interview: Exploring the New Diversity and Creativity with SUPERKIND
World's first gen A-Idol, SUPERKIND, returns with the release of their new mini-album, Profiles of the Future (Λ) : 70%. This is the group’s first comeback as a full set of seven members, including both AI members; SAEJIN and SEUNG. Their group name, SUPERKIND, is an anagram of NUKE, PRID, and S. NUKE refers to members from the virtual world, and PRID refers to members from the real world. They work together towards achieving one common goal, which is to find S, which, as of now, still remains a secret to everyone.
EUGENE (left), JDV (right)
"Beam me up (2Dx3D)" is a very cool fusion song with lyrics in Korean, English, and Japanese. Can the members share what the recording process was like and if you faced any challenges with three languages?
SiO: Since this is our first mini-album with a greater number of tracks, the recording process naturally took longer than usual. Also, because we incorporated various languages, we put a lot of thought into how to infuse the unique characteristics and vibes of this language into our music, striving to make those features come to life in our songs.
Your group is a mix of AI and real people and is new to the scene. What is it like working and having fun with each other?
JDV: I find collaborating with the NUKE members to be extremely fun and fascinating because it opens up opportunities to explore various new and captivating ideas. The NUKE members have the ability to execute performances that may be outside our capabilities. For instance, in a recent performance video with SAEJIN, he attempted the iconic Spiderman move where he drops down from the ceiling. All of these visually captivating elements make this comeback even more enjoyable for me.
What quality would you like to have if you were a nuke?
EUGENE: One notable characteristic of NUKE members is their freedom when it comes to changing hairstyles, hair colours, and outfits instantly. It is a characteristic that I want to have if I were a NUKE member.
DAEMON (left), GEON (right)
How do you maintain a sense of unity within the group when you have such a unique combination of members?
DAEMON: As the leader of the group, I can say that our members are very unique and each has great abilities. The main thing is that we are not trying to synchronize perfectly but we are trying to bring out the chemistry and harmony. We respect their own abilities and try to improve as a team and try to express it better. We are not only focused on synchronizing but we are also trying to cooperate and make a good result as a team.
What are the things that make you go, "I'm so proud of myself for doing this!" for this comeback?
SiO: Starting with this comeback, we've had more opportunities to connect with our fans, Players. During my initial encounter with our fans, I was incredibly nervous and somewhat shy, making it challenging for me to engage in meaningful conversations with them. However, throughout this comeback promotional activities, including fan meet-ups and fan sign events, I've made significant progress in interacting with our fans, and I feel like I've become closer to them. In this respect, I'm proud of the improvements I've made in communicating with the Players during this comeback.
What kind of music does SUPERKIND want to pursue and be known as?
DAEMON: As SUPERKIND, we are trying many different genres of music. We choose genres that suit our concept and the worldviews that we want to show, and I think the main theme and the motto of SUPERKIND's music is diversity. So, I hope SUPERKIND to be known for the diversity and creativity in our musical styles.
As AI artists come into the K-Pop scene, what impact do you think SUPERKIND will have on AI integration within K-Pop groups?
SiO: Our group is the first to use the term "A-Idol," representing an idol group that includes both AI and human members. I believe this is one of SUPERKIND's most distinctive features. Many people still perceive AI technology as something distant and unfamiliar. However, with our group incorporating PRID, the human members, it allows us to demonstrate how we interact with NUKE members, the AI members, and convey our thoughts on this integration, showing how we all unite as a group. This helps the general public become more accustomed to the concept of AI. I hope to see more A-Idols in the future and anticipate the concept evolving over time.
SAEJIN (left), SEUNG (right)
With your unique concept, how do you imagine your concerts around the world to meet your fans?
SiO: We highly value in-person, face-to-face interactions with our fans, and that's why we make an effort to organize concerts and events in as many countries and cities as possible. We're committed to creating music that incorporates different languages to make our music accessible to people from various nations, enabling them to enjoy our songs and find solace and inspiration in our music.
While your AI concept is unique, it's certainly not your only standout quality. What do you think makes SUPERKIND different from other groups, or what do you hope for SUPERKIND to be known and remembered for, aside from having AI members?
SiO: Our commitment to continually challenging ourselves with new music and diverse genres asks for increased communication among the members and greater interaction with our fans, the Players. Each of us possesses unique strengths, and our individual musical preferences may differ, but we aim to be recognized as a group unafraid to explore a diverse musical styles and genres without limitations. Likewise, our future endeavours will remain unrestricted, and our goal is to establish ourselves as artists who boldly explore various musical realms.
Thank you DEEPSTUDIO and Helix Publicity for the invitation.
Watch SUPERKIND 'Beam me up (2Dx3D)' MV here!
*photos courtesy of DEEPSTUDIO
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