ENHYPEN On Their New Album “ORANGE BLOOD”, Representing Prada Globally And More

ENHYPEN needs no introduction, but here’s one anyway. The South Korean boy band—comprising JUNGWON, HEESEUNG, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO and NI-KI—were the finalists of I-LAND, a South Korean boy group reality competition series organised by Belift Lab,  which at the time of airing was a joint venture between entertainment companies CJ E&M and HYBE (previously known as BigHit Entertainment). Their name takes its inspiration from the hyphen (-), a sign used to connect one word to another, signifying the seven members' connection to one another and their continuous journey of discovery and growth. 

The Journey

In November 2020, they made their official debut and became an overnight success story. The K-pop sensations won several coveted best new artist awards—including Best New Male Artist at the MAMA Awards. Their first mini album BORDER: DAY ONE has the highest first-week sales for a single album by a fledgling K-pop group. And that’s not all. Their third EP, MANIFESTO: DAY 1, sold more than 1.2 million copies in its first week of sales. It ultimately became the eight best-selling CD album in the United States and eleventh best-selling CD album worldwide in 2022.

Related article: Patrick Brasca Reflects On His Rise To Fame And Teases What’s Next

The Present

The hype surrounding these multi-talented individuals hasn’t gone unnoticed by the fashion industry. In June 2023, luxury fashion label Prada announced ENHYPEN as their newest brand ambassador. The seven-member group join the likes of Hunter Schafer, Maya Hawke and Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore’s February 2023 cover star Win Metawin. 

These days, ENHYPEN has been keeping busy with their sold-out tours across the globe. They’ve performed for over 240,000 fans to date, and are bringing their ‘FATE’ tour to Asia for seven shows in four cities, including Singapore. They’ll be performing at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday, 20 January 2024 and Sunday, 21 January 2024. 

Ahead of their highly-anticipated concert here, we caught up with JUNGWON, HEESEUNG, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO and NI-KI to find out what they’ve been up to and what else we can look forward to from them.

What was it like working together as a group for the first time after ‘I-LAND’? What was the group dynamic like then, and how different is it now?

JAY: Some of us have been training together for quite some time, so the transition wasn’t too abrupt. Nonetheless, it did take some time to get to know each other and really get 'connected.' Now, we know each other better than anyone else, and that really strengthens our teamwork on and off the stage.

Within two months of debuting as a group, you’ve won multiple awards such as Rookie of the Year for Music at the Asia Artist Awards and Rookie Artist of the Year at the Golden Disc Awards. How did it feel to be recognised for your talent and hard work by your industry?

HEESEUNG: Thanks to ENGENEs who love and support us in everything we do, we were immensely honoured to receive the ‘Rookie Of The Year’ awards shortly after our debut. I reflected on the significance this award holds for both me as an individual and for ENHYPEN as a team, and it serves as a powerful motivation for continuous growth and the pursuit of becoming a better artist.

Related article: Catch A Glimpse Of BTS’ Suga In The New Valentino The Narratives Campaign

In June 2023, you were announced as Prada’s newest ambassadors. What significance does this hold for you?

NI-KI: It’s a tremendous honour to be appointed as the brand ambassador for such an incredible brand. All our members are always thrilled to showcase our diverse charms through our collaboration with Prada.

What was it like attending fashion week for the first time?

SUNOO: I was a bit nervous at first since it was an entirely new experience. However, as I immersed myself in the moment, I was able to thoroughly enjoy every minute of my time there. We are grateful that we were invited to attend the show, and I sincerely hope for more opportunities to participate in fashion weeks in the future!

Related article: Mew Suppasit Jongcheveevat And Tul Pakorn Thanasrivanitchai On Love, Travel, Upcoming Projects And More

In 2022, your song "Polaroid Love" went viral on TikTok. Did you ever expect the song to become this popular when you were working on it, and what did it feel like to have your song become a trending audio?

SUNGHOON: To be honest, I didn’t expect “Polaroid Love” to become such a hit, but I did sense a strong potential for it to be widely loved, given how undeniably good the song is. In 2023, ENHYPEN was even ranked as one of the most viewed artists on TikTok. I hope our songs continue to resonate with a broad audience.

How do you deal with fame?

JUNGWON: I strive to uphold the mindset I had during our debut years; constantly reflecting on what my role is as an artist. Watching videos from the past helps me revisit those early moments.

JAKE: I try to keep myself grounded by staying humble. Although having confidence and pride is important as well, maintaining humility is, in my opinion, one of the utmost essential values in continuing our growth as an artist.

What was it like working on your fifth mini album ORANGE BLOOD? What is your favourite track from it, and why?

SUNOO: We all actively participated in the making of ORANGE BLOOD—from pitching in ideas for things like concept photos that accompany the album to the recording process. Personally, I feel particularly attached to this album because I have great memories from working really hard on the album. My favourite track has to be “Orange Flower (You Complete Me)” as it perfectly encapsulates the album’s overall mood. I’m particularly in love with its lyrics and the vibe it carries.

What do you do to unwind?

JAY: Typically, I’ll practise playing the guitar or hit the gym. When we have a bit of free time in the morning before starting our day, I enjoy having a light meal alone or with the members.

JUNGWON: I become one with my bed.

What can your fans look forward to from your concert in Singapore?

SUNGHOON: Please pay close attention to the overarching storyline throughout the show, and we hope you will be able to feel all the emotions we try to deliver through our performances.

NI-KI: For those seeing us perform our choreography for the first time, get ready to be blown away!

Lastly, what else can fans look forward to from you in the near future?

JAKE: I can’t wait to connect with ENGENEs more often and create loads of wonderful memories together. It’s something I’m really really looking forward to. 2024 will be the year of ENHYPEN, so stay tuned!

HEESEUNG: I’m confident that this year will bring us more opportunities to meet ENGENEs all over the world. 2024 will be an amazing year, and we’ll be kicking it off with valuable and joyous moments with our fans.

*This interview has been edited for clarity.