~ N.Flying ~

Members from left to right: Seunghyub, Hun, Dongsung, Jaehyun and Hweseung. 

Who is N.Flying? 

N.Flying is a South-Korean boyband under FNC entertainment that debuted on October 1st 2013 in Japan with the song "Basket", and on May 20th 2015 in South Korea with the song "Awesome". The band was originally made of four members: Seunghyub, Hun, Jaehyun, and Kwangjin (who was a former CNBlue member, another Sout-Korean boyband). On June 19, 2017, a new member was added: Hweesung. They promoted as a 5-membered boy band until 2018, when Kwangjin left the group by himself after rumours of him meeting with fans outside of official schedules spread. After this, the band promoted with the four remaining members until January 1st, 2020 when a new member was introduced: Dongsung. They recently made a comeback on June 7th, 2021 with their 1st full album "Man on the moon" and its title track "moonshot" , exactly a year after their previous Korean comeback with "Oh Really". Their fandom is called N.Fia, a combination of N.Flying and Utopia, meaning "flying together to utopia". Here are their official social media accounts if you wish to follow and support them:

• Official website: fncent.com/NFLYING
• Official website (Japan): nflying-official.jp
• Twitter: @NFlyingofficial
• Twitter (Japan): @NF_official_jp
• Instagram: @letsroll_nf
• Instagram (Japan): @n.flying_official_jp
• Facebook: Officialnflying
• V Live: C065
• Fan café: Daum cafe
• YouTube: nflyingofficial
• YouTube (Japan): N.Flying JAPAN
• TikTok:  @nflyingofficial

Get to know the members

Stage Name: Seunghyub (승협)

Birth Name: Lee Seung Hyub (이승협)

Position: Leader, Main Rapper, Lead Vocalist, Rhythm Guitar, Piano

Birthday: October 31, 1992

Height: 181cm

Weight: 65kg 

Personal Instagram: @sssn9_zzzn9

Fun Facts: Seunghyub was born in Daegu, South Korea and has an older sister. He trained for 5 years, appeared in several Kdramas like "Save me" (2017) and "Best chicken" (2019), and in several web dramas like "All Boys High" (2019) and "Big Picture House" (2020). Seunghyub loves doing aegyo (cute gestures), and his role models are Nas, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar. His ideal type is a girl with a round and a cuddly face. 

 

Stage Name: Hun (훈)

Birth Name: Cha Hoon (차훈)

Position: Lead Guitarist, Vocalist

Birthday: July 12, 1994

Height: 180cm

Weight: 68kg 

Personal Instagram: @cchh_0712

Fun Facts: Hun was born in Seoul, South Korea. He was a trainee for five years and has many fans among female idols. He hates doing aegyo and is the most serious member according to his bandmates. He loves cats and loves cooking, he likes watching soccer and his favourite colour is black. He's also a fan of anime (he likes One Piece and Pokemon). Hun appeared in AOA's "Oh Boy" MV and has a YouTube channel called 두 얼간이 2IDIOTS with his fellow bandmate Jaehyun. His ideal type is the same type as himself, with a cat-like personality.

Stage Name: Jaehyun (재현)

Birth Name: Kim Jae Hyun (김재현)

Position: Drummer

Birthday: July 15, 1994

Height: 180cm

Weight: 68kg 

Personal Instagram: @_.kimjaehyun._

Fun Facts: Jaehyun was born in Seoul, South Korea and has an older sister named Jaekhyung who was a member of the Kpop girl group Rainbow (disbanded in 2016). He was a trainee for 9 years and was supposed to debut with CNBlue but ended up being replaced by Minhyuk. He’s the more energetic and funny member of the group and the other members say he’s the one that looks the best in the photos and that he’d make a great model. Jaehyun's favourite colour is purple, he likes Harry Potter and likes Tteokbokki (even though he doesn't really enjoy spicy food). He has acted in several Kdramas such as "Modern Farmer" (2014), "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo" (2016), "All Kinds of Daughters-in-law" (2017) and "Big picture house" (2020). He's friends with Sonamoo's Euijin and has a YouTube channel with his fellow bandmate Hun called 두 얼간이 2IDIOTS. Finally, his ideal type is a girl with long hair, and a slender and slim figure.

Stage Name: Hweeseung (회승)

Birth Name: Yoo Hoe Seung (유회승)

Position: Main Vocalist

Birthday: February 28, 1995

Height: 175cm

Weight: 62kg 

Personal Instagram: @hweng_star

YouTube channel: Yoo Hwe Seung

Fun Facts: Hweseung has 3 older sisters. He was a participant of “Produce 101 Season 2” and was eliminated from the show when he came in at No. 39 when the top 35 was announced. He had a collaboration with FT Island’s Lee Hong Gi for the song “Still Love You”, and he's friends with Sonamoo's Euijin. He appeared on ‘King of Masked’ singer (Episode 147-148) and received the title “2019’s Super Rookie” from Immortal Songs. He has impressive vocal abilities and a fun personality and his hobbies are billiards and ski. Hweseung recorded an OST for 크리미널 마인드 (Criminal Minds) and also recorded the song “If You Were Me (니가 나라면)” with AOA’s Jimin and Yuna for “A Korean Odyssey (화유기)”. He became a member of N.Flying on June 19, 2017 and he already had completed his military service.

Stage Name: Dongsung (동성)

Birth Name: Seo Dong Sung (서동성)

Position: Vocalist, Bassist, Maknae 

Birthday: April 9, 1996

Height: 175 cm

Weight: 57kg

Personal Instagram: @9_6_meng22

Fun Facts: He was added as a member of N.FLYING on January 1st, 2020. Before that he was a member of the group HONEYST (who was also under FNC Entertainment but disbanded in 2017). Seunghyub and him share a room, and he's also close to Hun. He likes to workout and to play craft games. 

 

 

Stage Name: Kwangjin (광진) (former member)

Birth Name: Kwon Kwang Jin (권광진)

Position: Bassist, Vocalist

Birthday: August 12, 1992

Height: 181cm

Weight: 70kg

Personal Instagram: @healthy_kkj

Fun Facts: He was born in Seoul, South Korea. He was a member of CNBlue until he left in 2009. He was under FNC Entertainment for 10 years before he debuted with N.Flying.  He can play the bass and the guitar. His role models are Bon Jovi, Billy Sheehan and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. He left the group and FNC Entertainment when rumours broke about him meeting with fans outside official schedules in December of 2018. 

