by martina rexrode
photo courtesy of eden entertainment
ALL(H)OURS is a K-pop boy group that consistently presents themselves with power and integrity. Their music bursts through to listeners all over the world, allowing them to foster a devoted fanbase domestically in South Korea, at various events in North America, and everywhere in between. With K-pop continuing to grow their global popularity, groups like ALL(H)OURS offer a unique identity to those wanting to get into the genre. Their latest release, a mini-album titled NO DOUBT, makes the determination they’ve harbored since their debut known to all who tune in. We chatted with the group about this release, their creative process, and their evolution over the last couple of years.
How did the completion of your first North American Fancon, ALL the HOURS, prepare you for the release of your fifth mini-album?
KUNHO: “I think it gave us the motivation to create even better performances and results. Meeting Min(ut)es in many different regions helped us learn a lot about how we should perform on stage and how to express our own character, and through that experience we were able to grow even more.”
What does NO DOUBT represent to you personally and collectively?
XAYDEN: “This album carries the message of moving forward on our own path without doubting ourselves, even in the midst of anxiety, confusion, and fear. With that in mind, not only the title track but also the B-side tracks are filled with stories that reflect our determination and passion. We may not have achieved clear results yet, but this album reminds us once again of our determination to keep moving forward without doubt, continuing to love and enjoy what we do with the same mindset we have now.”
How does this comeback differ from previous releases? Is there a new side to ALL(H)OURS that shines on NO DOUBT with these five tracks?
YOUMIN: “Our fifth mini-album, NO DOUBT, captures our intensity and the journey of finding ourselves at the end of darkness. While ‘DEAD MAN WALKING’ highlights the darkest and most powerful side of ALL(H)OURS, B-side tracks like ‘7 o’clock’ show a new side of us by delivering a brighter and more hopeful message to listeners. Through this contrast, we wanted the album to reflect our process of discovering who ALL(H)OURS truly are.”
Why did you feel that “DEAD MAN WALKING” was best suited as this mini-album’s title track?
ON:N: “As mentioned before, the title of our new album, NO DOUBT, carries the meaning of continuing to move forward without doubting ourselves, even in the midst of anxiety and confusion. In a similar way, ‘DEAD MAN WALKING’ portrays someone who refuses to give up and keeps walking forward even in the most desperate situations. That’s why we felt it was the song that could best deliver the message we wanted to convey with this album and decided to make it the title track. Also, when people think of ALL(H)OURS, noise music and hard-listening sounds are something that really represent us. Since this song allows us to show what we do best and fully express our powerful and dark energy, it naturally became the title track.”
What was the creative process like for this comeback? How did you go about pitching ideas and collaborating on composition and writing for certain tracks?
KUNHO: “We had the opportunity to participate thanks to the producers giving us the chance. Once the producers shared the kind of atmosphere they were looking for, the members gathered together to decide on a theme, collect the message we wanted to convey, and then began working on the song. ‘7 o’clock’ was created through the same process as well. At first, several themes were suggested, like 6 o’clock, 5 o’clock, and sunlight, but considering the overall message of the album and the contrasting feeling we wanted to express, we felt that ‘7 o’clock’ fit the best, so we decided to go with that theme.”
HYUNBIN: “Since our debut, we’ve often worked together on writing and composing. While working on this song, we gathered to discuss the direction and shared our ideas with each other, putting our sincerity into every line throughout the process.”
This mini-album includes two high-energy unit tracks, with YOUMIN featured in both similar to KUNHO on VCF. How does the group split off into sub-units and decide which member will fall into both groups?
YOUMIN: “The unit tracks are divided into a hip-hop team and a vocal team. Through these songs, we hope listeners can discover individual charms that might not come through as clearly in our full group tracks. As a vocalist, I participated in the vocal unit, but I also joined the hip-hop unit track this time. In that song, the vocals act a bit like seasoning to enhance the track’s energy. I happened to take part this time, but in the next album, another vocalist who can bring a different charm than mine might participate in the hip-hop unit track.”
MINJE: “For ‘7 o’clock,’ we approached the song with the intention of showing a brighter and more uplifting side of our energy. While many of our previous tracks highlight intense and darker elements, we wanted this song to express a sense of hope, warmth, and positivity that listeners could connect with. Because of that, we spent time thinking about what kind of sound and genre would best capture the message and atmosphere we wanted to deliver.
After discussing it together, we felt that a pop-rock style would be the best fit, as it naturally carries a lively and refreshing energy while still allowing us to express emotion and sincerity. The genre helped us emphasize the uplifting mood of the song and bring out the message we wanted to share with listeners.”
Where did the inspiration for “미쳤으니까 (Cause I’m Insane)” and its hip-hop/future bass elements come from?
HYUNBIN: “For the track ‘미쳤으니까 (Cause I’m Insane),’ it’s a unit song featuring the three members of our hip-hop line together with our vocalist, YOUMIN. Because of that lineup, we felt it was important to choose a genre that could naturally highlight both the vocal melodies and the hip-hop elements. That’s why we chose a style that allows both the rap and vocal parts to stand out while complementing each other.”
What are the biggest ways each of you have evolved in the two years since your debut? How do you hope to evolve as you move forward?
MASAMI: “I think we’ve been growing a lot over the past two years. In terms of our skills, we’re constantly practicing and working hard because we want to show even better performances. At the same time, we’re also trying to grow mentally and become more professional in everything we do. Personally, I hope to become an idol who continues to grow together with our fans.”