Photo = C9 ENTERTAINMENT

 

On their 5th debut anniversary, EPEX completed the epilogue of youth themselves.

 

EPEX held a showcase at SBS Open Hall in Deungchon-dong on the 9th to commemorate the release of its 7th mini album 'SoHwa (韶華) : Epilogue' and shared stories about the new album.

 

EPEX, which debuted in June 2021, has built a solid worldview by continuing its own original album series. At the Hanteo Music Awards, the group has been recognized for its steady growth, starting with the Rookie Award in 2021, followed by the Emerging Artist Award in 2022 and the Post Generation Award in 2024. The group’s 7th mini album 'SoHwa (韶華) : Epilogue' is an epilogue album that marks the finale of its youth series, which has continued through a total of three full-length albums since 2024. It contains a total of four tracks, including the title track 'ECHO,' and all members personally participated not only in writing lyrics and composing, but also in styling, choreography, directing, and the overall album production process, melting the group’s own color into the album.

 

The behind-the-scenes story of selecting the title track was also revealed. YEWANG said, “This is a song that all the members had told the company we really wanted to do since the year before last,” adding, “At the time of working on the album, they played us two songs, 'ECHO' and 'Everyday Tomorrow,' and the members were more strongly drawn to 'ECHO,' so it was chosen as the title track.” MU introduced 'ECHO' as “a song characterized by sounds that evoke the sentiment of the 2000s and a highly addictive hip-hop base,” adding, “We tried to express the resonance of youth.” Regarding the point choreography, WISH explained, “The point choreography is a simple move where we pull and push with our hands as if miming,” while A-MIN added, “It is a choreography that draws out addictiveness along with the lyrics ‘echo, echo’ in the chorus, and anyone can follow along.”

 

The message contained in the lyrics was also revealed. BAEKSENG said, “In the chorus, We need an ECHO keeps repeating, and I wrote the lyrics this way because I wanted to express the resonance of young people’s certainty in themselves.” AYDEN said, “There is a lyric that says, ‘Before we even realized it, we had already begun,’ and because it contains the message that a resonance had already begun inside me even before I realized it, I think it is a lyric that fits youth.” Regarding the album’s message, MU explained, “Through the three full-length albums, we romantically unfolded the brilliant stories of youth, and in this epilogue album, we captured the stories of young people who pass through the hottest and most unstable period and stand before another beginning.”

 

They also shared plenty of behind-the-scenes stories about all members’ participation. WISH explained, “It was not that we came together with that intention from the beginning. Each of us was preparing the album in our own way, but our desire for the album grew, so we naturally came to take charge of our own fields while looking for areas where each of us could show our talents.” MU, who was in charge of styling, said, “I organized the initial draft work into a PDF file and gave it to the company, and I also combined the opinions the members gave me to create the draft,” adding, “I divided the concept into three parts, and two of the outfits, the Napoleon outfit and the outfit we are wearing now, are included in the album.” WISH said, “He even organized and sent all the accessory details separately,” adding, “I thought it was a PDF made by someone who works in this field, and it was a moment when I came to respect MU.” A-MIN, who was in charge of creating the choreography, said, “Because it is a calm but weighty song, I thought it would be difficult to choreograph, but I got hints from WISH’s ideas and also from myself, and the two of us developed it together and matched our chemistry.”

 

They also shared their thoughts on participating in writing lyrics and composing. BAEKSENG said, “While making it, I was nervous and trembling, but when the final result came out, I was so satisfied, so I think it became a good experience for all the members.” AYDEN said, “It feels proud and new to have my name listed in the album credits,” adding, “Since we lacked experience, I worried a lot about whether what we made would be used, but the company approved it right away and gave us courage.” AYDEN added, “In particular, through this album, I learned that JEFF is really good at writing lyrics,” adding, “I am also making the next album, so please look forward to it.”

 

They also revealed their determination and goals as they mark their 5th anniversary. BAEKSENG said, “Of course, it would be good to set big goals in terms of results,” adding, “But we think moving forward at our own pace is the best result for us, so I think it will be enough just to show ourselves developing more at our own pace without getting tired or stopping.” YEWANG said, “When I thought things were so difficult that I could not overcome them, I overcame them by imagining the future together with the members,” adding, “We overcame it by thinking that we still have a lot of time ahead of us and that we should unfold our stories more within that time.” As a closing remark, WISH said, “There are so many things we have learned and felt over the past five years,” adding, “We will use those things as nourishment and become an EPEX that grows even more.”

 

EPEX’s 7th mini album 'SoHwa (韶華) : Epilogue' was released through various online music sites at 6 PM on this day. Attention is focused on what new chapter EPEX, which has come to put the final period on its youth series themselves as it marks its 5th debut anniversary, will open with this album.