 

How I discovered N.Flying and became an N.Fia

The first song I listened to was "The Real", and I remember laughing a lot because I found that song and music video very silly. I also showed it to my best friend and we spent a good time laughing at the faces they would make on the music video. And because that song intrigued me so much, I searched more songs from them and stumbled upon "Hot Potato". And there I gave up because the lyrics were just so silly and I wasn't really fond of their style. A couple of months later I stumbled upon a video from a French YouTuber I follow called "Sam et les dramas" (she has a blog about dramas that you can visit here if you speak French ^^) about N.Flying's evolution (it was done in 2019), and I fell in love with their song called "Like a Flower" from their Korean Single "Fly High Project 1 Like a Flower" released on October 26, 2018. Right after that I checked out their song "Rooftop" which was a really great song and got me a step closer to be their fan. So, when did I really become an N.Fia? Pretty recently because that's when they released "Moonshot". That song is strong and meaningful! Look, there's something about bands that groups rarely have and that's real instruments. Usually Kpop groups use synths and electronic sounds, whereas bands play their own instruments and that's a very strong added value. The instruments in Moonshot hit me really hard, and the message this song (and album) holds is meaningful: "If you want to change don't be afraid". And the whole album is a real gem too, I'm really happy they got to finally release a full album. 

N.Flying's discography

Japanese debut single "Basket" (October 1, 2013)

N.Flying made their Japanese debut on October 1, 2013 with their Japanese debut single "Basket". The song has a very high-school musical vibe in the sense that the song is very cheerful and upbeat. The single has two other songs in it: "Bittersweet" and "Kiss me, Miss me". Bittersweet has  a more epic almost emo vibe to it, a sound that was very popular back in the days. Finally, "Kiss me, Miss me" is much more nostalgic with a very prominent guitar that's very soothing. I almost regretted that the electric guitar we hear at the very end wasn't more loud to add to this emotional feeling. I don't really have an opinion on that single since it was their debut single and that I think they evolved so much since then. Their sound now is really different from the sound they had back then, and so it is not really representative of N.Flying's identity although the songs on it are great. 

2nd Japanese single "One and Only" (January 1, 2014)

A couple of months after their Japanese debut, N.Flying released their second single called "One and Only". The rock genre is definitely the highlight of the song "One and Only", with a lot of percussions and heavy electric guitar. The song is also particularly fast-paced compared to their previous songs. There are two other songs that were released as well called "Reason" and "Oh Yeah". "Reason" is an all-english song with a very melancholic sound diving back to the emo side of N.Flying's discography, singing about a sad love story. Finally, "Oh Yeah" is more rap-centric with a more upbeat sound, remaining in the rock genre. It also has that bit of High-School musical vibe I talked about earlier. It is an all-english song as well. 

 

 

Korean debut mini-album "Awesome" (May 5, 2015)

Two years after their Japanese debut, N.Flying finally make their long-awaited Korean debut with their first Korean mini-album "Awesome" and the title track Awesome(기가막혀). Awesome is definitely more rap-centric than vocal-centric, and it has that grunge that their previous songs didn't have. I have mixed feelings about this song because when I listen to it in my usual environment I don't like it, but I can totally picture myself screaming the lyrics at a concert. This song was made to be performed at a concert. This mini-album has four other tracks on it: One N Only, Heartbreak(가슴이 놀래), All in, and Minute(1분). I really liked "One N Only" for this more mature feeling (and this album as a whole felt slightly more mature than the others to me). I especially like the instrumental portion after the second chorus. 

 

 

1st Korean single "Lonely" (October 22, 2015)

On October 22, 2015, N.Flying returned with their first Korean single "Lonely" and two songs: Lonely and Knock Knock. "Lonely" is a slow and melancholic track with the piano being very present in the instrumental.  There are more emotions in the vocals this time, and the verses are mostly made of rap portions. On the other hand, "Knock Knock" reminds me a bit of early G-Dragon and early Big Bang. The song is more upbeat than Lonely but is still nostalgic in a way. And we are still in this very rock and emo vibe they have been going for since their debut. This style of music was very popular back then, but it's not something I would listen to on a daily basis. I have to be in a very specific mood to enjoy listening to that kind of song. 

 

 

3rd Japanese single "Knock Knock" (February 10, 2016)

On February 10, 2016 N.Flying released their third Japanese single called "Knock Knock" mainly made of Japanese versions of previously-released songs: Knock Knock (Japanese Ver.), Gigamakkyo ( ギガマッキョ – Japanese Ver.), and All in ( Japanese Ver.). I usually have more troubles liking a song that is in another language than in its original version, because I find that the emotion in the voice and lyrics are not really the same, but for N.Flying it's different, and I think it's because they debuted in Japan in the first place and always had to master both Japanese and Korean to promote in both markets from an early stage, and that's a huge added value to the band. 

 

 

4th Japanese single "Endless Summer" (July 13, 2016)

5 months after the release of their third Japanese single, N.Flying releases their fourth Japanese single entitled "Endless Summer" with the songs "Endless Summer", "Hello SOLO", and the japanese version of their song "Lonely".  "Endless Summer" is obviously a summer song that's great to play in the car and that is fun to listen to. "Hello Solo" still has that summer feeling, but more on the nostalgic side, you know how you feel more nostalgic and relaxed when the sun sets during summer? That's when you want to listen to this song, when you'd like to listen to "Endless Summer" when you wake up in the morning or on your way to the beach. Now, what's nice with "Hello Solo" is the weird melodic turn the song takes at the end of the chorus. The melody switches to minor and the electric guitar goes a bit crazy, and I totally LOVE IT!

 

2nd Korean mini-album "N.Flying: The Real" (August 2, 2017) first comeback with 5 members with new member Hweeseung.

On August 2, 2017 N.Flying releases their second Korean mini-album which is the first one they released as a five-membered group with the arrival of a new member: Hweeseung. This album is called "N.Flying: The Real" and has six tracks on it: "Let's get down to it", "The Real(진짜가 나타났다)" (title track), "I'm Okay(다행이야)", "Don't mess with me(정리가 안돼)", "Say Goodbye (짠해)" and "R U Ready?". From this album and on, we're getting closer and closer to N.Flying's sound today. "Let's get down to it" is a sort of intro to the album that really prepares us for the title track. Now, concerning "The Real", I found it funny and ridiculous at first as I mentioned it in the "How I discovered N.Flying" section, but after listening to it multiple times in different contexts with different people in different moods, it really grew up on me. Overall I really like this album because it's the first one that really has that N.Flying energy I fell in love with. This album is a "feel good" album in the sense that the majority of the songs on it are upbeat and lighthearted. So if you want an album to vibe to easily, that's the one. 

