In conjunction with EPEX’s latest album release, Prelude of Anxiety Ch.2: Can We Surrender, The Seoul Story had the opportunity to sit down with members WISH, KEUM, MU, A-MIN, BAEKSEUNG, AYDEN, YEWANG, and JEFF, where they discussed about their latest album, the evolution of their music so far, what’s next for EPEX, and more!
Q: Could you share with us the most memorable moment from the album preparation process for Prelude of Anxiety Ch.2?
YEWANG: I still remember the first time I heard the song while we were preparing for this album. The choreography was incredibly intense, and it left us all a bit stunned.
A-MIN: This was the first time we worked with backup dancers for our performance, and the practice sessions with them were a new experience for us. It’s a memorable moment for me.
Q: All the songs in the album are awesome, and you can pull off any concept and genre. If you had to choose one song from this album that truly showcases your charms, which song would you choose and why?
AYDEN: I personally recommend the track No Roof. The lyrics reflect the mindset of a teenage boy, and the song carries EPEX’s distinct vibe. I would say this track truly embodies the essence of EPEX.
BAEKSEUNG: I believe that the title track of this album, FULL METAL JACKET truly represents our unique style. While promoting this song, I noticed that the strong and intense style aligns perfectly with EPEX, from observing the facial expressions or the performances of the members.
Q: Among dark and light concepts, which concept do the members prefer and what concept would you like to try in the future?
BAEKSEUNG: I personally believe that both concepts suit the members really well. However, during the promotion of this album, I feel like we’ve grown more confident in embracing the dark concept. Furthermore, we plan to experiment with a range of concepts in the future, and I would love to present a more mature version of EPEX in our next album.
Q: What kind of impact do you want Prelude of Anxiety Ch. 2 to have on fans?
WISH: I hope that the fans think that we are saying what we can about this issue as young adults ourselves. I also wish that fans in our same age group can relate and feel that we’ve shared our emotions all together through the song.
Q: Prelude of Anxiety Ch.2 contains four new songs, with all different stories and genres. Which song does each of you feel is the most relatable, memorable or meaningful to you personally?
JEFF: I think the most memorable track from this album is the most intense one, the title track, FULL METAL JACKET.
A-MIN: The track Hit the Wall resonates with me the most because everyone encounters their limitations at some point in their lives.
KEUM: Expanding on what A-MIN mentioned, the song Hit the Wall discusses the perceived limits we may have, which may not actually be true. This message can provide solace to some and encourage everyone to persevere and continue moving forward.
Q: For all of your albums, including this one, which would you say is your favorite concept and why?
BAEKSEUNG: I experienced this while preparing for the song FULL METAL JACKET. Although all the members excel at a refreshing and lively concept, we are equally great at dark concepts. Personally, I believe that dark concepts like this one suit us exceptionally well.
Q: Your new album focuses on the powerful and serious issues of the students. Which B-side from your album is the most powerful, and why?
MU: As mentioned before, I believe the B-side track No Roof truly encapsulates the experiences of teenagers. When you listen to it, you’ll easily understand the story told in the lyrics.
WISH: All four tracks on this album convey their stories and messages boldly, but I find the title track, FULL METAL JACKET to be the most intense and direct in addressing the issue.
Q: You revealed that FULL METAL JACKET was released with the intention of addressing school violence. What other messages or themes are you eager to convey in your next albums?
AYDEN: Starting this year, all EPEX members are no longer minors. This means that in the future, we may tackle more adult-oriented issues rather than teenage concerns. For instance, topics like unemployment could be addressed. I believe we will approach these types of issues from EPEX’s perspective and present them to the audience through our unique style of music.
Q: How does the theme of bipolarity play in the concept of FULL METAL JACKET?
WISH: The themes of anxiety and love experienced by teenage boys have been integrated into the albums. The title track, FULL METAL JACKET delves into the most significant level of anxiety so far.
Q: FULL METAL JACKET is a very hard-hitting, rock-heavy track and it is way different from past EPEX’s title tracks. Talk to us about the preparation that EPEX did for this comeback. Are there any artists that you made as a point of inspiration, or for reference when preparing for this particular comeback?
