Xdinary Heroes Redefine Farewells as New Beginnings with Eighth EP, ‘Dead And’
Boy band Xdinary Heroes is set to return with its eighth EP, “Dead And,” continuing its streak of genre-blending releases while expanding its compelling narrative of what it means to be a “hero.”
Ahead of the highly anticipated album’s release on Friday, the talented K-pop group sat down for a round interview on Wednesday at a cafe in Seongdong-gu, eastern Seoul.
“Since this marks our first release of the year, we feel especially excited,” said leader and drummer Gunil. “There are a lot of songs in this album that we really love, and tracks we feel confident about, so we’re curious to see how listeners respond to ‘Dead And’.”
Unlike albums meticulously built around a fixed concept, the creative process for “Dead And” took shape more organically.
“We didn’t decide on the album title first,” Gunil explained. “We started with the keyword ‘farewell’ and worked on songs around that idea. Once the tracklist for our new EP was finalized, we thought about what title would best fit its profound message.”
The result was a clever play on words — “dead end” ingeniously transformed into “Dead And.”
“By changing ‘end’ to ‘and,’ we wanted to show that an ending isn’t really a full stop,” he elaborated. “An end to something can always be a new beginning, a fresh start.”
This profound message is powerfully embodied in the lead track “Voyager,” an emotional piece inspired by NASA’s iconic Voyager 1 spacecraft — a probe continuing its journey through space even as it nears the limits of communication.
“We thought about the death of stars first,” said Xdinary Heroes’ guitarist Gaon. “When a star dies, it doesn’t just disappear — it creates something new. We wondered what kind of an observer could represent that idea, and Voyager 1 felt like something we could deeply relate to.”
For the band, “Voyager” reflects the powerful idea of continuing forward despite reaching a point of no return, embracing new journeys.
“Everyone experiences different kinds of farewells, whether that’s losing a loved one, parting ways with a friend or leaving behind a certain chapter in life,” Gunil shared. “We wanted this song to be a source of comfort and strength for people going through those challenging moments.”
The K-pop group’s enduring fascination with space has consistently shaped both its music and visuals, notably appearing in earlier tracks like “Walking to the Moon,” where the beats per minute was adjusted to reflect zero gravity.
“Space is still such a mystery to humans,” Gaon remarked. “I think that sense of mystery fits well with the kind of innovative music we want to make as Xdinary Heroes.”
As the JYP Entertainment band approaches its fifth anniversary later this year, the members are already looking ahead with ambitious plans. After building up an impressive catalog of around 80 songs, they hope to show off their full potential this year by achieving something musically meaningful in 2026.
For now, however, the primary focus remains steadfastly on “Dead And” and its inspiring message.
“I hope anyone going through any kind of loss or farewell listens to this album, especially the powerful track ‘Voyager,’” Gaon urged. “Even if something feels like a definitive ending, it can also truly be a brand-new beginning.”
Jooyeon added, “I think this album can also greatly help people who are starting something new in their lives. Whether it’s an ending or a beginning, I hope this Xdinary Heroes EP gives them immense strength and encouragement.”