3rd Korean mini-album "The Hottest: N.Flying" (December 7, 2017)

On December 7, 2017 N.Flying released their third Korean mini-album called "The Hottest: N.Flying" and is made of six tracks as well: "Don’t Forget This (그러니까 우리)",  "Hot Potato (뜨거운 감자)" (title track), "Crossroad(골목길에서)", "I know U know", "Can’t Be Better (이보다 좋을까)" and "Just One Day (딱 하루만)". This album is, in my opinion, pretty similar to the previous one. They have similar vibes and the concept has not changed much. Ironically enough, this album has more summer vibes than the previous one even though this one was released in December. They might have composed the songs during the same time and just released them in December, I don't know. One thing I can assure you is that "Just One Day" has become one of my favourite songs of N.Flying. I love how the song starts with the electric guitar (the chords sounded pretty familiar but I don't know which song it reminded me of).

 

2nd Korean single "Fly High Project 1 Like a Flower" (October 26, 2018)

 "Fly High Project 1 Like a Flower" is N.Flying's second Korean single and was released on October 26, 2018. This song is very satisfying when it comes to musicality and structure: The song starts in a very subtle way with relatively low vocals and a humble classic guitar. Then, as the song goes on, the vocals become higher and more powerful, and the instrumental becomes heavier until the peak of the song where vocals explodes during the last chorus. I really like it and it surely is one of my favourite N.Flying song as well. The instrumental version is also interesting to listen to if you want to break down the structure and instruments that are in this song. 

 

 

 

3rd Korean single "Fly High Project 2 Rooftop" (January 2, 2019) first comeback as 4 members after Kwangjin departure

On January 2, 2019, N.Flying releases what I think is going to be a big turn in their career: "Fly High Project 2 Rooftop". This 3rd Korean single is the first release of N.Flying as a four-membered band and since Kwangjin's departure. When I think of N.Flying, I think about Rooftop. I think it's the song that represents their style the best, and the song that made them a bit more known (it has 34 million views which is a record for them!). They also released a song called "Winter Winter" which is, in my opinion, the polar opposite of "Rooftop". They have completely different atmospheres, completely different structures, and a completely different impact, which is why it's great to listen to them back-to-back. 

 

 

 

4th Korean mini-album "Spring Memories" (April 24, 2019)

On April 24, 2019, N.Flying released their fourth Korean mini-album entitled "Spring Memories" and unveiling four new tracks and two previously released tracks: "Spring Memories (봄이 부시게)", "Leave It (놔)" (title track), "Flowerwork (불놀이)", "Preview", "Rooftop (옥탑방)" and "Like a Flower (꽃)". I think the title of this album is representative of all the songs that are on it. A song I find musically interesting on this album is "Flowerwork", especially the start of the song. The title track "Leave It" is also nice to listen to, and the chorus is full of their signature vocals. I really like the strength of Hweseung's vocals when he says "거짓말 다 놓아줘" (please let me lie) right before the chorus drops in. 

 

 

1st Japanese studio album "Brotherhood" (May 22, 2019)

N.Flying released their first Japanese studio album on May 22, 2019 revealing 10 new tracks: "The world is mine", "Stand by me", "Pinhole", "Wanna Be", "Color", "Lupin", "Run", "Delight", "Rooftop (Japanese Ver.)", and "Songbird". I think that, when listening to this album, I realised that N.Flying had really this rock identity that we hear more in their Japanese stuff than in their Korean stuff, which is great in a sense because if we're a fan of rock music we'd want to check out their Japanese stuff as well. Amy favourite song on this album has to be "Stand By Me". As an anime fan, I could totally picture this song being an opening to an anime (and I won't be surprised if it actually is an anime opening song). Another song that could be an anime opening and that's on this album is "Songbird". These two songs are really great. 

 

5th Korean mini-album "Yaho" (October 15, 2019)

On October 15, 2019 N.Flying's back with their fifth Korean mini-album called "Yaho" that contains 5 songs: "Good Bam (굿밤)" (title track), "Autumn dream", "Pardon?", "4242" and "sunset". Good Bam got stuck in my head very easily, I still don't know why, but it's a really catchy song. The beat is nice, not too slow nor too fast, and it's a very "good vibes" song. This album's vibe is kind of different from their previous Korean mini-album in the sense that the tracks sound more playful and light-hearted. So if you want an album easy to listen to, I would recommend this one. 

 

 

 

5th Japanese single "Doll/Kick-Ass" (November 13, 2019)

On November 13, 2019, N.Flying released their fifth Japanese single "Doll/Kick-Ass" with two new songs: "Doll" and "Kick Ass", and their instrumental versions are on the single as well. "Kick Ass" is a song you really want to dance along with. It's really upbeat and happy/joyful, they even jump around in the MV. On the other hand, "Doll" is a more chill song (well, it's still kind of loud). 

 

 

 

 

 

6th Korean mini-album "So, Communication (通) (소통)" (June 10, 2020) first comeback as 5 members with new member Dongsung.

"So, Communication" is N.Flying's sixth Korean mini-album and was released on June 10, 2020. This album is the first one they released with their newest addition: Dongsung. This album contains six tracks: "Oh Really (아 진짜요)" (title track), "Flower Fantasy", "Youth (꽃바람)", "I’m Gonna (아무거나)", "Last Song (마지막 무대)", and "E-Yo (에요)". The title track is pretty similar to their previous ones, which didn't help it standing out in my opinion. My favourite song on this album has to be "E-Yo". It's such a nice b-side, I can't stop myself from singing along to it every time I listen to it (even though I butcher the words every time but... who cares?). Another song I really liked on this album is "Flower Fantasy". This time the song is not anime opening material but anime ending material :p What stood out to me in this song are really the strong and strained vocals. 

