Debuting amidst the pandemic, MCND still managed to gain a lot of attention with their first title track “ICE AGE.” The five member boy group has a very distinct style that charmed K-Pop fans all around the world, and they just started a fresh phase with their new mini-album THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION Chapter.1—you can read our full review HERE.

TOP Media’s rookie group took the time during their busy comeback promotions to chat with us about their new album, new dreams, GEM, Billboard charts, and even webtoons and a sexy concept one of the members wants to try. Listening to THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION Chapter.1, we already got a hunch about MCND’s passion for honey butter chips, but what else do they grab on a convenience store run? Find out in the exclusive interview down below!

Q: YOU RECENTLY CAME BACK WITH THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION CHAPTER. 1. WHAT DO YOU HOPE PEOPLE TAKE AWAY FROM THE ALBUM?

MCND:  The album THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION Chapter.1 is about completing hidden secret missions around the Earth with GEMs, and it contains our hope of performing on stage and interacting with GEMs in person. The current situation makes it rather frustrating and unfortunate that we can’t meet, but we want to convey the message that with dreams and hope, we will meet one day; so, let’s embrace these dreams and hope and meet each other in good health.

Q: AT THE KRAZE, WE REALLY LOVED THE STYLING AND MAKEUP OF THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION CHAPTER. 1 PHOTOS AND THE “REASON” TRAILER VIDEO! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THIS? ANY FAVORITE ELEMENTS?

Castle J: I really liked the mischievous and playful styling! I’m really happy that I actually got to try out a hair color that I’ve personally been wanting to do!

BIC: My favorite styling was the “normal” styling of parting my hair 5:5!

Minjae: I liked the styling of all MCND members.

Huijun: I liked the luminous version of styling the best.

Win: I liked my styling for the first teaser of “REASON”.

Q: WHO DO YOU THINK FITS THIS STYLE/CONCEPT THE BEST?

MCND: All five members fit the concept well~^^

Q: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE TRACKS FROM THE ALBUM AND WHY?

Castle J: My favorites are the title track “Movin’” and “Play Pungak!” I like how the harmony of gugak [Korean traditional music] and hip-hop brings a lot of excitement, and I like how “Movin’” is very cool.

BIC: My favorite track is “Cat Waltz.” I usually like upbeat songs just like this one!

Minjae: I like our second track “Cat Waltz.” It’s our fan song from this album, and I have a lot of singing parts which makes me feel more attached to this track; it’s a song that gets better every time you listen to it.

Huijun: I like the song “Cat Waltz!” It’s a song that I’ve been wanting to do since the album EARTH AGE, so I like the song even more.

Win: From our album, my favorite track is “Play Pungak.” I think it’s the most exciting and fun song.

Q: YOUR LATEST TITLE TRACK “CRUSH” MADE IT TO BILLBOARD CHARTS. FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS! SECOND OF ALL, DID THIS MAKE YOU SET NEW GOALS OR CHANGE ANYTHING IN PREPARATIONS OF THE NEW ALBUM?

Castle J: Along with Billboard, we hope that our songs make it to international music charts so that we can introduce the group MCND to more people. We want to make our songs more known and heard.

Huijun: For this album’s promotion, I really want to do a concert. Although we can’t meet fans due to the pandemic, I hope to meet and interact with many fans through online fan sign events or online concerts.

Q: ANY FUNNY OR MEMORABLE EPISODES FROM THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE COMEBACK THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SHARE WITH GEM?

Minjae: Through this album, we aimed to show new music. During the album preparation process, we had so much fun practicing and perfecting our final result that it’s hard to point out a single moment that was most memorable. It was fun interpreting the meaning behind the music video while filming and watching the members immerse themselves in the process.

Q: YOU ARE A HIP-HOP GROUP, BUT WITH PMG (PLAY MUSIC GROUND) YOU COVERED MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC. ARE THERE ANY GENRES AND CONCEPTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO TRY IN YOUR OWN COMEBACKS ONE DAY?

Castle J: I want to try the R&B and rock genres as well as a really strong or refreshing concept.

BIC: This is kind of embarrassing to say, but I want to try a sexy concept.

Minjae: I hope to try R&B.

Huijun: I want to give the refreshing concept one more try before I turn 20!

Win: As of now, I still want to do hip-hop.

Q: YOUR NAME STANDS FOR “MUSIC CREATES NEW DREAM.” ARE THERE ANY NEW DREAMS THAT MUSIC HAS CREATED FOR YOU SINCE YOU STARTED RELEASING MUSIC AS MCND?

MCND: Due to COVID-19, we weren’t able to meet our fans GEM in person. And so, our new dream is to hold a concert that we can interact and enjoy with GEMs.

Q: IF YOU COULD CREATE A WEBTOON, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT AND WHAT GENRE WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

Castle J: I like the superpower hero munchkin genre!

BIC: I think I would draw an RPG webtoon or one that involves fighting.

Minjae: I would draw a hero who defeats monsters.

Huijun: I think I would draw a romance webtoon.

Win: Like the works “에리카” and “당신의 과녁,” I want to draw a webtoon that consists of calm but deep content.

Q: CAN EACH OF YOU TELL US ONE THING—A HOBBY OR ACTIVITY—THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO TRY OUTSIDE OF MUSIC?

Castle J: I have several hobbies such as shopping, gaming, walking, and more! One activity I want to try is swimming.

BIC: I want to learn locking and try working as a barista!

Minjae: Swimming.

Huijun: I want to try writing and composing songs.

Win: I’d like to go shopping for clothes. I want to wear a hip outfit.

Q: CAN YOU SHARE YOUR FAVORITE CONVENIENCE STORE SNACK WITH US? DO ANY OF THE MEMBERS HAVE SOME FOOD COMBINATIONS THEY REALLY LIKE BUT THE OTHERS THINK IS WEIRD?

Castle J: Convenience store… Honey butter chips? Turtle chips? Heh

BIC: It’s different every time, but I really like all snacks. Convenience stores are always welcome!!

Minjae: I don’t think I can decide my favorite convenience store snack, so I’ll reveal my favorite drink––GLACÉAU vitaminwater power-C. I like how it looks and how it tastes, so I drink it often.

Huijun: I like Home Run Ball!! Honestly, I like all snacks!!

Win: I tend to like snacks that are soda-flavored. I want to try out cup ramen fried rice(?)~

Q: LASTLY, DO YOU HAVE ANY ENCOURAGING WORDS FOR INTERNATIONAL GEMS WHO JUST STARTED THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON?

MCND: Our fans GEM~ Although school life wouldn’t be as easy with COVID-19, we hope that you always take care of your health and give love and support to MCND. We will show our cool and fun sides through the promotion of our third mini-album THE EARTH: SECRET MISSION Chapter.1, so enjoy it with us MCND~ Thank you.

Thank you Castle J, BIC, Minjae, Huijun, Win, and TOP Media for this opportunity. We can’t wait to see what the next chapter will bring to MCND, and we hope an opportunity to meet GEM will come soon! 

Please continue supporting MCND and their latest album, THE EARTH:SECRET MISSION Chapter.1.