It’s been a few months since my last encounter with JUSTB in February, and now, the group is back with their fourth mini-album, [÷(NANUGI)]. Beyond the foot-tapping beats and soul-stirring tunes, the group’s new release is quite exciting. Our latest conversation with JUSTB was very interesting, as they gave us an intimate look at the making of the mini-album and their in-depth involvement in the production process. 

[÷(NANUGI)] contains seven songs, including Coming Home, an acoustic English version, which I personally love the most. The title track, MEDUSA, is the keystone of the album; the song acts as a mythological metaphor used to raise awareness about pressing environmental concerns. The track’s MV ingeniously interlaces the themes of nature and environmentalism, following the members of JUSTB as they go on a quest to restore the Earth’s beauty and protect it from the ravages of modernity.

It is also interesting to see more K-pop groups getting involved in the production of their music, which also involves songwriting. JUSTB is no different; with three self-written tracks, the group truly expressed their love for their fans through [÷(NANUGI)]. Apart from their Korean songs, there is also the incredible acoustic version of Coming Home, which is a gift to their international fans. In addition, it’s impossible to ignore the underlying message of ‘equality’ that is echoing through their previous releases as well as [÷(NANUGI)]. We do hope that with time, JUSTB will be able to come to the UK and present their talents to their British fans. 

View of the Arts: It is so good to see you back, guys! The last time we spoke was back in February. Now, you are back with your fourth mini-album. Can you tell us more about the creative process behind [÷ (NANUGI)]?

LIM JIMIN: We’re also delighted to have another interview with View of the Arts! It’s been 11 months since we released our last album, [= (NEUN)], and now, we’re back with our latest one, [÷ (NANUGI)]. We put a lot of time and effort into preparing this album, and you can definitely see our thoughts and ideas all throughout it. JUST B’s members even contributed to three of the songs on this album, and GEONU played a role in choreographing the title track, MEDUSA, so you can tell we’ve been heavily involved in the process. This album holds a lot of significance for us because we had extensive discussions with the company to bring our vision of the music to life.

VOA: What does the title track MEDUSA represent in the context of this album’s message?

GEONU: MEDUSA is a mythological character who was once a beautiful woman, but she was cursed to become a monster. We employed this symbol to illustrate how the Earth, once abundant with beautiful nature, has turned into a barren land due to the reckless development of humans. Just like we proclaim our commitment to restoring MEDUSA‘s beauty through the lyrics, we are conveying the message of reaching out to safeguard the Earth and its nature, with the goal of returning it to its original state. And we’ve expressed this musically by connecting it with the theme of “sharing and taking action” present in the album.

VOA: MEDUSA has a certain Punk Rock sound to it. How did you work on incorporating these elements into the track? And what was it like working with Ryan S. Jhun?

SANGWOO: The Punk Rock genre was a new experience for us, and the moment we first heard the MEDUSA demo, all of us thought, “This is the one!”. We decided it would be a great opportunity to try something fresh, so we made it the title track. Before the recording, we had discussions with our producer, Ryan S. Jhun. He shared insights about the mindset and thoughts we should bring to our singing and even directed the vocals himself, and his guidance was spot-on, so we enjoyed the recording process immensely.

VOA: Apart from working with Ryan, you also worked with other renowned K-Pop writers, including Samuel Carter. I would like to know how working with such prestigious artists enhanced your music on this release.

Bain:  I’m still learning to compose and write music, and working with Samuel Carter was a great learning experience for me musically. While we were crafting the song, we had lots of discussions about the direction of the music and the message we aimed to get across in the song, which was another meaningful process for me. It really got me thinking about the music I wanted to create and share with the public.

VOA: The concept of ECO + Universe is mentioned in your music video. How does it tie into the mini-album themes?

JM:  The music video for MEDUSA aligns with JUST B’s distinctive Eco + Universe concept. It portrays a future scenario in which water has vanished because of environmental changes, and it follows JUST B’s adventure in search of water, all while approaching the situation with a positive attitude. All the things we take for granted are actually very valuable gifts, and through the music video, we wanted to convey the message that “the future is in our hands” concerning the environment that needs protection. In our fourth mini album, [÷ (NANUGI)], we wanted to emphasise the idea that “the beginning of new changes lies in our small sharing and actions” and “my small sharing becomes happiness and hope for someone else”. With these messages in mind, we aimed to address the theme of the “environment” in the music video and express it in a witty way.

