Roundtable Interview: with Raw Passion and a Bit of “JeLLo,” NEWBEAT Debuts and Lets us Know Why They Want to be Rookie of the Year

A new group has entered the K-Pop paradigm, and with their own vision and sound, the juniors of Beat Interactive’s A.C.E and Forestella are here to pave their way into the limelight. NEWBEAT took time ahead of their official debut to sit down with select members of the media to talk about their pre-released tracks, their time busking in the States, what their goals are, and how they want to be seen. 

If you wonder why they look familiar, you might have seen them during their stateside busking tour titled HIGH&LOW DONUTS last year, or as they supported their sunbaes as backup dancers or greeting fans during the last A.C.E tour. The septet consists of members Park Minseok, Hong Minsung, Jeon Yeoyeojeong, Choi Seohyun, Kim Taeyang, Jo Yunhu, and Kim Riwoo, who were HinLOVE for a moment before finally debuting as NEWBEAT. Energized and enthusiastic, they were more than excited to share their thoughts on all the questions brought forward by the media crew. 

For information regarding their recently released official full-length debut album RAW AND RAD, check out our review here, and for more background and info from the boys themselves, read on ahead!

NEWBEAT: Two, three! Hi, we are NEWBEAT!

*Q: What was your first reaction when you learned that you would finally make your debut? 

Choi Seohyun: We all individually had different trainee periods and experiences, so our debut is definitely something I've been waiting for a long time. I'm glad to have debuted with wonderful teammates under a great management company. I'm very excited!

*Q: Congratulations on your debut. Can you share your feelings and experiences as you approach your official debut with “RAW AND RAD?”

Park Minseok: As rookies, every moment is so new to us, and we've been experiencing and finding the fun in growing from these challenges. We put all our effort and practice into this album with our whole heart. Thank you for your congratulatory message!

*Q: Your pre-release tracks, "JeLLo" and "HICCUPS," have distinct styles. How do these tracks represent your group's musical versatility, and what messages do they convey?

CSH: For each track, we are conveying different stories, which shows our efforts to make diverse music. "JeLLo" focuses more on silly, kitsch, and warm emotions and vibes, while "HICCUPS" covers an unexpected energetic vibe and unique sounds. We wanted to convey our diverse musical styles.

*Q: How did the pre-release of "JeLLo" and "HICCUPS" affect your expectations and anticipation for your debut?

Jeon Yeoyeojeong: These two pre-release tracks were released first to show our universe story, or our lore, and the charm of the members. I think our fans were able to get an idea of who we are and what charms we have. We have so much more in our pocket, so I want to build more anticipation for what's to come.

Q: Loved the fun and funkiness of "JeLLo." But I have to ask, do all of you like Jell-O, if not, what's your favorite dessert?

Kim Taeyang: My favorite dessert are pistachio desserts (with everyone chiming in with their love for pistachio).

*Q: “HICCUPS” is an interesting concept, which daringly incorporates sounds resembling actual hiccups onto a hip-hop track. Were any of you nervous about introducing yourselves to the world in such a bold and unique way?

JYYJ: It can be a little worrisome and hesitant to use unique sounds and beats. However, since we're rookies and our album's theme is all about challenging ourselves with passion and determination, we thought it could also be an opportunity to show who we are and bring out our charms even more.

*Q: Are there any funny moments you want to share and can't forget while recording “JeLLo” or “HICCUPS?”

CS: For "HICCUPS," there's an actual hiccup sound in the song's intro part, which I recorded, and the directors complimented me a lot, so I was very happy and proud. 

Hong Minsung: When it was decided that we would be recording the hiccup sound ourselves, all seven of us would walk around practicing that hiccup sound as if we were a choir of hiccup sound, which I thought was funny.

*Q: How would you describe your sound as a group—what makes NEWBEAT’s music unique?

PMS: Like our debut album's title, “RAW AND RAD,” we are conveying the duality of our wild and soft sides. In addition, we're mixing that concept with old hip-hop sound, creating a mysterious and charming vibe overall. We wanted to portray our versatility as a group by including diverse genres, so I think that expresses our unique sound. 

*Q: Your two pre-debut singles have a certain funk aspect to them, are there any artists that have inspired y’all when creating these tracks?

JYYJ: Our two pre-debut singles and the title track have this old-school hip-hop vibe. During our trainee days, we practiced to and covered a lot of first-generation K-Pop idols to learn and approach closely to the old hip-hop genre, and we were inspired by that experience when working on our album.

