“It’s About Choice, Not Inability”: JYP’s Xdinary Heroes Sing Comfort on a Hero’s Journey [Full Interview]

“It’s not an end, but a starting point towards new possibilities.”

The K-pop boy band Xdinary Heroes (XDH), on the cusp of their 5th debut anniversary, has hoisted the anchor for a boundless voyage. They are fully equipped with robust musical confidence, rating their new album at 90 points themselves, along with their uniquely cheerful and quirky charm, declaring, “Everyone below senior Bae Chul-soo is an older brother.” Now, Xdinary Heroes is poised to emerge as ‘music heroes’ offering exhilarating comfort to the entire world.

Xdinary Heroes (Gunil, Jungsu, Gaon, O.de, Junhan, Jooyeon) recently held a round interview in a cafe in Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of their eighth mini-album, ‘DEAD AND’.

‘DEAD AND’ is a significant new release carrying the powerful message, ‘Everything has an end, and that end is a new possibility we will create.’ As is their custom, all Xdinary Heroes members were credited for every track, enhancing the album’s completeness and showcasing their full band capabilities. The central theme that flows through the entire album is ‘voyage.’ Xdinary Heroes spotlights as ‘heroes’ those who, despite facing challenges, shaking, and collapsing, manage to rise again, signifying not a final period but another beginning and new possibilities.

The title track ‘Voyager’ is a declaration of youth that believes even if they burn brightly and fade away, they will shine again. The song powerfully expresses a firm will to continue their journey even after reaching a point of no return, likening this unwavering determination to ‘Voyager 1’ continuing its incredible journey after leaving Earth.

◆ Xdinary Heroes’ Highly Praised 90-Point Masterpiece, Even Without JYP’s Park Jin-young’s Latest Feedback

When asked about feedback from JYP Entertainment (hereinafter JYP) chief producer Park Jin-young after completing work on ‘DEAD AND,’ Gunil stated, “Since the album hasn’t been released yet, we haven’t asked for specific feedback on this album. However, during the album creation process, there’s a messenger chat room with producer Park Jin-young where he often sends us content that might be helpful. Once, he sent a video saying, ‘Junhan, this is a guitarist I like. I think it would be good to refer to it,’ showing us videos of artists he admires and respects. He’s such a busy hyung-nim (older brother/senior), but he takes the time to give musical advice, which makes us feel incredibly grateful for receiving so much support.”

DAY6, who share the same agency at JYP, have also consistently shown immense affection for Xdinary Heroes. Recently, DAY6’s Wonpil praised Xdinary Heroes’ musicality and band capabilities during a comeback interview.

Regarding this, Xdinary Heroes member O.de commented, “I saw Wonpil hyung’s interview article, and it made me feel really good. The DAY6 hyungs recently came to our concert, and even then, Wonpil hyung told us, ‘You are the only ones in Korea who can produce this unique sound. You’re doing great. We support you.’ I am so grateful then, and still now. As much as he said such kind words, we want to fight even harder and become a great band like the DAY6 hyungs.”

When asked about his satisfaction with the ‘DEAD AND’ album, Jooyeon gave it a 90-point rating. He explained, “Personally, I think it’s a proud album with a high score, around 85 to 90 points. I believe that the music we are creating is expanding genre-wise, and the individual colors of each member are becoming more distinct and solidified. Now, we have an expectation that we are consistently producing albums of about 85-90 points. I feel that if we give it a perfect 100, we might lack the motivation to develop further afterward, so I always leave a tiny bit of room for improvement and continue striving.”

◆ Xdinary Heroes’ Gaon on “No Aunts Under 100” and the “Bae Chul-soo Standard” for Uncles

Previously, Gaon appeared on a radio show and garnered significant attention by setting a novel and humorous standard for ‘ajumma’ (a Korean term for a middle-aged woman). At the time, Gaon declared, “Anyone under 100 years old is a ‘noona’ (older sister). Anyone over 100 is a ‘big noona.’ There are no ‘ajummas’ in this world,” captivating the hearts of older sister fans worldwide.

Furthermore, during this interview, Xdinary Heroes members consistently referred to JYP Entertainment’s head, Park Jin-young, as ‘hyung’ or ‘hyung-nim’ (terms for an older brother or respected senior). So, what exactly is Gaon’s unique standard for an ‘ajeossi’ (a Korean term for a middle-aged man or uncle)?

Gaon revealed, “After that video was uploaded, I received calls from countless people. Even my school teacher contacted me asking, ‘Am I a noona too?'” He then elaborated on his ‘ajeossi’ standard: “Among all the ‘hyung-nims,’ the biggest ‘hyung-nim’ is Bae Chul-soo. Even though he’s the eldest, up to Bae Chul-soo hyung, I’d still call him ‘hyung-nim.’ Everyone younger than him, I’d simply call ‘hyung’.”

◆ Xdinary Heroes Nearing 5th Debut Anniversary: “Hoping for a Moment When Everyone Recognizes Xdinary Heroes”

Xdinary Heroes debuted in December 2021 and is rapidly approaching its 5th debut anniversary this year. In this period, which feels neither short nor excessively long, in what aspects do the members of Xdinary Heroes feel they have truly grown?

Jooyeon confessed, “As the time spent with music lengthens, it has become an indispensable part of my life, occupying a significant place. Because of this, when burnout or difficulties arise, I find release by creating music, writing down and expressing my life, imagining and unfolding my future. That’s how I relieve stress. At these times, I feel I’ve grown, realizing ‘I’m becoming one with music.’ It’s also fascinating how new ways of expression, emotions, and unique colors emerge, different from before.”

Gaon continued, “If I were asked to work on an album right now, like we did in our early debut days, I’d wonder, ‘Could I do it well?’ After one or two years, as I get older, the ‘density’ of life changes. I feel like the depth of lyrics I can write, the depth of melodies, and instrument choices all evolve. Throughout my musical journey so far, I’ve realized that ‘there’s a suitable type of music for oneself at every stage of life.'”

So, what kind of ‘heroes’ do Xdinary Heroes wish to be remembered as by the public? Jooyeon confidently stated, “I hope we are recognized as a band and musicians with a unique color that is distinctively evolving. I also want to convey the feeling that ‘Xdinary Heroes simply hadn’t done this before, it’s not that they couldn’t.’ We are actively establishing Xdinary Heroes’ own identity and color, and we eagerly look forward to the moment when everyone in the world acknowledges us.”

Jungsu expressed his distinct ambition, “Xdinary Heroes’ slogan is ‘We are all heroes,’ and we create music embodying this. Looking at our albums up to now, while our music is bold and hard-hitting, the message within offers comfort and a refreshing sense of catharsis to those living in this world. With this album, too, we’ve brought bold music, and I sincerely hope it becomes an album that can provide solace and upliftment through these tracks.”

Xdinary Heroes’ eighth mini-album ‘DEAD AND’ was officially released on various online music platforms at 1 PM on the 17th.