[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 sweeping three grand prizes at major music awards last year, is opening its "Chapter 2." Sunghoon, whom we met at a cafe in Mapo-gu, Seoul on January 14, said, "Winning the grand prize was our clear goal," adding, "We will prove the growth we've achieved 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 top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart for five consecutive releases, building a strong global presence. On January 16, they will release their seventh mini-album "THE SIN: VANISH" and kick off 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 for love in a society where humans and vampires coexist. The group’s determination to deliver an immersive storytelling experience that goes beyond music is evident.

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

The title track "Knife" is a hip-hop song that blends heavy trap beats with sharp synth sounds. ENHYPEN adds a raw hip-hop edge to their signature vampire narrative, revealing 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 this time." Sunghoon explained, "In the past, our vampire concept was more classic, with royal costumes and such, but this time, we've tried a modern interpretation."

The album features "No Way Back," with Hwang Soyoon of the band Se So Neon as a featured artist, as well as contributions from Gaeko of Dynamic Duo and others. Jake presents his first self-composed track with "Sleep Tight," and Heeseung also contributed to the lyrics. Jake shared, "I wanted to express the experiences I felt during our activities through this song," adding, "It was a new thrill."

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

The active involvement 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."

With ENHYPEN entering their seventh year since debut next year, contract renewal discussions have also become a topic of interest. Jungwon responded, "Nothing concrete has been discussed yet, but we will work together to achieve a good outcome." Jay expressed, "We will clearly prove the capabilities we've built through milestones like our tour, Coachella, and grand prize wins with this album."