Enhypen Members Choose Which Of Their Songs Describe Them Best, And Their Favorite Part Of Making "Dark Blood"
With the finale of Boys Planet fresh on our minds and the final lineup of ZEROBASEONE being announced, it's only natural to think about the history of K-pop survival shows — especially given the growing popularity over the past few years. One specific show, I-Land, was the talk of the town in 2020. Among the 23 contestants, only the final seven would make their dreams a reality and debut in the group that was eventually named Enhypen.
Inspired by the "hyphen(-)" that connects one word to another, Enhypen means that seven different boys connect to discover one another and grow together. Members JUNGWON, HEESEUNG, JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO, and NI-KI were the final 7 contestants of I-LAND, officially debuting as Enhypen in November 2020 and immediately making waves in K-pop from day one with their first mini album, BORDER : DAY ONE, achieving the highest first-week sales for a single album among K-pop groups to debut the same year.
To add to their list of achievements, their third EP, MANIFESTO : DAY 1, sold more than 1.2 million copies during its first week and went on to become the year’s No. 8 best-selling CD album in the US and No. 11 best-selling CD album worldwide among all artists. They also embarked on their first-ever world tour, which sold-out 19 of 22 stops including six arena shows in the US, New York City’s iconic Radio City Music Hall, and two stadium shows in Japan.
Now, BuzzFeed sat down to chat with the boys of Enhypen to discuss their latest release Dark Blood and look back on their careers as their third anniversary draws near.
1.Dark Blood is your fourth mini album. What message do you hope to convey with this release?
Jay: Dark Blood is essentially an album that expresses our gratitude towards our Engenes through a fantasy-like story. Through our unique concept and performance, we aim to show our limitless potential and distinct qualities that set us apart. We have poured a lot of time and effort into crafting this album, so we sincerely hope that Engenes love and enjoy this album as much as we do.
2.How is Dark Blood different in comparison to your other albums? How does it all connect?
Jungwon: As this is our comeback in 10 months, each of us have undergone noticeable growth both in terms of our visual presence and artistic capabilities. This album shines with its use of various fantasy-like elements, e.g. the vampire theme, and we wanted to use it to create a one-of-a-kind concept unique to us. The album itself is a means to convey our deepest gratitude to Engenes, so rather than solely focusing on how Dark Blood connects to our past discography, please enjoy this album as a message from us to our beloved fans.
3.If you could only choose one of your songs to describe yourself, which one would you pick?
4.Can you share a memorable moment you have from making this album?
5.What are you most excited about as you start promotions for Dark Blood?
6.What message would you share with your pre-debut selves?
Jungwon: Don’t give up! I know you will make it.
Sunoo: Stay true to yourself.
Ni-ki: Do your best!!!
7.You debuted amid the COVID-19 pandemic and had to wait a while to meet your fans face to face. How has it been being able to meet fans face-to-face and on your tour last year?
8.What concepts are you interested in trying that you have not done yet?
Jungwon: I’d like to try a high-teen concept.
Heeseung: We have always dedicated our efforts into trying out different concepts, so we want to continue to challenge ourselves to try something new both visually and sonically to show our versatility.
Jay: In the musical sense, I want to try ballad - a genre that can really showcase who we are as vocalists.
Jake: Nothing specific comes to mind at the top of my head at the moment, but I would like to continue seeking out new, different concepts that no one has done before.
Sunghoon: Retro is making a comeback, so I’d like Enhypen to try and experiment with that style sonically and visually.
Sunoo: I want to try something on the cuter side. I can’t really imagine ourselves doing that kind of concept, but I’m sure we could pull it off.
Ni-ki: We’ve tried it before, but I’d like us to take another shot at the hip-hop concept since it felt like a great fit for all of us. If we ever do come back with a hip-hop concept, I would like to participate in creating the choreography and performance of the track in its entirety so we can go up on stage with what I have built for Enhypen's stage.
9.Your third debut anniversary is coming up in November. Looking back on your experience competing on I-Land, how has Enhypen shaped your growth as individuals?
Jungwon: Participating in I-Land undoubtedly gave us valuable experiences on stage that would have been unattainable otherwise. In hindsight, these experiences have become a powerful source of motivation, keeping me grounded and propelling me to strive for greater excellence.
Heeseung: It served as a significant opportunity for self-discovery and growth. It became a crucial part of my personal journey, for which I’m very thankful.
Jay: This experience became a driving force that led me to persevere and relentlessly pursue my dreams.
Jake: I think I’ve become stricter with myself during practice, which ultimately drives me toward perfection and continuous improvement.
Sunghoon: Being a part of I-Land definitely had an immense impact on my personal development, not only improving my skills and capabilities but also growing a resilient mindset.
Sunoo: I used to overthink, which would sometimes lead to my emotions taking control every now and then. However, going through this experience has helped me mature in all aspects of myself.
Ni-ki: The diverse experiences and exposures I got through partaking in I-Land ignited an even stronger desire for the stage, which still persists today.
10.Describe your members in one word!
11.What do you want Enhypen to be remembered for in 10 years?
12.Do you have a message to Engene and our readers?
13.What does K-pop mean to you?
Follow Enhypen on Instagram and Twitter, and listen to their latest album Dark Blood. For even more content featuring the boys, check out their YouTube channel and check out the dates of their upcoming world tour, Fate.
