DAVIDE K-POP

If you’ve been following the K-pop scene lately, you’ll know that P1Harmony (Keeho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul, and Jongseob) aren’t just rising stars anymore—they are officially global powerhouses. From their cinematic “superhero” debut in 2020 to their history-making 9th mini-album, UNIQUE, which recently smashed onto the Billboard 200 at #4, these six “meta-idols” have been on a non-stop trajectory to the top.

I’ve had the pleasure of covering P1Harmony’s journey right here in London multiple times, capturing the electric energy of their live shows and watching them grow from promising stars into arena-filling artists. Their growth has been so impressive that I even dedicated an entire episode of my podcast, Davide K-Talk, to deep-diving into their discography and the creative lore that sets them apart from the crowd.

Now, fresh off their second Music Bank win and hitting a massive 58k in US sales, I virtually sat down with the group to talk about their return to the “Hero” concept, their bold new Brazilian Funk sound, and what it feels like to be the #2 best-selling album in the US, in their second week of sales.

Let’s dive into the world of P1Harmony.

Davide: Hello, P1Harmony! I’m Davide, and it is a massive pleasure to be chatting with you. It’s been a while, but seeing your growth has been incredible. How are you all doing? To break the ice, can you share one “unique” thing—no pun intended!—that has happened to you since the release of this 9th mini-album?
THEO: I think it was during promotions. Our schedules would end really late at night, and we had music shows early the next morning, so we couldn’t even go home. I remember having to shower at the broadcasting station—it was actually surprising to find out they had showers there.
SOUL: During this promotion, I remember showering at the broadcasting station for the first time and going straight into pre-recording. That really stood out to me.

Davide: Huge congratulations on UNIQUE! Not only did you return to the “Hero” concept, but you just took home the trophy on Music Bank! This is your second win on that stage since “Killin’ It.” How did it feel to stand there as winners again? And as members who were involved in the album’s production, did this achievement carry any particular meaning for you?
KEEHO: It had been a while since we last got a win, so after “때깔,” getting first place again meant a lot to us. We’re becoming more involved in the creative process, and seeing those efforts lead to great results gives us confidence and makes us want to try even more.
JONGSEOB: We know that winning first place on music shows is never something to take for granted. That’s why we’re incredibly grateful to P1ece for making us a No.1 artist once again. Personally, I put a lot into this comeback, and since it’s been a while, I really poured my heart into it—so it feels especially rewarding to see that effort recognised.

Davide: And the good news certainly isn’t over yet! More congratulations are in order because UNIQUE just debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 with 58,000 sales, and it’s officially the #2 best-selling album in the US this week (*this is based on when the questions were made)! This is your first Korean album to break into the Top 5. When you saw that you were sitting right at the top of the charts alongside the biggest global artists, how did that feel, and what does this specific milestone mean for the future of P1Harmony’s ‘Hero’ story?
JIUNG: We were aiming for Top 5, but when we first heard the news, it honestly felt unreal. Through this result, I felt that as “heroes,” we’re not only bringing happiness within our storyline but also in real life to many people.
INTAK: I was honestly speechless, just full of gratitude. I see this as just the beginning, and I want to show even greater growth moving forward. I think this will be one meaningful page in our journey as heroes.

Davide: Let’s talk about the title track, “UNIQUE.” It features a bold Brazilian Funk sound—something quite new for the group. What message did you want to convey through this track, and how did you balance that high-energy sound with the theme of “strong unity” in the lyrics?
JIUNG: Like the title suggests, we wanted people to embrace their own uniqueness and feel confident in who they are. I think the combination of each member’s distinct voice helped express the theme of unity really well.
JONGSEOB: I believe unity comes from how well each of us delivers our own parts with our own voice. Not just “UNIQUE,” but every track on this album carries a sound that only this group can create—so in that sense, this album itself represents our unity.

Davide: The music video is visually stunning, especially the transition from the “Hero Strike” mystery to your big return. Do you have a favourite scene or a “behind-the-scenes” moment from the shoot? I heard there was a robotic kinda “body pack” used for some of the styling—how was that experience?
KEEHO: I remember it being really cold during the shoot, so filming outdoors wasn’t easy. The first scene on the first day was by the ocean, and pretending not to be cold was honestly the hardest part.
INTAK: One scene I remember was when I was tied up inside a coffin being dragged by a motorcycle. I had to act while shaking my body inside—it was supposed to look painful, but I actually had a lot of fun filming it.