1st Korean full-album "Man on the moon" (June 7, 2021)

One year after their previous release, N.Flying came back on June 7, 2021 with their first Korean full-album! The album is entitled "Man on the moon" and has 10 tracks on it: "Moonshot" (title track), "Ask", "Comma, (쉼표)", "Undo (지우개)", "You", "Blue Scene (파란 배경)", "Fate (이 별 저 별)", "Zip (빈집)", "To You (너에게)", and "Flashback". As I previously said, this album is the album that turned me into an N.Fia as soon as I heard the title track. "Moonshot" is an incredible song with an incredible message. “The message of the song is that if you don’t change, nothing will change. N.Flying is a group that battles fear and anxiety in order to move forward. The idea is that we become closer through that fear and shoot for the moon.” That's what the leader Seunghyub said about the underlying message of this album. 

 

I usually try to provide extra content you should check out to get a bit more familiar with the group/artist, however as I am still new in the fandom I'm not familiar with the inside jokes or iconic N.Flying moments that are out there. One thing I would suggest you to check out is the recording log of "Moonshot" right here. If you want more N.Flying content, I suggest you check out funny compilations on YouTube and follow them on their social media accounts :) 

That's it for the presentation of N.Flying! I hope you enjoyed it and will check them out after that. Korean bands have much less exposure than Korean groups, which I still don't understand why since playing your own instruments really adds emotions and depth to songs, a real added value in a world where electronic sounds are prevailing (to my great despair...). Anyways, take care and I'll see you soon for another presentation!

Love, Swan

 

Sources: Kprofile, Kpop Amino, Soompi, YouTube. 

~Tomorrow X Together ~

 

Members from left to right: Hueningkai, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Soobin and Taehyun.

Who is TXT?

Tomorrow by/X Together (most commonly known as TXT), is a South Korean boy group under Big Hit music (a branch of Big Hit labels that includes Pledis, Source Music, Belift, and more) who debuted on March 4th, 2019 with their debut track "Crown" from their debut album called "The Dream Chapter: STAR". The group is composed of five members: Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai. Their fandom is called MOA (Moments of Alwaysness), and here are their official accounts you can follow: 

• Instagram: @txt_bighit
• Twitter (official): @TXT_bighit
• Twitter (members): @TXT_members
• Twitter (Japan): @TXT_bighit_jp
• YouTube: TOMORROW X TOGETHER OFFICIAL
• V-Live: TOMORROW X TOGETHER
• Official website: txt.ibighit.com
• Facebook: TXT
• TikTok: @txt.bighitent
• Weverse: TXT

Get to know the members

Stage name: Soobin (수빈)

Birth name: Choi Soo Bin (최수빈)

English name: Steve Choi

Position: Leader, vocalist, rapper, dancer

Birthday: December 5, 2000

Height: 185cm

Weight: 67kg

MBTI type: ISFP-A 

Nationality: Korean

Spotify playlist: TXT: SOOBIN

Fun Facts: Soobin was the second member to be revealed on January 13, 2019. His representative animal is a Praying Mantis, his representative flower is an Anemone, he has a brother who's 6 years older than him and a sister who's 10 years older than him. Soobin can endure anything but dieting, he loves bread. He isn't a picky eater but cannot handle spicy food really well. He can't live without almond milk and has said that he'd be happy to receive it for his birthday any time. Soobin is shy in front of people he just met, fans says he looks like Astro's Sanha and BtoB's Minhyuk, and he's a big fan of BTS's Jin. He has a dog named Sean, his favourite animal is raccoon and he sees himself as a rabbit. He is the "spelling police" as he always corrects his team members every time they make a spelling errors. Soobin reads a lot of life-helping books, his favourite movie is Avengers: Infinity War, and he's an MC (master of ceremony) on the Kpop music show "Music Bank" alongside Oh My Girl's Arin. 

 

Stage Name: Yeonjun (연준)

Birth Name: Choi Yeon Jun (최연준)

English Name: Daniel Choi

Position: Rapper, Dancer, Vocalist 

Birthday: September 13, 1999

Height: 181.5 cm

Weight: 62kg

MBTI type: ENFP 

Nationality: Korean

Spotify playlist: TXT: YEONJUN

Fun Facts: Yeonjun is from Bundang-gu, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. When he was 9 years old he lived in the US for 2 years, and stayed in San Jose, California. His representative animal is a pupae and his representative flower is a tulip. His hobbies are skating, dancing and eating. His favorite fruits are apples and bananas. He likes soju, beer and a mixture of both. His favorite colours are blue and purple. Yeonjun loves the movie "The Intern" (I do too, and I highly recommend you to watch it, starring Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro). Yeonjun is a fashionista, he's good at games, and he's broad-shouldered. Yeonjun was a trainee for 5 years and is a former CUBE entertainment trainee. He's the oldest in the group, but he's actually a fake maknae (he has the attitude of the maknae/youngest while he's the oldest one) and he was the one who created the TXT hand gesture (the one they do with their greeting).

 

Stage Name: Beomgyu (범규)

Birth Name: Choi Beomgyu Gyu (최범규)

English Name: Ben Choi

Position: Vocalist, Rapper, Dancer, Center, Visual

Birthday: March 13, 2001

Height: 179.5cm

Weight: 53kg

MBTI type: ENFJ

Nationality: Korean

Spotify playlist: TXT: BEOMGYU

Fun Facts: Beomgyu is from Daegu, South Korea. He has an older brother and is a student at Hanlim Multi-Arts School. He has his own studio,. His representative animal is a butterfly and his representative flower is Poppy. He likes playing the guitar and is the mood maker of the group. His favourite animals are bears and parrots, his favourite colours are pink and white, and his favourite fruit is strawberries. Beomgyu has been a trainee under BigHit for 3 years. He was the 5th and last member to be revealed on January 20th, 2019. When he sleeps, he talks to the members, and he used to stay up all night writing songs for them. Him and Taehyun are the early birds. His favourite movie is "August Rush" (another movie I highly suggest you go watch, especially if you're sensitive to music).