KEUM: I’m confident that all the members have evolved while preparing for this comeback. I believe various aspects such as our performance, mindset, and other artistic elements like visuals have improved. As for the musical direction of the group, we didn’t necessarily have a specific role model. Instead, we discussed the idea of becoming someone else’s role model rather than setting someone as our own role model.
Q: Could you tell us an interesting or a funny story that happened during the filming of your music video?
AYDEN: The music video involved some theft scenes, and the thrill of filming it was incredible. However, it’s not something we want to try again in real life.
A-MIN: Just to elaborate, it was a scene where we had to steal things. Just acting!
MU: We had to shoot a scene in the rain, performing our group choreography while getting soaked. It made us look really cool, and the experience was just amazing.
Q: Your latest album sold over 240,000 copies in one week based on the Hanteo Chart data, which is your highest since debut. What are your thoughts on this?
KEUM: By looking at the numbers, it’s clear that we’ve made significant progress and improvement, which fills us with pride. Thanks to our fans and other people who have sent a lot of love to this album, we’re able to show our improvements and share our music with even more people.
Q: Each part of the Bipolar album series showcases different sides of your artistry. Can you talk about the evolution of your music and how it aligns with the main concept of this series?
WISH: Our individual skills have definitely improved, and I can confidently say that the content of our lyrics has become more detailed and comprehensive. Initially, our lyrics might have been a bit too abstract, but over time, we’ve sharpened the message we aim to convey through our music, making it clearer.
AYDEN: With the enhancement of our individual skills, we’ve naturally become more adept at expressing our emotions. Additionally, as all of our songs are enjoyable to listen to, we’ve also developed better ways to express them.
Q: This album marks the end of your Bipolar album series which has been the theme of your releases since your debut. What does the series of album mean to each of you and why have these themes been important to share?
BAEKSEUNG: The primary message we aim to convey is that love and anxiety are closely intertwined, which is why we chose the title for this series to be “Bipolar.” In the albums of Prelude of Love, we discussed the complex emotions of love while acknowledging the presence of anxiety alongside it. In the albums of Prelude to Anxiety, we sought to express the anxieties that young adults of our age group often experience. Therefore, I believe the theme of bipolarity aptly encompasses both of these themes.
AYDEN: To add to the previous answer, love and anxiety are two of the most frequently experienced emotions by young adults. That’s why we chose the theme of bipolarity to encapsulate these two feelings.
Q: This EP is the final one in the Bipolar album series. Is there a final emotion or story that you’d like to share with your listeners?
A-MIN: When we initially made our debut with the Bipolar album series, we explored the message that love and anxiety are closely intertwined. Over the course of the six EPs, I believe we’ve delved into the finer details of the broader message we want to convey.
Q: Overall, what do you hope to achieve with this album?
JEFF: I would like to let people know more about a mature version of EPEX.
AYDEN: As this album sends the message to stop school violence, I hope more people become aware of this issue.
A-MIN: Our stage energy is highly intense, and I hope our fans absorb that energy while we, in turn, receive their energy. Through this exchange, I hope we can become even closer and more intimate with our fans.
Q: Ever since your debut, you have addressed various social issues which are relatable to youngsters. Your recent EP deals with school violence and you have also spoken about anxiety and other issues. While dealing with all these tough topics, how do you personally deal with things? What do you like to do most when you need a break?
KEUM: These are some of the issues that are often featured in the news, and it’s important to be cool-headed about it. The message we aim to convey through this album is not to avoid difficult situations, but rather to encourage everyone to come together to face them. When we have downtime, we prefer to spend it individually, often catching up on sleep. In times of stress, though we don’t experience a lot of stress, we like to come together to talk or make up for lost sleep. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that our message isn’t just about our personal experiences, but it’s meant for anyone who may have had similar experiences. Our strength lies in delivering a message that resonates with everyone, and that’s something unique that EPEX brings to the scene.
Q: How do you see your maturity through each comeback?
MU: I would say that with every comeback, we’ve matured approximately 35.6 times more.
YEWANG: With every new song and comeback, I believe that all the members achieve what they had in mind during their previous promotions.
Q: Every comeback is a new challenge. What was the biggest challenge for this comeback?
KEUM: Given the highly intense choreography for this comeback, I believe the most significant challenge for us was maintaining the stamina and mental strength required to endure it all.
