CRAVITY on Why They'd Rather 'Love or Die' and How They're 'Finding Light in Darkness' (Exclusive)

"We want our love to be EVERSHINE," Allen says of the 9-piece group’s latest mini-album.

Would you rather live without love or die?

The boys of CRAVITY give their take with an explosive bang. From the moment they burst onto your screen, running at full pace, it’s clear that they’d rather “Love or Die.”

Amidst a backdrop of fast-paced drum and bass rhythm, the nine boys — Serim, 25, Allen, 24, Jungmo, 24, Woobin, 23, Wonjin, 23, Minhee, 21, Hyeongjun, 21, Taeyoung, 21, and Seongmin, 20 — passionately sing about what makes love an essential feeling. Keep your ears open and you’ll hear that for them, love is just as essential as oxygen and the only thing they dream about.

But perhaps, you won’t even need the lyrics to feel the intense, energetic vibe that magnifies the title track’s meaning. The K-pop group’s fans, named LUVITY, will recognize the dynamic energy that’s become so second-nature for the boys. Unlike previous releases however, there’s something about CRAVITY’s seventh mini-album, EVERSHINE, that makes it glow a little different.

"[It’s] a little sexy,” Minhee says to PEOPLE as he reflects on the album’s new zest.

"Mature,” Woojin pipes in.

"This album is a little bit of a spinoff,” Taeyoung adds, seated squarely in the center of the second row. “Before, it was a kind of youthful, bright side of CRAVITY, and this side is a more mature side. We’re trying to emphasize that.”

Their six new tracks not only emphasize the obstacles that one can undergo in their youth, but also promise “a brighter sun” after the darkness, within the “beauty of the afterglow.”

The boys are now finally basking in that very afterglow ever since they debuted in 2020 at the pandemic’s onset. From that unpredictable time, CRAVITY has managed to soar to new heights. The completion of their first-ever world tour, “Masterpiece,” is just one of the many highlights the group has experienced.

Thanks to EVERSHINE’s recent release, Jungmo will now be able to tick “Release a hit song for 2024” off his New Year’s Resolutions. In addition, “Love or Die” not only gained an award show win for the boys so far, but also quickly generated millions of views.

The album also provided an opportunity for the “Groovy” members to musically challenge themselves through composition and production. For instance, Serim and Allen both wrote on the EDM track “Mr.,” and Allen even co-wrote and produced the album’s guitar and heavy bass closer, “Over & Over.”

While writing, Serim says he gained inspiration from his favorite dramas and movies. Fan letters also gave him an outlet to absorb “beautiful” sentences into his own lyrics.

"Our fans write very pretty — the way they express their love and appreciation for us is very pretty,” Allen says on Serim’s behalf as the group’s de facto translator, before diving into how much fan letters have inspired his own writing as well.

Before “Over & Over” came to be, Allen says he already knew he wanted to dedicate his first song to LUVITY. His one goal was to make them touched, and that intention has been well reciprocated so far.

"I’m really happy with how it came out, and I’m really happy with that being my first song in CRAVITY’s discography,” Allen finishes.

Beyond raw talent, their success might also have something to do with their charm and creativity — three traits in total that attract listeners into their “Center of Gravity,” according to the group’s name. In fact, eagle-eyed fans will notice that signs of their gravitational pull are everywhere. Their title track music video alone features a moment when Woobin performs against a whirlpool of white stars in a velvet night sky, all circling around a single point of gravity.

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When you’re sucked into the very center, you’ll soon discover the boys undergoing a constant balancing act between youth and maturity. Amidst a fast-paced K-pop universe, losing that balance might almost seem inevitable, but the boys assure fans that they won’t lose their footing anytime soon.

"We love each other,” Woobin says of how they maintain their youth. “We believe in our members, always practice and [have] a healthy mind.”

"Workout,” Taeyoung interjects.

"Our fans — LUVITY’s love!” Jungmo says with enthusiasm.

Serim also mentions skincare, and Allen affirms that act of self-care.

"We go to the dermatologist,” he adds.

Even though the boys are well-versed in the humorous side of youth, they’re also not willing to shy away from mature reflections about the more bittersweet parts. When asked to reflect about a childhood item that evokes nostalgia, they immediately take a vacation down memory lane.

