In true form, SEVENTEEN subunit BSS keeps spreading feel-good energy with their new single album ‘TELEPARTY,’ and they want you to catch the vibe.
Related: SEVENTEEN’s BSS Is Enjoying Every Second Of Their Comeback
They’ve done it again! Seven years into their career, everybody knows it’s always a good time when BSS is involved. This time, the subunit from K-pop icon SEVENTEEN is throwing a party—and you’re invited!
Composed of SEVENTEEN members DK, Hoshi, and Seungkwan, BSS is a fusion of electric energy and colorful personalities, meshing together to form a group dedicated to spread joy wherever their music goes. With their second single album TELEPARTY (telepathy + party), BSS wants to radiate joy and cheer, reaching across distances to host a “party for youth”, promising to break through the mundanity and frustrations of daily life and encourage everyone to live in the moment and find happiness in the everyday.
Their title track CBZ (Prime time) references a common drinking cheer in South Korea to celebrate youth and living in the present. The phrase “청바지” (“cheongbaji,” which means “jeans”), repeated across the chorus, is an acronym for “청춘은 바로 지금” (“Youth is right now”), and it’s an indication that BSS is offering the perfect way to start the new year—with an upbeat explosion of enthusiasm and joy.
Ahead of SEVENTEEN’s [RIGHT HERE] World Tour concert in Bulacan on January 18 and 19, NYLON Manila catches up with DK, Hoshi, and Seungkwan in an exclusive interview as they celebrate the joys of life with their new comeback TELEPARTY.
GAINING THEIR SECOND WIND
TELEPARTY is the subunit’s third comeback and second single album following last year’s SECOND WIND and well-beloved song Fighting (feat. Lee Young-Ji). Before SECOND WIND, BSS debuted with Just Do It in 2018. Thankfully, CARATs didn’t have to wait as long as they did the last time. Coming back after a year was a pleasant, thrilling surprise for their fans and even just those who love BSS—and it’s all thanks to the massive amount of support they received with SECOND WIND.
“Thanks to all the love and support our listeners showed for SECOND WIND, BSS could embark on another album,” Hoshi says in an interview with NYLON Manila. The trio has admitted a few times that they did not expect Fighting and SECOND WIND to reach the heights that they did. BSS have said that they came back the first time just for fun, heeding requests from fans after their original subunit performance at a fanmeet, and to see how a BSS comeback would do.
However, what their second single and first single album achieved left the sub-unit in awe, prompting jokes that they’re going toe-to-toe with their own group SEVENTEEN. Besides topping charts with Fighting and SECOND WIND, BSS also won the 2024 Asia Artist Award Grand Prize or “daesang“ for Performance of the Year. Fighting was also chosen as the official cheer song for Team Korea at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This time, they cement their musical identity with title track CBZ (Prime time), a swing jazz and country anthem of youth, which includes their signature quirkiness and uplifting, high-energy vibes but are also pretty different from their previous releases. It invites you to stand up, cheer, and savor the moments that make up your life, whoever and wherever you are.
“While working on TELEPARTY, we were fortunate to see great songs come to life that we wanted to share with everyone, which helped this comeback happen relatively soon. We’re putting in our best efforts to deliver good music and performances this time around as well,” Hoshi shares.
The other two tracks in TELEPARTY, Happy Alone and Love Song, are “a new jack swing track that celebrates the idea of hosting a ‘party for myself’ after a long, tiring day,” and a 2000s R&B-inspired track that “captures the universal longing for past love that many can relate,” respectively.
“We tried to infuse more style and color, while maintaining BSS’ signature exuberant energy,” Seungkwan explains. “It’s been six years since we released Just Do It, and during that time, we’ve matured both inside and out.”
As they blazed through the years as one of the biggest K-pop acts of the decade, DK, Hoshi, and Seungkwan have grown as artists and people. But they’ve always treasured what they could do as BSS, and have come to an understanding that they have the ability to be “beacons of happiness,” encouraging others to live every day to the fullest.
LIVING EVERY DAY TO THE FULLEST
The ever-smiley-and-cheerful DK, the always-200%-level-energy Hoshi, and the all-around-host-and-comedian Seungkwan are formidable figures of joy and cheer, always ready to bring their all to the stage and hype people up. For this comeback, they wanted to highlight the good in daily life, taking it all in moment by moment, and raise a toast to embracing happiness.
“We were inspired by the ordinary moments of daily life,” leader DK reveals. “We poured our hopes into this album, wishing that everyone would embrace youthfulness and happiness in the moment rather than searching for it from afar, and live every day to the fullest.”
