[INTERVIEW]: A.C.E Talks About Their Latest EP, Upcoming Tour, and Future Projects

Park Junhee, Lee Donghun, WOW, Kim Byeongkwan, and Kang Yuchan return from a two-year-long hiatus with their EP My Girl: "My Choice" and they gear up to meet their fans, CHOICE, on their [REWIND_US] Tour.

A.C.E made their debut in 2017 with the hit song “Cactus” under their label Beat Interactive, and captured the attention of global K-Pop fans for their unique musical style and fashion. The group took a hiatus of over two years due to the mandatory military enlistment of their members, but the return of Kang Yuchan in February marked the end of this hiatus.

To commemorate their comeback, the quintet dropped a captivating seven-track EP titled My Girl: “My Choice” on February 22, 2024. The EP features pre-release singles "Effortless" and "Angel," along with the title track "My Girl," "Facetime," and English versions of "Effortless," "Angel," and "My Girl."

The Kraze recently had the opportunity to catch up with A.C.E during their latest global roundtable interview to discuss their newest EP, upcoming tour, and future projects. Check out their responses below:

Q: How was the creative process and what was the moment you enjoyed the most about the making of the album?

Byeongkwan: I think each of us has a unique perspective on this, so we'll share our thoughts one by one. Personally, I found the recording process quite enjoyable.

Q: As a group known for your versatility in music, how do you approach experimenting with different genres while still staying true to A.C.E's signature style?

WOW: All of us share a deep love for music, which has allowed us to maintain our unique style. This passion for music also emboldened us to explore new styles and genres, finding value in pushing our boundaries and remaining versatile. We are committed to continuing this journey of exploration and embracing new genres in the future.

Q: Can you share a fun TMI from the album preparation process?

Donghun: For this album, our recording process took a unique approach. We aimed to showcase A.C.E's vocal skills, so we paid meticulous attention to details during the recording. Each of us pre-recorded a guided version of the song, and we then put them together into one. Based on this, we divided lines and proceeded with recording. This method significantly enhanced the album's quality.

BK: The pre-recording process was really fun.

DH: I think it was an opportunity for all of us to grow even more.

BK: Let me add on. The songs on our EP had both the English and Korean versions of the song, which was interesting. For the track, "Facetime," WOW composed the song so we were calling him the producer, a nickname that he really liked. During the recording of the guided version, he would joke around saying that his version was the original, that he got the “original sound.” It was very funny.

Q: When recording the English versions of the songs, was it more difficult to portray the same emotions and vibe? How did you prepare for the English recordings?

BK: We recorded the English version before the Korean version, so when we later recorded the Korean version, we aimed to maintain the same vibe as in the English recording. Each member provided feedback on pronunciation while one member was in the recording booth, and we all listened and offered input. I believe this collaborative effort is evident in the final result.

Q: Apart from the title track, which is your personal favorite song and why?

Junhee: My usual answer would be "Angel,” but today, I choose "Facetime" because we have the producer of the song, WOW, here with us and he has gifted us with the opportunity to sing the song. I'm really thankful for that, and I wanted to compliment [his] songwriting skills.

Yuchan: My usual answer would be "Facetime,” but I'll go with "Angel" today. This is because the performance of "Angel" was what really resonated with me when I saw other members perform on stage.

Q: Could you describe the experience of teaching CHOICE the choreography to “My Girl” and filming the music video with them?

BK: It is something we have never tried before. All of us enjoy spending time with our fans, whether it's at a fan signing event or a concert. Teaching our fans the choreography of our title track up close and filming the music video together was an incredible honor and a cherished memory.

Q: What was the hardest thing about returning to K-Pop after military service?

JH: It was quite challenging to adapt to the “challenge” culture. During our early debut stages, this culture wasn't prevalent. However, nowadays, when we visit the waiting areas at broadcasting media, artists are constantly filming challenge videos with members from other groups and artists, leaving little time for rest after performances or rehearsals. This new culture requires everyone to learn the dance moves of other groups, which was difficult for us to keep up with. Yet, our fans love seeing these videos, so we are quite satisfied with it.

Q: A.C.E is known for being unique with their concepts and style. Are there any concepts that you would like to experiment with in future projects?

JH: Exploring a super sexy concept is something we haven't delved into yet, despite experimenting with powerful, cute, and other themes. It's a direction we're considering, given our maturity, and I believe it's a concept our fans are eagerly anticipating.

Q: If you could pick one song to introduce A.C.E to anyone, which song would it be and why?

DH: For me, it is "Goblin (Favorite Boys)" because it embodies the essence of K-Pop. It not only represents Korea but also the broader K-Pop culture. The song's performance is captivating, and overall, it implies a lot of things.

W: I choose "Savage" because it is the first hip-hop song that we released, which was meaningful, and I enjoyed promoting this song.

BK: I would recommend "Under Cover,” but I believe "Cactus" truly embodies the essence of A.C.E. It represents our identity as a group.

YC: I chose "Under Cover" because it's a song that truly showcases the intensity and power of A.C.E's performance. Among our songs, there's no other song like "Under Cover" that pushes our limits so boldly. I believe it's a perfect introduction to our group.

JH: I choose the song, "Stand By You" because it is my favorite A.C.E song. Also, the lyrics are very sentimental and I love it.

Image: **MyMusicTaste** and Beat Interactive

Q: For this tour, [REWIND_US], you are going to a lot of places you have never visited before. What are you most excited about when it comes to seeing those new places?

YC: There's a specific blend of emotions, atmosphere, and vibe unique to each city. While I look forward to discovering new cuisines and cultures, it's the distinctive energy of a new city that truly excites me.

BK: The United States is a very big country, so even in the same country, each state is very different. They have different weather, culture, and vibe from the fans. We will be going to places we haven't visited yet so I want to ask our fans to come to our concert.

DH: When we tour a new city, our time is mostly spent at the show venue. So we remember the city by the energy from our fans and the ambiance of the venue. I'm looking forward to creating wonderful memories with our fans during this tour as well.

Thank you to A.C.E, Beat Interactive, and Helix Publicity for giving us the opportunity to speak with the members. If you haven’t yet, check out their latest music video below! You can also catch a live performance of "My Girl" at one of A.C.E's 14 US stops of their [REWIND_US] Tour!

Edited by Cara Musashi