8TURN isn’t turning away from ‘Stagefright’. They’re embracing the challenge.
In an interview, the K-pop group reflect on their musical evolution over the years
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
When 8TURN debuted in January 2023, they made an impression for their intense hip hop style and swagger.
Early songs like “TIC TAC” and “RU-PUM PUM” showcased the group’s rebellious, youthful vibe, with members often seen wearing casual ‘90s street fashion and delivering explosive performances.
But over the years 8TURN has also made sharp turns, opting for softer concepts like “Electric Heart”, released last August. The electro-pop tune is euphoric in tone, perfectly capturing the spark and passion that comes from enjoying your youth.
Now with the release of their latest single album 8.X, 8TURN is turning towards a more mature concept, paying homage to classic 1990s and 2000s pop stars with its latest track “Stagefright.”
Set to a pulsing beat that is reminiscent of Justin Timberlake’s “Rock Your Body,” a song like “Stagefright” gives 8TURN the opportunity to flaunt their dramatic performance and dance skills.
“Being a big fan of ‘90s and 2000s music, hearing the demo [for ‘Stagefright’] for the first time immediately captivated me,” 8TURN’s leader JAEYUN said in an interview with bunni pop.
But the excitement amongst him and his members also came with some trepidation over whether they could pull it off. But JAEYUN says taking on the challenge was necessary for the group’s growth.
“Since our debut, we have built our own identity around hip-hop,” he said.
“As we continued our journey, we began thinking about how we should grow as artists in order to become a group that can be loved for a long time. In that process, we realized that we had naturally matured. We are not only bright and energetic, but now we also carry more realistic emotions, such as anxiety and uncertainty.”
8TURN is an eight piece group composed of members JAEYUN, MINHO, SEUNGHEON, YUNGYU, KYUNGMIN, MYUNGHO, HAEMIN and YOONSUNG.
The name 8TURN is derived from the band’s eight members, while “TURN” signifies the group’s intent to lead a new generation of K-pop and embrace new sounds. The band says 8.X is just another chapter in their goal to show what they are capable of.
“The slogan for this album, ‘No Line, No Trace’, represents putting a full stop to the path we have taken so far and moving forward with a completely new side of ourselves,” SEUNGHEON said.
“In line with the meaning of the album, I think this marks the point where 8TURN’s transformation truly begins and becomes more noticeable.”
Part of 8TURN’s growth also comes from working behind-the-scenes, with members JAEYUN, MYUNGHO and YUNGYU all participating in composing music for 8.X.
“Stagefright'” serves as a metaphor for the intense thrill and vulnerability that comes from falling deeply in love, says JAEYUN. But it also describes what it means to live with the pressures of being in the spotlight as a performer.
He says writing the track was one of the most “vulnerable pieces” he’s ever worked on.
“Navigating that fear of being completely transparent, and weaving those two concepts together, was such a cool experience as a songwriter. Ultimately writing ‘Stagefright’ turned out to be a deeply therapeutic process.”
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
For MYUNGHO, co-writing “Stagefright” helped him shape how he wanted to bring it to life on stage.
“I felt really proud because all the effort we had put into the song really came through. Also, as we started preparing the performance, I could find a clearer direction for how I wanted to express it,” he said.
8.X also features a groovy b-side track called “8PM”, which follows a similar Y2K R&B vibe to “Stagefright”, although it is more relaxed in tone. Slowing things down is intentional, says HAEMIN. He says the track is meant to capture what it feels like to chill during a summer evening.
“When you listen to the song, it will make you think of a beach under a deep orange sunset, with palm trees and an open road,” added YUNGYU.
When 8TURN first debuted as a K-pop group in 2023, the industry had already started to rapidly grow across the west. These days, more and more bands are debuting in the industry, making it hard to compete for a fan’s attention and sell concert tickets and albums.
Members of 8TURN acknowledge the last three years have not been easy due to the competitive landscape of the K-pop industry. Among the challenges include competing on the reality show Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace in 2024. The show pits K-pop boy groups against each other to prove their talents. 8TURN finished the competition in third place.
“We barely got any sleep, and we didn’t have much time to prepare,” MINHO recalled with a laugh.
But the tough times have also allowed the group to forge a brotherhood, one that allowed them to push each other to grow. Among the highlights, they say, include taking the stage at KCON in Saudi Arabia. While there, the band performed a cover of “Fighting!” by SEVENTEEN sub-unit BSS—a group 8TURN considers role models.
“I think those three years were a time when all eight of us relied on one another, encouraged each other, and stayed strong together. Honestly, I don’t think it was always an enjoyable journey,” HAEMIN said.
“There were some times when we had to face unexpected results and challenges, and we learned that the effort doesn’t always lead to the rewards we hope for. But I think those experiences have only made me love this career even more.”
Each of the members all grew up dreaming of a life on stage. JAEYUN, who was raised in New Zealand, credits his love of K-pop to his mom, who introduced music competition shows to him as a young boy.
That love for music shows led JAEYUN to audition and compete in survival shows like BOYS24 and MIXNINE between 2016 and 2017. After seven years of training as a K-pop trainee in total, he finally achieved his dream of debuting as a performer.
For MYUNGHO, his ambitions for being in K-pop came later at the age of 19. Now 24, he recalls playing catch up during his trainee years, cutting back on sleep just to rehearse his singing and dancing.
“There were several times when I worked hard toward [my] debut but faced failure along the way. Those experiences were painful and made me doubt myself, so I think they were especially difficult,” he said.
He says the moment he met 8TURN’s fans —known as TURNING—during the group’s debut showcase in January 2023, was a moment he will never forget. It made all the sleepless nights worth it.
(Photo credit: MNH Entertainment)
Following the release of 8.X, 8TURN says it is eager to meet its fans, hoping to show off their “attitude” on stage. In October, the group will head on a U.S. tour, hitting cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and more.
“What I always find interesting is that every country has its own way of welcoming us, and the energy feels different everywhere,” HAEMIN said.
“Our fans always give us such wonderful memories.”
MYUNGHO says he also hopes to showcase 8TURN’s musical journey over the years, and to prove they are capable of so much more as artists.
“I see the discography from ‘Electric Heart’ to ‘Stagefright’ not as a change in our original identity, but as a natural musical evolution that reflects our growth and who we are today.”
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