xikers is living out their dream of infinite possibilities at their own pace. The South Korean boy group, with members Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, Seeun, Hunter, Yujun, and Yechan, coined the name to represent that the group is finding their own coordinates while hiking on their own journey. Before they were the group they are today, they originally introduced themselves as KQ Fellas 2 on KQ Entertainment’s YouTube series ‘Ready To One’ as trainees. The group officially debuted as xikers in March 2023 and since then, the group debuted at No. 41 on the Billboard Artist 100, at No. 4 on the Billboard World Album Chart and No.1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists Chart. The group has also been on world tours of their own, opened for ATEEZ and has amassed millions of followers, fans and streams across all platforms. xikers discography blends pop, rap, hip hop and more and they recently released their newest single “ICONIC,” their first song exclusively in English. Their sixth mini album, [HOUSE OF TRICKY : WRECKING THE HOUSE] is out on October 31st.

What has been the coolest thing about releasing “ICONIC?” What was the process behind writing that song and how did it challenge you to write your first all-English song?

MINJAE: Since “ICONIC” is our first all-English song, I felt a bit of pressure writing the entire lyrics in English. I felt like the lyrics might end up sounding too simple or basic, so I tried to include as many fun expressions that I know into them. There’s a line that goes, “4+4 I always ate up” which was inspired by a phrase fans have often said to me, “What’s 4+4? You ate (8)” I really like how that line turned out. I want to thank roady for helping me create verses that I’m truly happy with. I couldn’t have done it without them.

HUNTER: The coolest thing is that the whole song is in English, and English is the language I’m most comfortable with! We’ve always wanted to release a song entirely in English and we were lucky to have that opportunity come to us so soon. It was actually easier when recording the track for me because though I’m comfortable in many languages, I have always been most comfortable with English.

SUMIN: The first time I heard this song was while I was working out. I usually listen to songs that make me feel strong and get me pumped when I exercise, and this one has such a great vibe. I really liked how the ad-libs came in throughout the track. There weren’t really any particularly challenging parts in the process of writing some of the lyrics for me since I usually like writing my lyrics in English. I also recently watched and enjoyed the F1 movie, so I tried to reflect that same energy into the lyrics as well.

You guys have recently been touring around the world. What is your favorite thing about performing your music on stage to a room full of fans?

JUNMIN: What I love the most is the very first cheer from the fans when we first appear on stage. That moment always gives me such a rush of energy and excitement. Hearing those cheers is one of the biggest drives in being an idol. It really motivates me to keep going and give my best every time.

YUJUN: What I love the most is when we perform our songs overseas and see the audience singing along with us in Korean. Even though they might not fully understand the language, they still enjoy the performance and connect with the music.

SEEUN: Whenever I’m on stage, I feel like I’m living the moment I’ve dreamed of since I was a child. That feeling brings me such immense happiness. I always gain strength from the support and love of our fans.

xikers has grown quickly, from having your music on many charts and gaining millions of fans, streams, followers, etc. What has it been like to see the group grow so fast and become so successful so quickly?

SEEUN: I honestly feel grateful for every single moment. Having so many people love and support us is not something to be taken for granted, and it gives me a real sense of fulfillment to grow step by step.

JUNMIN: There’s still so much more we need to show the public, so we do our best not to get complacent. Instead, we try to work even harder. Even if it’s slow, I truly believe that growing steadily will lead to even greater happiness and success in the future. I am also confident that xikers has the potential to keep growing endlessly from here, which is why we’re all motivated to keep pushing ourselves.

How has your music changed and grown since coming together as KQ Fellaz 2?

HYUNWOO: Up until now, we’ve explored a wide variety of music, and through all those experiences, I think we’ve grown into the unique group that xikers is today. Each member has really developed their own distinct voice and style along the way.

JUNGHOON: Even back during our KQ Fellaz days, we were always pursuing music with passion and intensity. Now, as xikers, that passion hasn’t changed. I think we’re continuing to showcase songs that reflect our unique energy and original performances.

Your music is inspired by different genres of music like pop, rap, hip-hop, etc. Where do you find inspiration for making your music and what’s the creative process like when making songs with different genres of music in them?

YECHAN: When I make music, I usually start by looping the track and turning off all the lights in the studio. I close my eyes and listen while humming along. Then, sometimes a good idea suddenly comes to me, and I start recording whatever comes out, gradually working through the process step by step.

SUMIN: I usually get sudden bursts of inspiration when I’m working out or washing up before bed. Whenever that happens, I often find myself rushing to write things down in my notes app. I honestly don’t have a specific source of inspiration. I just really love music and listen to it a lot, so ideas tend to strike me during my everyday life.

MINJAE: To be honest, since we truly love music, we naturally find ourselves drawn to the genres and sounds that people enjoy and listen to the most. I think our music right now is about experimenting and thinking about how we can mix those kinds of sounds with our own voices and the styles we are good at in a fun and interesting way. Working on new songs is always such an exciting process, and as we imagine how people will react once the music is released, new inspiration naturally comes to us and blends into the work. We hope you will continue to show lots of interest and love for the music that xikers will share in the future.