 

Stage Name: Taehyun (태현)

Birth Name: Kang Tae Hyun (강태현)

English Name: Terry Kang

Position: Vocalist, Dancer

Birthday: February 5, 2002

Height: 179cm

Weight: 55kg

MBTI type: ESTP

Nationality: Korean

Spotify playlist: TXT: TAEHYUN

Fun Facts: Taehyun is from Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea. He is a student at Hanlim Arts School. He speaks English and has a sister who is 4 years older than him and knows how to speak English as well. He was the 4th member to be revealed on January 17th, 2019. His representative animal is a caique parrot, and his representative flower is a Daffodil. He likes sweet things including Caramel Frappucino but he doesn't like mint chocolate ice cream. He cannot eat spicy food, his favourite movie is "Inception, and his favourite color is yellow. Taehyun likes photography, he is mature and passionate, and he has a cat named Hobak (he also sees himself as a cat). 

 

Stage Name: Hueningkai (휴닝카이) 

Birth Name: Kai Kamal Huening

Korean Name: Jung Kai (정카이)

Chinese Name: Xiuning Kai (休宁凯)

Position: Vocalist, Dancer, Visual, Maknae

Birthday: August 14th, 2002

Height: 186cm

Weight: 67kg

MBTI type: ENFP-T

Nationality: Korean-American

Spotify Playlist: 

Fun Facts: Hueningkai is half Korean (mother) and half German (father). He's also Polish and Scottish from his father's side. He was born and lived in Hawaii, USA and then moved to China where he lived for 7 years. He moved to South Korea when he was eight. He has an older sister named Lea who's a former member of the Kpop girl group VIVA, and a younger sister. Hueningkai's parents are divorced and his father got re-married in 2016. His father He is also a musician and released an album in 2007. Hueningkai can speak in Mandarin, Korean, Portuguese, and English. He can play drums, guitar, piano and the flute. His favourite foods are seafood and pizza, and his favourite fruit is pineapple. His favourite movies are “August Rush” & Spiderman 1, 2, 3, his favorite colors now are turquoise, mint, sky blue and black, and his favourite global artist is Bruno Mars. He was the 3rd member to be revealed on January 15, 2019, his representative animal is a leopard gecko, and his representative flower is an Icelandic Poppy. He is the first foreigner to debut under BigHit and he is nicknamed the ‘diamond maknae’.

How I discovered TXT and became a "MOA" 

TXT debuted in 2019, when I was already pretty much into Kpop. I was already a fan of multiple groups and started getting used to all the business around this industry. I think it was one of, if not the first, groups that I followed since their debut. I remember watching all the teasers and getting crazy over these morse codes that I never tried to solve (I really didn't have the energy to translate the code on a paper and find what each sequence meant). I also remember being very anxious for them, because I knew people would start comparing them to BTS. They were the first group to debut under Big Hit after BTS, they had an enormous pressure on their shoulder. And then came the day when Crown was released. It trended on YouTube, the number of views after 24 hours was really amazing, but as expected people compared them non stop to BTS, which honestly drove me really mad.

Today I think TXT have their own identity. After only 2 years, they managed to create their own universe, made of magical and unrealistic elements, which I absolutely love. Sometimes the storyline is hard and complicated to follow, and I'm sure I didn't get everything about the story they're trying to tell us, but what I can boldly state is that I found a group I really feel close to. Their songs speak to me, the messages they convey speak to me, their art speaks to me, their attitude, their feelings, their lifestyles, etc. I really feel close to them because we're from the same generation (I was born in 2000). And I just love them, I love the humans they are, with their qualities and flaws. 

Although I've been following them since their debut, I only became a fan on their first comeback with "Runaway". First, that reference to Harry Potter (platform 9 and 3/4) made me smile as soon as I saw the title of the song. Second, the song in itself was absolutely amazing. And last but not least, I understood their identity and knew that I would like every single comeback they make. So that's when I really started to be a MOA.  

TXT's discography 

THE DREAM CHAPTER: STAR, 1st Korean mini-album & debut

"TOMORROW X TOGETHER delivers their story through ‘TheDream Chapter’. As they transition from childhood to adolescence, the boyshave gathered together under ONE DREAM. For TOMORROW XTOGETHER, star is another name for dream: the emotionsswelling up inside as you look up at the starry night sky, thegrowing excitement about tomorrow – chasing the starsmean you are remembering your childhood dreams. ‘TheDream Chapter’ will unfold the stories of what theyencountered as they grew" (source: TXT's official website).

TXT debuted on March 4th, 2019 with their 1st Korean mini-album: THE DREAM CHAPTER STAR, and its title track "Crown". The title track is very refreshing and cute, and the editing of the MV plays a lot on animations and stop-motions. I really liked that debut because it gave a very refreshing touch in a time when I really needed it, and  we were just so hyped for that debut that I had to play the song at least three times to grasp everything. This mini-album contains four other songs: Blue Orangeade, Cat&Dog, Our Summer, and Nap of a star. Cat&Dog got its own MV and was promoted alongside Crown. Till this day I find it hard to like the song, but the choreography is just too cute. They also had a pretty long MV for that song that is a bit more artistic than the others, in the sense that it has a whole story behind it (don't ask me to explain it to you because even 2 years after I still have no clue of what they were trying to tell us). And the MV is also pretty artistic, using more of a movie-like shooting technique. You can watch it here. Now, my favourite song of this album has to be Our Summer, because it's a chill song that helps me relax, because it has such a nice feeling to it,  especially the acoustic mix they sang during their US tour. I remember they had prepared a "special event" for one of their stop in the US tour and they just stood their doing cute hand gestures, which was during "Our Summer". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE DREAM CHAPTER: MAGIC, 1st Korean full-length album

"TOMORROW X TOGETHER unfolds their story of growth andencounters in this new journey through the album conceptThe Dream Chapter. While The Dream Chapter: STARexpressed the “happiness and excitement of meeting thatspecial someone”, The Dream Chapter: MAGIC tells the story of“magical adventures” that boys encounter together with theirfriends who are different, yet alike. Through this adventure, the boys share their transformation, confusion and exploding emotions that arise during their transition to adolescence" (source: TXT's official website).

On October 21st, 2019, TXT came back with their first full-length album THE DREAM CHAPTER: MAGIC and its title track "Platform 9 and 3/4 (Run Away)". I automatically smiled when I got the Harry Potter reference, but it makes so much sense because their concept was, from the start, fantastic and coming from another world, another dimension. And as I mentioned it earlier, I really became a fan during this comeback, simply because the song was incredible. What's paradoxical however is that I never got into a single b-side of this album, even though there are 7 of them: New Rules, Roller Coaster, Poppin' star, Can't we just leave the monster alive, Magic Island, 20cm, and Angel or Devil. They even did an MV for "Angel Or Devil" with the same kind of animations they did with Crown's MV. 