"For me, it’s not an item — it’s Finn and Jake (from the) “Adventure Time” animation,” Taeyoung says of the popular animated series. “When I see that animation, it always takes me to nostalgia and brings up some happy memories while I’m watching.”

An airplane flies to Allen’s mind when the Taipei native thinks about nostalgia.

"I’ve been traveling on an airplane ever since I was young, back and forth from Taipei and Los Angeles,” he says. “Every time I go back to Taipei for summer vacation, I always have a very good time."

Allen’s nostalgic item of choice is just as dominant in his present life with CRAVITY when touring. In fact, one of Jungmo’s most vivid off-stage memories during the tour also took place at an airport. On the way to Puerto Rico from a stop in Chicago, their plane was slightly delayed. To pass the time, Jungmo had a specific activity in mind.

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The 24-year-old performer pauses to laugh before revealing his choice, while Woobin does the opposite — he hides behind Taeyoung’s back for a moment, in an attempt to suppress a laugh. As soon as Jungmo finishes answering, Allen jumps into his translation.

“So for Jungmo, at the airport, he had a very precious memory where all the members came together and we played the game 'Among Us,’" Allen says on behalf of the animated member right above him. For a beat, Jungmo playfully pumps his left arm up in the air.

"He really wanted to play it for some reason, even though it was out of trend,” Allen continues as the members smile around him. “But anyways, we played with him and he felt really happy because of that.”

“We also ate Wendy’s burger!” Jungmo interjects.

In similar fashion to the precious “Among Us” memory, there are many scenes that fans don’t see off-camera or off-stage. Some of those may involve instances of self-doubt, strong enough to stop anyone in their tracks. However, the presence of the nine boys together proves that they can make it through, and they don’t keep their tactics a secret.

While Woobin uses self-doubt as a source of motivation to better himself, Serim pushes his mind to think positively about the future and visualize what it could be.

Taeyoung’s go-to is a little bit simpler.

“I usually sleep,” the Incheon native says. “After I wake up, negative thoughts and bad thoughts go away very cleanly.”

“Same with me,” Jungmo says, before turning to offer a fist bump to Taeyoung. “Boom!”

When Allen thinks about what keeps him going, there’s a quote that closely resembles the theme of the recent album.

“'It’s always darkest before dawn,'” Allen recalls. “That sort of ties together with the album EVERSHINE because we’re talking about finding light in darkness. I always think back to that quote, and that helps me get through whatever doubt or hardships that I face.”

Of course, their LUVITY is a big source of light for CRAVITY, and that’s especially true for Hyeongjun. Because the pandemic barred the boys from interacting with their fans in-person for two years, LUVITY’s love has become that much more special, Allen says on Hyeongjun’s behalf.

“He felt like the love that he received from our fans is very precious and that prompts him to want to do better in order to repay back the love that we receive throughout the years,” Allen translates for Hyeongjun.

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Reflecting on their fans’ support easily takes them back to their debut and pre-debut days, when all their biggest dreams were still ahead of them. What if they could possibly go back in time and give their younger selves a piece of advice?

After Wonjin gives his answer, the members start laughing around him. Allen even bends down, hands on knees, before translating on Wonjin’s behalf:

“He wants to say to his old self: learn English beforehand,” Allen says after recovering.

As for Minhee?

“He wants to tell himself to eat well and exercise more and to live more healthily,” Allen says.

Taeyoung then looks straight at Minhee with a pointed finger.

“Tell that right now,” he says with a knowing look.

“OK,” Minhee says with a jokingly dejected appearance, and Allen bursts out with a laugh.

On the flipside, what if the boys suddenly fast-forwarded 20 years in time? What might they say to their fans then?

“I still love you,” Woobin says without hesitation.

“That’s very sweet,” Allen says in retrospect. “I think that basically sums up what we all want to say, because we want to maintain our relationship, that love with our fans, LUVITY, for as long as we can, whether that be 20, 40, 80, 100 years”

“We want our love to be EVERSHINE,” he gracefully summarizes.

For now, the CRAVITY members promise they’ll be back soon — and it certainly won’t take two decades before they burst onto your screen again, like a breath of fresh air.

“Big plans for 2024. Big plans. That’s all I can say,” Allen says with a mysterious air. “Top secret!”

EVERSHINE is now available to stream.

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