[Hanteo News = Reporter KANG SUYOUNG] LUN8 has returned with sneakers on.

 

Ahead of the release of its 4th mini album 'Off the Grid' today (22nd), LUN8 met with Hanteo News at Whosfan Studio in Seoul and talked about the new album and its activities. YUMA introduced the album by saying, “We expressed the freedom of youth choosing our own path,” adding, “It carries the meaning of breaking away from set standards and frameworks and drawing a new starting line of our own.” Regarding the title track 'SNEAKERS,' IAN explained, “It starts with a rhythmic FM slap sound that captures the ear at once, and we made it more colorful by layering whistles and strings over trap drums,” adding, “The refreshing sound that bursts out in the chorus delivers a cool sense of liberation and strong addictiveness.”

 

They made meaningful use of their 10-month hiatus after their previous activities. JINSU said, “Last year, our albums had a slightly dark concept,” adding, “Since we had to come out with a concept that directly contrasted those two albums, we worked hard to show a dramatically changed side.” He continued, “Until now, we had a strong mindset of showing a prepared side, but this time, rather than a made-up side, we wanted to include more of our original selves in the album,” explaining, “A lot of our opinions were reflected, and because we thought the free mood of the songs and album was more important, the members also participated in the choreography.”

 

In this album, three members, JUNWOO, IAN, and TAKUMA, directly participated in creating the choreography. TAKUMA said, “At first, we started with the goal of making something impactful but easy to follow, but because we focused too much on making a point move, it did not come out well.” The breakthrough came at an unexpected moment. TAKUMA explained, “When we were just playing around and taking a break, a move came out where we pointed at our shoes and spun around once. The members saw it and said it was good, so we brought that to life, organized it, and connected it, and it turned into a good choreography.” He continued, “The point choreography includes pointing at the shoes with our hands as if showing them off, a move where we lift the shoes in the middle, and a part where we mix in a trendy step these days to draw attention to the shoes.” JUNWOO added, “The choreography we made is included a lot in the chorus, and since the challenge is in the chorus section, all the point choreography is included in the challenge too.” The feeling of performing choreography they made themselves was special. IAN said, “We always practiced with sincerity, but because this is choreography we made ourselves, it feels like something we put extra effort into,” adding, “Every time we dance this choreography, it feels different, and I feel a strong desire to do even better.”

 

During choreography practice, there was also a funny episode in which CHAEL was stopped by the members. CHAEL said, “Since we prepared this comeback with the motto of breaking away from set frameworks and showing a free side, we said, ‘Let’s unfold each of our dreams and show a lot of our own styles.’ But I added a bit too much of my own style, and the dance turned into a completely different dance, so the members told me, ‘Hyung, please hold back a little,’” drawing laughter. When asked which part it was, JUNWOO answered, “The overall chorus,” and CHAEL added, “Every moment.”

 

 


 

Leader JINSU put the most effort into managing the atmosphere during preparations for the comeback. JINSU said, “Of course, it is important to practice properly with focus, but this time, I thought it was more important to keep bringing out what is ours and create a free atmosphere on stage,” adding, “I thought the atmosphere should not sink, so whenever things started to feel a little strange or low, I paid the most attention to making it fun first.” He also revealed his secret to lifting the mood. JINSU said, “We joke around with one another a lot, and we also do a lot of the physical roughhousing that high school boys usually do. I think we really let ourselves go with one another,” adding, “Since we really let everything go and did it only for the sake of laughter, the atmosphere naturally had no choice but to come alive.” He continued, “I was truly grateful that the members never showed it and always followed along while laughing together,” adding, “What I was most thankful for was that whenever I tried to lift the mood, all the members joined in and tried to make the atmosphere even better.”

 

Main dancer JUNWOO chose the final part as the scene he hopes people will pay attention to on this stage. JUNWOO said, “At the end, there is a scene where we all just play around together, dancing hard, jumping, and really shaking everything off in excitement,” adding, “We get so excited that our expressions come out naturally without being made up, and because LUN8 laughs really widely from genuine excitement rather than smiling prettily, I think LUV8, the fandom name, will like that.” He also pointed to moments of contact with the members as something to look forward to, adding, “Sometimes the mischievous members deliberately make funny faces at each other even while the camera is filming, making one another laugh.” Through their successful Europe tour last year, they also gained more ease on stage. JUNWOO said, “I improved at making contact with fans and freely changing gestures,” adding, “Because I became much more relaxed on stage, sometimes I suddenly think of something five seconds before my part and do it naturally, and I have gotten much better at performing while looking into fans’ eyes.”

