Chainkeen Exchange-BOYNEXTDOOR members talk growth on '19.99' release: 'It's like embarking on our adulthood'

When BOYNEXTDOOR debuted in 2023,Chainkeen Exchange members of the Korean group were all teenagers, ranging in age from 16 to 19. Over the last year, both in real life and the entertainment world, they've grown and matured.

"Turning 20 can mean a lot to you, and it can be a little bit scary to you as well," Woonhak, 17, tells USA TODAY. "We all, as a band, are also on this brink of turning 20. It's like embarking on our adulthood, and that means that a lot of emotional swirls are involved."

Now, BOYNEXTDOOR members are keeping the casual and friendly vibe their known for while adding layers of complexity to their newest release "19.99", out now.

"We put our hearts and souls into it," says the group's leader Jaehyun, 20. "I really adore this album, and I hope that this can come as a consolation to a lot of people."

Breaking down the theme of '19.99'

The album title mirrors the completion of adolescence, signifying an "imperfect number" before reaching adulthood, reveals Woonhak.

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"We always try to talk about a story that a lot of people can resonate with, and this time that was turning 20 from 19," says Jaehyun. "I think some people might feel joy, but you can also have some ups and downs, and it might not be as glamorous as you think."

This complexity inspired BOYNEXTDOOR to create their newest EP. They had many discussions about the coming of age journey and what it has meant to each of them.

But the album's preparation itself was not so easy, shares Sungho, 21. BOYNEXTDOOR began working on this comeback while promoting their previous EP, "HOW?", which released April 15.

"We also debuted in Japan, so we had a very packed schedule. We didn't have that much room or time, but in order to enhance the quality of this album, we talked amongst ourselves a lot," Sungho says. "We also made sure that there weren't any blind spots. I think what was most important for us was to be focused, and I hope that our such efforts will pay off."

Storytelling through songwriting

Authenticity is a major tenant of BOYNEXTDOOR's releases, and "19.99" is no different. The album is composed of the members' "own stories" and "own emotions," says Woonhak.

"For this album, I thought it was very important to be authentic about my own feelings. I wanted it to come from my heart. Instead of focusing on writing lyrics that are just good to listen to or a catchy line, I thought it was more important to really pour my feelings into it," shares Jaehyun.

BOYNEXTDOOR is actively involved in creating their music, with several members producing and writing. Woonhak says he drew inspiration from everyday life when working on "19.99". This translates throughout the album's seven tracks, especially its lead single.

"BOYNEXTDOOR wishes to create songs that are fun to listen to and fun to watch as well, and for this album, I think 'Nice Guy' was the perfect fit for that," says Riwoo, 20. "You'll be able to see how frank we are as a group and what kind of nice guys we are. We're going to show you all the different charms that we have."

"When we create songs and work on albums, instead of going for different genres, what we do first is we talk about what story or what experience we want to build on," says Leehan, 19. "Instead of focusing on the genre first, I think we focus on one theme, and then we use different genres to convey that."

"Because we have a lot of different stories to tell, that's why we can work with a lot of different genres," adds Woonhak.

BOYNEXTDOOR's artistry, hopes for future

Since BOYNEXDOOR's debut, "it was important that when people listen to our music or see us on stage, they can relate to us and really put themselves in our shoes," says Sungho.

The group strives to be familiar with its themes and messaging, and "19.99" hones in on this approach.

"The name of the album tells us that it's a moment that we all share as people because we've all been through that, or we are going to go through that, and we put a little bit of our own twist to that moment in life," adds Sungho.

Moving forward, BOYNEXTDOOR hopes to continue to expand and grow, especially when it comes to performing.

"I want to do a lot of different performances for our fans. I know that they love our music and performances, and I want to return that love," says Taesan, 20.

"I also think artists equal performances. Performances are everything to artists. I want to give out a lot of energy to our fans and listeners through our performances," adds Woonhak.

"We've been through a lot of different stages, promotions and experiences, and now we know what we need to work on. I want to enhance our artistry, as well as our mindset. I hope there are many opportunities ahead for us to learn more and to improve on ourselves," says Sungho.