Photo = RBW

 

[Hanteo News = Reporter KANG SUYOUNG] ONEWE’s KANGHYUN honestly opened up about the belief he wants to uphold as a band.

 

ONEWE met with Hanteo News at a cafe in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on the 18th and talked about its 3rd full-length album '面 : Unknown Atlas.' On this day, KANGHYUN said, “Whatever it is, there is definitely a belief that you have to be skilled,” adding, “To put it another way, it means you have to keep making efforts every single day.” He continued, “Even if the years build up and time passes, and a certain framework is established, I think we still have to keep making efforts. Since all of us write our own songs, we also have the belief that we should write our music ourselves, so we are trying to uphold that as much as possible.”

 

As the group is set to make a comeback with a full-length album, their feelings were especially meaningful. YONGHOON said, “It has been a while since we released a full-length album, so I think I feel very excited,” adding, “These days, full-length albums are not released that often.” He continued, “As we release a full-length album with 17 tracks, I think it is an album we put even more sincerity into, and more than anything, I am most looking forward to the fact that fans will probably like it.”

 

They also introduced the album. GIUK explained, “The overall framework is about fairy tales, and it is an album that builds up from our previous albums, 'point' and 'line,'” adding, “Since we have finally reached the plane, it is an album in which the picture is complete. Inside this album, there are materials that many people know, such as Pinocchio and Laputa, but rather than the fairy tale themes people already know, they are fairy tale stories with the themes changed like Easter eggs.” KANGHYUN said, “There were many themes I had wanted to do for a long time, and I thought a lot about how to tie them together at once,” adding, “I wondered what theme could tie together songs like Lilliput, Laputa, Pinocchio, Pick Fairy, and Compass, and I thought it would be good to make the larger framework fairy tales. Since we expressed them exactly as we felt and interpreted them, rather than making them purely and brightly just because they are fairy tales, I think the mood came out that way.”

 

The process of choosing the title track was not easy either. YONGHOON said, “Because there were so many songs, choosing the title track was the biggest assignment this time,” adding, “Our opinions differed among ourselves, and opinions within the company were also divided a lot, so we chose it more carefully.” He continued, “We came to the conclusion that we should make the bright, exciting song with the most fairy-tale elements the title track, and in the end, the members, company staff, and other acquaintances all agreed.” Regarding why they did not choose double title tracks, he said, “Rather than two songs, we wanted to put our strength into one song and promote it widely,” adding, “We thought we could try another song if there is an opportunity for a music show or a special stage.”

 

There was a clear reason they filled the album with 17 songs. YONGHOON said, “Since each of us writes songs, even if each person only wrote three songs, that would already be 15 songs. The songs from our previous point album and line album were also included, and as each of us said, ‘I really want this song to be included,’ I think it became 17 songs.” GIUK said, “I think we are on an upward trajectory, and we started preparing last year because we thought that if we showed sincerity with 17 songs, many members of the public and WEVE, the fandom name, might recognize it.”

 

The album preparation period was tighter than expected. YONGHOON explained, “When we were told that 17 songs would be included, I think the five of us all realized at the same time that this really had no choice but to be very tight,” adding, “We talked more and faster, and it did not just stop at talking. If someone said, ‘Do you want to record at this time?’ we went in right away, so we moved quickly like that.” He drew laughter by saying, “Actually, our teamwork is not that great, but this time, everyone individually recognized that we were in big trouble, so our teamwork came together well.” KANGHYUN added, “If we had decided to do 17 songs and only started making them from that point, we absolutely could not have done it. Since we had planned it from last year, there were already a few songs whose frameworks were somewhat completed, so I think that shortened the time it took to release the album.”

 

Regarding the order in which to listen to the 17 songs, DONGMYEONG explained, “When we decide the track order, we all gather and have a meeting, and you can listen to it in that order,” adding, “It is the ideal order that makes the content and genres easiest to listen to.” HARIN said, “When we were putting together the tracklist, we talked a lot about wanting it to feel like a journey, with a sense of connection from the starting point of this song to the ending point,” adding, “First, please listen to it in order, and I think there will also be the fun of listening while connecting it into your own story according to your taste.”

 

Each member had a different top pick among the 17 tracks. GIUK said, “I had wanted to try a waltz, and thanks to KANGHYUN hyung, I was able to do it with a song called 'Laputa,'” adding, “It may feel very dreamy and then like being dragged into hell, but I think WEVE will really like it, and it is a track that could make the public think, ‘Wow, they can do this much?’” HARIN shared, “Among KANGHYUN’s songs, I think a song called 'Lilliput' really captures the band well,” adding, “As a player, it is very fun, and from the listener’s perspective, it has groove and a unique sonic charm, so I think the enjoyment of listening will feel different.”

 

KANGHYUN said, “‘Lilliput’ and ‘Laputa’ are songs I wrote after getting inspiration from reading the novel Gulliver’s Travels while self-isolating during my military service,” adding, “The song I like in this album is 'Pick Fairy.' It is a familiar phrase for guitarists. When you drop a pick while playing and try to look for it, but it is gone, people say the pick fairy came by. When GIUK said he was writing a song on that theme, I thought as soon as I heard it that it would turn out well, and sure enough, it came out with sounds and lyrics that fit that theme perfectly.” DONGMYEONG asked, “Our CEO even said that all the songs are so good that we do not have to release them all this time and could use some as title tracks next time. Every song is as good as title-track quality, so we would be grateful if you listened to all 17 songs in order at least once.”

 

ONEWE’s 3rd full-length album '面 : Unknown Atlas' will be released today at 6 PM through various music sites.

 

grace@hanteo.com