K-pop boy group POW brings the charm and the edge with their new comeback, marching to the beat of their own drum and having fun along the way.
Related: Get To Know POW, K-pop’s 5th Gen Feel-Good Boy Group
A year since they’ve debuted, 5th-gen K-pop boy group POW are taking leaps of faith with their music, having fun with it, and welcoming everybody ready to take the adventure with them. Members Jungbin, Hyunbin, Yorch, Dongyeon, and Hong of POW bring that classic boy-group energy as they show the world exactly why POW should be added to the stan list.
With their new comeback and title track, POW bridges the classic and the modern with their take on Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend. With Boyfriend, the boy group adopts the pop-punk track and makes it their own, proving yet again that they’re a feel-good group that just wants to bring the fun and excitement to people’s lives through music.
Their second EP, also titled Boyfriend, offers four tracks that express POW’s fresh, boyish charm. From the high-energy Boyfriend, to the catchy I and Bae, to the mellower ballad Sunset, the short but sweet album is a step away from their first release, but not too far that you no longer recognize the ever-youthful vibe of the rookies.
“I think we always resonate a youthful vibe as artists,” leader Jungbin tells NYLON Manila. “But this time, we’ve worked hard to showcase a more mature and unique charm this time as part of our development. At the same time, we’ve made an effort to keep POW’s original colors alive in our music.”
Fresh off releasing their new EP, Jungbin, Hyunbin, Yorch, Dongyeon, and Hong of POW talk to NYLON Manila all about how things have changed in the past year, capturing the different sides of themselves in their music, and growing and having fun as young artists in the industry. Read the full interview below.
How different do you think the POW right now is different from the POW who just debuted last year?
JUNGBIN: The past year, we’ve had a lot of new experiences. We’ve met new audiences and performed on various stages. Through those opportunities, I think we were able to naturally grow as artists. I feel our mentality has changed the most. When we debuted, there was a lot of excitement and anticipation, but now, we have a lot more determination in us. Since we’ve been eagerly waiting for this comeback, we’re ready to go all out and use that determination to fuel this album.
DONGYEON: At the start of our debut, I remember feeling startled when we faced new situations and not handling them as well as we could have. But now, I think we’ve grown to be more aware of our new surroundings and learn how to adapt. I think this has been an improvement for us. And I hope this can be a stepping stone for even greater growth in the future.
How has your relationship with each other changed or improved since your debut?
HYUNBIN: Since we’ve been together from our trainee days, we’ve truly become best friends, colleagues, and family. We’re constantly together, and come to know each other really well, like our personalities and quirks. I think this helped us build a strong sense of natural teamwork that raises the bar during practice. We also rely on each other when times are tough.
YORCH: I feel really at ease now. I joined this team a little later than the younger members, so I initially felt awkward and didn’t talk much, especially since I’m more introverted. But now I feel comfortable with my members. I joke around a lot and can talk about anything with them. As we spend a lot of time together, I feel like we’ve truly become one big family.
What are some things you learned from your debut and making your first EP that helped you make your second EP even better?
JUNGBIN: Working on our first EP taught us that protecting what you love takes everything you’ve got. While preparing for this promotion, everyone, members and staff alike, worked tireless nights. And seeing our fans’ unwavering support just hits us to the core. For everyone who supports our success, we want to repay them with results. That’s why we’re treating this promotion as if it could be our last.
HYUNBIN: I think all of us took some time to reflect on ourselves. Before our debut, we were trainees, and before that, we were students. I did not realize that my actions could be perceived in ways I didn’t intend. But after debuting and connecting with different people, I learned that my thoughts alone aren’t enough. So, I’ve tried to sharpen that awareness and learn to be a better communicator.
Boyfriend remaking Avril Lavigne’s hit as the title track is a pretty bold move for any artist. Your new EP is also a mix of different sounds and styles but is a lot of fun. Who or what inspires you to be experimental and brave and try out new things?
