EVNNE are thoughtful, determined in crafting 4th mini-album ‘Hot Mess’
EVNNE in a concept photo for their fourth EP “Hot Mess.” Image: Courtesy of Jellyfish Entertainment
Determination has always been the core of EVNNE. Whenever they release new music, interact with fans (lovingly called ENNVE), or perform onstage, they make it a point to be driven by passion and hunger no matter what—which is reflected in their fourth mini-album “Hot Mess.”
The story of EVNNE—composed of Keita, Park Hanbin, Lee Jeonghyeon, Yoo Seungeon, Ji Yunseo, Mun Junghyun, and Park Jihoo—is what many trainees and aspiring K-pop idols dream of.
They started as competitors in the 2023 survival show “Boys Planet,” which eventually formed the winning group ZEROBASEONE.
Despite their loss, their talents and stage presence were not ignored. They were eventually recruited by Jellyfish Entertainment until they debuted in September 2023 with their first mini-album “Target: Me.”
Two years and two more mini-albums later, the members carry a greater amount of motivation and determination with their newest release “Hot Mess,” which aims to show how hard work and unadulterated fun can coexist.
“I think we are always motivated and determined, all thanks to our fans who believe in, support, and love us. Because it has been a long time since we made a comeback, we were even more passionate about working on this album,” Seungeon told INQUIRER.net in a roundtable interview, when asked how they manage to stay determined through the ups and downs of their career. His bandmates seemingly agreed with his remarks as they quickly nodded throughout his response.
A labor of love among EVNNE’s members, the mini-album consists of six tracks including the title track of the same name “Birthday,” “Love Like That,” “Crown,” “Youth,” and “Keshiki (景色) (Korean Ver.).” Staying true to its concept, “Hot Mess” is an upbeat track that blends pop, rock, and retro—complimented by the constant guitar riffs throughout the chorus—showcasing more of their vibrant side.
“All of our members participated a lot in producing the album as we are interested in composing and writing lyrics. In addition, we are trying new things that we’ve never done before, [and] our music video was pretty experimental,” Seungeon continued.
Since “Hot Mess” is a team effort, EVNNE made it a point to edit themselves when needed until they were content with the final product. “I remember going through a lot of edits and rerecordings to make sure we were nailing those tracks,” Jihoo said of their creative process. “Something we put a lot of thought into is when recording our songs, trying to bring up all the small details.”
Playfulness was the key element of the mini-album, according to Yunseo, while pointing out that it is a musical display of how the group has a knack for having fun in their performances. “All our members are very playful and love to have fun while performing. A few of the keywords of this album are joy and dopamine. So I think this album’s concept is perfect for everyone’s characteristics and strengths,” he said.
EVNNE in a concept photo for their fourth mini-album “Hot Mess.” Image: Courtesy of Jellyfish Entertainment
At the same time, Jeonghyeon said the mini-album is a gift to their fans who enjoy seeing their “goofy and playful sides” whether they are onstage or engaging in various content.
“Our fans really love our goofy and playful side, like joking with each other, so I’m so glad that we are finally releasing an album and title track that can truly convey our nature and characteristics. We’re definitely looking forward to sharing that,” he said. True enough, EVNNE’s efforts were worth it as they bagged their first win for this comeback in “Music Bank.”
Keep the fun going
On stage, EVNNE carries the brightness of “Hot Mess” with every performance, flashing bright smiles and maintaining a youthful energy onstage—although they believe Hanbin’s “cheeky and playful” sides made him suit its concept the best, but they have always been open to exploring different concepts and sounds.
“We are definitely back with a new concept. For our last album, we were all about the visuals, like finding the best angle for us, but this album is quite different,” Jihoo said. “The theme and mindset are more like, ‘No worries, as long as we have fun together everything’s fine.’ So, enjoying the music and stage with our fans is the whole point of this album.”
While the group is aware of the pressure in every comeback, they carry the determination to have fun in “messy and chaotic situations.” They acknowledge the tough moments—with Yunseo noting they agree upon themselves to always “have fun”—while citing joy as a force to help them achieve what they put their minds to. “Something we are always aiming for when performing on stage is having fun on stage, as we always talk about it amongst ourselves,” he said, while touching on what style the group always wanted to do.
“I think one of the biggest elements and keywords for this comeback is having fun with joy, which allows us to pursue the music and performances we’ve always strived to do,” Yunseo continued.
EVNNE during a roundtable with global reporters, including INQUIRER.net. Image: Courtesy of Jellyfish Entertainment
But as time goes by, priorities will change. Some K-pop groups experience a change in member lineup due to an unexpected departure or tragedy, while others choose to go their separate ways. EVNNE, too, is aware that each member has “different goals” in the future. Yet they would rather focus on living in the moment and navigating their careers with the same glimmer of fun.
“I think we would individually have different goals and visions in the coming years, but as EVNNE, I think one common dream for our future is continuing to have fun on stage and keep making music together,” Yunseo said, reflecting on how he sees the group in the future. “For now, that would apply to our comeback that the seven of us would love to focus on. We are always eager to learn more and improve ourselves, so please look forward to our growth over the years as well.”
