The excitement surrounding the release of 82MAJOR’s first mini-album, BEAT by 82, was loud and clear, and it’s easy to see why. The album, which includes songs such as Choke, Birthday, Illegal, and 82, presents the group’s more mature side as well as their versatility and creative synergy. As we discussed the making of each song with the group, the passion of the members came to life, offering a deeper appreciation for their artistry.

Choke, the opening track, hits you straightaway with its dynamic rapping and spot-on vocals. NAM SEONG MO and YOON YE CHAN, who contributed to the lyrics, revealed during our conversation that the song’s inspiration originated in basketball. 82MAJOR also released a music video for Choke, which took its intensity to a new level. On the other hand, Birthday slows the pace and offers more sweet-sounding melody, aiming to emphasise the group’s ability to handle diverse musical styles.

Illegal, another song with a slower tempo, was a group effort even before their debut. PARK SEOK JOON detailed the precise process of selecting parts for each member to ensure the best fit, while SEONG MO underlined the group’s united input in refining the song to its final form. Meanwhile, 82, with its old-school Hip-hop vibe, affirms the group’s identity. HWANG SEONG BIN shared that the idea derived from a desire to create a rap song that all members could participate in, reflecting their pride in being part of 82MAJOR and representing Korea. 

82MAJOR’s first mini-album is filled with great vibes, vocal strength, and, above all, confidence. Each song offers a different tone and atmosphere, from the intense and exciting to the bright and soft, ensuring there’s something for every mood and situation. Beyond discussing their latest release, 82MAJOR’s members shared their thoughts on music, favourite leisure activities, and aspirations for touring in Europe.

82MAJOR on their debut – read our first interview with the group

View of the Arts: The day has finally come, and you have released your first mini-album, BEAT by 82. Congratulations! I truly enjoyed listening to it. You included four songs on this release: Choke, Birthday, Illegal, and 82. I would like you to break down the mini-album for me and tell me more about the creative process behind it. Let’s start with Choke. It’s a great track – the rapping section and the vocals are just spot on. How much involvement did you have in making this song?

NAM SEONG MO: YECHAN and I participated in writing the lyrics. We wanted to incorporate real basketball terms into the lyrics, drawing inspiration from the game itself. So, we researched a lot of basketball-related materials, and since YECHAN had experience as a basketball player, I asked him a lot of questions while working on the lyrics. We also focused on maintaining balance so that the song wouldn’t be too focused on basketball.

YOON YE CHAN: At first, SEONG MO asked me basketball-related questions, and as we talked, I thought I could contribute well to the lyrics based on my experience as a basketball player. So, we worked on it together. I recalled actual experiences from playing basketball and aimed to express the tension and confidence during the game, which mixed well with the boldness of 82MAJOR.

View of the Arts: Next came the music video for Choke, which truly got me stomping my feet. Brilliant! I admire seeing your more mature side showcased. What was the filming of the music video like? There’s so much happening in it.

YOON YE CHAN: On the first day of filming, there was a powder scene at the end. We danced on top of the blue powder, and it was hard to breathe. Also, some blue powder got into my nose, and for two days afterwards, it still came out of my body.

NAM SEONG MO: Our hair was firmly fixed, so it took a long time to wash it. It took about twenty minutes just to rinse the hair, which was much longer than usual. We tried to show various styles, like DO GYUN’s devil hair (someone called it Batman hair). I hope fans like it.

View of the Arts: Can you share the creative process behind Birthday, particularly regarding the decision to slow down the pace of the music compared to the more energetic tracks like Choke and 82? What inspired the shift in tempo and mood for this song?

KIM DO GYUN: We wanted to express another side of 82MAJOR. If Choke represents our intense and unique performance and 82 embodies our exciting high tension, Birthday conveys a harmonious voice that is unique to us.

YOON YE CHAN: We wanted to convey 82MAJOR’s diverse charm like a chameleon. We can digest any genre and make it our own. We chose to include Birthday because we thought the demo was really good and it was something we could express well at the current time. Isn’t a congratulatory birthday song always uplifting? However, our birthday song is not just about fun. As you mentioned, the rhythm is somewhat calm, happy, and [somewhat] complex, making it even more attractive.

View of the Arts: Illegal, while musically different, does follow a similar pace to the Birthday track. Could you tell us more about this song and how you decided on the line distribution for it? Additionally, how involved were you in the production of this track?

PARK SEOK JOON: It’s a song that the members worked on together before our debut. First, we released a performance video version with five members, and after our debut, YE CHAN was included, which allowed us to fully complete the song.

NAM SEONG MO: We selected the line distribution based on the member that best suits each part. 

YOON YE CHAN: The members participated in the production of Illegal and 82. In particular, all of us participated in the making of 82, and we thought a lot about what kind of themes and lyrics would capture our unique colours the best.

View of the Arts: When collaborating with producers on 82, what discussions or considerations led to the incorporation of an old-school Hip-hop vibe, and how did this influence the overall production and sound of the track? This is one of my favourite tracks; I love the fact that it is fully rapped. The line distribution is very well organised as well.

HWANG SEONG BIN: First of all, thank you so much. It’s an honour for you to listen to our music, like it, and to speak in detail like this. 82 started with the thought, “What if the six of us did a rap that we all exchanged together?”.I think the song represents us well, and it really captures the spirit of 82MAJOR.

View of the Arts: As you’re aware, listeners can interpret and hear music differently. For me, this release features a prominent Hip-hop sound with a good mix of K-pop elements. How much discussion did you have while creating this mini-album, including discussions about its genre and overall sound?

HWANG SEONG BIN: I put a lot of thought into the song selection for this album. In particular, we considered the proper harmony between K-pop and Hip-hop, and we thought about how to express it in our own colours. All six members worked together while discussions were ongoing.

YOON YE CHAN: We also tried new ways of doing things, and we discussed with the producers what direction would work best. 

NAM SEONG MO: It is based on Hip-hop, but we are the generation that grew up listening to K-pop songs. We talked a lot to find the perfect balance between the two genres.

View of the Arts: How would you describe the overall mood and feel of BEAT by 82 to someone who hasn’t heard it yet?

KIM DO GYUN: Our first mini album, BEAT by 82, is an album that shares our confidence and individuality with the world. All four songs in the album contain different personalities and atmospheres, so you will be able to see various aspects of us. There are a variety of strong and intense songs, as well as exciting and bright songs, so it would be good to choose and listen to them according to your mood and situation.

View of the Arts: When I listen to music, I see shapes and colours. What happens in your mind when you’re listening to your favourite tune, and how does it influence your approach to creativity?

HWANG SEONG BIN: I get inspired by the sound of music. When a certain sound comes into my ears while listening to music, I think, “I want to work in this direction, too”.

NAM SEONG MO: I tend to listen to a variety of music. I’m not limited to any genre or place of origin. Songs in languages other than English also inspire and stimulate me.

View of the Arts: Here’s a less serious question: when you are not working and making music, what do you do to relax?

KIM DO GYUN: I usually watch UFC fights when I rest. I watch them often enough to have videos of UFC fights on algorithms, and I really like them.

NAM SEONG MO: I watch soccer games. I am so serious about soccer that I buy and wear uniforms. I really want to go see overseas soccer games in person someday.

View of the Arts: If you got a chance to come to Europe, what would be your message to your European fans?

YOON YE CHAN: Wow! European 82DE! We miss you!

CHO SEONG IL: European 82DE! I hope we have a chance to meet you in person. We’re waiting for the day to show you our performance in person, so please look forward to it! Thank you so much for listening to and loving 82MAJOR in Europe, too.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image © Great M Entertainment

_{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.}