Suited up and feeling suave are OX:N: a team name unfamiliar in the K-Pop scene, but with a lineup very familiar to many. These un-fresh faces consist of Jaehan, Xen, Jehyun, and Yechan of OMEGA X, who are re-debuting as a quartet. Why, you ask? While Yechan dubs themselves the “feel-good guys”, Jaehan, leader of both groups, dished the true reason for their temporary rebrand at a press roundtable recently: ‘We four members were the ones whose schedules allowed us to stay active. Some of the others [in OMEGA X], even if they’re not in the military, are pursuing individual projects right now, so they couldn’t join us.’

But what do these four boys bring to the table? Jehyun admitted that “performing as four has its own charms and strengths”, which is a fair point. While 11 members, which even in K-Pop comprises a large group, can take advantage of their numbers for a more elaborate stage formation when performing songs, the power in a smaller number allows the boys to exhibit their flair more individualistically. The reason why these four so-called “feel-good guys” work well as a separate branch from their main group lies in the well-defined concept they’re all wholeheartedly in on. Anyone who’s been alive two decades or longer will immediately clock the Justin Timberlake vibes to their sound, in particular SUIT & TIE and title track YOU from their debut EP N, which features that fast, upbeat struminess and falsetto vocals so distinct to boygroup hits of previous decades. 

The overarching theme of this album is love, and as we all know, love comes in many forms. I believe that in order to give love to others, you have to take care of and love yourself first. – Jaehan

The boys asserted that they definitely had all-retro vibes on the drawing board for this EP, name-dropping artists like Maroon 5, Muse, and unsurprisingly, Justin Timberlake: ‘[Timberlake] inspired us with his choreography. Even though he’s still active now, the vibe from his earlier days left a strong impression on us,’ Yechan shared, with a star-struck gleam in his specs. He went on, ‘And then there’s Michael Jackson. If I imagine what “YOU” would’ve sounded like in Michael Jackson’s voice, I would go insane.’

As the boys are no babies to the music industry, their style is just as mature. On the roundtable call, they were dressed in the same sleek pinstripe garb as worn in their debut promotion, which Xen shared was inspired by BBC’s Peaky Blinders. Looking smart but maintaining that they’re still absolute sweethearts, the boys had some lovely answers to our question about their favourite lines they themselves had penned on the EP. ‘My favorite line from CAUSE OF YOU is “The reason I’m able to smile is because you’re by my side.” I love how straightforward and honest it is. It says exactly what I’d want to express and best reflects how I truly feel,’ Jaehan explained, about the song that is fittingly the most uplifting on the record. Xen, the other member to dabble in lyricism, noted that he likes how direct LET ME IN is as well: ‘I think it’s a straightforward way of saying, “Let me into your heart,” which hits home for listeners, making it stand out for me.’

Whether you get dewy-eyed from CAUSE OF YOU or feel compelled to do a little jig along to the sexy guitariness of YOU, N is a record of bangers, and the feel-good guys certainly seem to hit the nail on the head with that self-bestowed title. Though there is a good spectrum to the sounds on the EP, a lyric-dive will tell you that everything connects in a neat little way. ‘The overarching theme of this album is love,’ Jaehan shared heartfully, ‘and as we all know, love comes in many forms. I believe that in order to give love to others, you have to take care of and love yourself first. So through this album, I wanted to convey the message that it’s important to learn how to love yourself.’

For the rest of this year, we’re planning to do as many performances as we can to make our fans happy. We’re planning a tour, and I think we’ll get to visit countries we haven’t been to before. – Yechan

Yechan added to the sugar absolutely overflowing from his bandmate’s words: ‘Simply put, I just want to become a good person. On the outside, as an idol and a singer, I have to show a cool and polished image, but on the inside, there are dreams, ambitions, and desires. I want to shape those feelings more healthily and grow not just as an artist, but as a person too.’ We can’t imagine there are better ways to mature as an idol than to perform a hard reset: re-debuting in a unit outside of their main group. And with all the wisdom from their careers scooped up and infused into an entirely separate concept, the boys got the rare chance to test themselves, reinvent themselves, and reaffirm themselves as artists who put their heart, body, and soul into their work. 

So, when will we next get to see these boys in action as a quartet? Soon, is the relief-inducing answer. While the megateam is still on temporary break, OX:N have no plans of slowing down. Xen teased more music, and Yechan brought a news bomb that will leave fans satisfied: ‘For the rest of this year, we’re planning to do as many performances as we can to make our fans happy. We’re planning a tour, and I think we’ll get to visit countries we haven’t been to before. In Korea, the four of us will be working hard to prepare for the best performances, starting right after this interview.’

Written and interviewed by Maddie Armstrong

Featured image © IPQ

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the 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.}