BOYNEXTDOOR on 'ANIMAL': "Don't Think Too Hard, Just Feel the Music"

K-pop group BOYNEXTDOOR will release "HOME: DELUXE," a repackage of its first full-length album, on Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. KST. The album looks back on the group's journey so far while expressing its ambition to move into a wider world.

The 14-track release carries over nine songs from the original album. It also includes two new tracks, "ANIMAL" and "CLICHE"; a Korean version of "Count To Love," originally released in Japan; "Boom Boom Boom"; and the group's first fan song, "400 Years," previously shared on its official YouTube channel. The songs span disco, dance and pop ballad, while title track "ANIMAL" marks the group's first attempt at electro-funk.

"ANIMAL" compares the drive to pursue what you want with an animal's movement. Chants in the chorus grew out of the group's experience interacting with crowds at its shows. Member Riwoo also helped create the choreography, which draws on animal movements.

Ahead of the release, Sungho, Riwoo, Myung Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan and Woonhak spoke about the album through their agency, KOZ Entertainment.

Q. How do you feel about releasing "HOME: DELUXE"?

BOYNEXTDOOR: We're happy to be coming back so soon. We really wanted to make another comeback this year, so we prepared the repackage promotions alongside the full-length album. The new title track has a different appeal from the last one, and we hope people enjoy it.

With our first full-length album, we built a house of our own. Now we want to have a party in it with everyone.

Q. How does it differ from your first full-length album, "HOME"?

Jaehyun: The two albums feel very different. The first had a clear theme, and we wanted to present it in a meaningful, impressive way, so we took a serious approach. That album revealed a side of us people didn't know well, while this one draws on the BOYNEXTDOOR they already know.

When people hear the new songs, I think they'll recognize them as ours right away. This record brings together the serious side we want to show and the free-spirited side people already see in us. I'm also looking forward to performing the new songs on tour.

Sungho: I felt less pressure than I did with the full-length album. It carried the weight of telling our own story, so I was serious from the start of recording and worried that something might not come across as intended. "ANIMAL," though, works best when you don't overthink it, so I tried to record it more freely.

Q. What was on your mind while working on "ANIMAL"?

Jaehyun: It was our first time trying electro-funk, so we put a lot of work into it. Taesan, Woonhak and I once sat with the beat playing but couldn't get any work done on the song. After that first session, we agreed that we needed to study the genre.

I listened to different songs, studied them and made a demo for the members. Their reactions were completely different, which I found funny.

Taesan: When we performed in the U.S., I loved hearing fans shout "Whop Whop!" to cheer us on. I wanted to bring that kind of "animal sound" into our music. I went into the sessions with the members and producers thinking "ANIMAL" would be a good theme.

At first, I thought of it as "chaotic music," in a good way. That's part of why I'm excited to perform it. I want everyone to run around and have fun with us when we play this song.

Woonhak: I wanted the song to capture an instinctive feeling. The repeated line "Move like animal" means moving freely and on instinct, like a wild animal. We wanted a melody that would make people stop worrying about everything else and move however they wanted.

While we were working on it, I kept thinking, "I want to get on stage already." The song gives me energy, almost like getting an IV, just from listening to it. I think we'll have a lot of fun performing it live.

Q. What did you think when you first heard "ANIMAL"?

Leehan: As soon as I heard it, I thought our team could do it well and have fun with it. The full-length album was serious, but this time I want us to show our energy as it is and enjoy the promotions.

Riwoo: It sounded intense and rough, just as the title suggests, and I found myself moving to the rhythm without realizing it. I thought it was the kind of song you could lose yourself in without thinking. I hope listeners give themselves over to the music, mind and body, the way I did.

BOYNEXTDOOR: Don't think too hard. Let go for a moment and feel the music. We think this energy is what BOYNEXTDOOR is about.

Come see us perform, and we'll get you jumping. We hope everyone hears "ANIMAL" and has fun together. More than trying hard to show something ourselves, we want to see the audience enjoying it.

Q. What did you pay particular attention to for the performance?

Riwoo: I gave the choreography a lot of thought, and this is the first time my name has appeared in the choreography credits. I've helped create choreography before, but I'd never been credited for it, so I'm proud and happy. The song is intense, and I thought it would be hard for the audience to enjoy it with us if every part of the choreography was just as intense.

I wanted the chorus to have a surprising moment where the movement relaxes, so I discussed that with the company while we worked on it. Unlike our previous promotions, I wanted "ANIMAL" to include moves people could easily follow, and we added a little wit to the chorus. If I have one wish, it's that the chorus choreography I made catches on as a challenge (laughs).

Q. Do you have any stories from the recording or music video shoot?

Jaehyun: Woonhak and Leehan recorded their parts with a lot of intensity around the time of my session, so I matched them. Then the next member did the same, and that's how we found a balance between us. I also took on an especially low part this time, so people may hear a different side of me.

At one point, Woonhak and I started freestyle dancing while the track was playing. The other members saw us and said we looked like animals (laughs).

Sungho: What I remember most about the music video shoot is running through different places to give it a dynamic feel. We filmed running scenes in Daejeon, Paju and Incheon. There are scenes where we move through crowds and among people at a market, and I wanted them to convey a sense of release.

Q. What kind of response do you hope this repackage receives?

BOYNEXTDOOR: We'd like people to say that watching us makes them want to jump around. We'd love to be called a group made for the stage. We want to let loose like animals when we perform.

We hope people see us as a team that knows how to have fun, and we'll show how passionate we are about music and performing. Please look forward to the intense, free-spirited energy we'll bring.

Q. What would you like to say to ONEDOOR, who have been waiting for your comeback?

BOYNEXTDOOR: Knowing that someone is waiting for us always makes us grateful and excited. ONEDOOR, our fans, welcome us every time, and that makes us work harder each day. We'll show you a good side of ourselves during these promotions too, so please look forward to it. Let's meet soon! Thank you.