Ruben Chamorro

Set all your devices to airplane mode and reach for your headphones: The new Monsta X album is out, and it's worth cancelling all your plans. For those who have been following Monsta X's steps for a while, it's easy to understand how they get dozens of millions of views on YouTube every time they drop a new music video (and became the first K-pop group ever to perform at iHeartRadio’s annual Jingle Ball Festival). However, if you’re new to K-pop here’s a little help: years of training, lots of sacrifice, and an unmeasurable passion for music...oh yeah, and unparalleled choreography.

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"I've already been up for hours," 23-year-old rapper I.M mentions over the phone (very, very early Korean Standard Time) between rehearsals, rehearsals, and oh, more rehearsals, thanks to their upcoming comeback (K-pop lingo for the release of a new video or album).

Monsta X is very familiar with this non-stop lifestyle. Before traveling the world for tours and meet-and-greets, vocalists Shownu, Wonho, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, and rappers Jooheon and I.M took part in the Korean television series NO.MERCY in December 2014. On the show, 13 trainees competed against each other to take a spot in the final seven-member group. That's how the winners comprising Monsta X first saw the light of day. The rest is history. They went from rookies to superstars, skyrocketing to international fame after the release of their album The Clan, Pt. 2.5 'The Final Chapter', in March 2017.

(Here is their new title track, ‘Alligator’—pretty please stop everything you're doing and watch the video ASAP, if you haven't yet)

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The boy band credits their adoring fans (also known as Monbebes) with their success. “The relationship with our fans has gotten deeper after all these years," says 23-year-old I.M. "Time has passed fast and a lot of things have changed, which has made our relationship stronger. Our fans are everything to us, they see us perform, they see us grow. The reason we are performing everyday is them and only them."

The Monbebes are not going to be disappointed this time either. Their new album, Take.2 We Are Here—as in, released just a couple of hours ago new—is a blessing in the form of ten tracks, a tsunami of emotions they want their fans to embrace and discuss. "We are standing our ground. We're not afraid of feeling what we feel and showing who we are."

Here, Monsta X spills all the tea about the album, self-love, the downside of social media, and more.

Ruben Chamorro

On their relationship with social media:

"We are standing our ground. We're not afraid of feeling what we feel and showing who we are."

I.M: Social media is definitely this era's way of communication, but not everyone uses it for good. At the same time, it’s the way we have to communicate with our fans who’re far away from us, so in that sense we really appreciate it.

Of course it also opens a door for lots of opinions, both good and bad but, you know what? At this point we don't really care about it anymore. Whatever we do, someone has something to say about it. Everyone is always gonna want to tell us what to say, what to wear (or not to wear), how to react to things...Now that we’re getting bigger, there’s even more attention on us, so we just focus on keep doing what we know how to do well.

On their own versions of self-love:

Shownu: I try to care about myself as much as possible. I workout and produce my own music, and do things that are good for me.

Jooheon: I need my own time. I try to work out on a regular basis and also work on my own music whenever time allows.

Kihyun: I try to stay positive and convince myself nothing is really a big deal, even if it was a big struggle or stressful at that time.

Wonho: I make sure to spend time for just myself. I work out regularly and try to eat balanced nutritional foods.

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On styles of music they’d like to experiment with in the future:

Shownu: I'd love to try some old school sounds in the future.

Minhyuk: Me too!

Wonho: Maybe some ballads, too?

Kihyun: I’d like to try some Rock.

Hyungwon: Maybe also some indie sounds.

Jooheon: I personally wanna explore more Trap Hip Hop.

On collaborating with Steve Aoki:

I.M: We heard Steve mention he wanted to collaborate with us, and it was shocking. It was just so dope. This legend in the industry, the worldwide famous DJ, wanted to work with us, with us? It was amazing, but I thought that was it, just a wish. But then it actually happened.

courtesy

On their new song, "Party Time":

I.M: We’ve been hustling, we’ve been working hard, but we’ve had no time to celebrate all the things we’ve accomplished so far. With this song we wanted to celebrate that. This time right now, this is our time for us and our fans. We did so good in the past and we’re gonna continue to do so, but right now it's time to celebrate and congratulate ourselves.

The song they'd like to take credit for if they could:

Shownu: It’s hard to pick one!

Wonho: I want "7 Rings" by Ariana Grande.

Minhyuk: I'd pick "2" by H.E.R.

Kihyun: "Wake Up In The Sky" by Bruno Mars, Gucci Mane and Kodak Black has to be mine.

Hyungwon: Mine is 'Poolside', by BAYNK.

Jooheon: Cardi B's "Money."

I.M: I’d have to say "Besame Mucho." I’ve never heard someone who doesn't like that song, and I love it.

Carolina Malis Carolina is a K-pop and K-beauty writer and content creator based in NYC.

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