Watching K-pop from China and then moving to South Korea to train and eventually debut as K-pop artists turned out to be two very different experiences for AM8IC. Mingkai, Roux, Saho, Chungyi and Chen had all admired K-pop artists before becoming trainees themselves, but once the five members were living and training in Seoul, the job became much bigger than learning choreography, improving their vocals and preparing to stand on stage. They were also learning how to live in another country, speak another language, understand its culture and etiquette and adjust the everyday habits that most people rarely have to think about. By the time AM8IC debuted, they had already changed considerably from the young artists who had first arrived with an idea of what being a K-pop idol might be like.

All five members are Chinese, while the group itself was formed and trained within the Korean idol industry, which gives AM8IC an identity that is quite interesting. They officially debuted in November 2025 with their first EP, “LUKOIE”, after introducing themselves earlier through “Escher” and “Buzzin’”, but less than a year into their career, they are still working out what being AM8IC can mean beyond that first introduction.

“LUKOIE” gave them plenty to begin with; AM8IC’s music exists inside a dark fantasy world where five boys from different times and places find themselves connected through a false dream, with LUKOIE appearing as the figure they eventually have to confront. It sounds complicated on paper, and the members themselves admit that some of their choreography and music may not immediately make sense when experienced separately, but that is also part of what they are trying to build: a story that becomes clearer as the music, performances and visuals begin to come together.

“Link Up”, for example, moves between bossa nova-inspired guitar, UK garage rhythms and pop, while “Escher” takes them somewhere darker and more uneasy, yet the members do not seem concerned with finding one genre and staying there. For them, the sound changes depending on where they are in the story and what that moment needs, which may prove useful for a group whose five members already have very different ideas about what they would like to try next.

Their Chinese backgrounds may eventually become another part of that development. The members are interested in bringing elements of the culture they grew up with into AM8IC’s music, although they are refreshingly unwilling to pretend they already know exactly what that should sound like. At this stage of their career, perhaps that uncertainty is more interesting than having everything worked out; they have debuted, but they are still learning what kind of group they want to become.

That process will continue in Paris at The A Festival, where AM8IC will perform for a European audience and, alongside songs from “LUKOIE”, give the first performances of music from their upcoming release.

Ahead of their trip to Paris, View of the Arts, in collaboration with The A Festival, spoke with AM8IC about what changed once they experienced the K-pop industry from the inside, building the world of “LUKOIE”, experimenting with different sounds, their hopes of bringing more of their Chinese backgrounds into the group’s music, what each member still wants the chance to show and where AM8IC might go from here.

View of the Arts: All five of you are Chinese artists who trained and eventually debuted in Korea. Now that you’ve actually experienced the K-pop industry from the inside, what parts of that experience have influenced you most as performers?

AM8IC: We had always looked up to K-pop artists and dreamed of being on that stage ourselves. Once we started training, we realised how much time and effort it takes to get there. There was so much to learn beyond singing and dancing, from Korean culture and etiquette to different vocal techniques, styling, eating habits and our daily routines. Learning to take care of ourselves and adapt to a different culture had a big impact on us. The experience helped us grow as people as much as it did as performers.

VOA: AM8IC’s name is built around the idea of connection, and “LUKOIE” introduces an entire fantasy world around the group. How important is storytelling to your music, and do you want each future release to continue expanding the same universe?

AM8IC: When our CEO first explained the world of AM8IC to us, it felt like listening to the plot of a film. We felt there was something in that story that could move people, and that it explored ideas we hadn’t often encountered in K-pop. Storytelling has been central to our music ever since. Some of the songs or choreography might seem a little difficult to grasp at first, but when you experience the music and performances together, we hope the story starts to make sense. Apart from occasional seasonal special releases, we plan to keep developing our future releases within the same universe.

VOA: “LUKOIE” moves through quite different sounds, while “Link Up” itself brings together bossa nova-inspired guitar, UK garage rhythms and pop. When you’re exploring so many musical influences, what do you think ultimately makes something sound like an AM8IC song?

AM8IC: For us, it comes down to what serves the story. The sounds we use depend on what’s happening in our universe, the scene we’re showing and the emotions we’re trying to express. Different influences, like bossa nova and UK garage, become part of AM8IC’s sound when they come together to bring that moment to life. Even when the genres change, the story gives the music a sense of continuity.

VOA: You released “Escher” and “Buzzin'” before officially debuting and then introduced yourselves fully through “LUKOIE”. Looking back now, which song do each of you think tells a new listener the most about AM8IC and why?

SAHO: I would choose “Link Up.” It represents connection, which is at the heart of our concept. It’s also the opening of our story, where five boys from different times and places first meet through a false dream created by LUKOIE. The lyrics describe the confusion and unease of that world, but there’s also the message that, as long as we stay connected, we can find our way through the darkness. I hope it draws new listeners into our universe.

ROUX: I think “Escher” captures AM8IC’s character best. Everything, from the music and choreography to the performance video, conveys the feeling of escaping through darkness. It really brings out the “dark” side of our dark fantasy concept. I think it’s a song that can immediately pull you in when you first listen to the album.

