K-pop boy band 8Turn on their new album Uncharted Drift and what they have in common with Korean ‘army base stew’
- One is a popular stew and the other is a K-pop boy group – but 8Turn’s South Korean-New Zealand leader Jaeyun says they are more alike than you might think
- Members of the group divulge what it is that makes each of them different, how they approached their second mini-album and what their goals are right now
By Dong Sun-hwa
What do 8Turn and the Korean dish budae jjigae – “army base stew” – have in common?
However, 8Turn’s South Korean-New Zealander leader, Jaeyun, draws parallels between the two, saying both are emblematic of diversity and harmony.
After they liken themselves to different budae jjigae ingredients, the eight members – Jaeyun, Myungho, Minho, Yoonsung, Haemin, Kyungmin, Yungyu and Seungheon – share what makes each of them unique.
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“I am a big fan of fantasy movies and dramas,” says Kyungmin, who first became known for his appearance on the 2020 audition programme I-Land.
“I first watched the Harry Potter series about a year ago and immediately fell under its spell. So I recently bought a pyjama set and a cup featuring Harry Potter and downloaded an app just to watch the series over and over again.”
On June 26, about five months after the octet’s January debut, 8Turn rolled out their second mini-album, Uncharted Drift.
“For our debut EP, we could not showcase everything we had because it was our first time going before the public,” Yoonsung says. “We are more thrilled than pressured to reveal our unexplored sides this time.”
Uncharted Drift is fronted by lead single “Excel”, a catchy track fusing the sounds of old-school hip-hop and hard rock. Through its lyrics, the members show their determination to walk their own path and take accountability for their actions.
“It is a very energetic song clearly showing our musical style,” says 16-year-old Seungheon, the youngest member of 8Turn.
Jaeyun chimes in, “Compared to our debut track ‘Tic Tac’, ‘Excel’ is far more daring and powerful in terms of sound and lyrics. At first, we were anxious that we might not be able to pull it off on stage, but we managed to do so after training hard. I think we have successfully reinterpreted this track in our own style.”
Uncharted Drift carries four other tunes: “World”, “Walk it Out”, “Sketch” and “ING”. The album centres on the theme of escape. Asked about the greatest escape in his life, Yoonsung brings up a story about his school days.
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“I later told her the truth and promised I would study hard on my own. Thankfully, my grades did not fall after dropping out of cram school, so I think I took responsibility for my actions. That is why I can easily relate to the lyrics and the messages of our new song.”
Kyungmin also shares a childhood anecdote: “When I was an elementary school student, I had a sleepover at my friend’s home without telling my parents.”
For those who are not yet familiar with 8Turn, Myungho recommends they listen to “Tic Tac” first, as it best captures the group’s musical identity – one characterised by free-spiritedness and confidence.
Yungyu adds: “If they have already heard ‘Tic Tac’, they can listen to ‘We’, a tune highlighting our tireless energy.”
Like most other budding stars, 8Turn’s current goal is to win recognition as a rookie group.
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Yoonsung says: “We want to be active for a long time. It will be great if we can bring joy to the world with our music.”
