82MAJOR Reflects On First Comeback, BEAT by 82
With the release of their first mini-album, 82MAJOR has captured the attention of many K-pop fans online, displaying their potential to rise to the top of the fifth-generation K-pop scene.
Debuting in October 2023, the sextet has stood out amongst their peers due to their hands-on approach to their music. Curiosity about the group grew as each member showcased their producing and songwriting talents. After the release of BEAT by 82, 82MAJOR soared higher, captivating fans with their hip-hop-infused tracks and ongoing creative contributions. We got to chat with the group as they shared their thoughts on their first comeback, favorite songs and upcoming tour.
Sweety High: Congratulations on your first comeback! How does it feel to return to the stage and showcase new music?
SEONG BIN: I'm really happy that we finally made our comeback. Since it's our first mini album, I wanted to show how much 82MAJOR has grown, and I especially wanted to show a cooler side to our fans. So, all six of us discussed various aspects of the album together, gave each other feedback during practice and worked hard to improve the album's completeness. Just as our fans have been waiting for us, we've been eagerly waiting to meet our fans, too! I'm delighted that we can finally show our long-prepared album to our 82DE. I hope our 82DE loves it a lot!
SH: What is the inspiration behind the styling and concept for this comeback?
YE CHAN: We were inspired by 82MAJOR's confidence. We thought about how we could blend our confidence with the hip-hop genre. Then we realized that most of our members love and are good at sports and we thought that the dynamic image of sports would be a good way to express confidence and hip-hop. We decided that basketball fit 82MAJOR the best, so we planned the basketball concept.
SEOK JOON: We tried to deliver visuality with bold and diverse styling. We wanted to capture the eyes and ears of 82DE and the public with new looks, not just through our music but also through our styling. We hope everyone likes our new style!
(Photo credit: Great M Entertainment)
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SH: In what ways do you feel you've grown as artists since your debut? Can you share anything that has significantly impacted you?
SEONG MO: My attitude towards music has become more serious. I've been thinking about how to make 82MAJOR stand out among the numerous artists. When I listen to other artists' music, I learn things like how they write their lyrics and try to incorporate what I learn into our music.
SEOK JOON: My desire to excel in performance has grown. Recently, I watched SEVENTEEN's "MAESTRO" performance on a music show and was very impressed. We talked about it a lot after the music show ended because it moved us so much! I want 82MAJOR to create such an amazing performance stage, too! And I hope someone feels the same strong impression when they watch our performance.
SH: Which track from BEAT By 82 is each member's favorite and why?
SEONG MO: "Choke"—I wanted to be in the chorus for our debut song "First Class," and I'm glad I got to do the chorus for this title track! I especially took on the final chorus, so I worked hard to make it impactful.
SEONG IL: "Illegal"—I worked on this song with the members before our debut, and it's special because YE CHAN and I also participated in the choreography. We shot a performance video of it as a five-member version during our trainee days at RAREHOUSE, and I want to film a complete version with YE CHAN now.
SEOK JOON: "Birthday"—this song always puts me in a good mood. The choreography is cute, so I've enjoyed practicing it since I first learned it. The choreography shows the harmony between the members, making it fun to dance together.
YE CHAN: "Choke"—I love the song itself because it makes my heart race whenever I hear it. From the first time I heard it, I felt a strong connection and thought, "This song is it!" Also, I participated in writing the lyrics, which made me like it even more.
DO GYUN: "Birthday"—it's an easy-listening song, so it makes me feel comfortable. I think it's a song that you can listen to often and feel relaxed. Plus, the voice of our members sounds soft and fresh, especially mine. 82DE, what do you think? Which song do you like the most?
SH: You guys have a reputation for being deeply involved in the creative process of your music. Can you tell us about the contributions made to BEAT by 82?
SEONG BIN: There are songs on the album in which all our members participated. We have two songs that we worked on together before our debut, and we were involved in everything from the lyrics and music, so they contain the unique charm of 82MAJOR.
SEONG MO: YE CHAN and I participated in writing the lyrics for the title song "Choke." We researched basketball-related terms and content to match the basketball concept and thought about how to express it in our own words. I also thought a lot about how to make the final chorus stand out, and after several attempts, I think the result was most satisfying when I did it the way I envisioned.
SH: Are there any messages you wanted to convey to your fans with your new EP?
YE CHAN: 82MAJOR's confidence! I want to convey our confident attitude. We participated more and prepared harder than for our debut album. Our efforts are reflected in our confidence. 82DE! Do you feel our confidence?
DO GYUN: I want to convey that the six of us worked hard to show 82MAJOR's music. We had many discussions among the members to show better music and performances to our fans. 82DE! Do you think we're cool?
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SH: Can you share any memorable moments you experienced during the preparation for this comeback?
SEOK JOON: The music video shoot stands out in my memory. I remember the director dancing to "Choke" choreography with us on set, which gave us energy and made the shoot enjoyable.
(Photo credit: Great M Entertainment)
SH: With the exciting news of an upcoming tour, what are you looking forward to the most about hitting the road? Will there be new music to accompany the tour?
SEONG IL: I'm looking forward to meeting more 82DE and showing our performance directly to our fans through the tour. I'm curious to see how our fans will react to our performance.
DO GYUN: Besides the concert, I'm also looking forward to trying food from different countries! I've never been on a plane before, so I'm excited about the idea of going abroad.
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SH: Where do you envision 82MAJOR being a year from now? Are there any achievements that you would like to reach?
YE CHAN: I hope 82MAJOR become globally recognized artists. I want everyone to know 82MAJOR no matter where we are, and I want many people to listen to our music. We'll continue to show good songs and performances to make that happen! Please keep watching us!
SEONG BIN: I want us to win first place on a music show. I want to enjoy the encore stage with the members and fans after winning first place.
SH: Is there anything else you would like to add?
SEONG IL: Sweety High readers! It's great to meet you like this! 82MAJOR has returned with our first mini album BEAT by 82. We hope you listen to it a lot and love it. If you listen to "Choke," you'll feel that everything will go well!
For even more insights from our favorite K-pop artists, click HERE to read our interview with MONSTA X's I.M on his new EP, Off the Beat.