'Let's make new memories together': K-pop group GreatGuys on new single 'luv luv luv' + dreams for the future
GreatGuys' 5th mini album RECORD OF YOUTH EP. 1 DESTINY is out now!
(Photo credit: DNA Entertainment)
While working together for six years can come with its ups and downs, K-pop group GreatGuys say they’re still able to find ways to have fun and even relive the joys of childhood with each other.
On June 18th, the group released its fifth mini album RECORD OF YOUTH EP. 1 DESTINY with a fun and refreshing synthwave track called “luv luv luv.” The music video for the track features the boys at a roller skating rink showing off their grooviest moves.
“It’s about remembering all our youth and saying let’s make new memories together,” said GreatGuys vocalist Baekgyeol in an interview with Bunni Pop.
“What was fun while filming this music video was that there was a scene where we were roller skating. It's been a long time since we went roller skating, so we practiced, but it felt like we were back in our childhood and we really enjoyed it!”
The new release from GreatGuys arrives as the eight-member group marks six years together. Since debuting in August 2017 with the single “Last Men”, members Horyeong, Hanuel, Daun, Donghwi, Dongin, Hwalchan, Uiyeon and Baekgyeol have toured all over the world including Japan, Vietnam and parts of Europe. They were also the first K-pop idol group to play in the Dominican Republic.
The name GreatGuys refer to the group’s mindset of being both great musically and as people who do good things for others. They hope their fandom — known as Grace — can be healed by their music and be motivated to reach their dreams.
GreatGuys recently chatted with Bunni Pop about their new single “luv luv luv”, their goals for the future, and what the last six years has been like together as a group.
Hello GreatGuys! I want to start with a fun icebreaker question. Introduce yourselves and one hidden talent that you have!
Hello, we're GreatGuys. With an average height of 185cm (6’1”), we boast the tallest height and physicality among current idols. Singing and dancing are our forte, and we love our fans both on and off the stage.
We're always doing our best to be a group that doesn’t disappoint you.
We’ll tell you about each member's talents:
Horyeong: Friendly personality, very good at dancing and great sense of humour!
Donghwi : Unlike his cute visuals, he has a very manly side with unexpected charm.
Uiyeon: Has an attractive four-dimensional personality.
Hwalchan: Is a muscular man who enjoys working out and playing sports
Dongin: He has an intense gaze but also has a very cute charm.
Daun: A person who is comfortable like a friend and has a warm heart.
Baekgyeol: He's always excited on stage and in his daily life, and makes everyone happy.
Hanuel: A self-disciplined, muscular man with a pretty dance line.
Congratulations on the release of your fifth mini album RECORD OF YOUTH EP. 1: DESTINY. What would you say is the story you wanted to tell with this comeback?
Horyeong: We want our album to deliver the message that we should look back on the time that we have spent together since our debut, make new memories, and record our time with each other and Grace as good memories for the rest of our lives.
Tell me about your new track ‘luv luv luv’ and a bit about the creation behind it.
Dongin: Our album’s title track "luv luv luv" is a synthwave song with a cool and refreshing sound and addictive vocal sampling. It has a bouncy melody, with a straightforward expression of heart and emotion, and witty lyrics and vocals.
Haneul, you choreographed ‘luv luv luv’. What was that process like?
Haneul: When our CEO suggested I do the choreography for “luv luv luv,” I was worried about whether I would be successful and hesitated at first. He told me that I would be able to grow more if I did it myself, and he would be responsible for the results, so I gathered up my courage and came up with this choreography.
The “luv luv luv” dance is easy enough for anyone to follow. There’s a very fun part in the choreography that's perfect for dance challenges!
Dongin, you composed the songs on this album and collaborated with HOZE in the process. What has making music behind-the-scenes taught you as an artist? And what was the process like working with HOZE?
Dongin: “only U” is a song for our fans that has a message of love and gratitude to Grace. This album was released after a difficult time, and I wanted to express my gratitude through a song to Grace, who made it possible for me to endure that difficult time.
HOZE has been a close friend of mine since high school, and we have had a lot of musical exchanges. So I thought that if we worked together on this opportunity, we would come out with a better song, so I suggested that we do it together.
HOZE readily accepted it, so we shared a lot of deep stories and really enjoyed working on it.
This marks your sixth year together as a group. What would you say has been the highlight, but also the biggest challenge?
Uiyeon: Since this album is GreatGuys’ fifth mini-album and our ninth album including the digital single albums, I was afraid whether this album could do well. However, we can succeed only when we overcome our fears, so our biggest challenge is not giving up and moving forward so that we can meet our fans on a big stage in the future.
Your group’s name refers to being both great musically and as people who do good things for others. What is one thing that you have learned from your members as a performer, but also as a person?
Horyeong: It's a sacrifice. Since we are a group, it’s natural that there have been times when we had conflicts. But whenever that happened, we maintained the team and someone had to make a compromise. As a result, now each member listens to the other's opinion and tries to understand their perspective, so the conflict disappears. We’ve been able to come this far because we’ve maintained a good relationship. I’ve learned that to succeed as an artist myself, I need to think of the public first. Being an artist that the public wants is the most important attitude.
(Photo credit: DNA Entertainment)
You have experimented with all types of musical genres from hip hop, pop, EDM but also reggaeton. What kind of musical artists are you listening to right now and feeling inspired by?
Donghwi: We believe that as idols, we should be able to pull off many genres, not just focus on one. So I listen to the music of various domestic and foreign artists to study and challenge myself to try other genres.
Your group has traveled all over the world from Japan, Vietnam and Europe. You were also the first K-pop band to play in the Dominican Republic. What is one place you’d like to see next?
Hwalchan: The USA. K-pop is very popular in the U.S. right now, so we want to go there and feel the heat! But the reality is that U.S. promoters are feeling hesitant to take us to the U.S. because we still lack ticket power. We hope our comeback song “luv luv luv” does well, because I really want to go to America!
(Photo credit: DNA Entertainment)
What is a long term goal you’d love to achieve together as a group?
Donghwi: It seems like the goal of all idol groups is to enter the Billboard Hot 100, but I know it's very difficult. If I’m being honest, our dream is that our title song “luv luv luv” will make it to the Billboard Hot 100, and furthermore, we hope that it will be ranked in the top 10. And furthermore, while doing an arena world tour, we want to meet and communicate with people all over the world, create new memories, and become a group that can be remembered forever by our fans.
Because you are GreatGuys, what’s one piece of advice you’d like to say to your fans — Grace— to be the very best they can be?
I don't know if we're qualified to give anyone any advice! What we want to say to Grace is that if you have a dream you want to achieve, don't be afraid. We want you to take on a challenge and move past failures to not give up so that you can achieve your dreams.
Any message you’d like to pass on to your fans?
Thank you for reading our interview!
We're making a comeback with our new album on June 18th. The title track is “luv luv luv,” which is a lovely song that you can enjoy with your family, friends, and lovers. Please listen to it a lot and we appreciate it if you could share it. We will continue to learn a lot from you and work hard so that we can deliver happiness to many people. We’ll do our best! Grace, let's always be happy and love each other!
Thank you!
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Follow GreatGuys on Instagram!
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Accountability is important to me, so please address corrections and concerns by sending me an email at bunnipopnewsletter@gmail.com. Continue the conversation by following Bunni Pop on Instagram and Twitter.
Thank you for introducing me to another group! I hope these guys can come tour the US! They all seem really sweet! I would love to see them!