8TURN has returned with their 3rd single album, [8.X], marking a bold new chapter in their artistic journey. Since our previous exclusive interviews regarding ‘BRUISE’ and our lighthearted round of [“GUESS WHO?”], it has been an absolute pleasure to watch this group evolve.
8TURN comprises some very unique and talented guys—Jae Yun, Myung Ho, Min Ho, Yoon Sung, Hae Min, Yun Gyu, and Seung Heon—who have consistently proven their versatility across a wide range of musical genres. Having spent the last seven months further refining their craft and individual strengths, the members now stand as a more cohesive and mature unit, ready to share the personal growth they have achieved since we last spoke. Before diving into this new comeback and the interview, I would love to wish Kyung Min a speedy recovery while on hiatus, wishing you all the best! We will wait for you!
This new project, [8.X: NO LINE, NO TRACE], serves as a pivotal prologue for the group. Moving away from the conventions of their past, 8TURN is venturing into uncharted territory to embrace an unpredictable future. The title track, ‘Stagefright’, offers a sophisticated R&B/Pop sound that uses the metaphor of a performer’s stage anxiety to explore the paradox of loving deeply while fearing loss. This vulnerability is perfectly balanced by the B-side, ‘8PM’, a dreamy, groove-driven R&B track that captures the evocative mood of twilight. With members Yun Gyu, Jae Yun, and Myung Ho actively involved in the songwriting, [8.X] is a testament to the group’s deepening creative voice.
Beyond the music, we took this time to look ahead to their European Tour and even brainstormed some potential content for when they arrive in London. You can watch the full video interview below, followed by the written conversation.
You might want to check the video interview for some extra interactions!
Davide: Hi guys! It is so great to see you all again! It has been seven months since our last interview, and so much has changed. You’ve moved from the raw emotions of ‘BRUISE’ into this new, mysterious chapter, [8.X]. Before we dive in, how are you all doing? For those who might be meeting you for the first time through this comeback, could you please reintroduce yourselves?
JAEYUN: Hello, I’m Jae Yun, the leader of 8TURN. It’s such a pleasure to be able to greet you guys with Davide KPOP.
MYUNGHO: Long time no see!! How have YOU been? After wrapping up our BRUISE promotions, we’ve been doing well! Eating, sleeping properly, and working hard to prepare for our new album, [8.X]! And we are 8TURN, a boy group made up of eight members with eight different charms. Through this comeback, you’ll be able to see a more mature and sexier side of 8TURN, so please look forward to it and show us lots of love!
MINHO: Long time no see, Davide! I’ve been well, and how about you? Hello to everyone who’s watching! I’m Min Ho, still with bleached hair! Hahaha
YOONSUNG: Nice to meet you again, Davide! I’m Yoon Sung, back with even more charisma than I had during our last album, BRUISE! After our previous promotions, we held two concerts and also went to Japan for KCON. Over the past few months, we’ve been working hard to prepare for this comeback.
HAEMIN: Hello, I’m Hae Min, who burned through BRUISE, turned to ashes, and returned with an all-black look.
YUNGYU: Hello, I’m Yun Gyu! I’ve been so excited to meet you all and prepared with so much passion that my eyebrows burned off and disappeared!
SEUNGHEON: Hello, I’m Seung Heon, the youngest of 8TURN! Can’t believe it’s been seven months since I turned 20. During the break, I spent a lot of time practising and getting to know myself better. And I dyed my hair for the first time in two years, which made it feel like a fresh new look for me. (한국어)
Davide: The title [8.X] is incredibly intriguing. You mention “No Line, No Trace”—that you are abandoning predetermined paths to head to an unknown ‘X.’ What does this ‘X’ represent for 8TURN as a group, and why did you feel that now was the time to break away from your past conventions?
JAEYUN: First of all, the X on this album represents the path we are about to head towards, and quite frankly, we don’t really know what’s going to be ahead of us — hence the X. The reason we thought right now was the most suitable time to put a full stop (period) to our past discography was that BRUISE marked the end of a duology that started with Electric Heart. With the end of a duology, we decided to start a new chapter, which we can’t get into details on yet, but I think it’s going to be a series unlike the other albums.
YOONSUNG: I think it literally means the unknown. After releasing our previous album and while working on this new one, we thought a lot about what direction we should take next. We wondered whether we should focus on what we already do well, or challenge ourselves with something new. In the end, we decided to follow our hearts, even if just by a little, and that led us to try something a bit newer this time. So rather than saying it was a specific turning point, I think it was more like our hearts made that decision. And honestly, I’m not sure where it will take us next either. Haha.
Davide: ‘Stagefright’ is such a unique concept. Yun Gyu, Jae Yun, and Myung Ho, you all participated in the lyrics. How was the songwriting process? Was it difficult to translate those specific, vulnerable feelings into a song?
YUNGYU: When writing the lyrics for ‘Stagefright,’ I was able to get deeper into the song as I wrote, since I approached it from the perspective of someone who loves the stage. As for the B-side track ‘8PM,’ I remember writing the lyrics while imagining an orange sunset, a beach with cool waves, and streets lined with palm trees.
