BOYNEXTDOOR proves they're more than just K-pop idols
Published May 13, 2025 08:01 am
From left: Members of K-pop act BOYNEXTDOOR — Taesan, Sungho, Jaehyun, Leehan, Riwoo, and Woonhak. (Courtesy of KOZ Entertainment)
In today's K-pop scene, most idol groups focus on delivering flashy performances to tracks prepared by professional songwriters and producers, which, unfortunately, leaves little room for the idols themselves to participate in the creative process.
But BOYNEXTDOOR, a six-member boy band that debuted in 2023, has been striving to break free from that standard K-pop playbook.Under the guidance of rapper and producer Zico — also the head of the group's agency KOZ Entertainment — BOYNEXTDOOR has distinguished itself from its peers by having all members take part in songwriting and production.
From Jaehyun and Taesan to the youngest member, Woonhak, participating in writing the team's buzzy singles like "Earth, Wind & Fire," "Nice Guy," and "If I Say, I Love You," the group says every track is a team effort.
"What makes a song good is different for every artist," Jaehyun said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Mapo District on Monday.
"For us, it's about whether the song lets us show our unique character on stage, and whether it resonates with people. That's what the six of us are always striving for when we write.""What's most important is putting something of ourselves in the music," Taesan added.
"For us, that means honesty. We try to write lyrics that reflect our sincerity, something listeners can really connect with."That mindset is what drives the band's latest EP, "No Genre," set for release on Tuesday evening.
The seven-track record includes the high-energy lead single "I Feel Good," a retro-soul cut "123-78," city-pop-inspired "Step by Step," the house-driven "Next Mistake" and more.Despite the musical range, the album's seemingly ironic title, "No Genre," signals the group's refusal to be boxed in.
"We don't want to define ourselves by limits or expectations, let alone certain genres," Jaehyun said. "This album is about showing that we're free-spirited, not bound by one style. At the same time, we want to prove we can do all genres."
The lead single "I Feel Good," in particular, was made with live performance in mind — a high-energy anthem designed to get crowds to dance and sing along.But according to the members, it also demanded the most physically intense choreography the group has attempted so far."It was tough," Riwoo said.
"We practiced more than usual and had to figure out how to keep up the energy without burning out."Jaehyun chimed in, laughing as he admitted he started working out and taking supplements to keep up with the demands of the routine.The hard work has been paying off.
BOYNEXTDOOR is invited to perform at Lollapalooza Chicago this summer, sharing the Aug. 3 lineup with huge pop stars like Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, The Creator, and Sabrina Carpenter.
"It didn't feel real at first," Taesan said. "To perform on one of our dream stages, it’s something we’ve always hoped for. We've been taking English lessons, too, because we want to connect with the audience in a meaningful way.
"While success with "No Genre" and its upcoming Lollapalooza debut are immediate goals, the group's long-term vision stretches far beyond chart numbers."We've talked about this since before we debuted," said Sungho.
"We want to be a group that defines an era, the kind of name that comes to mind when people think of K-pop from this time."Riwoo added, "Since we're an all-Korean group, we also want to be a group that represents Korea proudly around the world." (The Korea Times)