Q: How has your style or way of expressing changed throughout the series?
A-MIN: Throughout the release of six EPs, we explored various genres, allowing us to gain experience across a diverse array of musical styles. This process has helped us clarify the genres we want to delve deeper into in the future.
BAEKSEUNG: Additionally, as we delved into various genres across these EPs, I believe we were able to consolidate all those experiences into this final EP. The title track, FULL METAL JACKET, is a highly intense song that fuses together all the genres and experiences we encountered in our previous EPs.
Q: EPEX has been in the music industry for 2 years already. In which moments do you feel like you are a sunbae group?
KEUM: As part of our promotion, we’ve been appearing on music shows to perform our song. During these shows, there’s a tradition of exchanging albums with other artists. When we receive albums with messages that address us as “EPEX sunbaenim (seniors)”, that’s the moment we realize we’ve become senior artists and should continue working hard to set a good example for others.
Q: Before every comeback, do you have any rites or any lucky charm that you always bring, or you think brings success to your comeback?
YEWANG: I have a nightly routine of saying my prayers before going to sleep. I express gratitude for getting through the day without any major problems or issues and pray for another day without troubles.
MU: This is not something we do necessarily before our comeback, but before we step onto the stage we typically exchange hugs or do other activities to uplift one another, in hopes of delivering an outstanding stage performance.
Q: If you could describe the member next to you in one word, what would it be?
A-MIN: BAEKSEUNG is a crybaby.
BAEKSEUNG: AYDEN is very passionate.
AYDEN: It is really hard. I would say JEFF is still a high schooler.
JEFF: I choose the word, artist, for MU.
MU: For KEUM, I choose the word, all-rounder.
KEUM: YEWANG is an orange-human.
YEWANG: I would say WISH is a solid person.
WISH: A-MIN is like an ahjussi (middle-aged man).
Q: If you could star in any movie genre, what would it be?
YEWANG: I would like to star in an action movie, like Captain America from the movie, Avengers.
MU: I want to be the main character in a movie about vampires.
A-MIN: I want to star in a crime or thriller movie, like Sherlock Holmes.
WISH: I want to be like Leonardo DiCaprio from the movie, Titanic.
KEUM: For me, movies like Train to Busan.
AYDEN: For me, it would be ghost movies.
JEFF: I choose the movie, Black Panther.
Q: Given that it has been 2 years since your debut, how do you want EPEX to be remembered in the future?
YEWANG: I hope our group is remembered as a team of eight talented, well-rounded, and handsome boys who share their own stories with the public through music.
MU: Furthermore, I want EPEX to be remembered as a legendary group capable of flawlessly executing a wide range of concepts.
KEUM: To be more specific, if there were ever to be a textbook on K-Pop, I want EPEX to be included in it as an example.
Q: To someone who is new to EPEX, what is one song that you recommend them to listen to?
WISH: I recommend the song SUNSHOWER. It’s a track with a pleasing sound and a public appeal, making it a song that sounds great right from the first listen.
AYDEN: I agree with WISH. SUNSHOWER is a fantastic song to get to know EPEX for the first time. Then I would love for them to try listening to other songs, and realize that EPEX is capable of many different things.
Q: We have been hearing a lot of good things about EPEX. From your own point of view, what is your biggest strength or charm, individually and also as a group?
KEUM: Our visuals!
BAEKSEUNG: I personally believe it’s the friendly atmosphere we create as a team and the unique music style and performance that only EPEX can deliver.
MU: I’m convinced that the charms we possess as a group are unique to us and cannot be found in any other.
Q: What aspect of your music do you want people to focus on?
YEWANG: Since we infuse our own stories into our music, I hope people pay attention to the song lyrics. Additionally, as artists who create music tailored to our age group, I hope people pay close attention to our singing and dancing style.
Q: You had a major debut during times when many things were uncertain, even during the rising cases of COVID. But now, here we are 2 years, 1 digital single and 6 EPs later. Where did you find your inspiration to continue during such uncertain times?
AYDEN: As we prepared for our comeback, we studied stages performed by other artists and envisioned ourselves sharing the stage with them. This process not only improved us individually but also enhanced our teamwork.
Q: Which member do you think has shown the most growth since debut? Why and or how?
