82MAJOR’s fourth mini-album, TROPHY, represents a milestone in the group’s already meteoric rise. Described as a “bold declaration of victory,” the album reflects not only their growth as performers but also their personal interpretation of triumph. For members like Dogyun, victory is about pushing personal limits and surpassing yesterday’s self, while Seongil and Seongbin find it in the irreplaceable moments shared with fans. Yechan emphasises success as being someone’s favourite artist, alongside the ongoing personal victories achieved through rigorous practice. Across the board, the group agrees that true victory is a combination of growth, dedication, and the reciprocal love shared with their supporters, a feeling that lies at the heart of TROPHY.

The creative process behind TROPHY presents 82MAJOR’s evolving artistry. From collaborating in Los Angeles’ Song Camp to working with renowned producers and dancers like WeDemBoyz, the group embraced both experimentation and refinement, mixing their signature hip-hop energy with complex, innovative sounds. Tracks like Trophy and Say More express a fusion of performance-driven intensity and lyrical engagement, reflecting the members’ hands-on approach to songwriting, composition, and choreography. Each member’s personal input, from Seokjoon’s vocal experimentation to Seongmo’s expressive tone and Yechan’s nuanced delivery, demonstrates a great balance between individual creativity and the group’s synergy, resulting in an album that feels 82MAJOR.

Reflecting on past tours across North America, Taiwan, and Malaysia, the members recall the unforgettable energy of live audiences and the universal language of music that connects cultures. With TROPHY as their latest offering, 82MAJOR is ready to bring that same passion to Europe one day.

This is our fourth time sitting down with 82MAJOR, and it’s always a blast to dig a little deeper with these super-intelligent young men. Asking them articulated questions never fails to spark thoughtful – and often playful – answers, proving that behind their high-energy performances lies a sharp wit and genuine curiosity. They make every interview feel like a conversation with friends who just happen to be talented artists.

View of the Arts: Well done on your 4th mini-album. TROPHY is such a good release! It is described as a “bold declaration of victory.” What does “victory” mean to each of you personally at this stage in your career, as artists who have already achieved so much within just two years of debut?

Dogyun: I think “victory” means pushing your own limits in every moment. Instead of comparing myself to others, I like to take a step further from where I was yesterday, which makes me feel like I’ve “won,” whether it’s physically or mentally. Those moments from being on stage or being in the dance studio have built us up to who we are now, so I believe we have been able to achieve so much as 82MAJOR because of those things.

Seongil: For me, victory is “the moment I’m with my fans on stage.” Victory is also a feeling we get from all of the time and effort we put into sharing our music, and our fans and the public can see that. When we know for sure that our passion on stage was real, I feel thrilled, like it was a victory.

Seongbin: For me, right now, I think victory is all of the moments spent with fans. I think it’s really hard to love someone without expecting anything back. But the fact that our fans truly love us unconditionally, I feel victorious already.

Yechan: Victory means seeing success in our musical careers, not just in the conventional way of being top-charting and most-earning, but being someone’s favourite artist. I feel like every artist, that is a victory, if not the most important victory of all. But also, just bettering yourself over rigorous practice and being victorious over your past self is what I consider a victory as well.

Seokjoon: I think there are different ways of feeling “victorious in the moment” as an idol. First of all, while working as a member of 82MAJOR, I was really proud when we thankfully received an award because I felt like all of our hard work was being rewarded. Also, if someone sees us and pursues their dreams of becoming an idol, I feel like that would be another victory for me.

Seongmo: For me, I think victory is the moment when I discover my own growth. Rather than competing with others, I believe true victory is when you battle with yourself to progress a little. So I feel like I’m growing little by little through that process.

VOA: Each of you participated in writing and composing for TROPHY, which is becoming a defining trait of 82MAJOR. How has this creative process evolved since your earlier albums? Do you find yourselves more confident now when expressing your musical ideas?

Seokjoon: The biggest difference in this process compared to before was definitely going to the Song Camp in LA. Several producers were working on songs in their own rooms, so we moved between the rooms and were able to choose songs that we liked. If we didn’t like the song, then we would move on to the next room and try something new, so it was really refreshing.

