DAVIDE K-POP

Bursting onto the scene in late 2023, AMPERS&ONE has spent the last three years evolving into one of the most intriguing acts in the industry. The group’s name—a clever fusion of the ampersand and the collective “one”—acts as a manifesto for the synergy between the seven members and their shared vision. While their early discography was marked by a vibrant, approachable charm, it was clear from the outset that KAMDEN, BRIAN, JIHO, SIYUN, KYRELL, MACKIAH, and SEUNGMO were preparing for a far more ambitious artistic destination.

Fast-forward to April 2026, and the group has traded the soft hues of youth for the “sharpened presence” of their audacious 4th mini-album, DEFINITION. This isn’t just a comeback; it’s a declaration of identity. Spearheaded by the experimental title track “GOD,” the group has pioneered a genre they’ve dubbed “Joseon Dynasty hip-hop,” seamlessly weaving the intricate sounds of the gayageum and traditional Korean aesthetics into heavy, modern trap beats.

With members KAMDEN and MACKIAH taking the creative reins as lyricists across the entire project, DEFINITION marks the moment the “wandering youth” of their debut has finally found its “completed form.” It is a record that balances heritage with modernity and vulnerability with unshakeable confidence.

In this exclusive conversation, we dive deep into the symbolism of the gat and fan choreography, the vocal evolution of the members, and the personal inspirations that have guided them over the last three years. This is AMPERS&ONE, and they are finally defining themselves on their own terms.

Davide: Hello, AMPERS&ONE! It is a massive pleasure to be chatting with you today. It’s an incredibly exciting time with the release of your 4th mini-album, DEFINITION. To kick things off for our readers, could you please introduce yourselves one by one? I’d love to hear your name, your role within the group, and perhaps one interesting or surprising fact about yourselves that ANDEAR might not know yet!

KAMDEN: Hello, I’m KAMDEN, the leader of the team. I tend to be a bit shy in everyday situations and don’t make eye contact easily, but once I’m on stage, I connect with the audience more than anyone else.
BRIAN: Hello! I’m BRIAN, the visual of AMPERS&ONE. As a little TMI, I’ve recently gotten really into chess.
JIHO: Hello, I’m JIHO, and I’m in charge of dance in AMPERS&ONE. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Dubai chocolate-related desserts—I think I have at least one every day.
SIYUN: Hello, I’m SIYUN, the main vocalist of AMPERS&ONE! Recently, a lot of ANDEAR have been telling me my visuals have improved, which I really appreciate.
KYRELL: Hello, I’m KYRELL, and I take on the “mom” role in AMPERS&ONE. I always try to take care of the members and make sure everyone is doing well.
MACKIAH: Hello! I’m MACKIAH, the energy booster of AMPERS&ONE!
SEUNGMO: I’m SEUNGMO, the youngest member and the mood-maker of the group. We all really enjoy eating budae jjigae together as a team.

Davide: Huge congratulations on the new album! Nearly three years into your career, you’ve returned with a very bold new slogan: “& NOW, WE ARE HERE.” This record feels like a major turning point, moving away from your brighter debut style into a more “hip and powerful” identity. Why was DEFINITION the right project to showcase this evolution, and how does it feel to finally share this “completed form” with the world?

KAMDEN: While promoting on music shows, we noticed that people who were seeing us for the first time found our oriental-inspired sound and performance interesting and refreshing. Seeing such positive reactions made us feel proud and reassured that we had prepared well.
KYRELL: This album carries the message that we define ourselves rather than letting the world define us. At the same time, we don’t see this album as something that fully defines who we are. Instead, it reflects a step forward based on everything we’ve built so far. Moving forward, we want to continue expanding our identity and defining ourselves in our own way with each release.

Davide: Let’s talk about the title track, “GOD.” Describing it as “Joseon Dynasty hip-hop” is such a unique and experimental concept. When you first heard the fusion of the gayageum (traditional string instrument) with those heavy trap beats, what was your initial reaction? How did you work to balance those traditional Korean aesthetics with a modern pop sound?

JIHO: I really liked that we were able to express an oriental mood in a new way. Since we’re a multinational group, even when working with similar elements, each member brought their own interpretation, which made the overall expression feel more diverse and, in a way, more trendy.
MACKIAH: When I first heard the track, it felt very fresh and unique. By combining traditional Korean elements with a dance genre, I think we were able to capture both atmosphere and rhythm. The traditional sounds set the tone, while the trap beat adds a modern, trendy edge.

Davide: The music video and performance are visually striking, particularly the use of the gat (traditional hat) and the fan choreography. Do you have a favourite “behind-the-scenes” moment from the shoot? Were there any specific traditional dance movements that took a bit more practice to perfect?