MYUNGHO: At first, it took some time to figure out how to express feelings like anxiety, fear, and excitement. But I was able to find a way by thinking of it as if the stage was playing hard to get.
JAEYUN: It would be a lie if I said it was easy, but the difficulty was a bit different compared to the other songs we’ve written. Since the song talks about the real struggles and feelings we feel regarding performing on stage, I had to be honest and raw in feeling vulnerable. But once I got past that part, the writing process came naturally.
Davide: I’m also curious to know about the behind-the-scenes of the music video. Is there any special message or emotion you wanted to show to TURNINGs?
MINHO: This time, there were more visual shots and lip-sync scenes compared to our previous music videos, so I had more fun filming it. I think Turnings will also notice the difference.
SEUNGHEON: As you can see in the music video, the whole video is in monotone. To match the mood, I tried to keep my expressions and gestures chill.
Davide: Your B-side, ‘8PM,’ contrasts the intensity of the title track with a dreamier, chill R&B groove. Jae Yun and Yun Gyu, you wrote on this one as well. How do ‘Stagefright’ and ‘8PM’ connect within the [8.X] universe? Is the “8PM” twilight the moment after the “Stagefright” intensity, or is it a separate escape?
JAEYUN: What a nice way to put it. But story-wise, no, they don’t necessarily correlate with one another — it’s more of an extension showcasing the musical direction we’re going to take. Since this is a prologue album, the two songs on this album don’t define it 100%, but rather give a glimpse of what the future holds.
YUNGYU: In terms of colour, you can really feel the contrast between the title track and ‘8PM’. While Stagefright is filled with black, ‘8PM’ carries a clean, pure white tone throughout the video. The mood is also different. While the title track feels emotionally intense and builds up toward a climax, ‘8PM’ has a more relaxed and groovy feel, almost like a moment offstage. So rather than the moment after the intensity has passed, I think it feels closer to a kind of escape.
Davide: It’s been about seven months since we last spoke in January. Aside from the hard work of preparing for this comeback, what have you been up to? Have there been any new hobbies, travel experiences, or even small daily revelations that have shaped you during these past seven months? During the mini-game, you guys mentioned Dubai Chocolate Mochi. Are you still loving it?
MINHO: These days, I’ve been drawing. I’m not good at it yet, but I’ve picked up drawing as a hobby to help myself relax. And I’m more into fruit sandos these days.
YOONSUNG: I recently started cooking! At first, it felt like a hassle to actually cook something but as I started trying new dishes one by one, I felt proud of myself, and it became something I enjoy. Plus, I think it’s nice that I can save money. And Dubai Chocolate Mochi will always be my go-to dessert.
Davide: With the European Tour on the horizon, the energy is high! Bringing a track like ‘Stagefright’ to life on stage requires such a specific, tense atmosphere. How are you preparing for this new, specific stage performance, and what are you most looking forward to experiencing with your European TURNING?
HAEMIN: Honestly, when I first heard the song, I pictured us dancing in a Western-style opera theatre. So I’m really looking forward to performing it on stage, especially with that kind of setting actually coming to life.
MYUNGHO: This album is very different from our previous albums overall, and we worked really hard to show a new side of ourselves through our mood, expressions, visuals, and attitude. So please look forward to it! We’ve really wanted to meet our fans in Europe, so I’m very glad that we finally get to meet you this time. We can’t wait to see you, and we’re really looking forward to your crazy energy!
Davide: You’ve mastered so many genres now—from old-school hip-hop to hybrid rock, and now this sleek R&B/Pop sound. Looking at the “8TURN” of today versus the start of your journey, where do you feel your biggest personal growth has been?
SEUNGHEON: Since we’ve challenged ourselves with many different genres since our debut, I can definitely feel that our range of expression has become wider. So our goal right now is to become a team that can pull off any genre.
HAEMIN: It might be quite similar to what Seung Heon just said, but yeah, when we were trainees, I think we mainly practised hip-hop. Looking back at our activities so far, we’ve taken on many different styles of music and genres, so I feel like our overall spectrum has become much broader!
Davide: I mentioned in our last interview how much I love your vlogs and videos—they’re always so funny! Since you’re all in Europe soon, would you be up for filming some content together for social media when you’re in London? I’ve got a couple of ideas, but I’d love to hear if you’d be interested or if you have any ideas of your own!
YOONSUNG: Of course, why not! That’d be great! It could be something like you showing daily life in London or something to do with K-POP and Londoners! Or maybe we could go on a London food tour. I think there will be so many fun ideas! I’ll think about it more, too.
MINHO: Thank you! We would love to do it! I think it would be nice if you could take us to some of your favourite places or nice food spots in London.
Davide: That’s all for today! Thank you so much, 8TURN! It is always a pleasure to chat and see how you continue to evolve. You should be so proud of the work you’ve put into [8.X]. I’m really looking forward to the tour! 감사합니다!
JAEYUN: Thank you for having us again. It was so nice talking to you, Davide!
Make sure to catch 8TURN in London on the 27th of September! Grab your tickets here.
DAVIDE K-POP 