by martina rexrode
photo courtesy of catch the young
Catch The Young occupies a unique space within Korean music. They’re a five-piece band (Sani, Jungmo, Kihoon, Namhyun, and Junyoung) promoting and creating alongside K-pop powerhouses while pushing their own “YOUTH POP ROCK” sound into listeners' ears. After debuting in 2023, they’ve finally released their first full-length album, EVOLVE, consisting of 14 tracks that were written and composed by the members. We spoke to the band about this milestone release, their creative process, and their own evolution through the years.
Congratulations on the release of EVOLVE! How does it feel to finally put your first full-length album out after debuting over two years ago?
Sani: “Since we spent such a long time carefully working on this, I feel like we’ve ended up with an album we’re truly proud of. The recording process took longer than we expected, so it came out a bit later than planned, but we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who waited for us. With that gratitude in mind, we’re going to give our absolute best and show everything we have.”
Kihoon: “Releasing a full-length album has always been a dream of ours, and the fact that we composed and wrote lyrics for every track ourselves makes it even more meaningful. I hope this album helps more people recognize Catch The Young’s musical identity and our sincerity toward music.”
Namhyun: “We carefully combined songs we’ve been building up over time with tracks we worked on more recently, and we really poured our hearts into the process. A lot of people have shown positive reactions and love for it, and they’ve also said it’s admirable that we chose to release a full-length album in an era when that’s becoming less common. That makes us feel incredibly proud.”
Jungmo: “Over the past two years since our debut, we’ve gone through a lot of thoughts and events, and all of that time has led us to our first full-length album, EVOLVE. This album captures our growth and transformation. Since you’ve waited for us, we’ll repay you by showing a stronger, more refined version of Catch The Young.”
Junyong: “We’ve performed a lot and released many songs over the past two years, but a full-length album carries a different kind of meaning. No matter what, we plan to approach it with the same mindset and sincerity we had when we first started.”
Why was “Amplify” chosen as the album’s title track?
Sani: “We felt this track best represents Catch The Young’s identity and fits perfectly with our full-length album EVOLVE. It’s the ideal song to express explosive energy and atmosphere.”
Kihoon: “Just like our debut title track ‘YOUTH!!!,’ we thought this song carries a sound and genre that can be enjoyed and related to by people of all generations. It also aligns with our hope that our music will ‘amplify’ even more powerfully and reach fans all around the world, which is why we chose it as the title track.”
Jungmo: “We believe ‘Amplify’ captures the core message of our full-length album EVOLVE most clearly. It’s a song where you can strongly feel the band’s energy, and it best showcases our color, growth, and the theme of ‘evolution,’ so we decided to make it a title track.”
What do you hope listeners get out of this release? Is there a specific message you put forward within “Amplify” and EVOLVE as a whole?
Sani: “I hope listeners can truly feel Catch The Young’s energy, along with our evolved sound. Since the album includes a wide range of genres, I think listening from start to finish will offer a unique and dynamic experience. I also hope people can pick up on the message within ‘Amplify,’ that we want to amplify our music and take it out into the world.”
Kihoon: “Through this full-length album and the live stages that follow, we want to show that Catch The Young isn’t defined by just one color or genre. Instead, we blend various genres and styles to create our own distinct identity. We hope listeners can enjoy listening to our music in various styles, and at the same time, see that we have the skills to fully deliver those diverse sounds on stage.”
Namhyun: “I hope our existing fans come to understand Catch The Young’s music on a deeper level, and that even more people will discover and listen to our music.”
What did you find different about the process of creating EVOLVE compared to making your previous singles and mini-albums?
Sani: “Since it’s a full-length album, we definitely paid closer attention to the track arrangement and the overall production process. Compared to working on previous albums, it was more challenging to carefully balance how the songs fit together, the order of the tracklist, and the distribution of energy throughout the album.”
Jungmo: “In the past, we focused more on perfecting one song at a time. This time, we wanted to shape the entire album to feel like a single story. We paid close attention to the track flow, and since we had enough time to work on it, we exchanged many ideas and refined everything together. I think that the collaborative process and the stronger sense of cohesion are the biggest differences this time.”
Junyong: “Because it’s a full-length album, it wasn’t easy having to carefully consider multiple tracks at once. But we worked hard to make sure none of the songs felt repetitive, and that each one brought something new and distinct to the table.”