Davide (to Intak & Jongseob): You both have written for 100% of this album, and your wordplay is legendary. How do you keep challenging yourselves to find new ways to express the “P1Harmony sound”?
INTAK: Since the album title is “UNIQUE,” I focused a lot on using wording that felt bold, confident, and truly unique. I think P1ece could definitely feel that confidence through the album.
JONGSEOB: To me, P1Harmony’s identity is about not being afraid to try new things and continuing to explore new directions. With this album as well, we made an effort to present sounds and elements we hadn’t shown before.

Davide (to Jiung & Keeho): Both of you were involved in the songwriting for this record. Jiung, you were credited on several tracks, and Keeho, your R&B influence comes through on “ICE (VVS).” When working in the studio, how did you collaborate to ensure each track still felt distinctly “P1Harmony,” while experimenting with faster BPMs and new genres?
KEEHO: In the past, we thought a lot about how to define P1Harmony’s colour, but these days, no matter what genre we try, once we work on it and perform it, it naturally becomes our own. That’s why we’re excited to explore even more genres and see how far we can go as a team.
JIUNG: We spent a lot of time thinking about how each member could take on parts they can express best. I think that helped us maintain our identity as P1Harmony.

Davide (to Soul): Soul, you are such a powerhouse performer. In the “UNIQUE” performance, you collaborated with dancers for a much larger stage presence. Have you ever thought about stepping into Art Direction or choreography for the group? Or perhaps exploring “expressive dance art” as a solo project?
SOUL: If I get the chance, I’d love to be involved in performance direction. Personally, I’d like to try performances that involve acting as well—like Jason Derulo’s stages. I haven’t tried it yet, though.

Davide (to Theo): Theo, I recently had the chance to see wave to earth live, and I’ve heard you’re a big fan as well. What is it about their music that resonates with you the most, and could you see yourself collaborating with them on a more indie-leaning track in the future?
THEO: I’ve always enjoyed their music, but after seeing them live, I was really impressed. They had a lot of stage elements we haven’t tried before, which I found really interesting.

Davide: I’ve seen you guys grow so much as a team, but you’re also starting to show more of your individual colours. Is there more solo work or solo albums on the horizon? What kind of personal musical “universe” would each of you like to explore outside of the group?
KEEHO: Since each of our members has such distinct individuality, I think we’d all do well with solo work in the future. It’s still something far off, so I haven’t thought about it in detail yet, but since I listen to a wide range of music, I’m not sure what direction I’d take. I do enjoy singing, though, so it would probably be something vocal-focused.
THEO: Honestly, I don’t really feel the need to pursue solo activities right now. I think I still have a lot to improve on, and as long as I’m promoting as P1Harmony, I want to focus on the team.

Davide: With the massive success of UNIQUE and your growing global presence, you’re constantly reaching new listeners. If you met someone today who had never heard a P1Harmony song before, which single track would you recommend as the perfect introduction to your artistry and the ‘Hero’ universe you’ve built? Is it the high energy of ‘UNIQUE,’ or perhaps something more melodic like ‘Wednesday Girl,’ or one of your previous bangers? It can be anything from your repertoire. 
JIUNG: Since our performances are very energetic, I’d recommend “UNIQUE” right now—it really captures that energy well.
SOUL: I’d also recommend “UNIQUE.” It’s our most recent track, and the rhythm is really good.

Davide: You’ve just finished a massive run at arenas like the OVO Arena Wembley for the MOST WANTED tour, which was incredible! I have loved photographing you guys there! After such a huge production, what are your plans for the rest of 2026? Are you already planning the next tour, or are you looking forward to taking some time to rest and grow creatively before the next chapter?
INTAK: This year, I think we’ll focus more on our music and strengthening P1Harmony’s identity even further. Please look forward to it!
JONGSEOB: We plan to keep focusing on album production. This year, rather than overseas schedules, we’ll be putting more emphasis on comebacks and creating new music in Korea.

Davide: Thank you so much for your time. I’ve watched you grow from your debut to these massive global hits, and I couldn’t be prouder of the artists you’ve become. Take care, stay healthy, and I can’t wait to see what heroes you become next!
KEEHO: Thank you for always showing us so much love and support with every album. Because of you, we’re able to create better music and grow with more confidence as artists.

Make sure to stream P1harmony 9th mini album UNIQUE and follow them on your favourite social media platform to stay up to date with the latest news!

Cover Photo Courtesy of FNC Entertainment.