CHUNGYI: I would also choose “Escher.” It has a very distinct musical style, and the visuals and styling are just as recognisable. For someone discovering AM8IC for the first time, I think it gives a clear sense of who we are as a group.

CHEN: I’d choose “LUKOIE.” When people first see the title, they’re probably wondering what it means. LUKOIE is the central character running through our first album, a kind of “final boss” we have to confront and escape from. You can feel that character’s heavy, dark presence in the song. He’ll keep appearing in different ways in future stories, so I’d like new listeners to meet the big guy first. [Laughs]

MINGKAI: I would choose “Escher.” It has this tense, dangerous atmosphere, and each of us expresses a different reaction to the threat we’re facing. We’ve shown different sides of ourselves across our songs, but I think “Escher” is a great introduction to our particular atmosphere and the chemistry between the members. We each have our own personality, and something special happens when the five of us come together. To me, that’s one of AM8IC’s biggest strengths.

VOA: Chen has previously spoken about being attracted to K-pop because it allows artists to challenge themselves with many different styles. As five Chinese artists working within K-pop, do you hope that your own backgrounds will increasingly become part of AM8IC’s musical identity as the group develops?

AM8IC: We think it’s wonderful when the culture someone grew up with comes through naturally in their music. As AM8IC develops, we’d like to explore ways of bringing more of our own cultural background into what we do. We haven’t decided exactly which elements we’d use or how we’d approach them yet. We’d like to find a way of expressing them that feels natural to us and connects with listeners around the world.

VOA: You’re still at a very early stage in your career, which means there are probably many things you haven’t had an opportunity to show yet. Going one by one, what is one musical or performance side of yourself that each member really wants us to see in AM8IC’s future music?

CHEN: I’d like us to keep trying different genres and develop a clearer sense of our own sound along the way. Personally, I’d also love more opportunities to take part in writing music. I want to put our real thoughts, experiences and emotions into our songs, so that over time, people can hear how we’re growing through the music itself.

SAHO: I really love rock music. Sometimes I imagine myself on stage with smoky eye makeup and punk clothes, singing a rock song. [Laughs] If we get the chance, I’d love to try that and show everyone a wilder, more free-spirited side of AM8IC.

CHUNGYI: I’d like to try something a little more sensual and mature, both musically and on stage. I think it would give me a chance to show a different side of myself. I’d like to explore how to express that mood naturally through my voice, facial expressions and movement.

ROUX: I want to create performances where you can really follow a story. Our music is built around AM8IC’s universe, so that story is also there in our movements and expressions. As we grow, I hope we can bring more depth to that. I’d love for our performances to feel like opening a book and following a story.

MINGKAI: I’d like to express a wider range of emotions through my rap. There are so many ways to use my voice and rhythm depending on the mood and story of a song, and I want to explore more of them. I’d also like to become more relaxed on stage, connect with the audience and really enjoy the performance together.

VOA: There is a difference between finally achieving the dream of debuting and then having to build a career after that moment. What has been the biggest thing you’ve learned about yourselves as a group since “LUKOIE” was released?

AM8IC: Before debuting, our biggest goal was simply to make it onto that stage. After introducing ourselves through “LUKOIE”, we started thinking much more about what we wanted to show fans the next time we stood in front of them. Our focus gradually shifted from ourselves to the people watching and supporting us. Looking back, all that preparation was also about discovering what we had to offer beyond our debut. We’ve learned how important it is to find a pace that works for us as a team. We want to reach our goals one at a time and keep sharing music and performances with our fans for a long time.

VOA: You’ll be travelling to Paris for The A Festival, allowing a European audience to discover AM8IC very early in your career. Going one by one, what can each member tell us about what you’re bringing to Paris, and what do you hope people remember about AM8IC after seeing you perform?

AM8IC: First, we’d like to thank the team at The A Festival for giving us this opportunity. We’re working hard on the show and really looking forward to meeting everyone in Paris.

ROUX: Alongside songs from our first album, we’ll be giving the first performances of songs from our upcoming release. The five of us each have our own character on stage. I hope people remember those individual qualities as well as what we create when we come together as AM8IC.

CHEN: This show means something special to us because we’ll be performing our new songs for the first time, ahead of their release, in front of a European audience. I want to keep a few details a surprise for now. [Laughs] But we can promise that everything we’ve been working on will go into this stage. You’ll see how we’ve developed through the music, the dancing and the energy the five of us bring together.

SAHO: We’re so happy to be performing in Paris for the first time. All of us are really excited, and we’re putting a lot of care into preparing the show. We’ll be performing songs from our first album as well as our upcoming release, so we hope you’re looking forward to it!

CHUNGYI: I hope people remember AM8IC as a group with a distinct identity and a story of our own. I’d also love them to leave wondering what we’ll do next. Hopefully, this performance makes them want to follow the next part of our story.

MINGKAI: I want people to feel the full energy of our music and choreography in person, and see the teamwork we’ve built as five members. If our performance comes back to mind after they get home and they think, “I’d like to see AM8IC again,” I’d be really happy.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of TOV Entertainment

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to film, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. As we continue to grow, we aim to deepen our coverage of Asian music while remaining committed to exploring and celebrating creativity across the global arts landscape.}