How has your songwriting process evolved since you first debuted?
Sani: “I don’t think there’s been one specific technical breakthrough, but my mindset when making music has definitely changed. I find myself thinking much more about what ‘better music’ really means, and about what I genuinely want to express.”
Namhyun: “I think our musical color has grown deeper and more mature. In the beginning, there was a fresh and innocent kind of energy. Now, we’re able to incorporate a wider range of instrumentation and express a broader emotional spectrum.”
Jungmo: “When we first debuted, we were mainly focused on pouring out our messages and emotions exactly as they were. Now, I think we spend more time thinking about how to deliver those emotions in the most honest and persuasive way. Every word, every melody line, every rhythmic phrase carries intention. We’ve also gained the perspective to think from the listener’s point of view.”
photo courtesy of catch the young
Within EVOLVE, which b-side do each of you feel the most proud of?
Sani: “I’d choose ‘28 Hours’ because it tells my own story. More than the sound itself, it’s the lyrics that make it special to me. They’re drawn from my real experiences, which is probably why I feel so attached to it.”
Kihoon: “‘Hurricane’ isn’t just about rebellion, but more about refusing to silently accept unfair situations and instead choosing to speak up and move toward something better. We poured the energy of frustration and resistance into the sound, and I hope listeners can find courage and confidence in their own lives through this song.”
Namhyun: “‘Hurricane” is one of the songs I’m most proud of, not necessarily because of a single standout part from the song, but because it captures the overall mood and emotional flow so completely. Especially in the chorus, the ‘I’m hurricane~!’ section blends so naturally that the recorded texture feels charming to me.”
Jungmo: “Personally, I’m most proud of ‘Hurricane’ as well. It honestly reflects the emotions we felt during difficult and uncertain times, and I think it represents the core message of this full-length album the best. It’s also a genre that I personally love.”
Junyong: “For me, it’s ‘Better Days.’ It has a fast tempo and a straightforward band sound, but if you really listen to the lyrics, it carries a hopeful message that better days will come in my life, too. I think I’m drawn to that contrast; it has a kind of unexpected charm that I really like.”
How does Catch The Young set themselves apart from other bands in the K-pop adjacent music industry? What do you see as your main charms that allow you to carve your own path?
Sani: “I think what truly sets Catch The Young apart is our unique energy and the explosive power that comes through in our live performances. Of course, we’re confident in our skills as well, but anyone who’s seen us on stage can feel how our energy differs from other groups.”
Kihoon: “I think being able to take over the whole stage while wearing a headset mic is also part of our skills. We actually play and perform everything live and create the sound ourselves. I believe that authenticity is something everyone will recognize one day, and that’s a big part of our charm.”
Namhyun: “I’d say our charm is that we’re not confined to one genre. Our own style, YOUTH POP ROCK, combined with performance, strong vocals, and solid musicianship, is what differentiates us. We’re constantly working to make sure that identity comes through clearly on stage. I can confidently say we’re continuing to grow in a way that shows why this is something only Catch The Young can do.”
Junyong: “With our signature genre, YOUTH POP ROCK, we strive to create stages that are exciting both visually and sonically. I think our biggest strength is the vibrant energy of our live performances with dynamic moments that truly come alive on stage.”
What are you most excited for as you start your third year together with a bang?
Sani: “If we get the chance to travel all around the world, I think that would be incredibly exciting. Experiencing new cultures and meeting fans in different countries would be such a meaningful and joyful experience for us.”
Kihoon: “I’m really looking forward to performing our new songs on big stages like festivals and concerts. I also think it would be amazing to adapt some of our songs with English lyrics so that international fans can sing along and enjoy the performances with us.”
Namhyun: “What excites me most is the thought of taking these songs to many different countries around the world and proving ourselves on stage. We want to perform in a way that makes people feel they can’t help but love Catch The Young. In addition, the process of constantly practicing and researching to grow even more is thrilling and something I’m really looking forward to.”
Jungmo: “Since this is our first full-length album, I really hope we can meet fans in person in many different countries and perform new songs live. I want to share our music through concerts, festivals, and various stages, and create powerful energy together with the audience.”
Junyong: “With our first full-length album, we can now fill an entire concert setlist with our own music. I’m especially excited about the idea of doing a concert that’s completely packed, from beginning to end, with just our songs.”