needed to point out that “cheeky rascal” aspect, which is extra highly effective and really simple. But with the third album, we needed to point out extra of a romantic, a softer aspect of us.

YUNSEO: Actually, 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 point out the general public what we are able to do finest 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 point out 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 point out you a little bit of a unique picture.

LEE JEONGHYOEN: We have some all-white outfits in the music video which might be very becoming for summer time. There’s additionally no actually brilliant hair colours. Actually, that is my first time dying my hair in brown so we actually centered on exhibiting the fitting styling for the idea by means of this album. Loads of the backgrounds in the music video are set in the ocean so in my opinion that actually emphasizes on that refreshing cool aspect with the track and the music video.

I noticed you guys compete in 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 means of?

HANBIN: We participated in two of the occasions throughout this system and we actually ready ourselves to do our greatest in it whereas getting 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 an ideal alternative for us to advertise who we’re and what we are able to do to much more individuals. So, it was a very nice expertise in total and such as you talked about, we have been in a position to speak and chat with many different artists as effectively together with ZEROBASEONE. It’s really been awhile since we obtained to talk and reunite with them so it was actually enjoyable to be reconnecting.

YUNSEO: Our schedules don’t actually depart us plenty of time to satisfy in particular person or privately, however I used to be so pleased to satisfy my mates that have been at Idol Star Athletics Championships, speak, and play sports activities and video games collectively.

KEITA: I met Matthew and I advised him, “Hey Matt, I’m studying English!” and he stated, “Hey, your pronunciation is not as bad as I thought!” however in Korean. So, I obtained a praise from him.

SEUNGEON: I feel followers who watched the present have been actually ready to see us all once more and a Boys Planet reunion someday. This was really our first alternative for all of the Boys Planet teams and artists to come back collectively, actually reunite, speak to one another and simply have time in basic. I felt prefer it was a faculty occasion in some methods as a result of there are plenty of idol seniors, juniors and colleagues however all of us have the identical dream and fervour for music and artistry so it actually felt like we have been at a faculty occasion all collectively. So, total it was a really, very enjoyable occasion.

HANBIN: I really bumped into some mates who I educated with so whereas it felt actually very new, and it additionally stroke a chord in my memory like we have been again in faculty all collectively and we have been at a faculty occasion collectively somewhat a TV present program.

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

YUNSEO: First of all, we have been chosen because the Rookie of the Month so I’d prefer to say thanks a lot. It’s an ideal honor and starting with this, we’d like to point out you all extra and promote our identify to an much more larger viewers world wide so we are able to actually share our artistry and who we’re to everybody world wide. And in the longer term, we actually hope we are able to sometime have our track chart on the Billboard charts. We will 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 means of this tour and please please look ahead to all our actions and performances in the longer term as effectively. It’s an ideal honor, once more, to be chosen because the Rookie of the Month with Billboard.