At first, it was a bit unfamiliar, but we adjusted pretty quickly and gave them feedback freely, as well as confidently expressing what kind of music we wanted to make. As the members exchanged ideas a lot more, I truly felt, “So this is our style” this time around. So I think we were able to truly portray the music and energy we wanted to create in this album.

VOA: When you collaborate with producers and writers, how do you strike the balance between your own artistic identity and the ideas brought in by others? Are there moments when you feel it’s difficult, or inspiring, to merge different creative visions?

Yechan: I was inspired by a lot of moments. Honestly, there can be times when working with different producers, our opinions don’t align. However, we actually find those kinds of situations fun. By seeing the producers’ individual styles, I have thought, “Ah, so it can be expressed in this way as well,” and I’ve learned a lot through that. But at the same time, we make an effort to maintain our unique style as well. Even our title track, “Trophy,” shows that synergy.

It was our first time working with the WeDemBoyz Dancers, and I’ve always been a huge fan, so it was such an honour. When I first saw the choreography, I thought, “Wow, this is so cool.” The choreographer told us that the choreography was inspired by a fashion show, so we also made an effort to express the confident and proud feelings of a model walking down the runway. It was the first time attempting this concept, so we were a bit worried, but we really enjoyed the process of incorporating it into our own style through practice. I think we were able to create new energy because the WeDemBoyz direction and our expressiveness meshed well together. So, through this process, I think it broadened our musical perspective.

VOA: If you had the opportunity to challenge yourselves by writing and producing a full studio album from start to finish, just the six of you, would you take that on? What would that creative process look like, and what message do you think 82MAJOR would want to deliver through such a project?

Seongbin: I’d really love to create a full-length album from start to finish with our own hands if we ever get the opportunity. Even up to our mini album now, our members have consistently participated in writing lyrics and composing music, so we’re pretty confident, and I think we’re ready to do so. If we’re able to make an album like that, I want to complete the album with tracks that would make anyone think, “This is true 82MAJOR music.” I think that because we are a team that creates our own performance and music, the sincerity, effort, and the process of growth all contain a message within itself. I want to show an album that conveys “our process” beyond music; that’s just simply great.

VOA: TROPHY carries that distinctive, confident hip-hop core while introducing more complex and experimental sounds. Was it a deliberate choice to keep that signature 82MAJOR “cool” while expanding sonically, or did it come naturally during the creative process and work with other creatives?

Seongmo: I think it’s a natural reflection of our team’s tendency to always enjoy new challenges. When preparing for albums, we write songs, and we’re also open to listening to beats from other producers. So, when I first heard the beat for Trophy, I thought it sounded great and felt confident that we would be able to create a truly amazing performance with this. After recording the song and completing the choreography, I was confident that this project was going to be amazing. I hope many people will enjoy it.

VOA: Let’s talk about the title track, Trophy. It’s fast-paced and full of energy. What story or emotional message did you want to express through the song and its music video? And what was the experience like recording such an intense and high-energy track in the studio?

Seongil: Our title track Trophy is a song that embodies all of our hard work and growth up until now, and also our ambition to move forward to bigger stages in the future. The song overall gives off confident and defiant vibes because we tried to express the music passionately and energetically when we performed it on stage. We also wanted to visually send that kind of message in the music video. We portrayed 82MAJOR’s identity: “We will become artists representing Korea,” via details like the red and blue lighting, the track line in the shape of Geongongamri (the four black symbols on the South Korean flag), the tiger, as well as other details. Even as we were filming, it felt incredibly meaningful because these symbolic elements showcase who we are as a team.

Seongbin: When recording a powerful song like this, there are times when I’m having a blast, so it’s pretty memorable. I think the energy came alive naturally from my voice because I was having fun recording. Also, when recording my part, I recorded “Trophy” as “Troppy” a few times, and even that was fun.

Yechan: I wanted to give off a “this is a competition but not really a competition” vibe. Like, “You’re not on my level” kind of vibe? Also, recording was super easy this time around. I think out of all of the members, I had it the easiest.

