Seventeen has 13 members, which implies there are 78 potential pairings throughout the lineup. The massively profitable K-pop group is made up of three items — vocal, hip-hop, and efficiency — in addition to two formally established sub-units: BSS, consisting of DK, Seungkwan, and Hoshi, in addition to JxW, made up of Jeonghan and Wonwoo. (Jeonghan formally started his navy service final September, and it was just lately introduced that Wonwoo will probably be enlisting in early April.) And as of right this moment, one other pairing has emerged: Hoshi x Woozi are formally right here with BEAM.
Hoshi x Woozi is a long-awaited duo for followers, as each members are the leaders for his or her respective items, making this a duo of masterminds. Hoshi is Seventeen’s efficiency crew chief and Woozi is vocal crew chief, along with having a significant hand in writing and or composing the group’s whole discography, serving as important producer with only a few exceptions.
Hoshi and Woozi caught up with Rolling Stone to recollect their middle-school days at the beginning of their friendship and their admiration for each other, together with sharing some unique photographs from the set of lead single “96ers.”
What makes Hoshi & Woozi such an important duo?
Hoshi: Woozi and I’ve been shut since we have been younger, and I’ve needed to do a Hoshi & Woozi unit for a very long time. After “Convey It,” getting the prospect to create an album for the followers who’ve supported us made this much more particular. I’m excited to lastly share it with everybody.
Hoshi, what was your favourite half about working with Woozi on this challenge?
Hoshi: From our trainee days to now, we’ve all the time shared a deep ardour for music. I’ve all the time cherished creating and performing with Woozi, and this album seems like a significant milestone for us.
What do you admire most about Woozi?
Hoshi: Woozi’s dedication and focus when he commits to one thing are actually admirable. I deeply respect and consistently study from his skill to totally immerse himself in a pursuit, alongside together with his sharp judgment when it issues.
And Woozi, what was your favourite half about working with Hoshi on this challenge? What do you admire most about him?
Woozi: I’m actually grateful for the prospect to launch an album with one among my closest buddies. It makes this challenge much more particular. Hoshi’s ardour and willpower towards his goals are unmatched — he’s essentially the most pushed particular person I’ve ever seen.
What does this album imply to you each?
Woozi: The album seems like a real reflection of who we’re, nearly like a mirror that captures us as we’re.
How did you select these three songs to return collectively and make BEAM?
Woozi: All three songs got here collectively naturally, flowing from our ideas with none strained or troublesome decisions.
Is there something new you’ve discovered about one another whereas engaged on BEAM?
Hoshi: That is one thing I’ve all the time recognized myself, nevertheless it’s not as well-known to others: Whereas Woozi is widely known for his producing, he’s additionally an unimaginable dancer. I hope this album highlights that aspect of him.
Woozi: After so a few years collectively, it’s onerous to search out one thing fully new about one another. However via this expertise, I discovered myself rediscovering Hoshi’s true allure and appreciating it over again.
Did you face any challenges when engaged on this challenge?
Hoshi: Balancing this with Seventeen’s actions was tiring at instances, however we genuinely loved making the album. Greater than that, the thrill of making music we love and understanding our followers had been ready for it made the whole course of extremely rewarding.
You talked about “Convey It” earlier. It’s been eight years because you two did that observe collectively. How was it getting collectively as soon as once more as a duo? Are there any duos that you just have been impressed by when creating the ideas or the music?
Woozi: It’s no exaggeration to say that BIGBANG has had the largest affect on us. Since we have been younger, Hoshi and I’ve admired their performances and achievements, hoping to grow to be a bunch — or a duo — simply as unimaginable as they’re. These conversations have stayed with us, making this challenge much more significant.
Getting extra into the album, I seen that in “96ers,” the lyrics point out the way you met in center faculty. Do you may have clear recollections of your first time assembly? What do you assume your center faculty selves would assume, seeing you launch an album collectively as a unit?
Hoshi: Since our trainee days, we’ve all the time been aspect by aspect. I can solely think about how excited our youthful selves would have been to see this second. In a approach, I believe seeing the place we at the moment are may need even impressed them, simply as these early years proceed to encourage us right this moment.
Woozi: In some methods, it may need appeared unimaginable again then, however on the identical time, it additionally seems like this was all the time meant to occur. We’ve had a pure connection from the beginning, so trying again, it seems like this path was all the time unfolding for us.
What are a few of your favourite recollections collectively?
Hoshi: I imagine each second with Woozi is significant in its personal approach. As I’ve all the time mentioned, we’ve been by one another’s aspect for therefore lengthy and achieved a lot collectively, so it’s almost unattainable to decide on only one second.
In “96ers,” the melody while you sing the lyrics “Chiefs among the many Sonogong,” is similar melody as “A flower that’s you has blossomed” in your 2015 observe “Mansae.” The lyrics additionally embrace “On the celebration, increase a glass” like in your 2022 observe “Cheers.” What was the thought course of behind nodding to some earlier songs? Are there different references Carats ought to look out for when listening?
Woozi: Whereas writing the songs, it felt pure to incorporate traces of our journey. Maybe it’s as a result of the 2 of us have all the time been working onerous aspect by aspect on the core of Seventeen. I hope listeners can really feel the sense of easy friendship and camaraderie that defines this album.
What have been among the different members’ preliminary reactions to the album? Any reactions from different 96ers you keep in mind?
Hoshi: We performed the songs for our members, they usually all mentioned the music fits us completely. They inspired us to get pleasure from ourselves and break the stage, understanding that we’d make it unforgettable.
From Rolling Stone US.
