How ALL(H)OURS’ confidence played a role in second mini-album ‘Witness’

ALL(H)OURS. Image: Courtesy of Eden Entertainment

As seen in concept photos for their second mini-album “Witness,” K-pop boy group ALL(H)OURS were captured in leather jackets, lip rings, eyeliner, and silver accessories, showing a strong concept for them early on.

The group, composed of Kunho, Youmin, Xayden, Minje, Masami, Hyunbin, and On:N, debuted in January 2024 with a hunger to take on challenges. Their second mini-album “Witness,” where darkness and drift phonk are some of its main elements, came six months after introducing themselves to the industry.

While it’s normal for K-pop groups to have a short grace period before their next album, it’s rare for rookies to carry themselves with confidence early on. Others build up their self-trust as time goes by, but a certain amount of idols will give an aura of self-assurance, which can be seen in ALL(H)OURS throughout their roundtable interview with reporters from different parts of the world.

“After our debut, the biggest thing we felt was immense gratitude to our fans, Min(ut)e. Thanks to them, we were able to work hard without getting tired,” Youmin told INQUIRER.net while pondering on their growth in less than a year. “Even when we felt exhausted, their support gave us the strength to stand back up to deliver the best of our performances.”

On:N agreed with his bandmate’s thoughts, saying having constant talks with their group was a huge factor in building up their harmony early on. “As we gained experience from our debut album, we engaged in extensive discussions and practice sessions to achieve harmony and unison,” he said.

Since there was a short span between their debut and “Witness,” the pressure to keep a good impression is inevitable. But for ALL(H)OURS, paying attention to the details is key as it shows growth and keeps doors open for improvement. “For our debut, we focused on showcasing the songs and dances we had practiced so far,” Xayden explained. “With our second album, based on our prior experience, we learned the importance of even the smallest facial expressions on stage.”

For Xayden, paying attention to their expressions on camera is a way of giving justice to the mini-album’s concept as well. “We paid attention to how we would be portrayed through the lens of the camera and made sure not to show our fatigue while performing strenuous choreography. I think these are areas where we’ve grown,” he continued.

Witnessing their growth

In all its bombastic flair, ALL(H)OURS’ debut album is a body of work that shows their excitement to enter the K-pop scene. Now, their current record shifted into EDM and drift phonk, as seen through the tracks “Witness,” “Shock (its title track),” “Psycho Mantra,” “‘Bout That Issue,” and “Blah Blah.”

Apart from participating in the production, Youmin, On:N, and Xayden took control of the choreography.

Taking on a darker concept was fun for the group. “We challenged ourselves with a new genre called drift phonk, rooted in the EDM scene. Exploring and researching this genre was exciting,” On:N said of the album’s title track. “Creating a performance for the song involved a lot of discussion about how to pull it off, making the entire process very interesting. When we perform on stage, the EDM elements allow us to truly enjoy it.”

Kunho and On:N of ALL(H)OURS. Image: Courtesy of Eden Entertainment

With this in mind, Kunho said the record and exploring a new genre was made to create a “significant impact” in the industry.

“Moreover, being only 6 months into our debut, we strive to showcase our energy and ambition as a rookie group to as many people as we can… along with our rookie spirit, are what distinguish us,” he continued.

Xayden, Minje, and Hyunbin of ALL(H)OURS. Image: Courtesy of Eden Entertainment

Making a difference

As ALL(H)OURS takes on their career with “confidence,” according to Minje, the group hopes their music will reach a global audience. “It would be amazing if we could have every seat filled on our world tour one day,” On:N said. “I also dream of visiting Argentina someday. And seeing our song on the Billboard charts would be a dream come true.”

Apart from going global, the K-pop group expressed their desire to follow in the footsteps of their seniors such as Stray Kids, Seventeen, and San of ATEEZ.

With big dreams ahead of them, Youmin is aware that “endless trials and efforts” are part of their career, including the possibility of their song not being popular. But this thought doesn’t put a dent in their confidence, and instead, would push them to be better.

Youmin and Masami of ALL(H)OURS. Image: Courtesy of Eden Entertainment

“We’re proud to be back with an amazing track, but in case our song doesn’t gain popularity, we’ll keep coming back with even better songs and diverse genres. Our aim is to consistently improve and present better versions of ourselves to our fans and the public alike,” he said.

Kunho said the group accepted that “high expectations” are placed on them. But this pushes them to keep going.

“With many eyes on us and high expectations, we feel the pressure to consistently showcase a better version of ourselves. This mindset drives us to continually strive for improvement,” he said, carrying the group’s confidence to embrace the challenges ahead.