MONSTA X unit Shownu X Hyungwon is making a comeback to the music scene after about three years!
On May 21 at 6 PM, they will release their second mini album, ‘LOVE ME’. This project clearly captures the refined and sophisticated mood unique to Shownu X Hyungwon. With a total of seven tracks, including songs that explore various moments of love and solo tracks highlighting each member’s musical identity, the album showcases their expanded musical world.
The title track, ‘Do You Love Me’, captures the complex emotions of pushing and pulling while demanding answers when unsure of love. Based on a heavy yet rhythmical drum sound, it harmonizes brass and guitar sounds, completed by the refreshing yet delicate vocals of Shownu X Hyungwon. The duo is raising expectations by promising deeper emotions and a more mature charm.
During their hiatus, Shownu and Hyungwon spent time as young men completing their alternative and active military services, respectively. Afterward, they strengthened their teamwork by returning as a full MONSTA X group. Having grown through these experiences, they poured those thoughts and feelings into ‘LOVE ME’.
News1 recently met with Shownu X Hyungwon ahead of their comeback to chat about various topics.
– How does it feel to make a comeback after about three years?
▶ (Shownu) It’s been about three years since our second album, so I feel sorry to the fans that it took so long. We’ve prepared very hard, so please enjoy it!
▶ (Hyungwon) I’m back after finishing my “military hiatus.” Since it’s been three years, I included things I’ve always wanted to try. I tried to incorporate the musical growth I experienced during the break and focused on expressing various emotions I felt as a human being. Through this new album, I wanted to show that Shownu X Hyungwon is a unit capable of handling various genres.
– You mentioned growing during your hiatus. In what ways did you feel that? Did military service or alternative service have an impact?
▶ (Hyungwon) When serving in the military, you have to follow set rules. Feeling the preciousness of the freedom I once took for granted made me grateful for the small things. Also, I learned to take things more calmly. Since the military is also a society, I learned the art of letting go while living there.
▶ (Shownu) I served as a social service agent and commuted daily, which helped me understand the mindset of an office worker. Also, when working regularly, I found it impossible not to have “chi-maek” (chicken and beer) after work. I realized how hard it is to maintain a strict routine while working a job (laughs).
– Is there a reason why the comeback took so long?
▶ (Hyungwon) Our priority was to release a full group album before our youngest member, I.M, enlisted. That was “number one” for us. So we focused on that, and we decided that continuing with solo and unit activities after finishing those promotions was the best choice.
▶ (Shownu) While doing group activities before I.M’s enlistment, we prepared our album in our spare time. We wanted to be thorough. For the new album, we used “love” as a theme and wanted to express emotions that change over time.
– It’s been a while since you met as a unit. How was your chemistry?
▶ (Shownu) Even after the first album promotions ended, we did events and activities as Shownu X Hyungwon, so it wasn’t hard to get back into sync.
▶ (Hyungwon) Our personalities are similar, and I think that really shines in the unit. We naturally expressed our opinions regarding the ideas and direction of the album.
– Both of you are strong in performance. You must have put a lot of effort into the choreography for ‘Do You Love Me’.
▶ (Shownu) After receiving the first choreography draft, I suggested adding a point to the chorus and making the final chorus more flashy to give it some variation. After revising based on those suggestions, the choreography was completed.
– Hyungwon participated in the lyrics, composition, and arrangement of four songs, including ‘Superstitious’. What did you focus on?
▶ (Hyungwon) I wanted the second mini album to feature a variety of genres. Since our job is not just to show but also to be heard, I wanted to satisfy that aspect. I wanted to leave an impression at festivals that “Shownu X Hyungwon can do this kind of music too.” While the title track focuses on performance, ‘Superstitious’ has a contrasting refreshing feel, and I wanted to let people know we can do this kind of “listening music” as well.
– Did you want one of your own songs to be the title track?
▶ (Hyungwon) I did want my song to be the title (smiles). However, since our strength is performance, the company suggested using a style that would leave a great impression on the public again, and we both agreed. ‘Do You Love Me’ fits the unit’s direction better. Actually, ‘Superstitious’ (track 2) was the song I wanted as the title from the moment I started working on it. But I don’t put too much meaning into the “title” label; I’m satisfied as long as people enjoy the song.
▶ (Shownu) I was also more drawn to ‘Superstitious’ at first. It was a new attempt and had a refreshing feel, which I loved. I thought fans would like it. But after talking with the company, I agreed with their opinion. In the end, I’m satisfied.
– This album also includes solo songs for both of you. What charms did you try to showcase?
▶ (Shownu) My solo song is themed around “love.” I tried to express a worn-out heart that wants to escape from a love that feels like a prank, but finds it difficult to do so.
▶ (Hyungwon) I expressed love using water as a theme. I used the lyrics to express that “thinking of you hurts and is so hard that I can’t even breathe.”
«To be continued in [N Interview] Part 2»