But anyone who’s anyone knows that it’s not always that easy to find happiness. Some days are just bad or blah, tiring or frustrating, and idols who have spent long days and even longer nights chasing their dreams know that too well. But BSS remain grateful for it all, never once taking for granted the life they’ve worked so hard to build for themselves, the dreams they get to see turn into reality, and the people who walk on the flowery path with them.
“Everyone has moments that feel tiring or less than happy,” DK admits. “I’m not an exception, but I constantly remind myself to be grateful for the life I’ve been given and to live it to the fullest, making the most of every day.”
SPREADING THE JOY
So if you’re having a tough time or finding it hard to see the light in your life, BSS may just be exactly what you need. Sometimes all you need is a fun track that gets you excited to get up in the morning or power through a long day. Their performances put a smile on peoples’ faces, peers and fans alike, making them want to jump and cheer right there with BSS.
“The strength of BSS’ performance lies in [our] ability to energize fans and listeners with our high spirits,” Hoshi, who only seems to get more charged up the longer he stays on a stage, says. “The bright energy and fun personalities of each member create a powerful synergy, which seems to uplift the audience in an infectious way.” BSS performances, though rare, are a breath of fresh air. You can tell how much fun they have doing it, and that energy spreads.
As we grow up, it seems as if it gets harder to let go and be joyful and to find happiness in everything. It can be hard to be in high spirits when everything feels like it’s crashing down. From devastating global news to personal struggles, life is taking its toll on plenty of people. So a reminder that there remains good and light in the world is very welcome.
BSS is in the same boat as us, but they wish to take it upon themselves to highlight positivity and be a ray of sunshine in people’s lives, to let you know that you’re not alone and you’ve got someone in your corner, urging you towards joy. But you won’t catch them getting all preachy about it—they let what they do speak for itself.
“I simply want to deliver through our music moments of happiness and positive energy, even if it’s just for a brief moment,” Seungkwan says. “That was the purpose and goal that motivated us to work hard on this album, so I hope it makes a meaningful impact on a wide audience.”
A BSS comeback doesn’t come around all that often, but with each song, each performance, they make sure that their message of hope and joy radiates across time and distance. Are you in for the ride?
TELEPARTY-ING WITH BSS
NYLON Manila: What’s something you’re happy or grateful for every day?
SEUNGKWAN: I enjoy the simple pleasures—when I pull off an exhausting day with my members, when I laugh with my friends over the little things, when I savor delicious food, and when I sleep in on a day off. Most importantly, I feel immense gratitude when our fans look happy to see me.
DK: I’m grateful for the opportunity to have fun and find happiness in singing and performing, as well as to work with people and staff who are dear to me. Most of all, the sheer presence of CARATs, who show unwavering love no matter what, brings me overwhelming joy and appreciation.
HOSHI: I feel like every moment of life—just getting through a day with good sleep, food, and people— is enough for me to be happy.
If you were to choose a BSS song that you each think best represents you, which song would this be and why?
SEUNGKWAN: CBZ (Prime time). The song’s message, “youth is finding joy in the moment,” echoes my own perspective.
DK: I also choose CBZ (Prime time), because it represents my desire to encourage everyone to realize that our youth is in the moment we cherish. I hope it inspires us to always stay “youthful”.
HOSHI: CBZ (Prime time) for me, too, as I try to live every moment as if it’s my prime time.
What message do you have for your Filipino CARATs who are excited for the new comeback and also looking forward to seeing you and the rest of SEVENTEEN at SEVENTEEN [RIGHT HERE] World Tour in Bulacan?
SEUNGKWAN: Whenever I visit the Philippines, I always return with good memories. I’m keeping myself in the best condition so I can put on great shows this time as well. Mahal kita~~
DK: We know how much you’ve been looking forward to the upcoming shows in the Philippines, and we’ll do our best to repay you with unforgettable performances. Doahae*!
HOSHI: It’s been a while since we last had concerts in the Philippines, and I can’t wait to meet all of you in person and show what we’ve been working on. Let’s have the best time together. Horanghae**, CARATs!
Photos courtesy of PLEDIS Entertainment. Interview edited for format and flow.
*A combination of the first syllable of DK’s name, ‘Do,’ and ‘Joahae,’ which means ‘I like you.’
**A combination of ‘Horangi(tiger),’ an animal that represents HOSHI, and ‘Saranghae,’ which means ‘I love you.’
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