Xikers Return With Clearer Identity and New Direction Through 'OKay'

K-POP boy group Xikers has returned with a sharper sense of identity and a more free-spirited energy as it opens the door to a new chapter in its storyline.

Xikers held a media showcase for its seventh EP, "ROUTE ZERO : The ORA," at NOL Theater Hapjeong Dongyang Life Hall in Mapo District, Seoul, on Tuesday.

The new release marks the end of the group's "HOUSE OF TRICKY" series while introducing the beginning of a new universe. "ROUTE ZERO : The ORA" follows a story that begins from "Route 0," a place where all coordinates have disappeared, rather than following a predetermined future. Through the album, the group aims to redefine its direction and carve out a path of its own.

The title track, "OKay," captures Xikers' bold and unapologetic energy as it pushes back against rules imposed by the world. Members Minjae, Sumin and Yechan participated in writing the lyrics, further deepening the group's musical identity.

This comeback also reflected a deeper internal process beyond a simple concept change. The members shared that they spent significant time discussing the group's identity and direction while preparing for the album.

Minjae candidly opened up about the uncertainty the group experienced along the way.

"Since our debut, we tried so many different concepts and genres, but at some point, I started thinking that it became difficult to define who we are in one sentence," he said. "Because we were trying to show too many things, it may have ended up feeling overwhelming."

He continued, "We gathered often as members and talked a lot about questions like, ‘What kind of team are we good at being' and ‘What really feels like Xikers'."

Minjae described the album as both a new chapter for the group and a personal turning point.

"I kept asking myself whether I was truly showing the version of myself that I wanted people to see," he said. "Rather than sticking to fixed ideas, we wanted to focus on what we genuinely do best."

That process is reflected throughout the album. Compared to previous releases, the group leaned more heavily into instinctive and uninhibited energy while highlighting each member's individuality more clearly.

Minjae described the performance for "OKay" as "a stage that feels like we're riding a blade together," hinting at the song's explosive performance energy.

Yechan introduced the song as "a track that shows Xikers' rough and untamed charm," adding that listeners would be able to feel "the group's confident energy."

"As a rapper, my high tone has always been one of my strengths," Yechan said. "But because this album represents a new beginning, I tried to express a wider range of tones and dynamics."

Junghoon also expressed confidence in the group, saying, "Just like the message of ‘everything is okay,' we want to show that Xikers is a group that can do anything."

The members' participation in the album also expanded further this time around. Sumin said he focused heavily on lyric writing and detailed sound production.

"I even included a melody from the South Korean national anthem in the backing vocals of the title track," he said. "I wanted to incorporate a feeling of introducing our country."

The members also reflected on how the seven-month gap between promotions shaped the album. Seeun shared that the group spent a lot of time talking together during the preparation process, while Hyunwoo said he challenged himself vocally by practicing a wider range of genres during the hiatus.

The group also emphasized its focus on live performance preparation. Yechan explained that despite the physically demanding choreography, the members practiced with live microphones and minimal AR backing tracks to improve the quality of their stage performance.

Looking ahead, Hunter shared the group's goals of winning first place on music shows and topping music charts both in South Korea and overseas. Seeun also expressed hopes of performing on larger global stages such as Coachella and Lollapalooza in the future.

"Our goal is to keep climbing step by step until we eventually reach the highest place possible," Minjae said.

Xikers' seventh EP, "ROUTE ZERO : The ORA," was released on Tuesday at 6 p.m. KST.