8TURN Discuss Their First Comeback With Second Mini-Album, UNCHARTED DRIFT
K-pop group 8TURN has been making quite a splash since they debuted at the start of this year, and with their first comeback last month, the rookies are proving their worth to the world.
Their second mini-album, UNCHARTED DRIFT consists of five tracks showcasing their versatility across genres, with the energetic, rock-infused title song "EXCEL" being a standout. On the mini-album, the eight members, MYUNG HO, JAE YUN, MIN HO, YOON SUNG, HAE MIN, KYUNG MIN, YUN GYU and SEUNG HEON, embark on a summertime journey, setting their ambitions high and taking charge of their own destinies, and we can't wait to see what else the group has in store for us. To commemorate the big release, we got the chance to get to know the group and discuss precisely what the adventure of UNCHARTED DRIFT means to them. Check it out in the full interview below.
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
Sweety High: What does the name 8TURN mean to the group?
YOON SUNG: To us, the name of the group, 8TURN, means what the name portrays in the first place, that it is finally our turn to shine. Also, it is an indispensable part of my life and a part of who I am.
YUN GYU: It is a name that brings together the 8 of us into one.
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
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SH: Can you each introduce yourselves and your roles within 8TURN?
MYUNG HO: I'm the main dancer, the main vocalist, and the oldest member of the group, MYUNG HO. I'm in charge of wearing cropped T-shirts.
JAE YUN: Hello, readers of Sweety High. I'm JAE YUN, the leader of 8TURN.
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
MIN HO: Hi, I'm MIN HO, the gentle hyung of 8TURN. I'm the sub-vocalist.
YOON SUNG: Hello! My name is YOON SUNG, and I'm in charge of high-tension and core muscles in this group. I'm the sub-vocalist.
HAE MIN: Hi, I'm HAE MIN and I'm the sub-vocalist!
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
KYUNG MIN: Hello, I'm KYUNG MIN, the running water of 8TURN.
YUN GYU: Hi, I'm YUN GYU, the sports drink of 8TURN. I'm a rapper and a sub-vocalist!
SEUNG HEON: Hi, I'm SEUNG HEON, the rapper and the youngest member of 8TURN!
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
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SH: What does the mini-album name UNCHARTED DRIFT mean to you? Why did that feel like the perfect name for this collection of songs?
MYUNG HO: The title of the album, "UNCHARTED DRIFT" means to be self-confident and step on that accelerator to move forward without hesitation. 8TURN is a very passionate group, so I think the title really suits the identity of the group.
MIN HO: I personally think this album is a way we recovered and healed ourselves. There is a message that the album itself and the title track "EXCEL" convey, but in addition to that we really enjoyed the whole production process and it was quite stress-relieving. That is why I think this album is like a healing process.
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
SH: Can you tell us about the leading track "EXCEL"? Why did it feel like the best representation for the mini-album as a whole?
JAE YUN: I still remember the thrill and the splendor I felt when I first heard the title track, "EXCEL." I have no doubts that this song together with the main theme of our second album, to take responsibility for your actions, will further highlight the message that we want to deliver to our audience. I believe that the intense guitar sound represents our instinct to move forward and the hip-hop elements show our young and determined hearts.
KYUNG MIN: The title track "EXCEL" is a very intense song that portrays our strong aspirations and will. I believe that the song really suits the concept of this album as it allows us to express the message in a variety of ways, through the powerful choreography in line with the lyrics as well as our rebellious facial expression.
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
SH: What does "EXCEL" mean to the group?
MIN HO: I think "Excel" is like breaking free because we were able to try different hair colors and wear very colorful clothes that really bring out our individual charms. Performing on stage is even more enjoyable because it brings all those moments together.
HAE MIN: It is the song that we are making our first comeback with, and with which we are able to present a whole different side of 8TURN. The preparation for this album was so exciting that it almost feels like our second debut.
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SH: How do you feel that you've grown as artists since your first mini-album? What aspects of your growing musical abilities are you most excited to share with fans on UNCHARTED DRIFT?
YOON SUNG: After the debut, I was able to know more about my vocal and dancing skills as well as how I look on stage. I tried to make improvements on things that I lacked while showing off the things that I'm good at. I really did a lot of research on my facial expression, the tone of my voice, the dance, and the styles because I wanted to show more diverse aspects of myself.
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
SEUNG HEON: I think we have improved a lot in terms of our finesse as well as our performances. Also, I feel like we have made achievements in our music as YUN GYU has participated in lyric-writing for this album.
SH: Is there anything that new fans should know about 8TURN?
MYUNG HO: Our individual charms! We all were very nervous when promoting our debut album so I feel like we weren't able to show off all the charms that we have. I think we are more relaxed now on stage as we promote the second album, so stay tuned to see all of our talents!
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
YUN GYU: All of the members of 8TURN have different visuals and our own unique styles. Yet, when we perform on stage, we all come together as one so that is another thing to be on the lookout for!
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