*Q: What is the meaning of the name RAW AND RAD? What does this upcoming album mean to you as individuals?

PMS: “RAW AND RAD” represents pure, raw passion and the spirit of challenge. While we acknowledge the imperfections and flaws within our rawness, I believe it is also a result that fully captures our dreams, passion, and mindset.

*Q: Were there any specific themes or messages you wanted to convey in this album? Please share some details of the concepts and themes of the album (unicorn and other symbolism).

JYYJ: To explain our symbol and meaning of Neurocorn, our mascot, the story starts with a unicorn without a horn that starts to think and explore why it doesn't have a horn like other unicorns. Later, the unicorn comes to a realization that it's not wrong to not have a horn and everyone is different. This message is expressed through our song, connecting our sense of freedom, challenge, and ambition.

*Q: What song in your debut album that you want to recommend to your fans? 

HMS: I think it would be "We Are Young." The lyrics of this song are really good, and it is also going to be part of an OST for our own content of walking 100 km across Korea. This also feels like a perfect track to sing as newbies.

PMS: As he mentioned, it's a song that will be used as the OST for our 100 km journey, and the message embedded in the song represents freedom and rawness, symbolizing that we are young and capable of doing anything.

*Q: Is there any advice that you have received from your seniors that has helped you while preparing for debut?

Jo Yunhu: Jun from A.C.E. gave me advice on taking care of mental health. He said that it's important to remind yourself that you are going to do well, so trust yourself and enjoy the process. This is something I try to remember whenever I feel challenged and want to recover my mental well-being.

*Q: If you could choose one RAW AND RAD track to represent each member, which ones would you choose and why?

Kim Riwoo: I think it's "We Are Young" for me. I'm the youngest in the group, and the song is very bright and hopeful that it depicts the journey to chase our dream and future. I also have a bright personality, so I think it suits me the most.

CSH: I would choose "HICCUPS" for me because I think I suit old-school hip-hop genres and styles. I find my strength in showcasing powerful yet freestyle-like performances, and I think this song best expresses who I am as a performer.

NEWBEAT busking in Central Park, NYC. Photo by Jean Libert.

Q: We had a taste of NEWBEAT in while you were busking in the states last year. What was the highlight of your time in the U.S.?

HSM: I think our last busking was the most memorable because not only was it our last busking, but also the background and weather that day were perfect. A lot of fans and people formed a big crowd around us. As a finale, we invited the dance crews, whom we had collaborated with during the busking tour, and danced "Standing Next to You" in Central Park in New York, which almost felt like an amazing mega-crew performance. It was definitely one of the highlights in the U.S.

*Q: What’s your favorite part about performing for fans?

KTY: I'm pretty shy, but I realized that singing and dancing in front of others makes me happy, which is why I decided to pursue this career. I think the same goes for all our seven NEWBEAT members, as performing for fans is so meaningful and rewarding to us.

*Q: Now that you’re close to debuting, are there any goals your team has set for yourselves?

HMS: The short-term goal of our group is to win the “Rookie of the Year” Award since that award can only be won by a newbie group. We always have big goals, but we strive to stay humble, learn, and communicate with our fans. I believe communicating with our fans will also enhance the quality of our music and performance. At the end of the day, we want to earn the title of a “growing and improving idol.”

*Q: If any of you could live as another member who would you live as and why?

KRW: I would like to live as Hong Minsung for a day. Minsung is the most muscular member, so I'm curious how light it would be to walk in his body. I would love to try and experience his incredible tumbling and B-boying skills because I cannot. He's also the main vocalist of the group, so I would like to experience hitting those high notes, too.

*Q: How would you like NEWBEAT remembered in the history of K-Pop?

JYYJ: The message of our album is really what we want to convey. We want to showcase our raw, true selves, and we hope to be remembered by the public as a group with sincerity and genuine passion for music.

*Q: What’s next for NEWBEAT after this release?

PMS: After promoting our debut album, we will continue working on developing more music and make sure we have a lot of opportunities to meet our fans and perform for them in the future.

NEWBEAT: This was NEWBEAT, thank you for having us!

We had a blast hearing all their responses and hope that they achieve their goal for “Rookie of the Year!” The cameradie between the members was evident as they supported each other’s answers and enthusiasm throughout the interview. We appreciate all the thoughtful questions provided by fellow media members and for Helix Publicity for arranging the roundtable.

Most of all a big shout-out to Beat Interactive and of course to the freshly minted stars themselves, NEWBEAT. Congratulations on your debut and we hope that we’ll have much more to share about your upcoming events and endeavors soon!