BOYNEXTDOOR on Their Musical Evolution and Starring in Hollywood Themed Mini-Album The Action
by Tayah Fox
Lights, cameras, action! Emerging K-pop boy group BOYNEXTDOOR is back with their empowering fifth mini-album, The Action.
This cinematic-themed EP captures the members' confidence and desire for growth through self-written lyrics. The group's fearless attitude radiates throughout the jazzy title track, "Hollywood Action." Bursting with vibrant brass instruments and a swinging groove, this song represents BOYNEXTDOOR's Hollywood-level charisma. In the accompanying music video, we witness the band fulfilling their movie star dreams in various film scenes, from an epic alien laser beam showdown to a dazzling evening on the red carpet. In addition to their on-screen adventures, the group embarked on a creative journey in the production of this mini-album. Frequent contributors JAEHYUN, WOONHAK, and TAESAN received writing credits for the leading song alongside LEEHAN, who has made his official songwriting debut with this EP.
The ensemble has had a busy year, from a successful tour to a memorable Lollapalooza stage in Chicago. Despite their packed schedule, BOYNEXTDOOR continues to accumulate achievements and milestones. Sweety High got the opportunity to chat with the rising boy group about their new release and recent Lollapalooza takeover. See our interview with the group below.
Sweety High: Can you tell us about the new chapter of BOYNEXTDOOR and how The Action contributes to its story?
WOONHAK: The Action is all about proactivity—you have to take action to let something happen. We wanted to spread the message about being fearless and trying new things. If the outcome is a success or failure, you still get to learn something.
SH: This EP symbolizes your drive for growth regardless of the results. How do you respond to setbacks and keep yourself from giving up?
SUNGHO: Every album release and promotion is a challenge. There is always some obstacle or something unexpected that arises, and when this occurs, we discuss ways to overcome these challenges among ourselves and with our company. Since we do that, I think we can give a fantastic performance for the fans. When we see them enjoying our performance, it makes us want to go forward. It's like a source of motivation.
(Photo credit: KOZ Entertainment)
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SH: "Hollywood Action" is a catchy song with a cinematic feel. If you all could star in your own movie, what kind of movie would it be?
JAEHYUN: I would focus on the chemistry of our members. It would be a fun movie because the six of us have a funny synergy when we get together, so it would be a comedy movie.
SH: Can you share a memorable moment from filming the music video for "Hollywood Action"?
LEEHAN: There's a car explosion scene that was done with CGI, but we actually had a car that was flipped over, so that was fun to see.
SH: With each release, you showcase a new sound. How would you describe the sound explored in this EP?
WOONHAK: I think our lead single, "Hollywood Action," is something you have yet to see from us. It's new because it's the first time we've used very intense brass sounds with a jazzy pre-chorus. Showing a sonical side is a challenge for us, which aligns very well with the album's message of being fearless in trying new things so I hope you enjoy the album and the song!
SH: Could you walk us through the creative process behind this release? How does this tie into the rest of your discography?
WOONHAK: No Genre is all about not confining ourselves to limits or barriers, and after we've pushed over those barriers, we want to take action. That's how it flows from the last album. It's all about challenging ourselves, and I think it bridges well into the next album as well.
(Photo credit: KOZ Entertainment)
SH: Congratulations on your Lollapalooza stage! After performing on such a large platform, what event do you want to take on next?
JAEHYUN: There are so many different stages that we want to perform on; after our Lollapalooza performance, the members got together and we talked about how we want to perform on even bigger stages so we're going to push ourselves hard to make that happen.
SH: The Lollapalooza crowd includes fans of a variety of artists. How did it feel to introduce your music to a diverse crowd of music fans?
RIWOO: We were very excited to be able to show our music to music lovers, and it really meant the world to us. I hope the people who weren't familiar with us will remember us and our music. We want to always provide good energy to any audience.
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SH: Is there anything you've learned from your Lollapalooza experience—anything that you'll keep in mind going forward?
TAESAN: After our performance, I thought about what kind of artist I (and BOYNEXTDOOR) want to grow into, and performing in front of a big audience with new people, I felt like music surpasses all cultural barriers and really connects individuals. I thought long and hard about what kind of music and story I want to share going forward.
SH: Is there anything else you'd like to share with your fans?
JAEHYUN: With this album, we worked really hard and put our hearts and souls into it, so you can be charmed by us and our music. I hope you enjoy the album, and we're going to work hard as always!
LEEHAN: Because the album's overarching theme is taking action and embracing challenges, I hope you will stay with us and watch us grow as artists. We're going to work really hard to show you that growth.
For more on the K-pop acts we love, click HERE to read our thoughts on P1Harmony's most recent show in Chicago.