The Seoul Story had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with South Korean boy group xikers who recently made their latest comeback with fourth mini-album, [HOUSE OF TRICKY : WATCH OUT]! Members MINJAE, JUNMIN, SUMIN, JINSIK, HYUNWOO, SEEUN, YUJUN, HUNTER, and YECHAN discuss their latest mini album, touring experiences, and their group dynamics, among others.
Q: Ever since your debut, you (as a group) have been showing a variety of unique concepts as hikers traveling through time and space. Could you share more about this album’s concept?
HUNTER : This album concept takes our narrative to the next level, telling the story of how we discover our own “place” or “location” within a vast maze, and how we break through it head-on.
Q: How did the recording process for [HOUSE OF TRICKY : WATCH OUT] go in comparison to your previous comebacks?
JUNMIN : Since this was a darker concept that I had never explored before, adjusting my vocal tone was a bit challenging at first. But after hearing the recording come together, I realized that everyone did an incredible job. As the session went on, I got the hang of it and became more comfortable, and the process seemed to move quicker than usual by the end.
Q: ‘위치 (WITCH)’, the title track, was teased as an intro for [HOUSE OF TRICKY : TRIAL AND ERROR], suggesting a connection between the two mini albums. Could you share a little bit about how these two mini albums are related?
MINJAE : As xikers, we believe that every achievement requires a process of intense effort and hard work before any results can be seen. While our previous album captured the trial and error we faced along the way, this album represents the lesson we’ve learned: to trust ourselves and confidently move forward.
Q: Were there any interesting behind the scenes stories when you were filming the music video?
YUJUN : The music video filming took a long time, and I was getting hungry, but they had nice snacks and meals really well-prepared, so I was happy!
Q: MINJAE, you previously mentioned that this EP has a more mature direction. What steps did you take to convey this idea – lyrically, vocally or musically?
MINJAE : The title track’s lyrics capture a sense of confusion, while the members’ improved vocal and rap abilities stand out as key highlights. We also focused heavily on the visual elements. If you watch the music video or the teaser videos released during the promotion of our fourth EP, I believe you’ll instantly see how much xikers has matured compared to our earlier works.
Q: <To each member> What is your favorite b-side track off the album and why?
MINJAE : I really like the track Sandcastle. It’s a comforting song, and I think even in the future, it will be a great source of strength for xikers. It’s a song that hopefully uplifts many of our road𝓨 (xikers’ fandom name) too.
JUNMIN : I’d pick Hang Around because even though the rappers of the group have written lyrics for every album, I think they all really wrote gold with this one. I like the rap, so I think it’s my favourite. The beat and the melody of the song are also very much my style, so I like the song a lot.
SUMIN : I think I’d pick BACK OFF. The lyrics are very straightforward, and it feels so refreshing every time I listen to it. I’d say it’s one of my favorite tracks.
JINSIK : I like Sandcastle a lot. Of the tracks from the fourth EP, it’s one of the most easy to listen to songs that makes me feel comfortable because it has such a strong sense of healing.
SEEUN : I like Hang Around. It’s got a very trendy vibe to it, but it’s also easy to listen to and is a style that I really like. I also really like how my part came out in the recording.
YUJUN : Hang Around is the kind of song that I like. It’s actually a song that I liked from the moment we heard the demo track. The beat and the melody line are also just really amazing.
HUNTER : My favorite B-side track off the album is Sandcastle. I really love the beat, the vibes, and the message of the song. It compares our relationship; our bond with each other and how nothing can keep us apart once we “stick” together, like a sandcastle.
YECHAN : I’d pick Sandcastle because the melody and lyrics are incredibly beautiful!
HYUNWOO : Hang Around is one of my favorites because the music is super fun, and the lyrics carry a good meaning.
Q: For MINJAE, SUMIN, and YECHAN – you guys have been really active in writing lyrics for your songs. Could you share a little about your writing process and your inspiration behind it?