 

 

THE DREAM CHAPTER: ETERNITY, 2nd Korean mini-album

“Dream Chapter: ETERNITY”, following their debut album“Dream Chapter: STAR” and their first full-length album“Dream Chapter: MAGIC” tells the story of young boys’ experiences meeting friends who are different yet alike. While they struggle with reality and rifts sometimes appear among them, the narrative encapsulates their hope that their time together will last eternally" (TXT's official website). 

On May 18, 2020, TXT returns with their second mini-album and its title-track "Can't you see me?", which has a more dark and mysterious vibe to it compared to the previous albums that were more refreshing. This album is composed of 5 other tracks: Puma, Drama, Fairy of Shampoo, Maze in the mirror, and Eternally. I'm not going to lie, "Can't you see me" has to be my least favourite title track of theirs, simply because I find it hard to sing along to, and because I didn't quite get the concept of that song. Plus, the MV kind of made no sense to me. However, kudos for the choreography and choreographer, that was amazing. They did release another MV and that was for "Puma", which they promoted as well, and which I loved way better than "Can't You See Me". It has a more powerful choreography, a more mature vibe and concept, and song-wise I absolutely loved the intro with that "West side, East side" line. There's still one song on this album that I want to comment on, and that's my favourite one: Drama. Drama is a b-side on this album, and this is just another example to prove to you that a title-track is not always the best song on an album. Anyways, Drama is just amazing because it has that musical almost jazzy vibe that makes you want to dance, and it's a brighter song than the other ones that are on here. 

 

MINISODE1: BLUE HOUR, 3rd Korean mini-album

"For their second year of debut in 2020, the members are making their way back into the hearts of fans all around the world with their new album brimming with stories only they can tell, armed with “innocence uniquely TOMORROW X TOGETHER” as the world faces the unique and unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic" (TXT's official website). Indeed, that album came out on October 26, 2020, at the right moment, when I and all of us were struggling with that pandemic that still doesn't want to leave us alone. This album is one of the best of 2020 thanks to its comforting message. 

The title track "Blue Hour" had a sort of cheering vibe to it, it's like the members were telling us not to give up on to keep going on. Plus, the very autumnal colours in the MV were so heartwarming. I could see they were struggling as much as we all were and still are, but they seemed happy to still do music, and they made me happy as well with that song. 

The album has four other tracks on it: Ghosting, We lost the summer, Wishlist, and Way Home, and let me tell you one thing: I love every single one of them! It's very rare for me to love every song on an album, and here it happened. "We lost the summer" will always have a special place in my heart, because it straightforwardly addresses the way the pandemic literally "stole" our summer. I'm glad they made an MV for it too and promoted it on music shows. 

THE CHAOS CHAPTER: FREEZE, 2nd full-length album

On May 31st, 2021, TXT made their grand return with their second full-length album "THE CHAOS CHAPTER: FREEZE" and its title track, "0x1 = LOVESONG (I know I love you)" featuring Seori. Just from watching the teasers, I knew I would love the title track and the album more than their previous ones, and I was right, because that's one heck of an album.

First, let's talk about the title track. When you dive deep into the lyrics, you realise this song is really sad. They're basically talking to an angel and asking him to bring them to his hometown (paradise) because they're losers in the game (they talk about chess in the song but you can twist it into the game of life in which there's one and only rule: dying at the end) and because they are full of problems. So yes this song is pretty dark, but I think it translates what some people might feel during this harsh period, and there's one thing I want t0 say to those people: It's okay to have problems, and yes ultimately we're going to die at the end of the game, but until this happens let's just enjoy the game because life is a game after all. So do whatever you want, set your goals, and enjoy. I have to say that I was also impressed by Taehyun's raspy vocal tone and Hueningkai's evolution. I didn't know Taehyun had this kind of voice (and I hope he wasn't forcing himself to have that raspiness because it would really hurt his lungs from a technical point of view), and I'm so proud of our maknae who has grown up so much already.

Since this album is a full album, there are seven other tracks on it: Anti-Romantic, Magic, Ice Cream, What is I had been that PUMA, No Rules, Dear Sputnik, and Frost.

Anti-Romantic is the first track on the album and is very melancholic, almost nostalgic. The song is about someone who doesn't believe in love anymore and who's running away from it. Someone who's an "anti-romantic". 

"Magic" is the third track on the album and is much more upbeat. It's a shorter song (2:38 minutes, way below the average of 3 minutes) and is all in English. I think this song is about them finding that angel they were talking about in the title track, who's now making them feel strong emotions that feel like magic. I'd like to think that we, the fans, are that angel (maybe I'm going too far on that one but who cares).

Then we have "Ice Cream", the fourth track on that album. I honestly don't have much to say about that song if it's not that it makes me crave for ice cream. 

"What if I ha been that PUMA" is the fifth track on the album and has an R&B vibe to it, it has more rap in it (and more autotune, to my greatest despair) but it's still a great song I can vibe to. The chorus is bouncy enough to make me bop my head. 

Then, for the sixth track on the album, we have "No Rules" that feels like a sequel to "New Rules" in the sense that they have the same fun vibe. They performed the song on their showcase (at 24:15) and, believe me or not, they gave me early SHINee vibes, like "Dream Girl" SHINee vibes. You don't think so? Well, go watch both performances and get back to me :) 

"Dear Sputnik" is the penultimate track of the album, and is a strong contestant to be my favourite b-side of the album. I really hope the reaction channel "ReacttotheK" will react to that song because it has a big range switch from major to minor at 0:34 which is weird but so cool (it's right before the chorus that goes back to major again). This song is straight Kpop when the title track is more on the rock/emo side. 

Finally, to end that beautiful album, we have Frost, that's maybe the most surprising song on that album. I cannot tell if I like it or not because I wasn't expecting that kind of song on a TXT album(I don't even have the words to describe it). I think I'll have to listen to it a bit more, but it's interesting to say the least.  

More TXT content!

If you want to check out more TXT content, here are some of my suggestions:

The whole "TXT star in US" series, retracing their first US tour back in 2019 not long after their debut. Start watching episode 1 here. All episodes are available on Mnet's official YouTube channel. You will get adorable moments (Hueningkai wanting to sleep with all the members on the same bed, that was so cute), and some amazing interactions (notably with their elders BTS). 