Seokjoon: When I record, I tend to experiment with my voice in different ways. I remember thinking a lot about what kind of tone would fit best to keep up with the intense energy of the song, Trophy. Through multiple attempts, I was impressed with how I was able to maximize the song’s vibe with my voice.

Seongmo: When recording Trophy, I knew from the beginning that this song suited me perfectly. I remember feeling euphoric while recording because my voice tone matched the song’s energy so well that it exceeded my expectations. It was as if I discovered another side of myself.

VOA: There’s something beautifully personal about Say More. Since you were so involved in shaping its lyrics and sound, could you tell me what inspired the track and what ideas or feelings were running through your mind during the creative process?

Seongmo: Say More is a track that has a different mood from the title track, mixing an upbeat rhythm with an R&B bass. It’s a song that I’m deeply attached to because Yechan and I participated in writing the lyrics, and we put a lot of thought into it. We really wanted to express the free-spirited and bright energy of 82MAJOR in a more loving and witty way through this song. Just like the lyrics say, “Whisper to me one more time with your sweet voice,” we wanted to capture the feeling of getting butterflies and the sweet atmosphere of the moment when falling in love. We worked on it, hoping that those who listen to the song will also feel those good emotions.

VOA: Suspicious and Need That Bass are the dynamic and high-tempo energy that you’re known for. How do you approach balancing intensity and musicality when creating songs that are performance-heavy but still lyrically engaging?

Yechan: We always strive for both performance-like intensity and musical perfection. The greatest strength in achieving that balance is ultimately the members’ passion. We all really love music so much that in every album we consistently participate in writing lyrics and composing music, and we truly make an effort to add our unique style from the beginning of the songwriting process.

It’s also the same in terms of performance. I think that the energy we show on stage isn’t simply derived from the choreography or facial expressions, but rather it’s from the process of expressing the song’s message and emotions through our bodies. That’s why the members actively give feedback on the directing of choreography as well as stage direction. So through this process, the music and performance don’t just exist on their own, but rather they blend together, and I think that’s exactly why we can carry out 82MAJOR’s unique energy.

VOA: Since you’ve each contributed to songwriting, I’m curious – if every member could release a solo track tomorrow, what genre would you explore and why? Would anyone surprise us with a completely unexpected style?

Seongil: I want to try R&B. I enjoy listening to R&B regularly, and because it’s a genre that brings out emotional melodies and vocal details, I think I can naturally showcase my vocal tone. I want to create a new atmosphere for the fans via music with delicate emotional depth.

Seongbin: I want to try the digicore genre by sampling Korean-style songs. While showing a new side of myself with experimental sounds, I’m also trying to maintain 82MAJOR’s Korean identity by sampling these Korean-style songs. I’ll make sure to show you guys my own unique style in a solo track later.

Dogyun: I’d like to try a genre like Korean traditional ballads. Since I am the main vocalist, it’s a style I’ve always wanted to try at least once. I believe that if I can portray my honest vocals and emotional depth through an emotionally deep and lyrical song, I can show a new charm apart from the group’s style.

Yechan: I personally probably wouldn’t be rapping, but instead singing, most likely R&B, or maybe jazz fusion? I’m not sure yet.

Seokjoon: I want to try the Afrobeat genre. I find the fun, upbeat rhythm appealing, so I’d like to make a cool yet trendy song that incorporates my style. I think it’ll be a performance that fans will be able to enjoy together, and I think I’ll be able to surprise them with a new side of myself.

Seongmo: Honestly, I’m still thinking about what kind of genre I want to do. There are a lot of things that I felt while trying various styles for this album. I want to find a genre where I can express my emotions a bit more and share stories honestly. I’m constantly thinking about how I can one day deliver a solo song that fully embodies my style.

VOA: You’ve now toured across North America, Taiwan, and Malaysia – a massive achievement for a young group. How has performing internationally influenced your perspective as musicians and as individuals?

Dogyun: Touring abroad was truly an unforgettable experience, especially our first American tour, which I remember vividly still. Every time we stood on stage, the local fans’ passionate support and energy were so great that we were naturally able to immerse ourselves in that atmosphere. Those were the moments when I realized that music really does unite us, even though we speak different languages.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image © Great M Entertainment

_{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.}