[Interview] 'Triple Grand Prize Winner' ENHYPEN: "Aiming for Billboard Hot 100 and South American Shows"

Seventh Mini Album "THE SIN" to Be Released on January 16
Building a Modern Vampire Narrative
Chapter 2 Ignites Global "ENGENE" Fandom

Enhypen. Provided by Belieflab

ENHYPEN, the group that emerged as a new leader in K-pop after winning three grand prizes at major music award ceremonies last year, is opening its 'Chapter 2.' In an interview at a cafe in Mapo-gu, Seoul on January 14, Sunghoon said, "Winning the grand prize was our clear goal," adding, "We will prove our growth over the past five years and present a new vision."

Formed through the Mnet survival show 'I-LAND,' ENHYPEN debuted on November 30, 2020, and has since entered the Billboard 200 Top 10 for five consecutive releases, expanding their global presence. On January 16, they are releasing their seventh mini album, 'THE SIN: VANISH,' marking their first activities of the year.

The new album is a concept album that marks the beginning of a new series, 'THE SIN,' inspired by the theme of 'sin.' It tells the story of lovers who break taboos and elope in a society where humans and vampires coexist. The group aims to go beyond music and deliver immersive storytelling.

Jay defined the period up to 2025 as 'Chapter 1.' He said, "Until last year was the first chapter, where we ran toward our ultimate goal of winning the grand prize," adding, "This album is both the result of our growth and a spectacular start to our second chapter." He continued, "We prepared it so that listeners can fully immerse themselves."

The title track 'Knife' is a hip-hop song that blends a heavy trap beat with sharp synth sounds. ENHYPEN adds a raw hip-hop edge to their signature vampire narrative, showcasing their instinctive wildness.

Enhypen. Provided by Belif Lab

Sunoo said, "Compared to our debut, we've naturally adapted to the vampire concept," and added, "We want to show a more mature and sexy vampire image." Sunghoon explained, "In the past, we portrayed a classic vampire with royal costumes, but this time, we've attempted a modern interpretation."

The album features 'No Way Back,' with vocals by Hwang Soyoon of the band Se So Neon, as well as contributions from Gaeko of Dynamic Duo and others. Jake presents his first self-composed song with 'Sleep Tight,' and Heeseung also contributed to the lyrics. Jake said, "I wanted to express the experiences I've had during our activities through music," adding, "I felt a new sense of excitement."

The goal for Chapter 2 is to target the global market. Jungwon emphasized, "We want to follow in the footsteps of our senior artists," and added, "We're also aiming for No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and to enter the 'Hot 100' chart." He cited the Latin-inspired 'Stealer' as his favorite track and said, "I want to meet our fandom, 'ENGENE,' through performances in South America."

The active participation of the members is also a key strength for the team. Ni-ki said, "Our opinions were heavily reflected in the stage setup for Coachella, and we had many discussions among the members during the selection process for the title track."

As ENHYPEN approaches its seventh year since debut next year, discussions about contract renewal have also become a topic of interest. Jungwon responded, "Nothing has been discussed in detail yet, but we will work together to achieve a good outcome." Jay expressed, "Through milestones like our tour, Coachella, and winning grand prizes, we've built our capabilities, and we will prove them with this album."