TXT & Enhypen playground, episode 1 and episode 2. You'll get wholesome interactions between TXT and their juniors Enhypen (who debuted in November 2020 after the survival show "I-LAND" ended). 

Weekly idol episode 483 with TXT that was published on October 28th, 2020. Hueningkai was amazing dancing to Oh My Girl's Dolphin (I think he was really having fun when the other members were just trying to get the dance right, but they did great!). 

That's it for TXT's presentation! I hope I helped in getting to know them better as well as their magical universe I totally fell into. I feel like they've grown so much in 2 years of time, and I have a feeling that they will only keep growing as a group and as individuals. 

Take care and I'll see you soon!

Love, Swan

 

Sources: Kprofiles, YouTube, TXT's official website. 

~ CIX ~

 

Top Row (from left to right): Hyunsuk, Bae Jinyoung, BX. Middle Row (from left to right): Seunghun, Yonghee. 

Who is CIX?

CIX is a South-Korean Boygroup who debuted on July 23rd 2019 with their album "Hello Chapter 1. Hello Stranger" and the title song "Movie Star" under C9 entertainment. The group is composed of 5 members: BX, Seunghun, Yonghee, Bae Jinyoung (former member of Wanna One) and Hyunsuk. CIX stands for "Complete In X", and their fans are called "FIX" standing for "Faith in X". Their latest Korean comeback was on February 2nd, 2021 with their fourth mini album "Hello Chapter Ø. Hello, Strange Dream" and the title track "Cinema". Here are their official accounts:

• Official Website: c9ent.co.korea/c9boyz
• Fan Cafe: OfficialCIX
• Weibo: CIX_CN
• V Live: CIX
• Instagram: @cix.official
• Facebook: CIX
• Twitter: @CIX_official
• Twitter (members): @CIX_twt
• Twitter (Japan): @CIX_JP_Official
• YouTube: CIX Official
• TikTok: @cix_official
  
  

Get to know the members

Stage Name: BX (비엑스) / Byounggon (병곤)

Birth Name: Lee Byoung Gon (이병곤)

Position: Leader, Main Rapper, Vocalist

Birthday: March 5th, 1998

Height: 180cm

Weight: 61kg

Nationality: Korean

Soundcloud: BE:XXX

Fun Facts: BX was born in Incheon city, he trained under YG entertainment for 3 years,  he ranked 9th on MIXNINE and was supposed to debut but the debut was cancelled. BX and Seunghun left YG Entertainment at the end of January 2019 after not making their debut with Treasure. His favorite colour is blue, he doesn't like vegetables and is allergic to flowers. His role models are G-Dragon from BigBang and Mino from Winner. He catches a cold and gets injured often, and Hyunsuk thinks he resembles a lychee because he grows beard fast. 

Stage Name: Seunghun

Birth Name: Kim Seung Hun (김승훈)

Position: Main Vocalist, Dancer

Birthday: February 26th, 1999

Height: 181cm

Weight: 65kg

Nationality: Korean

Fun Facts: Seunghun's hometown is Cheongju, located in North Chungcheong, South Korea. He trained for almost 10 years and is a former Cube and YG entertainment trainee, he was a contestant on YG treasure box but didn't make it to the final lineup. He went to school with Treasure's Jihoon and they are very close friends. The members think that he’s really funny, when he smiles it makes others happy, he makes a lot of funny faces, and the fans call him “sweet Seunghun” because he always communicate with them through SNS. 

 

Stage Name: Yonghee (용희)

Birth Name: Kim Yong Hee (김용희)

Position: Vocalist, Visual

Birthday: February 17th, 2000

Height: 177cm

Weight: 59kg

Nationality: Korean

Fun Facts: Yonghee really loves cereals. After practice he'd eat 3 to 4 bowls of cereals, looking really happy. BX thinks that Yonghee resembles a lemon, because he's so refreshing. He attends the same school as Jinyoung.

Stage Name: Bae Jinyoung (배진영)

Birth Name: Bae Jin Young (배진영)

Position: Lead Vocalist, Dancer, Center, Face of the Group

Birthday: May 10, 2000

Height: 180cm

Weight: 62kg

Nationality: Korean

Fun Facts: Jinyoung was born in Seoul, South Korea. He attended Jangchung Elementary School then transferred to Cheonggu Elementary School. He attended Daekyeong Middle School. He attended Osan High School then transferred to Lila Art High School, the same school Weki Meki’s Lua and Yoon Jaechan attended. Jinyoung participated in the second season of the Produce series and ended up ranking 10th, debuting with the other top contestants as Wanna One.  He has two siblings: a younger brother named Seochan who was born in 2002, and a younger sister name Seojin who was born in 2007. His hobbies are listening to music and singing and his specialties are skiing and playing football. He attends the same school as Younghee. 

Stage Name: Hyunsuk (현석)

Birth Name: Yoon Hyun Suk (윤현석)

Position: Dancer, Lead Rapper, Vocalist, Maknae (Youngest)

Birthday: September 8th, 2021

Height: 186.7cm

Weight: 68kg

Nationality: Korean

Fun Facts: Hyunsuk has 3 younger siblings, fans says he looks like the actor Seo Kang-John, and his nickname is Hyunsik. He eats a lot and his favorite food is Kimchi, his legs are 113cm long, and he loves going to the swimming pool. Some people call Hyunsuk a parrot because he's very talkative. 

How I discovered CIX

I watched the second season of produce 101 a year after it was broadcasted. And even though I watched the show, I never got into Wanna One, and knew Jinyoung only by name. However, when CIX debuted during summer of 2019, the Kpop community kept talking about how amazing their debut song and debut album were. And because I'm really dumb, I waited until Numb came out to really start getting involved with them. So, when Numb came out, I checked the song out and was mindblown by the message this song held. And considering how young they are, it makes the message even more powerful. 

After Numb came out CIX were definitely on my radar, and when Jungle came out a couple of months later, I couldn't lie to myself anymore *inserts a dramatic soundtrack*... I had become a FIX. By the way, that song has the most beautiful music video of 2020 in my opinion.

But that's not where my story with CIX ends (who said it was going to end anyways), because when Cinema came out, cupid aimed and shot his arrow right into my heart. I just fell in love with them thanks to Cinema, because aside from being really catchy, that song never fails to put me in a good mood. Jinyoung ended up being my bias, but BX wrecked me really hard in that song. 

