DAVIDE K-POP

Prepare to dive into the extraordinary journey of MCND, as I am thrilled to present an exclusive interview into the world of this dynamic K-pop boy band. Hailing from South Korea and signed under TOP Media, MCND, which stands for “Music Creates New Dream,” is a quintet that has been making waves in the K-pop scene.

Comprising the talented members Castle J, BIC, Minjae, Huijun, and Win, MCND’s story began with the release of their pre-debut single, “TOP GANG,” on January 2, 2020. This initial spark set the stage for their official debut on February 27, 2020, with the dynamic track “ICE AGE,” capturing the hearts of fans with their infectious energy and magnetic performances.

As their celestial journey unfolds, MCND recently unveiled their 5th mini album, “ODD-VENTURE,” showcasing their artistic evolution and versatility. Adding to the excitement, the group has announced a Europe tour, with London as one of the eagerly anticipated stops on the 25th of January.

In this exclusive interview, we delve into the minds and hearts of MCND, exploring the inspirations behind their music, the creative process that fuels their artistry, and the thrilling adventure they’ve embarked on with “ODD-VENTURE.” Join us as we get up close and personal with MCND, offering you a backstage pass to the captivating world of one of K-pop’s most promising boy bands.

Before diving into the exclusive interview, here a special video message from MCND!

Davide: Hello MCND, I’m Davide from Davide K-pop, and it’s truly an honour to have the opportunity to chat with you today.
Before we dive into this interview, let’s get to know each of you a bit more. Castle J, BIC, Minjae, Huijun, and Win, could you share a bit about your background and what motivated you individually to become idols and pursue a career in music?

Castle J: When I was younger, my family and I watched TV and saw our elders perform on stage. Vaguely, I think I kept thinking that I wanted to be on stage like the singers on TV, and that’s what made me become the MCND’s CastleJ. 

BIC: I think it was watching my seniors perform when I was younger that made me realise that I wanted to be a singer, and I thought what it would be like to be someone who could give a great performance on stage and make people happy. 

MINJAE: I started to develop my dream by watching various idol seniors. At first, I was interested in dancing, so I only danced, but when I saw idols singing and performing on stage, I thought I wanted to learn to sing, so I prepared myself to become a singer in earnest. 

HUIJUN: When I was a trainee, I went to a concert, and I think that was the decisive moment when I realised that I wanted to be an idol and a singer. 

WIN: I was cast when I was very young, and I got the opportunity to be a trainee. I thought that I just happened to be cast and ended up in the final debut group and became an idol singer with MCND and WIN, but when I saw myself crying and laughing and being so happy while doing this, I thought it was not an accident but a necessity and I’m trying to work harder than when I was a trainee.

Davide: wow.. that’s amazing, you all worked so hard!
From your pre-debut single ‘TOP GANG’ to your latest release ‘ODD-VENTURE,’ you’re creating an incredible musical journey. Can you walk us through the evolution of your music and how your sound has developed from your debut till now?

Castle J: I think MCND has been growing steadily from TOP GANG to ODD-VENTURE, and through our various albums, we are definitely defining our own colour, the music that only MCND can show. We are planning to refine MCND as a group while thinking about how to complement the good parts and develop the weak parts.

Davide: Congratulations on your 5th mini album, ‘ODD-VENTURE’! Could you tell us more about the inspiration behind this album and the creative process that went into producing it? Also, any interesting anecdotes from shooting the music video?

BIC: It was the first time MCND shot a music video in Los Angeles after our debut. It was exciting to shoot on location overseas, and the locations were used in famous movies. The forest in our title track “ODD-VENTURE” was in the movie Twilight, and the runway was in Top Gun Maverick, so I think that’s why it stuck with me.

Davide: I definitely need to check the music video and spot all these Easter eggs! Sounds amazing!
Exciting news about the ODD-VENTURE TOUR 2024 in Europe! What are you looking forward to the most during the tour, any particular places you are looking forward to visiting? Do you have any special preparations for these live performances?

MINJAE: I think touring is always exciting and nerve-wracking in any country. Our first tour was in Europe, and on our first European tour, our fans supported us in every country. I still have vivid memories of that, so I’m looking forward to the energy and support of our fans this time around. 

