With their latest release, Somewhere Out There, M.O.N.T captures the universal longing to escape, an emotional pull that speaks to anyone who’s ever dreamed of getting away. Born from a spontaneous moment of wanderlust, this fifth mini-album becomes an immersive experience, both musically and emotionally. The trio is known for effortlessly shifting between genres – R&B, pop-rock, ballads, and dance tracks – and approach each release with intentionality, choosing sounds that best reflect the stories they want to tell. Now drawn to the lively grooves of funk and disco, the group continues to expand their musical palette.

Apart from genre experimentation, Somewhere Out There is a touching and smooth release, which also shows where M.O.N.T are headed musically.

From Narachan’s beginnings as a band-playing teen to Roda’s shift from art to hip-hop, and Bitsaeon’s journey from karaoke to the competitive world of survival shows, each member brings an interesting background that shapes their music. Today, M.O.N.T handles the bulk of their songwriting and production in-house, with Roda at the helm, showing how far they’ve come from relying on outside producers in the past. Whether performing across Europe in local languages or anxiously watching fan reactions post-release, M.O.N.T remains grounded, passionate, and wholly committed to making meaningful music. With a new album on the horizon and solo projects underway, the group continues to grow, unapologetically authentic and creatively fearless.

View of the Arts: Somewhere Out There is your latest release. What was the inspiration behind this song, and how does it reflect your artistic direction moving forward?

M.O.N.T: One day, we felt a strong urge to just go somewhere far away. That feeling inspired the song, and we created it based on the emotions felt that day.

VOA: What drew you to a career in the music industry? Was there a particular person growing up that you looked up to?

Narachan: I’ve loved singing and dancing since I was young. In high school, I played bass in a band and consistently loved music. One day, I saw an idol audition posting, applied out of curiosity, and got selected. From that moment, I entered the music industry in earnest.

Roda: I originally majored in art, but I fell in love with hip-hop after listening to rapper Beenzino. I began self-learning rap and composition. Eventually, I participated in a hip-hop festival in China, where a management agency scouted me. That’s how I joined M.O.N.T.

Bitsaeon: I often went to karaoke with friends during school, and they always complimented my singing, which made me sing more often. I later majored in practical music in college. A professor introduced me to an agency, I auditioned, and that’s how I joined M.O.N.T.

VOA: Your music spans various styles, from R&B, pop-rock to pop ballads and energetic dance tracks. How do you decide on a specific sound for each release, and is there a genre you’d like to explore in the future? 

M.O.N.T: Lately, we’ve focused a lot on band music. But our goal as a team is to express diverse genres in M.O.N.T’s own style, rather than sticking to one. We choose genres that best express the themes we want to communicate at the time. Recently, we’ve been drawn to funk and disco vibes.

VOA: You are unafraid to play various genres, that said, were there any particular artists, sounds, or experiences that influenced your musical direction when it comes to your music?  

Roda: Beenzino got me into hip-hop, and I really respect Zion.T and producer Teddy. They’ve inspired me a lot.

Narachan: During the pandemic, we released self-produced songs almost every two months. That period was full of experimentation across genres, and it helped us grow. It made me believe we should freely express what we want to say without limiting ourselves to a specific genre.

Bitsaeon: I’ve always liked emotional, lyrical vocals – Sunwoo Jung-A is one of my favorite artists. The most influential experience for me was appearing on the survival programs Peak Time and Build Up. We had to create high-quality performances every round, so I took on many musical challenges and grew a lot.

VOA: Lyrically, M.O.N.T has tackled diverse themes, from relationships to national identity. What kind of message do you hope to deliver with Somewhere Out There and your future projects?

M.O.N.T: We tend to express ourselves directly – we don’t sugarcoat things. I think we’ll continue to share messages in that straightforward style. We want to tell stories that break from the mold, that many people can relate to.

VOA: Since your debut, how has your dynamic as a group evolved? Do you approach songwriting and production differently compared to when you first started?

Narachan: At first, all of us participated in writing and composing. Recently, Roda has taken the lead as M.O.N.T’s producer, writing, composing, and arranging our tracks. While we were away for military service, Roda studied all of this on his own and created many of our songs.

Roda: In the beginning, we worked a lot with outside composers. Now, we create about 80% of the music ourselves – that’s a big change.

VOA: Your discography includes multiple mini-albums, singles, and non-album projects. Do you have plans for a full-length album, or do you prefer the flexibility of releasing singles and EPs?

Bitsaeon: A full album is definitely our goal! But since we’re perfectionists, it takes us a long time to finish a song. So for now, it’s still just a goal, but one we definitely want to achieve someday.

Roda: No matter the format, we only want to release songs we’re truly confident in – tracks that are meaningful and clearly express what we want to say.

VOA: How does it feel when you release music in general? Personally, I feel like when an artist exposes their work, it’s like revealing their soul to the public. I have major respect for that, and I’m curious, how do you feel when you put your music out there for people to judge?

Narachan: I always get really nervous. I keep checking people’s reactions! Even if we’re proud of the song, we’re always curious and anxious about how fans will feel about it.

Bitsaeon: I get nervous, too. I think it’s a mix of excitement and anxiety.

Roda: I’m always wondering how people will interpret our music. Did they catch what I meant? Did our message come through? I think about that a lot while watching the reactions.

VOA: K-pop is constantly evolving, with new trends emerging every year. As artists who have been in the industry for several years, how do you balance staying true to your identity while adapting to the changing landscape?

Bitsaeon: I try not to be overly conscious of the changes. We think it’s important to stay true to the pace and direction that’s right for us, so we try to focus on that rather than chasing trends.

Roda: We try to express ourselves in diverse musical ways. Like I said earlier, we aim not to confine ourselves to one genre – we want to communicate our message through different sounds and approaches.

VOA: You have performed across the world, and recently, you finished your European tour. How was the tour, and did you get the chance to wander around the cities? 

Bitsaeon: It was our first time back in Europe in five years, and it was incredible. We were so touched that fans remembered us and came to see us again. This was also our first time performing in a band format – it was so fun, and the fans really enjoyed it too.

Narachan: This time, we had a more relaxed schedule, so we really got to enjoy Europe. After the shows, I even stayed in France for five extra days to travel alone. It was an unforgettable experience.

VOA: I really enjoyed how you sang songs in the language of each country you visited – it made the performances feel so personal and connected. Seeing you sing in Polish was especially fun and impressive. As a Polish person myself, I know how difficult the language is, so I was genuinely amazed by how well you pulled it off. How did you prepare for that, and was there a particular language that challenged you the most?

Narachan: Honestly, every language is difficult! But I really loved the Polish song. I had so much fun practicing it, and I focused intensely on pronunciation, since that’s the most important part.

Roda: For me, French was the most difficult, but also the most fun.

VOA: Now that you have returned to Korea, what’s next for you? Any new projects in the pipeline? 

Narachan: We’re working on our next album. I’m also taking lessons and practicing instruments regularly to keep improving.

Roda: I’m working on M.O.N.T’s music and also preparing for an art exhibition of my drawings, so things are busy!

Bitsaeon: I’m also working on M.O.N.T’s music. I’m currently hosting a content series as an MC, so I’m balancing both activities.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of Asya Photoart for View of the Arts

_{A heartfelt thank you to ANKR Entertainment for their invaluable support in arranging this interview.}

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}