JEFF: In my personal opinion, the most noticeable improvement has been in how we come together as a group.
AYDEN: I believe it’s BAEKSEUNG because I’ve noticed a significant transformation in his appearance. He now gives off a very mature and manly aura.
Q: Is there a song that you haven’t got a chance to perform on stage and would like to perform one day?
BAEKSEUNG: We’re currently gearing up for something special. We’ll be performing on stage with FANTASTICS to the song PEPPERMINT YUM for an event called D.LEAGUE so please stay tuned for that exciting performance!
A-MIN: From our songs, we would love to perform the third track of this album, titled Hit the Wall. It’s an intense song, and we’re eager to create choreography and deliver a performance for our fans as soon as possible.
Q: Whose room is the messiest in the dorm?
KEUM: I think all of the members.
A-MIN: I believe the messiest room is not our individual rooms but the kitchen that all the members use. We do our best to keep it clean though.
MU: All the members are quite tidy and neat, so you don’t need to worry about any messy rooms.
A-MIN: We are on the cleaner side!
Q: Who are your biggest musical inspirations?
JEFF: The reason I got into the music industry was Coldplay.
KEUM: YOUNHA and Lee Seok Hoon, who are very close to us, have a significant influence on our music. Observing senior artists from our agency, we’re determined to evolve into artists like them in the future. There are chances for us to listen to their songs before releasing their albums, and each time, we’re amazed by their music.
Q: What is one piece of advice you’d like to give to your trainee-self?
AYDEN: I would like to tell myself to put more effort in, and it will make things easier in the future.
YEWANG: I would like to tell myself to have trust in yourself as a trainee.
Q: If you had a chance to collaborate with any artists in the world, who would it be and why?
KEUM: Personally, I would be thrilled to collaborate with JUNGKOOK. He’s currently pursuing his solo music career, and he’s my role model. His solo activities are outstanding, and I would love to learn from him and engage in conversations if we ever get to collaborate on a song together.
WISH: For me, I would love to collaborate with Bruno Mars because I just love his songs.
Q: Your reputation is growing very quickly to the point of appearing on a French TV channel. How do you manage to keep growing?
WISH: At the moment, it is quite difficult to really feel that popularity. Our main focus right now is to keep working hard and putting in our best efforts.
KEUM: We consistently remind ourselves to stay humble and never forget our beginnings. With this determination, I believe we can continue to evolve and grow.
Q: What excites you most about being an idol?
BAEKSEUNG: I believe that the most exciting aspect of being an idol is performing on stage. We performed today as well, and hearing the cheers from our fans and experiencing the rush of adrenaline on stage is truly exhilarating
KEUM: Also, the best part of being an idol is being loved by someone else.
Q: Is there any plan for EPEX to do an Asia tour, a fan meet-up or a fan concert?
WISH: Although we don’t have concrete plans at the moment, we are very eager to embark on an Asia tour when the opportunity arises.
Q: With the completion of this series, what’s next for EPEX?
KEUM: We’ve already shared some spoilers with our fans about the music we’ve been working on. I hope our fans look forward to how EPEX will continue to evolve and what concept and songs we’ll have for our next comeback.
A-MIN: We’ve been alternating between two contrasting concepts throughout the Bipolar series, but now that the series has concluded, we’re excited to explore a wider range of concepts and styles in our future releases.
About EPEX
EPEX (이펙스) is an eight-member boy group under C9 Entertainment, consisting of WISH, KEUM, MU, A-MIN, BAEKSEUNG, AYDEN, YEWANG, and JEFF. Their name describes them as “the gathering of eight youths reaches eight different apexes.” It represents the 8 members forming a collective, powerful new team. They debuted on June 8, 2021, with the 1st EP, BIPOLAR Pt.1: Prelude of Anxiety.
EPEX returns with their sixth EP, Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2: Can We Surrender. This EP is the final chapter of their Bipolar album series, which began with EPEX’s debut in 2021. While Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2: Can We Surrender details the dark and uneasy realities that boys face when they reach the end of their limits, it wraps up the emotions of adolescent anxiety and first love that were narrated through Prelude of Anxiety and Prelude of Love series.
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Major thanks to C9 Entertainment and EPEX for the interview opportunity!
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