I’ve heard you explain what the name xikers means and the idea of being on a journey to infinite possibilities. What journey do you hope xikers is moving in and how do you hope that the group continues to grow? What career goals do you have for the group?

HUNTER: Just like our name, we’ve got infinite possibilities. We’re constantly moving at our own pace and direction. I hope that we as a group will be able to grow in a healthy and organic way. Staying true to ourselves, maintaining good relationships and values. We have a lot of career goals, but one of the biggest ones is to be able to perform at our very own concert in a huge venue, where we can meet many of our fans.

HYUNWOO: As we go on this journey at our own pace, I hope the ten of us can always keep moving forward together and continue growing as one. I believe that if we take our time and stay on this path, we’ll eventually reach everything we’ve been hoping and dreaming for.

What was the inspiration behind your sixth EP, [HOUSE OF TRICKY : WRECKING THE HOUSE]?

SUMIN: I was really inspired when we first heard our title track, “SUPERPOWER.” When I saw the track name, it made me think about what kind of role I would take on if I had superpowers. But since I’ve always found the concept of villains a bit more intriguing than heroes, I wrote the lyrics for my part with the idea of a villain with superpowers in mind.

YECHAN: The powerful energy of the track really inspired me. As I worked to match its vibe, I was able to come up with a rap I’m proud of, and it feels great to see that effort pay off.

YUJUN: In this album, I was able to incorporate even more of my own style, both vocally and performance-wise. I wanted people who listen to our music to see more sides of me and show them that I’m not just “cute” but can make them feel so much more when I perform on stage!

How does this EP sound or look different than other EPs in the past?

HUNTER: Compared to our previous EPs, this one has an almost calmer, more laid-back vibe, sort of “chill” vibe. In the past, our music was filled with even higher energy. It has lots of shouting, power, and intensity, but this time, we wanted to take a slight step back, find our groove, and let our inner swag shine through while still giving that xikers sound.

SEEUN: Like all of our previous albums, this EP is overflowing with energy, but I think the difference this time is that there are even more tracks that are dynamic and exciting. We also paid a lot of attention to the visuals in the music video and concept photos, so I think it’s our coolest album yet!

JUNGHOON: I wouldn’t say that the overall vibe is too different from what we’ve done before, but I think this album definitely shows an even wider range of tracks that we can interpret through our own xikers’ unique sound and visual style.

The title track of the EP is called “SUPERPOWER.” What inspired that song specifically? How does being a performer give you a superpower feeling?

MINJAE: When I first heard the title “SUPERPOWER,” I thought it had a simple yet kitschy charm. I spent a lot of time thinking about how to use the keyword “SUPERPOWER” to apply the concept to us, xikers. To me, our team has many different charms, but I think we shine the brightest on stage. The ability to dance and sing all night with explosive energy and completely captivate the audience feels almost like our own kind of superpower. I worked with that theme in mind, because I believe that the energy and strength we radiate on stage are a superpower that only xikers possess.

JUNMIN: When you hear “superpower,” you usually think of supernatural abilities, but for me, I interpret the idea a bit differently. In the chorus choreography, there’s a move that looks like drinking an energy drink, and I like to think of it as giving you strength. Honestly, when I perform that move, I actually feel a surge of energy and it even makes me wonder for a moment if I really have superpowers.

HYUNWOO: Performing on stage gives me a real sense of superpower. Whenever we finish a performance, all our fans cheer and applaud us, and in those moments, it doesn’t give us any actual superpowers, but it definitely makes us feel like heroes.

JINSIK: Through this song, I want listeners to feel our energy and power and leave a strong, lasting impression. During promotions, there are moments when things get tough, but whenever we push through without giving up, I feel that renewed strength again and again. I think it’s moments like those that make me feel as if I’ve gained a kind of superpower.

How can you describe your new music you have coming up soon? What can fans expect from the group the rest of this year?

YUJUN: Our new song, which will be released soon, has a hip and addictive vibe, and I think we’ve added our own xikers twist to make it really fun and unique. We hope you’ll look forward to the performances and visuals we have prepared for the rest of the year! 

JINSIK: In our upcoming release, we think we’ll be able to show our unique energetic side with a mix of humor and sophisticated style. Also, for the rest of this year, as roady continues to support us, we hope to show an even cooler and more impressive side of xikers with everything we have prepared.

How do you hope your music inspires your fans and people listening to your music?

JUNGHOON: As mentioned earlier, we want to continue growing as artists who pursue passionate and original music. More than anything, we hope that by listening to our songs, people can gain even a little bit of strength and energy in their everyday lives.

JINSIK: I hope that when people listen to our songs, it helps brighten their mood and gives them the extra energy and motivation they need to get through their day. I want our music to feel like a refreshing vitamin that lifts their spirits and keeps them going.

YECHAN: I hope that when fans listen to our music, they can find strength during difficult times and feel twice as joyful during happy moments. Because of that, we are always working hard to bring them great music they can connect with and enjoy.

Writer: Jessica Spiers
Photographer & Creative Direction: Ana Oquendo
Onsite Assistant: Steven Esperanza
Hair: Haeyun Yi & Yejin Lee
Makeup: Inyoung Lee & Kyeongmin Hwang
Styling: Yooyoung Choi & Ruda Lee

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