YECHAN : As I think about the theme of the track and listen to the beat of the song, I start to imagine it, and the writing naturally flows in the direction I envision!
MINJAE : I drew inspiration from my past for this. When I looked at the lyrics, I noticed they were bold and ambitious, expressing strong, clear thoughts without hesitation or uncertainty. This time, I wanted to capture a deeper sense of doubt and confusion—something different from before—while also conveying more intense emotions through my rap.
SUMIN : I don’t have a specific source of inspiration. I often stumble upon interesting words during everyday conversations or while watching videos, and I make a habit of jotting them down in my notes. I also enjoy looking up their meanings, which often leads me to discover new words along the way.
Q: Congratulations on concluding your first world tour recently! How did you guys grow as performers through this experience?
JINSIK : Thank you so much! I think our live performance skills actually improved significantly during the world tour. And personally, I feel like I’ve learned how to better control my voice to deliver a stronger, more powerful sound.
Q: Going on a tour is never easy, especially when you are away from home for such a long time. How did the members support each other during the tour?
SEEUN : I personally find that rather than it being challenging, visiting new places and having new experiences during the tour suits me really well. It’s something that I really like, so I actually find that touring is a lot of fun.
Q: There is a small age gap of two years between the oldest and youngest members of the group, so it’s safe to say that xikers are like friends! How have your group dynamics changed from debut to now?
HYUNWOO : Actually, even before our debut, the members have always gotten along really well regardless of any age gaps. We’re able to support each other well, and balance each other in life and our performances, so we’ve always just maintained a consistent good relationship.
Q: What has helped the group stay determined for the past 1.5 years?
SEEUN : We have always been able to maintain this determination because all the members share the same goal and work hard together. It’s been 1.5 years since our debut, but I believe this determination will remain the same even in the future.
Q: What kind of group would you like to be remembered as?
SUMIN : I hope that for every instance, we can be remembered as the group that looked like they had the most fun on stage with the most memorable performance.
Q: If you could describe one other member in one word, what would it be?
YECHAN > MINJAE : Perfectionist: because he practices so much, and even if it’s perfect, he keeps on practicing again and again!
MINJAE > HUNTER : HUNTER is oddly interesting. The more you get to know him, the more unique and quirky he is.
HUNTER > JINSIK : Olaf/Snowman..
JINSIK > SUMIN : SUMIN is… I would say he’s like ‘oxygen’! I love you, SUMIN~!
SUMIN > SEEUN : I want to ask him actually, “What makes our SEEUN happiest?”
SEEUN > JUNMIN : He is a CUTIE (CUTY)!
JUNMIN > YUJUN : Baby, because it feels like you’re raising a child.
YUJUN > HYUNWOO : Tsundere, because when I borrow something from HYUNWOO or ask him for a favor, he says no, but in the end, he always does it, and I find that funny and nice.
HYUNWOO > YECHAN : He’s a ‘professional prankster’. He often jokes around and shows a charming youthful side, but on stage, he displays professionalism like no one else, so I decided on this.
About xikers
xikers is a South Korean boy group under KQ Entertainment consisting of members MINJAE, JUNMIN, SUMIN, JINSIK, HYUNWOO, JUNGHOON, SEEUN, YUJUN, HUNTER, and YECHAN. Their group name combines the value of the unknown variable ‘x’ for coordinates and the term ‘hikers’ for travelers to represent ten boys who are traveling through infinite time and space based on their own Coordinates.
They debuted on March 30th, 2023 with their first EP, HOUSE OF TRICKY : Doorbell Ringing, which found major success, hitting sales of over 100,000 copies in its first week of release. The EP landed them achievements of No.75 on the Billboard 200, No.41 on the Billboard Artist 100, No.4 on the Billboard World Album Chart, and No.1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists Chart, collecting placements on a total of seven charts and proving their international appeal and growing fanbase.
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The Seoul Story would like to thank KQ Entertainment and xikers for the interview opportunity!
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