CIX's discography

First Korean mini-album: HELLO Chapter 1. Hello, Stranger

On July 23rd 2019, CIX debut with their first mini-album and the title track "Movie Star".  When I first listened to that song, I thought it was fine. Nothing more, nothing less. However, I listened to it again a couple of months after its release (yes, I'm this type of person who discovers something/starts liking something way after it was a hot topic), and I really liked it, especially for a debut song. The chorus is really catchy, the melody is light (not crowded with heavy instrumentals) and groovy, and the vocals in the last chorus were SHINING. Let's not forget the choreography that's sexy and cool as hell, especially when they performed the song under the rain at Show Music Core, to the point this performance went viral (watch it here). Looking back, I think I was impressed because the members already had some experience due to their participation to previous survival shows. I remember thinking that they looked really at ease on stage and in front of the camera. They had this level of charisma (especially Jinyoung) that usually takes time to acquire. 

On this album, you also have 4 other tracks (b-sides): What you wanted, Like it that way, Imagine, and The One. Let me tell you that, in general when a group debuts, I rarely download the b-sides of the debut album because usually at this stage the group doesn't have a clear identity yet. But CIX is an exception, particularly for "What you wanted" and "Like it that way". I absolutely love the choreography for "What you wanted", and the chorus is really powerful, and has the same sexy/cool vibe Movie Star has. And for "Like it that way", it has this almost reggae/summer vibes, perfect to listen to while watching the sunset with a cocktail in your hands. 

First Japanese mini-album: HELLO Chapter 1. Hello, Stranger [JAPANESE]

On October 23rd, 2019, CIX releases their first Japanese mini-album, including all the tracks that were included in the Korean version of the album, plus a Japanese version of Movie Star and "My New World", a new Japanese song. I didn't really get into their Japanese stuff before "Revival" so I won't give any comment on this. 

Second Korean mini-album: HELLO Chapter 2. Hello, Strange Place

On November 19th, 2019, CIX releases the second chapter of their Hello series (also their second Korean mini-album) and the title track "Numb". When you first listen to this song, you might just want to vibe with it and dance your heart out (that's what I actually did). But then, when you look at the lyrics, you're like "what the hell, the lyrics are so deep!" And yes, they are, as well as the music video. This song talks about the educational system that's very harsh on students in South Korea, and I want to point out a specific line in the song that goes like this: "Busy calculating, closing their eyes and covering their ears, awful pressure to remain silent". This line hits hard, especially when you've been through it (knowing that the members were young and probably went through all of this). In that sense the song reminds me of "N.O" by BTS because both songs have similar messages. And the Music Video translates this heavy pressure perfectly well: the colours are dark, everything is toned dow and the facial expressions are on point.

Concerning the b-sides on that album, you have Rewind, Bystander, Maybe I, and ... Black Out (chef's kiss). I won't say that I like black out more than movie star because there's a bit too much of autotune in my opinion, but the choreography? The performance? Just ... Bae Jinyoung? Just watch that one M countdown stage, and you'll understand what I mean. 

First Japanese single album: Revival

On April 1st, 2020, CIX release their first Japanese single album composed of one new Japanese song called "Revival", and the Japanese version of "Numb" and "Black Out". I usually don't like Japanese songs when the original is in another language, and CIX is no exception. But I really enjoyed Revival as the original was in Japanese so I wasn't comparing it to its Korean version nor was I singing along in Korean when the song was actually in Japanese. Anyways, just to say that Revival is a cute song.

Third Korean mini-album: HELLO Chapter 3. Hello, Strange Time

CIX came back with their third Korean mini-album on October 27th 2020 and its title track "Jungle". To me, this song was worth winning the "Best MV of the year" award, because the music video is breathtaking. The colours (the contrast between warm and col), the lighting, the sceneries, the camera angles, everything is mesmerising. As for the song, I absolutely loved it, especially the intro with the piano and the heavy breathing part just before the first chorus. And in this song, their vocals shined brightly. 

If you ask me which CIX album is my favourite, this one would probably be my answer, for one simple reason: I love all the songs in this album and could play them on repeat for 24 hours straight, especially "Rebel" and "Switch it up". For the funny anecdote, I was spending the afternoon with my friend and we decided to go to a multimedia store where they were selling CDs/DVDs/Albums and so on. I wanted to buy a Kpop album but didn't know which one, and then I thought of this album and got super excited. But then the salesperson told me they didn't have it in stock and that I could order it online. I ended up buying another album, but this one is for sure still on my list!

Fourth Korean mini-album: HELLO Chapter Ø. Hello, Strange Dream

On February 2nd, 2021, CIX came back with their fourth mini-album and its title track (the best of all time) "Cinema". Cinema is, by far, my favourite title track of CIX and in the top 10 of my best releases of the year so far. This song is AMAZING. There's nothing to say about it: Catchy, easy to sing along to, fun choreoagraphy, and most importantly, puts a smile on your face every time you listen to it. It has been on repeat since its release, and I still didn't get tired of it. 

In addition to this amazing title track, the album has really great b-sides, and my favourite has to be "Young". I love this song almost as much as the title track, and I was so happy they promoted it as well on music shows (you can see their performance of "Young" on The Show here).

Second Japanese mini-album: All For You

On April 14, 2021, CIX released their second Japanese mini-album and its title track "All for You". The EP also included another Japanese song entitled "With You" and the Japanese version of "Cinema". They also included the instrumental versions of these three songs, which I was very happy to have (especially for Cinema, the instrumental is amazing). 

More CIX content to check out

The "Movie Star" roller coaster dance on dingo music (it was just hilarious knowing they didn't know what was going to happen, dingo did them dirty lol): watch it here.

The "KK" dance they did on The Show not long after their debut: watch it here.

CIX's cover of EXO's "Love Me Right" on Show Champion: watch it here.

That's it for CIX's presentation! I rarely fall so hard in love with a Kpop group nowadays especially because a lot of new groups are debuting and the market is starting to feel saturated, but CIX is surely one of those rare groups that are still able to surprise me. If you didn't know them before, I hope you give them a chance and check them out because they deserve it. 

Take care and I'll see you all soon!

Love, Swan

Sources: Kprofiles, CIX's YouTube official channel.