W24, a band consisting of Kim Yunsoo, Kim Jonggil, Cheong Howon, and Park Aaron [Aaron is currently serving in the military], debuted in 2018 with the release of their mini-album, Singing Dancing. Their journey is an incredible tale of passion and hard work that demonstrates their unique mix of various sounds, which has laid the foundation for a promising career. W24 also gained a loyal fan base across Europe and South America, showing that they are an emerging force in the music industry.

Recently, the band concluded their UK Tour, Born Again, which took them to Manchester, London, and Bristol. After finishing their tour, we had the great pleasure of sitting down with W24 for an interview that took us to the very origins of the group. 

The seeds of W24’s musical aspirations were sown in their early years. Reflecting on his beginnings, Yunsoo shared, “I became interested in making music thanks to my friends; they influenced me to become an artist”. For Jonggil, on the other hand, the drums beckoned to him at a young age, kindling a lifelong passion. “When I was young, I was drawn to the drums while I was attending a church, and that was the time when I thought to myself, ‘Maybe this should be my occupation now’. I started playing drums at the age of twelve”, he recounted. 

Howon’s journey took an unexpected turn, transitioning from university life to a spontaneous encounter. “For me, I did not study music and didn’t major in vocals. I was a very simple university student trying to be an accountant. I have loved to sing since forever, and I liked how people always complimented me on my unique vocal tone. [One day], I got an invitation from our company’s CEO; she contacted me through one of her associates for me to audition. I said yes as I had nothing to lose, really. So, that’s how my musical journey began. I did the audition, and she asked me to come in, and I had three days to decide if I wanted to be a part of the group”, Howon explained.

As the groundwork of their musical identity took shape, W24’s penchant for authenticity and versatility began to shine through. Unlike many of their contemporaries, who adhere to specific concepts, the band chose to embrace spontaneity. “Compared to other groups, let’s say [within the K-pop industry], they often follow certain concepts. But us, as a band, we try to follow ‘the moment’”, Jonggil affirmed. This approach not only gives their music a definite flavour but also allows them to remain honest when it comes to their emotions and daily experiences.

In the heart of their creative process lies a deep well of inspiration drawn from their daily lives. “I think our biggest influence is just our daily lives, about what we think today, for instance, ‘What am I worried about today? What do I love? What am I sad about?’ I think those are the biggest things we always consider when we write music, especially for Jonggil and Yunsoo”, Howon elaborated.

Yunsoo’s creative wellspring knows no limits, with inspiration striking him during walks or mundane moments. “I think I am creative in many places. But in general, I get inspiration even when taking a walk. I am not constrained by places; I tend to write my thoughts on my phone and record a melody on it too. The same goes for the lyrics”, he shared. That said, Jonggil admitted that he feels the most creative in the studio. 

Navigating the dynamics of a creative partnership can be both challenging and rewarding. With each member possessing specific musical tastes, the collaborative process sometimes resembles a musical battlefield. “Each of us has such a different taste in music, and every time we get together, there’s always a conflict”, Howon humorously admitted. However, as the band matured, their ability to embrace each other’s perspectives grew, leading to a more open and harmonious creative dialogue. “The process itself is very different every time, but now, it is more about communicating with each other, taking each other’s opinions into account, and trying to bring those ideas together into the music”, Howon explained.

The vulnerability inherent in their music requires immense courage, especially when exposing their creations to the world. Jonggil’s focus remains on the connection they forge with their audience, saying, “Rather than worrying about it, I want the listener to just receive what we have to offer… I want our genuine messages to be relayed to the fans through our songs”. Meanwhile, Yunsoo’s perspective shifts towards future projects: “Personally, I feel like rather than have lots of emotions going through my mind while releasing our music, I tend to think about our next projects”.

“Sometimes, I get a little bit worried because, as you said, as a band, we play various genres. We do lots of different styles and lots of different kinds of melodies and acoustic stuff. What I always worry about is, ‘Would this music style suit us? Would our music speak through our audience? Would they appreciate our sound?’, those are the questions I always ask myself. But every time I listen to the results, it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s good, and if our music is accepted, it gets accepted. If not, it is still the music we love. So, yes, every time we record the music, I always have those thoughts in my head”, Howon candidly admitted. 

Howon’s multicultural experiences add another layer of excitement to W24’s music. His fluency in Spanish, acquired during his upbringing in Latin America, led to covers of popular Spanish songs. 

“I think I express myself the best in English. That being said, people always say that I sound different when I speak and sing in Spanish. But my Korean is also getting better, and I think I’m getting used to expressing myself more in Korean now”, Howon pondered. 

Although the group speaks English, Spanish, and Korean, Howon said that they write their lyrics in Korean first and that “I haven’t had the opportunity to make my own song yet. I’ve thought about whether I should write it in English, Korean, or Spanish, but now, I’m thinking about writing my songs in Korean first and then maybe writing them in English or Spanish”.

With their latest UK tour, their performance at MU:CON in Seoul, their upcoming Latin American tour, and the release of their new single, Voyager, W24 continues to embrace new horizons and connect with their global audience.

“We have a Latin American tour coming. It will be from the end of September to October. We will visit several countries that we haven’t been to yet, for example, Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala. So that is very exciting!”, Howon disclosed. 

With everything that’s happening right now, W24 is extremely busy. But what do the guys do to get away from it all and relax? 

“I like to stay at home in bed and watch movies. I don’t really enjoy walks, but I got used to them because of these two guys [points at Yunsoo and Jonggill]. And I also like spending time with people that make me feel comfortable”, Howon said, with Jonggil adding that he loves to eat good food and spend his free time surrounded by nature.

And while the fans have been their greatest motivation to work hard, Howon confessed that, “Apart from relying on each other, I think our company’s CEO is one of those amazing people who keep us grounded. She is literally like a mum to us, always treating us like her own kids. She helps us not get lost and stay on track”.

With every chord and lyric, the band has always invited their fans to join them on a melodic journey of discovery, whether it is with their Spanish, English, or Korean songs. With Howon’s Latino spirit, Jonggil’s addictive smile, and Yunsoo’s adorable seriousness, W24 continues to grow as a group and explore the endless possibilities of the music industry. Now, we can only wait for their fourth visit to London, so let’s hope it’s going to happen soon. 

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

_{View of the Arts is a British online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}