VOA: Three songs on the album are self-written. Can you delve into the creative process behind these tracks and how the songwriting process works for you? 

Bain: [For instance], Coming Home is a song that I made for our fans, and I wanted them to feel how much we love ONLY B through this song. 

VOA: With MEDUSA having an intense image, how did you approach the choreography for the track, especially considering the involvement of WE DEM BOYZ?

GEONU: WE DEM BOYZ had choreographed two award show performances for us earlier this year, and they were so great at creating and organising the choreography that we wanted to team up with them for the title track of this album. Since the title track is a Punk Rock song, we wanted the choreography to have a more free-flowing feel, so we kept communicating with WE DEM BOYZ and worked on the choreography together. We had a blast choreographing every move, discussing our take on the element of MEDUSA, and figuring out how to convey the lyrics intuitively. I really enjoyed discovering fresh approaches to expressing the choreography in ways I hadn’t considered before.

VOA: In what ways does [÷(NANUGI)] reflect each member’s unique personality and contributions to the album?

DY: JUST B’s music is all about “empathy”. I aimed to create music that resonates with a broader audience, touching their hearts and offering hope or solace. I was able to convey my intended message through songs like Youth and Camellia, both of which I composed and wrote.

Also, GEONU loves dancing so much that he participated in the choreography of MEDUSA. Some of our fans could even tell which part was GEONU’s work. I believe GEONU’s personality shines through in the choreography.

VOA: You’ve been steadily growing since your debut in 2021. How are you doing now, and how do you feel about the new release itself?

JM: Apart from working on the album, we’ve been actively participating in original soundtracks and performing at international shows, which has introduced us to a wealth of new experiences. This album holds a special place in our hearts because it allows us to convey the message and music we genuinely want to share. I believe it’s a starting point where we can reveal a broader spectrum of JUST B’s style and identity. 

VOA: Can you share more about the meaning of equality and how this theme connects the various albums in your series, including [÷ (NANUGI)]?

LIM JIMIN: In our third mini album, [= (NEUN)], we conveyed a message of equality through the “=” (equals sign). This time, our fourth mini album, [÷ (NANUGI)], carries the message that the start of a new change lies in “our small acts of sharing” and that “our little acts of sharing can bring happiness and hope to someone else”. We aimed to narrate more relatable and realistic stories, ones we could personally connect with. We made an effort to convey these messages through the music video, the music itself, and even the album cover.

I believe that “equality” and “sharing and action” are subjects that we need to think about and empathise with quite a bit. Even if we may not be directly affected at this moment, someone in another part of the world is experiencing inequality and feeling the impacts of environmental changes. We aimed to convey these issues through our music because we’re all living in the same era, and we need to empathise with these concerns and work together to bring about change. Even if it’s just a small voice, when one or two people resonate with it and start making changes together, it can inspire more people to join in. This collective effort can bring about a bit of change and instill hope in the current situation.

VOA: Coming Home (Acoustic English ver.) is a digital-only track. What inspired this version, and how does it differ from the original? 

Bain: I made the lyrics of the demo version of Coming Home in English. I wanted to make our first English song a little gift for our international fans, and, at the same time, I wanted to make an acoustic version of Coming Home.

VOA: May the Sun’s Gentle Kiss Thaw the Frozen Street – this particular song tones down the mini-album. I really love how your vocals were arranged for this track; it beautifully shows the delicate palette of your already powerful vocals. Could you tell me more about the creative process behind it? How did the producers decide on the vocal arrangements for it?

DY: The Korean title, May the Sun’s Gentle Kiss Thaw the Frozen Streets, might be quite lengthy, but I felt it encapsulated all the emotions I experienced and the messages I wanted to express. When I compose songs, my emotions, the season, or the circumstances at the time often serve as my inspiration. I wanted to convey a sense of warmth and hope through our voices, especially in the midst of a harsh reality. This is something I aimed to express through both the melody and lyrics. As the members of JUST B have been together for quite some time, I thought about which parts of the song would suit each member’s voice and emotions and assigned the parts accordingly. I also directed the recording, aiming to bring out the emotions I wanted to convey in the song while showcasing the members’ vocal strengths.

VOA: You are currently promoting this mini-album, but can your fans expect more from you before we enter 2024? 

Bain: We’re putting in a lot of effort to connect with our fans and reveal a fresh side of ourselves, along with our music. We hope that you’ll keep supporting JUST B and look forward to our upcoming music.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

_{View of the Arts is an 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.}