Feb 28, 2026 9:00am IST
Korean Pop-Rock Band Catch The Young On Their First Full-Length Album ‘EVOLVE’, Indian Music And Dealing With The Jitters (EXCLUSIVE)
With a strong focus on rock and pop, Korean boy band Catch The Young released their first full-length album, "EVOLVE," in January 2026. The members Sani, Kihoon, Namhyun, Jungmo and Jungyong had a detailed chat with Variety India on their album, musical influences and pressures of being looked up to as idols.
Describe your journey of making the album in detail. How did you conceptualize the songs and what were the emotions behind them?
Sani: I usually start working on music without a specific concept. In "EVOLVE," there are songs created about four years ago versus some just two months before the release, so I think it’d be more fitting to say that we created this track list based on the concept called "EVOLVE."
Kihoon: We worked on this album with a further improved mindset and skills. Some tracks capture the refreshing, fluttering vibe that is similar to the music we have done in the past, and there are songs that have a wider expression of messages, capturing our own experiences over time.
Namhyun: For the concept of the songs, I worked on writing lyrics and melody while imagining which concept would work well for each song.
Jungmo: This full-length album, "EVOLVE", felt more like a process to record who Catch The Young is at the moment than making a final product. Instead of deciding on a specific concept first, we discussed a lot about each member’s emotions and questions over the last two years, and connected them to music.
Junyong: I think each song is different, because some are based on riffs from our jam sessions, while some have already been in work even before our debut. We participated in all recordings and arrangements, as well as new arrangements for live performances, which I believe highlight Catch The Young’s color in both the album and live performances.
The name of the album is "EVOLVE". From your debut in November 2023 to the present, what are the significant changes you have seen in yourselves as artists?
Sani: Since our debut, I realized that having a mindset as an artist is actually harder than expected, and that the stage is where the artist and the audience become one to connect with each other, rather than just the audience having fun.
Kihoon: I would say that my mindset has changed the most. At first, I was only excited about the debut and I just wanted to give my best all the time, which, looking back, somehow limited my sight a bit.
Namhyun: I naturally got to take care of my physical health by working out regularly, and more than anything, my skills have improved significantly. I used to just use my power to sing and push forward my voice, but now I can focus more on emotions and accentuate each song’s dynamics quite freely.
Jungmo: I think the biggest change I see is how I look at myself. I used to think a lot about how I’d look in the eyes of others, but now I tend to focus more on what stories we should tell.
Junyong: I still get nervous before going up on stage, but I see myself relaxing and communicating with the audience much better compared to our early debut days.
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K-Pop songs are known for a distinct style that is mostly hip-hop, electronic and R&B. You are a pop-rock band, does it make it easier or harder to stand out in the middle of so many groups?
Sani: If it’s only about ‘standing out,’ then yes, our genre would be considered to be standing out. However, band music itself is not yet in the mainstream of the K-pop industry, so I think there needs to be more work there. Looking at the bright side, there are many bands and groups that play band music, so I hope the future of band music and the genre will be brighter than ever.
Kihoon: Our genre could stand out because it can be considered ‘fresh,’ but on the other hand, I imagine that there would be people finding it a bit difficult because they’re not used to it. That is why we always try to make music with clear messages and emotions that can resonate with everyone.
Namhyun: When we appear on the music show, we are often the only team that carries actual instruments to the stage. There are more groups with rock sounds, but we still think it’s quite rare to see a K-pop band, so I think that adds to our charm as a band.
Jungmo: In my opinion, it’s both easy and hard. While our strength lies in being a pop-rock band, it does take some time to be recognized. It is not easy, but our genre helps us to continue creating Catch The Young’s own way.
Junyong: We’re trying to differentiate ourselves from other bands by exploring a pop-rock genre, but I think there might be people who feel like our music is a bit distant from the general public’s taste. We’re always trying our best and taking on challenges to overcome that.
All the members of the group know how to play a couple of musical instruments or more. Do you feel that gives you an edge as compared to others?
Sani: I believe being able to play multiple instruments is similar to gaining professionalism in musical sounds. In a band, if you can play multiple instruments, you have enough understanding of other instruments while playing your own.
Kihoon: Being able to play instruments other than your own means that you can understand each instrument’s characteristics and charms more clearly. This can help create new songs or play with other members by examining the sound in greater detail, and over time, it can lead to better synergy within the band.
Namhyun: I think that can allow listeners to feel a new charm of Catch The Young. For example, you can see our cute sides while we’re changing parts on the stage. In addition, you’ll be able to examine how each member plays different instruments and how we create different colors during that process.
Jungmo: I believe it is an important factor that differentiates Catch The Young from other groups. The fact that all members can play one or two instruments is not only a strength but also an element that shapes our approach to making music. When we make music, we often share opinions while thinking about sounds more dimensionally, and that process naturally creates our own sound.
Who are your all-time favorites in the world of pop and rock? Your first album had a lot of influences from rock music of the 1970s and 1980s...which timeless rock musicians do you idolize?
Sani: It’s a very difficult question. Personally, I love Red Hot Chili Peppers and My Bloody Valentine. I was also deeply influenced by the music of BUMP OF CHICKEN and ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION.
Kihoon: I like to listen to artists under various genres, including Richie Kotzen, Motley Crue and Queen.
Namhyun: My favorite rock musician is a Japanese band called ONE OK ROCK. Among musicians who have been loved to this day since the 70s-80s, my favorite would be Queen.
Junyong: Even though they were active in the 60s, I think The Beatles announced the beginning of modern band music. That’s why I listen to, examine and get inspiration from their music a lot.
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