The unshakably driven K-Pop group WEi is relatively new to the scene as a unit, however, the six members group decorated with individual experience is proving to be heavy-hitters across the board.
Having debuted in October of 2020 under Oui Entertainment, members JANG DAE HYEON, KIM DONG HAN, YOO YONG HA, KIM YO HAN, KANG SEOK HWA, and KIM JUN SEO each makeup WEi, all having undergone extensive training before joining as one music-powerhouse. When the group dropped their debut album IDENTITY : First Sight with the hit-single “Twilight,” it went on to chart at #3 on Gaon in South Korea, moving almost 70,000 copies upon release.
The single’s music video has garnered an impressive 15 million in just five months, and the group continued to ride the momentum with their newest release, IDENTITY : Challenge. The new album was able to move over 50,000 copies so far, and also debuted at #4 on Gaon, with an entirely different sound for their return single “All or Nothing.” The video for “All or Nothing” has passed the 6 million mark so far, and with each release, we’re starting to get a better grasp at what WEi is capable of.
The group’s recent album expands the repertoire of WEi, and we get to see the members come together in a drastically harder-hitting precision. This cohesion of talent and creativity suggests WEi is in this for the long haul. The lead single is a rhythmic hit with a pulsating EDM flare, becoming an attitude-heavy banger. This on its own is a perfect teaser of what they are prepared to deliver to their newly named fandom “RUi,” but there’s effort behind each track on the album.
The group also has fun with tracks like “Diffuser” that relishes in an electronic-R&B fusion, showing off the group’s falsetto strengths and a little more freedom with their vocals. Regardless of if the group’s goal is to resonate with spontaneity, or exhibit themselves as trained performers, their pure love for music is their most promising attribute. After the album had launched with copious amounts of devoted fans getting to enjoy more music, we spoke to the members about everything from the new release, to artists that they’re currently finding inspiration from.
When it came to a recurring or consistent goal for IDENTITY : Challenge, What kind of sound did you want to emulate with this album?
WEi: We wanted to show you a powerful performance with a bit of sexy and we prepared to show various colors of WEi’s music.
Your new single “All Or Nothing” has a different, edgier sound that feels to be the opposite of “Twilight”. Was that an intentional choice to show a different element of WEi?
JANG DAE HYEON: It was definitely a choice to show you a wide variety of performances and I wanted to show everyone a confident performance.
KIM DONG HAN: You could think that way, and also I think we’ve shown you a lot of challenging things as the title of the album is IDENTITY : Challenge!
YOO YONG HA: I’d say I wanted to look more drastic!
KIM YO HAN: I think it was an attempt to show you something powerful.
KANG SEOK HWA: We tried a different concept to show more various sides, and we’re going to try many different things ahead to make and shape our color.
KIM JUN SEO: It was a good choice for the challenging concept of this album in the point that we were able to show you this powerful side of us as well.
You each come from extensive training or have thorough experience as artists — has it made you challenge yourselves more knowing you’re surrounded by equally passionate performers?
JANG DAE HYEON: I think since we all had experience, all of us were passionate about own responsibilities, or parts.
KIM DONG HAN: I think that our best goal is to stay together for a long time!
YOO YONG HA: I think I was able to get my energy from being with the members.
KIM YO HAN: I think I also showed new aspects of us to RUi!
KANG SEOK HWA: Though I was a trainee especially for a long time, I had a new dream as I met our members. It is to stay together for a long time as WEi, and to promote the charm of K-pop as following great seniors.
KIM JUN SEO: I think that all of us want to show a more artistic side. My personal goal is to grow without stopping.
It’s only been 6 months since your debut, so you still have plenty of time for different concepts and styles of music! Are there any you’re excited or hopeful to try?
JANG DAE HYEON: I want to show you various aspects of our music, and I’m confident about it.
KIM DONG HAN: I really hope that the day WEi’s colors become vivid will come — very soon!
YOO YONG HA: I’d like to show you a lot of different sides and as many colors of WEi as possible.
KIM YO HAN: I’d like to try a soft and refreshing (like a cool or breezy) version of our music.
KANG SEOK HWA: We will try various things to figure out what styles fit us, and we’ll keep thinking and challenging ourselves to keep our color and create our styles with that color.
KIM JUN SEO: I’d like to do a performance with a feeling of something dimmer. I covered a stage of BTS “Spring Day,” and it was so nice!
Are there any artists that you’re currently listening to whose music you can connect to?
JANG DAE HYEON: I am inspired and learn a lot from IU, BTS, ZICO’s stages and music.
KIM DONG HAN: I tend to listen to IU’s music while reading lyrics.
YOO YONG HA: I listen to a lot of AKMU’s songs and empathize with them.
KIM YO HAN:I like PENTAGON’s music.
KANG SEOK HWA: These days, listening to Baekhyun’s song, “Bambi”, I thought that someday I would like to make a song with KANG SEOK HWA’s color, keeping the color of WEi.
KIM JUN SEO: I was really inspired by BTS’s songs a lot!
Your music videos have been a great outlet for your visuals as well — what have been some of your favorite memories working on the music video for either single?
JANG DAE HYEON: I remember when we filmed various scenes in different places for each and praised each other later.
KIM DONG HAN – There were sets for each member and it was pretty cool.
YOO YONG HA: I think it was cool when we all became one in the group dance scene.
KIM YO HAN: Both my body and mind were hot when I was doing the group dance in the amazing fire.
KANG SEOK HWA: The group dance was very difficult, and there was a small injury, but I forgot all about it because I danced to show the best scene.
KIM JUN SEO: I remember a scene where I was throwing powder — because it was mixed grain powder (Misutgaru).
When people think of WEi, what’s something you hope comes to their mind?
JANG DAE HYEON: I hope people think about WEi, they think that we have great teamwork and are good at both performing on stage and at entertainment shows.
KIM DONG HAN: That the group is good at everything!
YOO YONG HA: I want to be considered as a team that has a really strong bond and with nothing we’re bad at.
KIM YO HAN: The all-round group!
KANG SEOK HWA: I want WEi to be considered as a group that is cool, friendly, and makes music that’s enjoyable to listen to.
KIM JUN SEO: I think the image of an all-around idol would be the best.
Do you ever envision what your first concert might be like for both you as a group, and your fans?
JANG DAE HYEON: Although we haven’t had the first concert yet, I want to give energy and be given energy to/from our fans, and to have fun with them at our first concert.
KIM DONG HAN: I always say that I can’t wait to meet RUi and hear the voices of RUi!
YOO YONG HA: I think I’ll cry if we have the first concert. I think it will be like a dream to me.
KIM YO HAN: I hope the virus ends soon so that we can have fun face to face, communicating with our fans, and performing on stage!
KANG SEOK HWA: I would say that there’s still time to introduce and promote ourselves to more people, and when we are ready to have the first concert, we will show them our best. Also, I think that experience will be a very special memory for us all.
KIM JUN SEO: We can only have an online concert for now, but I always say that I want to have an offline concert. I really want to perform while listening to RUi’s cheering.
Check out WEi on YouTube here, and make sure to check out IDENTITY : Challenge, available now!
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