HUIJUN: With ‘ODD-VENTURE’ in the title of our 2024 tour, I think we can put together a setlist with songs from our mini 5th album. I’m thinking of showing the title track, ‘ODD-VENTURE’, and various other songs from the album. I can’t wait to see if you guys like it and how you’ll react to it.

Davide: As a fan myself, some of my favourite songs are ‘CRUSH,’ ‘ODD-VENTURE,’ and ‘ICE AGE’ and I am looking forward to seeing them live in London in January. Do you have any favourite songs that you love performing live? Any special reasons behind those choices?

BIC: I think all of our music, from CRUSH to ICE AGE, is more energetic and fun to play live, especially #MOOD, which I love to showcase at shows. We’ve had a lot of fun with our fans on other songs, but #MODO just seems to get me more energised, and I feel like it represents us, so I’m more attached to it.  

Davide: Beyond the stage, everyone needs a break. What are some of your hobbies or activities you enjoy doing in your free time?

WIN: When I’m resting or enjoying my hobbies, I mostly make music. I feel alive by making music, and while it might not be considered rest for others, it’s a time of rejuvenation for me. 

BIC: I think I enjoy a lot of different hobbies. I make Gundam, I take time to read books, I play games to refresh myself.

Davide: As individuals and as a group, what are some goals or dreams you aspire to achieve in your personal and professional lives?

Castle J: First of all, I would like to be number one on the music charts or music broadcasts, and since MCND hasn’t been number one yet, I’m going to work harder to become the number one singer. Also, as an artist, I think my ultimate goal is to be able to make music happily and for a long time. I will do my best to show my music consistently. 

MINJAE: I also want to be a number one singer. When I see many people who get the honour of being number one, whether it’s on music charts or music broadcasts, I promise myself that MCND will also try to be the best singer. We will work even harder than we are now so that MCND can have a happy day as well, so please stay tuned. 

HUIJUN: I’ve always had a dream of singing a drama’s theme song. I would be so happy if a song filled with just my voice could be played in a drama. I plan to continue practising my vocals and improving myself so that I can fulfil my dream.   

Davide: Your fanbase, GEM, is incredibly supportive. Is there a special message you’d like to share with them? Anything you want to say to express your gratitude and love for your fans?

CastleJ: I feel like I’m always saying thank you and sorry to GEM. MCND is here because we have fans who support us every single day, even when we’re on hiatus. You guys are the reason we have to work harder, and we’ll do our best to make it even better in the future, so stick with us! 

BIC: First of all, thank you so much, GEM, for your patience with this album. We worked hard on this because we wanted to show GEM something cool, and we hope you like it. 

MINJAE: GEM! Thank you for waiting so long for this album, and I’m finally back with a bunch of songs that I know you’ll love. Thank you so much for always being such a big support, and now I’ll be a bigger support and comfort to you! Thank you and love you always! 

HUIJUN: Our GEM that shows a heart that can’t be repaid in a lifetime! We will work harder as long as you like us. We will continue to repay you with good music. Let’s do gem for a lifetime! We appreciate and love you more than words can express! 

WIN: GEM, you’ve been waiting for MCND’s new album for a long time, so we’ve prepared it with MCND’s own colours and 7 songs that you like. We will continue to come to you in various ways, including this activity, so please support us. Stay warm and take care of your colds. We love you.

Davide: Since I’m based in London, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to meet you during your tour. Would you be interested in creating some content together, maybe a dance challenge for TikTok or just a casual ‘hello’ session? Let me know if there’s anything specific you’d like to try.

MCND(ALL): Since we debuted during the coronavirus, we’ve been communicating a lot with our global fans on SNS, and now we’re used to communicating with them on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, etc. in addition to our activities and performances. We are trying to show different sides of ourself, especially thinking about whether our fans would like it if we did this kind of content. If there’s a good performance, a good song, or something different, we’d like to try it.

Davide: Castle J, BIC, Minjae, Huijun, and Win, thank you very much for this interview. Your music resonates deeply with fans in London and myself included. I wish you continued success and creativity in your journey. Stay healthy, and thank you for sharing your incredible talent with the world! I will see you in London soon!”

MCND are coming to Europe with their ODD-VENTURE Tour 2024 and they will be in London on the 25th of January. Make sure to grab your tickets here.

MASSIVE thank you to MCND for the lovely interview, it was so nice to get to know you more, and to TOP MEDIA team for all the help and the visual content.

Make sure to support and listen MCND on every streaming platforms and social media!