by martina rexrode
photo courtesy of IPQ
When a K-pop group takes a hiatus, it’s often a necessary means to begin their mandatory military service (in the case of boy groups) or simply a way to allow individual members to pursue their own projects. For JAEHAN, YECHAN, XEN, KEVIN, SEBIN, JEHYUN, and HWICHAN of OMEGA X, taking over two years off from releasing music as a collective was quintessential not only for their newfound identity as a 10-member group but also as a way to come into their own after a tumultuous debut five years ago. Unclear spoke to the group about the significance of their latest comeback, UNCAPPED, the unique involvement of fans in the creative process, and what their future holds.
First of all, I want to say welcome back and I hope you’re all doing well! In your own words, what has this hiatus made you realize or meant for you as both individual artists and a collective?
JAEHAN: “Right up until this album, I kept going forward without stopping with solo and unit activities to continue growing. And it really made me realize again that OMEGA X is happiest when we’re all together.”
HWICHAN: “For me, it was a time to look back at myself, and also a chance to grow more mature.”
SEBIN: “It made me think that we really shouldn’t have another hiatus like this, and that we should continue working hard.”
XEN: “This hiatus wasn’t an easy time, and eventually it became a time to really reflect on myself. Looking back, I think it was necessary to have the time to strengthen myself.”
JEHYUN: “Since we’re coming back as OMEGA X after a long time, I think it was a more meaningful experience that has let us grow further.”
KEVIN: “Just like the album title UNCAPPED, the idea of finally letting out everything we’ve been holding in really matched us coming back after such a long hiatus. It reminded me of this easygoing, ‘it’ll all work out somehow’ kind of mindset.”
YECHAN: “To me, it felt like I had no hiatus because I was working on activities to keep the momentum going for the team while waiting for our comeback.”
This mini-album, UNCAPPED, is your first release as a group in over two years. How do these five new tracks represent where OMEGA X stands now and how you hope to move forward?
JAEHAN: “Honestly, if this album hadn’t come out now, the hiatus would’ve stretched even longer, and I think we might have worn out. But with UNCAPPED out in the world now, I feel like OMEGA X can keep telling many more stories going forward.”
KEVIN: “We’re moving ahead, holding onto this mindset of enjoying life, just appreciating each moment for what it is.”
What are each of your favorite tracks on this mini-album and why?
JAEHAN: “I love ‘Life Detox’ the most because of its lyrics. I really hope a lot of people get to hear it.”
HWICHAN: “My favorite is the last track, ‘Life Detox.’ The lyrics are great, and its mood film came out so beautifully too, so I feel like it’s a perfectly comforting song.”
SEBIN: “Personally, ‘Cork’ is my favorite. I love the new side of myself in it, and I like that I get to show that side of me to our fans.”
XEN: “It’d be ‘Close to me’ for me. It was my first time working on a song from start to finish in the same studio as JAEHAN and YECHAN, so it holds a warm feeling for me.”
JEHYUN: “I love ‘Life Detox’ the most. It’s calm but the lyrics carry many messages, letting listeners really resonate with it.”
KEVIN: “My favorite is ‘Cork,’ and not just because it’s a unit track that I participated in. It’s dreamy but not too heavy, and light and deep at the same time. And most of all, the melody is just really good.”
YECHAN: “It’s really hard to pick one. We poured our hearts into working on all five songs.”
What was the creative process like with JAEHAN, YECHAN, and XEN each having their own contributions as lyricists and composers? Did these tracks and their meanings come to you easily or were some more difficult to construct than others?
JAEHAN: “The easiest one to work on was ‘Life Detox.’ The direction I wanted for the melody and the message I wanted to get across came to me very easily. The one that took the longest was ‘Close to me.’ Since all three of us worked on it together from beginning to end, we each understood things a little differently, so we discussed a lot to meet in the middle. That’s why it took the most time to finish.”
XEN: “Honestly, I find working on OMEGA X group songs pretty difficult. I feel like there’s a gap between the direction I personally pursue and the color of OMEGA X’s music, so working on this album wasn’t exactly easy.”
YECHAN: “When we were making the title track, I studied a lot more and listened to a wide range of music. I made an effort to break out of the rhythms and melodies I usually fall into, and while writing the b-sides, I could really see that growth inside myself, which felt rewarding.”
Your fans were also involved in the creative process, which is very unique. Can you explain how they were able to help with this comeback and the final product?
HWICHAN: “The title track was chosen through our fans’ votes, and we prepared the album following that style and direction. Since their opinions are reflected in it, this is a truly meaningful album.”
JEHYUN: “From our outfit styling to the unit song lineups and picking the title track, our fans helped shape big parts of this album. Getting to show up in a way that meets our fans’ direction and expectations made it a really meaningful experience.”
If you took a second to visualize the future you see for OMEGA X after UNCAPPED, how would you describe what you see?
JAEHAN: “I think we’ll still be happy along with FOR X. I want to keep creating our stories together.”
HWICHAN: “I hope OMEGA X becomes a group that spreads a lot of love and peace.”
XEN: “I think we’ll be traveling to many places to meet FOR X. I want to see every single one of them, without missing anyone.”
YECHAN: “We’ll probably be enjoying the rhythm and having a blast in front of many fans. I can’t wait to meet them soon!”