[INTERVIEW] Catch The Young Discusses Upcoming Studio Album and Their Music Inspirations

The Seoul Story had the opportunity recently to sit down with South Korean band Catch The Young, who recently released their new single Ideal Type. Members SANI, JUNGMO, NAMHYUN, KIHOON & JUNYONG discuss their music inspirations, the love for their fans and their excitement for their upcoming studio album.

Q: You released The Young Wave as a pre-release single for your first full-length album. How excited are you for the release of your first studio album?

SANI: Since it’s our first album, but not our first digital release, we’re putting in our best effort to make it as strong as possible. We’re adding a lot of new elements to try things we haven’t done before and to show sides of ourselves that fans haven’t seen yet.

Q: What are your hopes or goals for this single—both artistically and in terms of reaching new audiences?

JUNGMO: We think it’s great to have big dreams and goals, but at the same time, a dream without a foundation can feel empty. That’s why we believe in building from the ground up. First, we want to make CTY known here in Korea as a representative K-band. Once we’ve laid that foundation, our goal is to expand globally and become a team that shares our unique color with fans all around the world.

Q: Which member do you think suits this release concept the best?

JUNYONG: I think it’s me. The lyrics of Ideal Type are about having a crush, and I feel like that fresh, youthful vibe of experiencing first love suits me well.

SANI: Sounds like you have a crush right now.

JUNYONG: It’s not like that! But if you look at the music video concept or the vocal style of the song, I feel like I pulled off the acting pretty well.

JUNGMO: In the music video, yes you did.

Q: Is there a particular part or lyric in the song that is the group’s favorite and why?

NAMHYUN: My favorite part is the final chorus where it says, “I’ll confess to you now, you’re my ideal type.” If you listen to the earlier choruses in the first and second verses, the lyrics are, “Even I didn’t know you’re my ideal type,” which conveys a sense of uncertainty. But by the end, the narrator finally finds the courage to confess, which also gives us some courage and strength in real life as well. Since the narrator of the song is building up the courage to confess, I feel like it’s a part that can inspire listeners to be brave, too.

Q: Are there any memorable behind-the-scenes moments from the making of the music video that you can share?

KIHOON: There was a scene we filmed at a countryside guesthouse where we ate watermelon together and chatted about random things. I thought that scene showed what youth really feels like and how those small moments can become a lasting memory in our lives. While we were filming, I also found myself thinking that this exact moment would become a memory someday, which made that scene more memorable.

Q: You guys recently performed at various university festivals for crowds that was around the same age as you. How was that experience like?

NAMHYUN: Since the audience was around our age, I remember how we got drawn into their energy during the performance. It felt different from a festival. While festivals are more about showing our skills and band sound to the fullest, university festivals were more about having fun together and giving comfort to students who are tired from studying. So we approached it with a more relaxed and playful mindset, enjoying the moment with everyone.

Q: What is the biggest challenge while preparing for the festivals, any difference from performing on a broadcast stage?

SANI: At festivals, each team is given a set amount of stage time, and it’s important to stick to that for the teams before and after us and to provide the audience the best experience. So I think one of the hardest parts is creating and rehearsing a setlist that fits perfectly within the given timeframe. Something we always feel is that, especially for this festival, instead of just performing one song at a time, we want to create a flow that feels like watching a short film with a story. The biggest difference from music shows would definitely be the live performance settings.

Q: If you could switch instruments with a member, who would you choose and why?

KIHOON: I’d want to try playing JUNGMO’s drums. Like he mentioned earlier, the sound of the kick and the beats hit your chest and get your whole body moving. I would love to choose drums to give off that kind of powerful, cool energy.

JUNYONG: I’d like to switch with SANI and try playing the bass. JUNGMO and I both know this feeling, but during performances, one thing we always feel a bit sad about is that we have to stay in one place, so we can’t get close to the fans or the audience. We’re always a bit jealous of the other three members who can run around the stage and still play their instruments.

NAMHYUN: I would also like to choose drums. I used to play drums and keyboard at church, so I always thought it’d be cool to show Catchers me playing drums at least once.

JUNGMO: I’d love to try NAMHYUN’S vocal parts. Like JUNYOUNG mentioned earlier, since drums are a fixed instrument in the back, it is limited to how much movement or dynamic performance you can do. I’ve always been curious about what it’s like to be up front, like NAMHYUN or like KIHOON on guitar and SANI on bass, running around the stage, interacting directly with the audience, and feeling that sense of freedom during a performance.

SANI: I like keyboards, so I’d want to switch to that. The keyboard is great for creating a variety of sounds, and I think it’d be fun to explore and try it.

Q: What songs from your discography are most personal to you and why?

JUNYONG: I think it would be this latest single, “Ideal Type.” The concept of the music video and the song itself talk about having a crush, something you can often experience during your school years. As a high school student right now, I feel like it captures those fresh, youthful emotions you experience at school really well.

SANI: For me, it’s ‘Cactus Boy‘ in our first album. When I wrote the lyrics for that song, I thought about when I was going through a really tough time, so it feels the most personal and closest to my own story.

NAMHYUN: I would choose ‘The Way to You‘. The lyrics are also really sweet and youthful, literally about going to see someone you care about. I think that emotion is so similar to how I feel when I’m on my way to meet Catchers. Every time we have a performance, I go with that same excited, fluttering feeling, so I think this song matches my emotions.

Q: What is your favorite memory as a group this far into your careers?

JUNYONG: For me, it would be our 1st anniversary concert. We held a show called “DREAM IT” on November 10, 2024. Since it was our anniversary, a lot of fans came to celebrate with us. We also filmed special content for it, and the whole idea and keyword of “1st anniversary” felt really emotional and meaningful.

Q: Each member is incredibly talented, what do you admire most musically about one another?

JUNGMO: All of our members have a background in music, so each of us brings something unique to the table with a high level of expertise. For KIHOON, every time we rehearse, I’m reminded of how precise his pitch bending is and how stylish and refined his guitar riffs are. That’s definitely one of his strengths. For SANI, among people our age who play bass, I honestly haven’t seen anyone as skilled as him. When I first heard him play, I seriously thought he was a genius. His playing skills are on another level. NAMHYUN has a very unique vocal tone. Since he often takes on parts meant to convey deep emotion, he puts a lot of effort into expressing them. He even reads books and tries different approaches to do so, as well as always being in the practice room, which is one of his biggest strengths. And JUNYOUNG even at a young age, already has great skills. One of his strengths is how quickly he can take feedback during rehearsals and apply it right away. He practices a lot, and I think that’s why we’re able to create such a strong sound together as a band.

NAMHYUN: And we can’t miss mentioning about JUNGMO! JUNGMO doesn’t limit himself to just one playing style. He constantly explores different feels and rhythms, always trying new things rather than staying in one place. That kind of effort and willingness to grow is something really admirable and worth praising.

KIHOON: In summary, all five members of Catch The Young are very talented, which gives a huge pride to us.

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The Seoul Story would like to thank Evermore Entertainment and Catch The Young for the interview opportunity!

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