JUNGBIN: I think inspiration comes from oneself. Comparing POW from last year to this year, there are a lot of moments for growth and change, and we always try to put those key elements into our music. We are always discussing this with our team and talking about how we can translate our thoughts, ideas and goals into our songs.
DONGYEON: Through Boyfriend, we’re bringing a bold and confident vibe to audiences—but you could still feel a hint of shyness that is still in us. So you can say this album really captures a blend of all these different sides.
If there’s another 2000s or classic song you would like to remake the POW way, what would it be?
DONGYEON: I would say Coldplay’s Viva La Vida. I loved it even before I was a trainee. I’ve practiced with this song a lot, and always wanted to do a remake.
YORCH: I’m a huge fan of early 2000s music, so I have a long list of songs I’d like to remake. If I had to choose one, though, it would be Linkin Park’s Numb. That song really got me into singing and performing.
Hyunbin mentioned in an interview with NYLON Manila that your group is like an amusement park, with new and exciting attractions. For each member, if you were an amusement park ride, what would you be and why?
HYUNBIN: For Hong, he’s like a carousel. People think carousels are for kids, but adults love them too. I’m more like a teacup ride. From the outside, it doesn’t look too wild, but once you’re on, it’s super fast and makes you dizzy. It’s kinda like my vibe.
JUNGBIN: Oh, so you’re saying you’re actually wild and scary?
HYUNBIN: I may seem cold and quiet on the outside, but if you get to know me I’m actually very energetic and outgoing. Dongyeon is like a haunted house, kinda cold on the outside, and mysterious, and Yorch is like a ferris wheel. The one that’s really big. It moves steadily, with a soft, romantic vibe. Like Yorch!
HYUNBIN: Jungbin would be a drop tower. He’s full of energy and super loud inside and out. He has a big voice and has a lot to talk about. Jungbin is a thrill ride, just like the drop tower.
HONG: I think this is fun, comparing the members to amusement rides. Hyunbin is more of a roller coaster. He’s got that push-and-pull, up-and-down kind of energy. DONGYEON is like a bumper car ride. He’s quiet, but then suddenly has these random bursts of energy.
HONG: Jungbin is like that comet rollercoaster ride, do you know that? If you ride the comet rollercoaster, it sort of makes people lose their mind. Like when he talks, it’s a real trip. Yorch is like a carousel.
JUNGBIN: He keeps getting romantic rides!
HONG: YORCH just has that special innocence to him. And he’s always so gentle to others. He’s calm, like the carousel.
JUNGBIN: But you know, there are carousels that go out of order and go real fast.
HONG: I think I’m like the water (splash) rollercoaster. You don’t know where the water will splash.
Do you have a fun story or experience during the preparation for your new comeback that you can share?
HYUNBIN: We did a photoshoot in LA. From what I know, LA is not known for having a lot of rain. But during the photoshoot, I remember it rained heavily, so we had to change our photoshoot plans. The photoshoot’s concept was originally sunny and bright with a refreshing feel. But with the rain, we had to change our concept. So we decided to shoot in the evening with the classic car. And the car door would not open.
Plus, my hair is naturally curly, and so with the rain my hair became really curly, which was not intended. I remember the hairstylists having a rough time handling my hair.
JUNGBIN: I remember we stayed in LA to shoot the music video as well. We were in the U.S. for quite a bit of time. There were days where we did not know what time the shoot would wrap up, and there were times where we had to practice our choreography late in the evening. So, we had to practice anywhere that had a studio open during those odd hours, like a kid’s ballet studio or an aerobic class studio.
Do you have a message to your fans here in the Philippines and all the fans that support you all around the world?
DONGYEON: First, we want to say we are so thankful for your love and support from afar. We’ll continue to give our very best to give you better music and performances your way. We look forward to your support. See you soon! Thank you!
YORCH: Well, thank you so much for your continuous support and waiting for us for a long time. Moving forward, we’ll pour our efforts into bringing better music for you.
Stay tuned on the NYLON Manila YouTube channel to watch the full interview!
Interview has been edited for length and clarity. Images courtesy of and special thanks to GRID Entertainment.
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