 

The members’ individual episodes also drew attention. CHAEL recently showed a new side through his appearance in a drama. CHAEL said, “Someone once asked me, ‘Aren’t you the person who played Manager Kang?’ and I remember correcting them by saying, ‘It was Manager Kim,’” drawing laughter. He continued, “I still cannot believe such a big drama was my first project,” adding, “A role I would like to try is a villain you cannot hate, something like Choi Young-do, the role Kim Woo-bin sunbaenim played in 'The Heirs.'” IAN, a former soccer player, said based on his experience appearing on JTBC’s 'Let’s Play Soccer 4,' “I want to appear on more variety shows centered around sports and entertainment, and if I get the chance, I want to appear on a soccer variety show again and show more things I could not show before.” The comparison of athletic ability with CHAEL, a former volleyball player, was also interesting. CHAEL confidently said, “Because my physical condition is overwhelmingly better, I think my athletic ability is quite high,” while IAN retorted, “When I saw CHAEL hyung playing soccer, he had absolutely no talent,” drawing laughter.

 

The members who talk the most in the group chat are CHAEL and JINSU. JINSU said, “The two of us talk so much that JUNWOO sometimes turns off his notifications,” and JUNWOO explained, “I am the type who honestly prefers not to contact people unless there is something specific to discuss.” CHAEL added, “So sometimes he does not even know the schedule well and asks where we are going today.” The members resolve hurt feelings through conversation. JUNWOO said, “Rather than fights, I think there are moments when we feel a little hurt,” adding, “If we feel hurt, we are the type to say it right away instead of keeping it inside.”

 

There were also dorm roommate episodes. In LUN8, JUNWOO and JINSU, CHAEL and YUMA, and TAKUMA and IAN share rooms. CHAEL said, “Because it is summer, there are a lot of mosquitoes, and at some point I saw that YUMA hyung was sleeping alone inside a mosquito tent,” adding, “All the mosquitoes came to me and bit me,” drawing laughter. He continued, “The good thing about having YUMA hyung as a roommate is that he is very quiet.” JINSU said, “JUNWOO has a clear mindset of keeping his own space clean, so we almost never live in a messy room,” but added, “If he goes in to wash up and forgets to bring a towel, he opens the door and suddenly calls me, and I quickly bring it to him while trembling.” JUNWOO said, “I always hold hyung’s toothbrush and say, ‘If you don’t bring me a towel right now, I don’t know what I’ll do to this toothbrush,’” drawing laughter.

 

 

 

They also revealed the behind-the-scenes story of holding a free fan concert for fan club members. CHAEL said, “LUV8 had wanted a concert for a long time,” adding, “As a way of repaying them for the time they waited for us, I thought we should make it free, so I suggested it to the company first.” Expectations for the fan concert were also high. JUNWOO drew laughter by saying, “If I sprayed one bottle of water last time, I will try spraying three bottles this time,” while IAN left a spoiler by saying, “Since we are making a comeback, the playlist for the fan concert or tour may change a bit.”

 

Their goals for this promotion were also clear. CHAEL said, “I hope this comeback does well so that we can win No. 1 on a music show, enter digital music charts, and continue on to year-end stages,” adding, “Since award ceremonies are held at the end of the year, I personally want to sing a carol song.” TAKUMA said, “There are many teams that debut or make comebacks with youth and refreshing concepts, and among them, LUN8 wants to be active as an idol group that represents youth,” adding, “I want us to earn the modifier of a versatile LUN8 that represents youth.”

 

LUN8’s 4th mini album 'Off the Grid' will be released through various music sites today at 6 PM. LUN8, which says it will break away from set frameworks and freely draw its own path, is now standing at the starting line with its sneaker laces tied tightly. Attention is focused on what speed and direction they will run toward from here.

grace@hanteo.com

 

 

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