[EXCLUSIVE] “We can’t Half-Ass It” Taking on 82WORLD and “TRACE” WORLD TOUR, 8TURN Talks Lyrics, Mindset, and Stamina

Photo: MNH Entertainment

The Kraze sat down with the eight members of 8TURN fresh from their 82WORLD set in Los Angeles to talk about their TRACE World Tour, production work, and how they juggle maintaining their stamina with throwing an amazing show.

Q: Could you please introduce yourselves and tell us what your personal charm is?

8TURN: Hi guys, we are 8TURN!

HAEMIN: I'm Haemin! I'm handsome, yeah!

JAEYUN: I'm Jaeyun, the leader of 8TURN, and I think my charm would be that I'm a very responsible guy.

YUNGYU: I'm Yungyu of 8TURN, and my charm would be... winning visual? Wassup!

MYUNGHO: Hey guys! I'm Myungho. I'm cutie boy! 

KYUNGMIN: Hello, my name is Kyungmin. My charm is I'm so, so, so tall!

YOONSUNG: Congratulations, Kyungmin! Hello, my name is Yoonsung, and my charm is my pretty voice.

MINHO: Hi, I'm Minho. My charm is sweetie pie! Yay!

SEUNGHEON: Hello, I'm Seungheon. I'm good at shouting?

Q.  Welcome back to LA! What are some things TURNING can expect as you prepare for the North American leg of the TRACE tour?

YY: We’ve prepared even more upgraded choreography than last year. And since last year TURNING really enjoyed our cover performances, we’ve prepared a lot of new cover stages too. Please look forward to them! 

JY: Last year, our U.S. leg was the first stop, but this year it's our second stop. We had Europe prior, so I think we're all warmed up; we've got our stuff together, and I think we can kill it straight off the bat.

Q: So, I actually wanted to ask you, Jaeyun, specifically about "Bésame" and what it was like being the sole lyricist for the track?

JY: It was such a great opportunity, and I'm very thankful that I got to participate in that. "Bésame” …well, I had the idea of having a song called "Bésame Mucho" by the great singer Andrea Bocelli. We were actually supposed to release this last year, just before our first world tour. But, for some reason, it got postponed, so I'm very happy it got released this year. It’s about our fans, about how no matter how far we are, we're just one click away. We're inside your phone, we're always there with you. It’s a very honest and raw emotion I have towards our fans. Stream "Bésame!"

Q: How was it working with Spanish?

JY: I am trying to learn Spanish… but it's not that easy. I think it's very hard, balancing with Japanese as well, but I'm trying, I'm trying! And hopefully next year, I can write a full Spanish song for our Mexican fans.

Q: You guys have a lot of intense choreography. How are you able to manage your energy and stamina when you're touring and performing so much?

YY: Eat well, sleep well. And always thinking, “Ah, it's really tough to perform. Our setlist is crazy.” But when the concert starts, when we meet TURNING, we can't half-ass it. We have to do it full-on. The energy was crazy, so we can't get tired.

KM: For me, this is all possible because we love being onstage, singing and dancing. 

YS: And I’d rather give it everything I’ve got than try to pace myself onstage. Even when I'm running out of stamina and there’s another performance yet, I keep giving it my all. I think it's about constantly pushing your own limits and always exceeding them. I guess you could call it... passion! 

Q: How was it being onstage at 82WORLD?

YY: Such an honor!

KM: It was so great. We were performing right as the sun set, so I thought the atmosphere really suited our songs. I was really happy because it had been a while since we had performed in front of this many fans. We ended our performance having such a good time thanks to LA TURNING’s amazing energy. 

SH: Something I really felt today when we were performing was that I want to be able to have our own tour at this scale soon. I thought of this the most, because I could really feel so much energy coming from the crowd. I wanted to turn every single person into a TURNING. I really gave absolutely everything I had onstage today. 

Q: What's something you want to say, or a song you might recommend to people at 82WORLD who are meeting you for the first time?

MYH: For me, it's "Electric Heart!" The LA weather really suits it. Earlier, as the sunset began to spread out across the sky, I felt really, how should I say it... sentimental, or nostalgic, maybe? I got this warm feeling inside. So, I’d recommend “Electric Heart.” 

Q: Do you have any rituals or backstage tips to get your energy up?

HM: I should have a meal. It's important.

JY: I think… I sort of need my alone time. I listen to music that really gets me in the zone. The song that I listened to the most today was "Melatonin" by Tinashe.

YY: Same. I ate melatonin yesterday.

JY: No, I listened to the song called "Melatonin."

YY: While you listened to "Melatonin," I ate melatonin before the concert. Good sleep! And also, I eat propolis candy, honey spray, for singing the tough part of every song on the setlist.

MYH: First, I make sure that I warm up properly. Before I go onstage, I try to calm myself down on purpose, actually. I relax and try to keep myself mentally focused. Because, once I’m up there onstage, all my energy needs to explode. I try to have a little bit of time to myself beforehand to get ready for that. 

KM: I actually don’t really have anything particular as a routine before a stage. I just listen to my favorite songs over and over again. When I’m onstage, I think about how I want to give the audience the same kind of energy that I feel when I listen to music I love.

YS: For me, I go to the bathroom and wash my eyes, and a "you can do it!" mindset! And I hold members' hands, and believe, and trust!

YY: Me too!

MIH: I look up at the sky and take a deep breath. 

SH: This might sound funny, but I always wear my family ring on my right hand. Before I go onstage, I think about my family and do this [holds the ring]. Then I go onstage. I always make sure to take care of my ring.  

Thank you to 8TURN, MNH Entertainment, and 82WORLD for the opportunity. You can find 8TURN on their TRACE World Tour and at their Los Angeles concert on November 14. And, in the words of Jaeyun, “Stream Bésame!”