Get to know rookie boy group AMPERS&ONE in this exclusive interview.
FNC Entertainment's latest boy group, AMPERS&ONE, emerged onto the K-pop scene with its debut album, "AMPERSAND ONE," on November 15, 2023. Comprising seven members—Kamden, Brian, Jiho, Siyun, Kyrell, Mackiah, and Seungmo—the group is a true testament to diversity, hailing from various corners of the world, including Korea, the US, Canada, China, and Australia.
These young talents bring an abundance of skill and experience. Kamden, Brian, and Jiho displayed their skills on MNET’s Boys Planet, securing commendable positions within the competition. Furthermore, Kamden and Jiho also graced the stage on MBC’s Wild Idol. Adding to this impressive background, Siyun brings experience as a former WM Ggumnamu trainee and a contestant on JBTC2’s Treasure Box.
The group's musical identity is a captivating blend of pop elements, delivering an infectious energy and compelling rhythm. AMPERS&ONE’s vocal style intertwines lively, buoyant pop melodies with deeper, more resonant beats, creating a multifaceted sound that captivates with its depth and diversity. Their performances are a seamless showcase of skillful choreography, each member effortlessly executing their best moves and leaving an indelible mark with their polished artistry.
Join me for an exclusive glimpse into the world of AMPERS&ONE as they share who they are, their excitement leading up to the release of "AMPERSANDONE," behind-the-scenes fun, and more in this exclusive interview.
Nice to meet you, AMPERS&ONE! Please introduce yourself and your role in AMPERS&ONE to our readers.
KAMDEN: Hello, I’m KAMDEN! I am the eldest member and rapper. Great to meet you all!
BRIAN: Hi, my name is BRIAN, I am from Canada, and I’m a vocalist in this group!
JIHO: Hello everyone, I am JIHO, the leader, and I am a vocalist as well.
SIYUN: Hi, I’m SIYUN, and I am a vocalist.
KYRELL: Hi, I’m KYRELL, and I am a vocalist too!
MACKIAH: Hi everyone, I am MACKIAH, and I am a rapper.
SEUNGMO: Hello, I am SEUNGMO, the youngest, and I am a vocalist. Nice to meet you all!
Congratulations on your debut! Can you share the emotions and excitement you're feeling right now?
BRIAN: First of all, I'm really happy and excited for our future, and I really want to make amazing memories with everyone.
SEUNGMO: Right after the debut, it still felt unrealistic, but as we kept on performing and meeting our fans, I could feel it was real and happy. We will keep on trying our best to show better performances in the future.
In three words, how would you describe AMPERS&ONE?
BRIAN: Friends, family goofy.
SEUNGMO: Tall, Fun, Energetic.
KYRELL: Have some fun.
KAMDEN: Love, clean, friend.
What kind of messages or emotions do you hope listeners take away from your debut album?
BRIAN: I hope people feel excited and energetic from listening to our songs.
SEUNGMO: I hope people understand not to give up even if they face some obstacles and continue what they are looking for and achieve their goals.
Your debut album contains a total of three tracks. Which one is your personal favorite?
BRIAN: My personal favorite is "Sweet & Sour" because it really suits my soft voice.
SEUNGMO: My favorite is "Sheesh" because I believe that it shows our cool and refreshing images and the dance is really fun.
KYRELL: I also like "Sweet and Sour" because it feels very romantic.
Can you share any memorable or funny moments from the making of your debut album or during the filming of your music video?
BRIAN: There was one night we were up late practicing, and we were in the dance room, singing "Sweet & Sour," and it was so fun. Since at midnight, we kind of lost our minds, so when we were singing the "hwririri bababa hey" part, it was so fun.
SEUNGMO: We had to stay at a hotel near the MV filming spot as it was far from our dorm, so we had to decide who would be sharing a room with our manager during the break. We did ghost leg, and SIYUN had to use the room with the manager, and it was really fun and memorable.
KAMDEN: During the MV shooting, the cameramen came really close during the performance scene, and it was really funny how whenever a cameraman goes super close to someone, others have to just give up on dancing.
You’re a multicultural group; Kamden and Kyrell are from the U.S., Brian is from Canada, Jiho, Siyun, and Seungmo are from South Korea, and Mackiah is from Australia. What do you enjoy most about your unique identity as a team?
BRIAN: We just get along well. We haven’t fought even once, and we always joke with each other, so it sort of feels like a family.
SEUNGMO: I wasn’t that good at English, but as we spoke and communicated in English, my English got much better.
Fans are eager to learn more about AMPERS&ONE. Can you share a fun or interesting fact about each of you?
BRIAN: I'm actually a really shy person, but once you get to know me, I become more open and fun to talk to you!
SEUNGMO: I sleep wearing clothes for the next day.
KYRELL: I used to really like Pokémon! But after X and Y, I couldn’t really keep up.
KAMDEN: I take five vitamins in the morning.
Read the full interview on Hellokpop.