The world of K-pop is vast but no one shines quite like LUMINOUS.
Comprising Youngbin, Suil, Steven, and Woobin, the group is on a mission to be a source of light during these dark times. Wanting to be a solace for anyone willing to lend an ear, the 'RUN' act narrates stories of the teenage experience, showcasing what it's like being young amidst chaos.
"[We talk] about the difficult moments that young people in their 20s—or even, anyone—goes through. So our music is just our way of hopefully giving comfort to our listeners," Youngbin tells Bandwagon.
BANDWAGON TV
Coming off their debut record YOUTH, LUMINOUS have returned with their second mini-album Between Light and Darkness where they uncover the path of uncertainty and fear that we inevitably have to walk down as we pursue the life we truly want.
"Through this album, we would like to show the conflict and worries between our mask or our 'fake self’—being ego—and our real self’," explains Suil.
Bandwagon caught up with LUMINOUS to talk about their musical beginnings, debut, and the process of piecing together Between Light and Darkness.
Hi, LUMINOUS! How did you first know you wanted to pursue music and performing?
Youngbin: I always enjoyed music but I was a little bit shy when I was younger; but when I turned 20, I set foot on a stage and decided that 'no, I want to do this'.
Suil: When I was three years old, I was at my grandmother's house and I saw a bunch of singers performing on the TV and I was like 'Wow, I want to do that'. Ever since then, that's been my dream and now, I'm a singer.
Woobin: When I was younger, I had a lot of opportunities to be onstage and perform here and there. From there, I realised I want a job where I get to stand on stage.
Steven: Unlike the other members, I actually found this dream a little later on. After I came to Korea, I started to enjoy music and then I started to take it seriously. After getting to be on the stage for the first time, it really got me motivated and I just started thinking that I want to do this as my job.
What were some of your first impressions of each other?
Steven: My first impression of Woobin was that he got a great sense of fashion. We were going to meet at the subway station for the time and I saw a guy that dressed really well and I thought 'No, that can't be him' (laughs).
Woobin: I thought that Suil was really cool and talented when I saw him dancing.
Suil: When I first met Youngbin, I was actually kind of annoyed at him cause he was so nice (laughs). But then I learned that's just how he is and he's really cool now.
Youngbin: When I first met Steven, he was always sleeping so I thought he really liked to sleep (laughs). When you see Steven sleep, he's like really cute but when he's on stage, he's very manly and cool.
[ #Light_in_us ] 📸 211217 데뷔 100일💙
— LUMINOUS STAFF (@LMN_STAFF) December 17, 2021
100일이 끝나기 전 사진 투척‼️
진짜 100일 끝🥲💙#루미너스 #LUMINOUS #LMN#루미너스_100일#LUMINOUS_100DAYS pic.twitter.com/uKP28exFzh
What’s the group dynamics like between the four of you now?
Woobin: It's just business (laughs).
Youngbin: I'm the leader and also the oldest so I do always have to watch out for them and be like their older brother.
Suli: Hmm, what's my role?
Steven: You're cute and sexy (laughs).
Youngbin: Yes, he's the cute and sexy one.
Suli: No! They're just saying that to annoy me (laughs).
Woobin: Our group is a mix of business and fun. We really respect each other's privacy and understand that my space is mine and their space is theirs so we don't really fight, like we don't really have arguments. So, we really have a good dynamic.
Steven: I never agreed to it but I think from our last album when we were doing the interviews, the members said I was funny and like really liven up the mood so I guess I'm the mood maker of the team (laughs).
[ #Light_in_us ] 📸 220119 컴백쇼케이스
— LUMINOUS STAFF (@LMN_STAFF) January 19, 2022
두근 두근💗 첫 쇼케이스 성공‼️
‘All eyes down(비상) ‘많이 사랑해주세요😘
22.01.20 6PM(KST) Coming soon🔥#루미너스 #LUMINOUS #LMN#Alleyesdown #비상 pic.twitter.com/Uu0KrVPeDi
So, you debuted earlier this year, what are some things that you’ve learned about being an idol and being an artist since you debuted?
Youngbin: One of the first things I learned was this sense of responsibility. So, with anything we do or anything we put out, be it music or anything, we should remember that there's a sense of responsibility that comes with that.
Woobin: As an artist and as a singer, our goal is to give comfort to people and be able to be there for you, our fans and anyone who listens to him to his music. But since we've debuted, I've learnt that our thought process or idea might be different from others think so they might not receive it the same way that we do.
You debuted with your mini-album ‘YOUTH’, what message did you want to say through the album?
Youngbin: Our first album, and even our latest one, are part of a series about youth and the emotions you have. It basically talks about the difficult moments that young people in their 20s—or even, anyone—goes through. So these albums are just our way of hopefully giving comfort to our listeners.
What was it like working on your first mini-album? What were some memorable moments you had working on it?
Suil: I got to do some wielding in the music video and that was really fun. That was a really cool experience.
Steven: While we were doing our debut album, I think what I really enjoyed was just being able to go on stages every day. There was a time when we had to perform dance and sing like 30 times in a row without rest, it was really tiring and I felt like I was going to die (laughs).
You have a new mini-album titled ‘Between Light and Darkness’. What can you tell us about the album? What do you hope your fans get from your comeback?
Suil: This album is the second part of the series and it's called is called Between Light and Darkness. The main idea of the album kind of asks 'Where am I?'. Through this album, we would like to show the conflict and worries between ‘the fake self’—being ego—and ‘the real self’.
What was the production process like for this album?
Steven: When I was recording 'Want it more?'... I think it was the hardest recording that I ever had to because my throat was just completely out. I couldn't talk the next day so that was the hardest song I ever had to do.
Woobin: There's a part where Suil and Steven do a narration, so just like listening to is kind of special.
Suil: There's like this a little ad-lib part when I was singing. During that, I would see the other members outside watching the recording and our producer was like 'oh, you should do this and remember to do that'. That was really fun.
Youngbin: There is this really cool dance formation we have with a lot of dancers. When we did it for the first time, it was really cool to see it all come together with so many people and not just our group.
What is the best part of being in LUMINOUS?
Youngbin: Being in the group, even though the members are younger than me, they're all so professional and mature. Also outside of the group, we're just all friends which I think is the nicest part.
Steven: I think just being able to be free and comfortable around my members and that I can trust them easily. I can just say what's on my mind to them and they'll help me out. We're close like a family.
Woobin: All of us are so different, we all have different personalities but we're really good at understanding each other and matching each other's energy. For some people, it's hard to get along but we really mesh well as a group. At the same, because we're so different, we're able to learn a lot from each other.
Suil: It just feels like we're on a nice path, going towards the same direction together. It's also nice that if there's something that I can't do, the members can make up for it and also the other way around. We're able to balance each other out.
What are your biggest dreams for the group?
Youngbin: We want to be number one (laughs).
Steven: I also want to be able to provide for my members and just stay together for a very long time.
Listen to LUMINOUS' Between Light and Darkness here.
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