Rising stars of K-pop: in conversation with P1Harmony, new breed of boy band from the agency behind AOA, CNBlue
- The group were introduced in the film ‘P1H: The Beginning of a New World’, and have released a debut EP, ‘Disharmony: Stand Out’ and a single, ‘Siren’
- They talk about why it’s important to break stereotypes, acting in the future, and what music means to them
South Korea’s FNC Entertainment made its name with K-pop bands such as FT Island and CNBlue before producing acts including AOA and SF9. But its latest act, P1Harmony, is a new breed of boy band.
The boys were introduced in the movie P1H: The Beginning of a New World, and then with the release of their debut EP “Disharmony: Stand Out” and the single Siren on October 28. Just as a siren heralds the arrival of emergency workers, Siren is meant to signal the arrival of P1Harmony on the K-pop scene. After its release, the six members spoke to the Post.
How do you feel about your debut?
Intak: We have been dreaming about this for so long and we are grateful that people are responding to our movie and music.
What’s the most important thing you’d like listeners to take from “Disharmony: Stand Out”?
Keeho: To learn the importance of breaking stereotypes. To be brave, have courage, and stand up for what you believe in, what you like, and what you love.
Jiung: In Korea, students are graded for their personality and attitude, and there’s a lot of competition. We’re trying to talk about that situation and the role it plays at large.
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You started your career by releasing a feature-length film. How did you feel about that experience?
Soul: I was really nervous before filming, but realised it was something I enjoyed. I want to pursue this and keep doing it.
Keeho: We’re thinking of [doing] a series, but right now we’re still focused on our music. Maybe if there’s time in the future, we’ll do more acting.
Jiung: Now that we’ve shared our movie and album, we’ve been able to learn what people liked and didn’t, and so we can correct our ways. It’s a new day every day.
How do you face disharmony among yourselves as a team?
Keeho: We sit around and talk. We say what we like about each other and can deal with uncomfortable situations. We display our emotions and work things out. We don’t have a lot of problems, but when we do we communicate and try to figure things out right then and there.
In Siren, you say “music without love means nothing” – I’m curious about what music means to you?
Jiung: I have a lot of thoughts and mood swings, and I wanted to find a way to let out my thoughts or emotions. I found that music worked for me and I got addicted.
Keeho: Music is a healer. It can connect people regardless of language. That’s why I think music is so important. It’s an honour being able to make music and being part of what music does to people.
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In Western mythology, sirens are creatures that seduce sailors with their voices. What’s a vice or hobby that you personally feel a siren call for?
Jiung: Bulgogi [marinated beef] with gochujang [chilli paste].
Intak: Music is my life.
Theo: [Computer] games.
Jongseob: Friends.
Soul: Potatoes.
Keeho: Me too! Do you know how many ways you can make potatoes? There’s not a single food on the planet right now that’s doing better than potatoes.
Soul: Also sushi!
What’s a valuable trait of yours?
Keeho: Staying positive comes easy to me.
Intak: I’m very passionate.
Jiung: It might be negative sometimes, but my self-awareness. My ability to read the room.
Jongseob: Once I get obsessed with one thing, I go all in.
Theo: I’m a giver. I can read people easily. I’m happy to compromise.
Keeho: We call him a chameleon. He vibes [with people].
Soul: I don’t have strong opinions so I’m easy-going.
What’s an artist, song or album that you remember feeling intensely about when young, or one that made you think, “I want to do this”?
Intak: Not the first, but my rap teacher gave me an album by [American rapper] A$ap Rocky.
Keeho: On my hand-me-down pink iPod Nano from my sister, my mum put Girls’ Generation’s Genie.
Jiung: My family used to go on trips once a week, and I always remember listening to Lee Seung-chul’s White Bird.
Jongseob: The [2007 film] Once soundtrack.
Theo: Lee Moon-sae.
Soul: [K-pop band] Teen Top.
What’s a hobby you try to make time for?
Jongseob: I’ve never mentioned this before, but I like to draw flowers in my lyric notebook.
This year has been disharmonious for many people. How do you find your harmony again when stressed?
Intak: I like to hold concerts during my showers.
Keeho: He dances too. It’s kind of dangerous because it’s wet.
Theo: I speak to friends on the phone.
Can K-pop subunit BtoB 4U get back in the groove after military service?
Jongseob: I might only be 15 but I like to go into my room, listen to jazz music, and do absolutely nothing.
Jiung: I like to be alone.
Soul: I don’t know if I get stressed.
Intak: He’s a happy child.
Keeho: I like to talk to my family. Also, everything’s very new to us currently so being able to be on stage and perform is a lot of fun. It’s a very good stress reliever.
What do you hope to accomplish together as a group?
Jiung: first and foremost, win the rookie of the year award.
Theo: down the road, we want to be a group considered the most charismatic and inspiring among all idols.
Jiung: of course we want to be loved, but what we also want people to pay attention to our growth and potential.
Keeho: we want to set a good example and inspire youth and people all over the world. And we want to last for a long time. We’d like to stay genuine to our music. And we want to see our fans. It’s unfortunate that we can’t see them because of the current situation.
Intak: we want to stand out among others as artists with an inspiring message and we want to surprise people with our endless ability.
