[Mini Interview] Catch The Young Talks about their second comeback and Growth as a GrOup

Dyani Robles

Credit: Evermore Entertainment

​Catch The Young is a South Korean alternative pop-rock boy band that debuted in 2023 with their first mini-album, “Catch The Young: Fragments of Youth”. Sani, Kihoon, Namhyun, Juyoung, and Jungmo all contribute their talents to produce the group’s music.  The boys are back with their second mini-album, “Catch The Young: Fragments of Odyssey” which consists of seven songs with the title track “Voyager” which expresses the desire to live a harmonious life together even if each person is different from each other. The five-member boy band sat down to discuss their production process, their growth as a team, and their future. Check out our discussion with this amazingly talented group below:

- Youth appears to be a recurring theme in your music. What advice or message would you offer your younger selves?

Namhyun: When faced with choices, there were times when the fear of the unknown held me back. So I want to tell myself to be not afraid and make the choice.

Jungmo: To my younger self, I would advise to simply enjoy youth. There’s a lot to learn and experience in innocence and playfulness, which shape who we become. Embracing those moments of play and enjoyment can teach valuable lessons and contribute to personal growth, so I would advise myself to spend more time playing and simply having fun.

Sani: I would advise my younger delf to invest in bitcoin and start practicing vocal techniques early, taking advantage of the vocal chord structure before it changes during adolescence.

Kihoon: I would also advise myself to invest in bitcoin.

- As members deeply involved in the songwriting process, how do your individual life experiences influence the music you create?

Kihoon: My songwriting process is influenced by my current thoughts and emotions, which I consider vital. Additionally, I delve into past emotions at various life stages, comparing how they’ve evolved, which shapes the essence of my songs.

Namhyun: When I sing, I draw from the emotions I’ve experienced and cultivated since youth. Movies I’ve watched and conversations I’ve had serves as references, helping me immerse myself deeply into the song’s emotions.

- What do you think is Catch The Young’s distinctive charm as a group, and what charms do each of you bring to the group?

Namhyun: The unique charm of our group lies in our passion on stage, using head-mics and performing with all our heart. Our music, which embodies the youth-pop rock genre, resonates with universal experiences of youth, connecting deeply with listeners. As for my individual charm, I focus on continuously improving my vocal and performance skills, along with maintaining a kind and approachable manner. 

Jungmo: As for our team’s unique charm, Namhyun has articulated it well. Additionally, Juyoung and I playfully debate over who brings the most ‘cuteness’ to Catch The Young, as I believe I have a significant role in adding that aspect to our group. Recently, Juyoung has been eyeing it.

Juyoung: I do bring a certain cuteness factor being the youngest, but I don’t obsess over it. I believe I also embody a mix of cute and sexy qualities, depending on the situation. As you get to know me better, you’ll see more of the sexy side to my personality.

Kihoon: I am a very playful person off stage, but I believe I exude a sexy vibe while performing on stage.

Sani: I see my role as a mediator, maintaining a neutral stance similar to Switzerland. While I value others' opinions, I don't always adopt them outright; instead, I hold my own opinions, although I may not always vocalize them.


- What has been the most difficult thing in preparing for your comeback compared to your debut?

Kihoon: We wanted to show a more grown, evolved versions of ourselves so in order to do that, we were really sensitive and focused during the album production period. I think that was the challenging part.

Jungmo: I agree with Kihoon's point. One of the toughest challenges for us was the burden and pressure of presenting ourselves as a group committed to constant improvement in our debut album. Demonstrating this was particularly challenging.

Namhyun: Under pressure, we did not lose the excitement when preparing for the second album. As much as we announced ourselves to improve, I think we are ready for that which I'm very excited about.

- Among all the members, who do you think has improved the most since training and up to this date?

Sani: I believe it's me. I started as a trainee at 19, and since then, I've grown into a completely different person with many changes. Knowing myself best, I choose myself.

Kihoon: I also believe it's me. Like Sani mentioned, we spent the longest time as trainees in this company, dedicating ourselves to practice and improvement.

Namhyun: I also believe it's me because I grew up in rural areas without prior city experience. Debuting as part of Catch The Young and releasing an album marked my first steps in the music industry, and through continuous experience, I've seen significant improvement in myself.

Jungmo: To sum up, all the members have improved significantly, and each of us has our own perspective on this journey; thus the answers.

Firstly, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who joined us today. It was a pleasant surprise to see so many attendees, and I appreciate your insightful questions. I look forward to meeting you again in the future and engaging further with your questions. Thank you all, and until next time!

- Sani