KAMDEN: While working on the choreography with the gat, I remember spending a lot of time perfecting the chorus. I think we dedicated about half of our total practice time just to that part.
SEUNGMO: The chorus includes movements inspired by traditional mask dance, so we focused on that part the most. We paid a lot of attention to dynamics to really bring out the differences in energy.

Davide (to KAMDEN and MACKIAH): You both participated in writing the lyrics for all six songs on this EP! That is an incredible level of involvement. How did you approach the storytelling for this album to ensure the theme of “self-definition” stayed consistent across different genres?

KAMDEN: Since this album covers a wide range of genres, I tried listening to music I don’t usually listen to and also watched films and theatre-related content as references while working on it.
MACKIAH: There are many different styles of songs on this album, so the whole process was really enjoyable. I focused on writing lyrics and flows that match each track’s mood while expressing a confident version of myself.

Davide (to BRIAN, SIYUN, KYRELL, and SEUNGMO): You all have such distinct vocal colours that really shine on the b-sides. For the four of you, which track on DEFINITION was the most vocally challenging to record, and which one made you feel the most “defined” as a vocalist?

BRIAN: The most challenging track to record was “GOD.” My part required me to switch between falsetto and chest voice frequently, which wasn’t easy. On the other hand, “All Eyes On You” suited my voice really well—I think the sweet, pop-like vibe matches my tone.
SIYUN: For me, “Tears In Your Smile” was both the most challenging and the one that best represents my colour. Since emotional delivery is key in that song, I focused on singing with sincerity so that listeners could truly feel it.
KYRELL: “My Way” was difficult because the pitch is high, but the tone has to sound lower. Since my natural tone is on the higher side, that was something I had to work on carefully. On the other hand, I’m really satisfied with my recording in “Tears In Your Smile,” as it suits my voice and style better.
SEUNGMO: Since I took on the pre-chorus in the title track “GOD,” I really wanted to do well. I practised the most for that part and put a lot of effort into it.

Davide (to KAMDEN, JIHO and MACKIAH:): “My Way” is a very punchy, spirited song that seems to fit the album slogan perfectly. Kamden and Mackiah, since you both wrote on this track as well, how did you collaborate with Jiho to make sure the “will to move forward” came across in the final recording? Also, the closing track “Tears In Your Smile” is quite emotional—what was the atmosphere like when the three of you worked on that one?

KAMDEN: While others might need a trampoline to visualise moving forward, we wanted to express that we already have a wide perspective and can move forward in a bigger way.
JIHO: While recording, I imagined performing this song on stage during a concert. I think it’s the most energetic track we’ve released so far, so I tried to match that energy in my recording. The last track has a completely different mood from “My Way,” but all the members really liked it, and we paid close attention to delivering the emotional message of the lyrics.
MACKIAH: In “My Way,” I wanted to express confidence in my own path—focusing on achieving things in my own way without being influenced by others’ opinions. “Tears In Your Smile” has a completely different, ballad-like atmosphere. I tried to express empathy and comfort through the lyrics, as I believe many people can relate to it.

Davide: Looking back at your debut almost three years ago, which artists or mentors have been your biggest inspirations as you’ve navigated the industry? Is there a specific artist whose career path or “powerful” concept you really admire?

BRIAN: The artists who have influenced me the most are Justin Bieber and BTS’s Jungkook. Their music and style have had a big impact on me and have shaped my own tone and identity.
SIYUN: The person who has influenced me the most is my father. Whenever I’m going through a tough time or have concerns, he listens to me sincerely and gives me realistic advice, which gives me strength. In terms of concepts, I also look up to TXT’s Yeonjun—I study his stage presence and expressions a lot.

Davide: I know the schedule for a comeback is incredibly demanding. When you finally get some spare time to yourselves, how do you like to switch off and recharge? Are there any specific hobbies, games, or even “guilty pleasure” snacks that are currently trending within the dorm?

MACKIAH: I enjoy watching anime, and when I have time, I also like going to the studio to work on music. My favourite snack these days is yoghurt jelly.
SEUNGMO: Recently, we’ve been enjoying snacks like ddujjonkku and butter rice cakes. Since we use a lot of energy during promotions, we tend to crave sweet snacks more.

Davide: Finally, what is one message you want to leave for ANDEAR who have been with you since the beginning, and for the new fans who are just discovering AMPERS&ONE through “GOD”?

KAMDEN: We’ll continue to explore different styles and find what suits us best. No matter what the concept, we’re confident that we can pull it off well, so we hope you look forward to it.
JIHO: We believe that being able to continue doing the music and performances we love is all thanks to ANDEAR. We’re especially grateful to the fans who have supported us since our debut. To those who are newly discovering us through this album, we hope to create many fun and meaningful memories together moving forward.

Davide: Thank you so much for your time. It’s been an honour to see your artistry evolve, and I can’t wait to see the impact this album has globally. Take care, stay healthy, and I look forward to seeing you on stage soon! 화이팅!

Cover Image courtesy of FNC Ent.