(Photo courtesy of RBW)

 

[Hanteo News = Reporter JUNG JUNHWA] XLOV has ventured into an Eastern-inspired concept for the first time. This time, the group explores the fear of making choices and the possibilities left behind by the paths not taken.

 

XLOV held a media showcase for the release of its third mini-album ‘i=!’ at Cube Convention Center in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul, on October 28.

 

Only three members, WUMUTI, RUI, and HARU, took the stage that day. HYUN was unable to attend on medical advice after sustaining a leg injury during choreography practice. Instead, he shared a handwritten message through the event's MC.

 

"I'm really disappointed that I can't be on stage with the members today because of an unexpected injury," HYUN said. "I'm receiving intensive treatment and focusing on my recovery so I can return to the stage in good health as soon as possible."

 

▶︎ Turn an ‘i’ Upside Down and It Becomes an Exclamation Mark: "It Started with Questions About Choices"

 

The album's title came from the idea of turning a letter upside down. WUMUTI explained, "If you turn an ‘i’ upside down, it becomes an exclamation mark, but you can still pronounce it as 'I'. That's where the idea started."

 

The album centers on the theme of choice.

 

"No matter what choice you make, you can never know the outcome in advance," WUMUTI said. "You might feel fear or anticipation before making a decision, and afterward, you may wonder what would have happened if you'd taken a different path. This album began with those questions."

▶︎ First Eastern-Inspired Track ‘Hush’: "Eight Spins in a 34-Second Chorus"

 

The first title track, ‘Hush’, marks XLOV's first attempt at an Eastern-inspired sound. It combines heavy bass with traditional Eastern musical motifs. The song portrays a state of being trapped by trauma through the contrast between a god who guides people toward the right path and an opposing deity who intensifies nightmares.

 

"Even within its dark and frightening atmosphere, we wanted to capture a kind of beauty that only XLOV can express," WUMUTI said.

 

He also explained why the group chose the concept.

 

"All of us are Asian, and we've received so much support from international fans since our debut. We wanted to use our own strengths to share the beauty of Eastern aesthetics with a wider audience."

 

Asked how XLOV sought to differentiate itself from other groups, WUMUTI responded confidently.

 

"We weren't worried about how to make ourselves look different because we believed that simply doing it our way would make it distinctive," he said.

 

"Ever since our trainee days, we've been interested in learning the fundamentals of traditional dance and have continued practicing. We've always wanted to properly showcase those skills, and now we felt we were ready."

 

The choreography incorporates traditional dance movements. RUI revealed, "The chorus lasts about 34 seconds, and we spin eight times during that section."

 

RUI also recalled the first time he heard the track.

 

"I first listened to it through my earphones on a plane, and the moment I heard the opening instrumental sound, I thought, 'This is it!' I could immediately tell it was an XLOV song."

 

▶︎ ‘Tooth Gem Chiwawa’ Tells a Fairy Tale: "A Cute but Sad Song, Just Like Youth"

 

The other title track, Tooth Gem Chiwawa, offers an entirely different atmosphere from ‘Hush’. The song draws on dreamcore and hyperpop.

 

"When people first saw the title, a lot of them reacted with, 'What is this?' But the message behind the song is actually a fairy tale," WUMUTI explained.

 

"It's the story of a wolf pup that becomes separated from its pack and is taken in and raised by a mother Chihuahua. It's a story about a wolf-Chihuahua."

 

He added, "There's a lovely, bright side to it, but it also carries a sense of emptiness and sadness. I think it's a song that resembles youth."

 

RUI admitted that recording the track had been challenging.

 

"It has this dreamy, cute, yet sad feeling, so I had a lot to think about while recording," he said with a laugh. "WUMUTI explained the story to me in great detail, which helped me finish the recording."

 

The music videos for the two title tracks are also connected.

 

"The two music videos are linked, so I think it'll be fun if you pay attention to the details," RUI hinted.

 

The album contains eight tracks, including the two title songs, ‘Cat Move’, RUI and HARU's unit track ‘All Tied Up’, and WUMUTI and HYUN's unit track ‘Silence’.

 

WUMUTI participated in the creation of several songs, including the title tracks.

 

"If you listen to the album in track order, I think you'll feel as though you've watched an entire movie," he said.

▶︎ Addressing Reactions to Their Gender-Free Concept: "We Want to Be a New Window in a Wall That Had None"

 

XLOV has received mixed reactions to the gender-free concept it has embraced since debut. Asked about the differing opinions, WUMUTI responded calmly.

 

"We knew from the beginning that people would have different perspectives because we're taking a new path," he said.

 

"What we're trying to show isn't about telling people, 'You should live like us.' We simply want to show that there are other possibilities in the world."

 

He also shared the responses the group has received from fans.

 

"A lot of people tell us that their lives have changed because of us," WUMUTI said. "It makes me proud to think that our courage might give others the strength to move forward in a direction that's right for their own lives."

 

Reflecting on XLOV's place within K-POP, he said, "It may still be too early to say, but we want to become a new window in a wall that never had one before."

 

He added, "We also want to become senior artists who can offer new inspiration and strength to trainees who will debut in the future."

▶︎ "We Want People to Call Us Beautiful": XLOV Sets Its Sights on a Music Show Win

 

Asked what kind of description they would like people to associate with XLOV, RUI replied, "When people hear the phrase 'the ultimate beauty', I want XLOV to be the first thing that comes to mind."

 

He added, "Rather than being called pretty or handsome, the compliment that makes me happiest is hearing someone say, 'Wow, that's truly beautiful.'"

 

HARU had a different answer.

 

"I don't particularly want a specific title or description," he said. "I'd love for the name XLOV to be used almost like a hashtag, representing a certain mood or even a genre of its own."

 

The group's goal for this comeback was clear.

 

"Before every comeback, the members always wish for the same thing: a first-place win on a music show," WUMUTI said.

 

"It's a dream I've carried with me since I was a little kid who wanted to become a K-POP idol, all the way to now, when I'm actually standing on stage as an artist. This time, we're determined to make it happen."

 

RUI shared the same ambition.

 

"I'm really looking forward to our music show promotions. I hope we can take first place this time."

 

XLOV's third mini-album ‘i=!’ will be released on various music streaming platforms at 6 PM on October 28.