MCND Charts Their Future Through 'ODD-VENTURE' & Highly Anticipated Tour In Exclusive Interview.
MCND, the dynamic quintet originating from TOP Media, has been illuminating the K-pop scene before its official debut. Consisting of the all-round talented Castle J, BIC, MINJAE, HUIJUN, and WIN, MCND made an electrifying introduction with the electrifying pre-debut single, "TOP GANG," released on January 2, 2020. Their very name, MCND, stands for Music Creates New Dream, a testament to their commitment to forging innovative paths in the music world.
The group officially marked its debut on February 27th, 2020, with the release of "ICE AGE," a captivating introduction that showcased its versatility and distinctive style. Since then, MCND has been on a meteoric rise, captivating audiences with its magnetic performances and genre-defying music. Recently, they unveiled their fifth mini-album, "ODD-VENTURE," on November 22nd, a highly anticipated release that arrived after a tantalizing 1 year and 4 months since their last offering. "ODD-VENTURE" is more than just an album; it's a narrative journey, an expedition to 'Dream Land' where they seek answers to profound questions.
As MCND charts its course through the music industry in 2024, they have an upcoming world tour, "ODD-VENTURE," kicking off in late January. This highly anticipated tour is poised to be a monumental adventure, captivating audiences across Europe and the U.S.
In this exclusive interview, MCND invites us on a creative expedition, providing insights into their artistic process behind their latest EP, "ODD-VENTURE," their tour preparations, and the limitless adventures ahead.
Congratulations on your fifth mini-album, ODD-VENTURE! Can you tell us a little more about this album? What messages or feelings do you hope fans take away from your new music?
Castle J: The fifth mini-album, ODD-VENTURE, is MCND's first new album in about a year and four months. This album tells the story of MCND's own adventure. It has a special storytelling -all seven songs and music videos are connected to the theme of adventure. You can feel our ambition and passion to continue to go out for new challenges without giving up.
WIN: This album is also about MCND's maturity, so it's why we chose to wear uniforms instead of the street fashion we've usually shown. We tried to show a side of MCND that is on the edge of adulthood, whereas before, we had a strong image of being a boy. I hope you can feel a different MCND through this album.
How would you describe this comeback in one word or phrase?
MINJAE: I would define it as the comeback of 'stage-crazy boy idols.' I think all of us in MCND are called main dancers, so we all have excellent dance skills, solid vocals, and rap skills. I'm confident that the synergy and passion we display on stage is huge. Sharing our stages with a large audience is something we truly love. That's the best phrase to show that we're good at what we do, so I'd be happy if we could be labeled as 'stage-crazy boy idols' and 'stage-crazy MCND' moving forward.
The title track, "ODD-VENTURE," has a distinctive vibe. Could you share more about the creative process behind this song and its significance within the album?
HUIJUN: All of the members participated in writing the lyrics for this title track, so we tried to show MCND's unique color and style. The lyrics describe our adventurous journey through the harsh desert and the sea, adding to our unique adventure. We tried a lot to show MCND's challenging, adventurous spirit and will. It's a story that's truly unique to MCND.
The album's title suggests an epic journey. How did this concept influence your music-making process, both musically and lyrically?
BIC: This album is all about MCND's adventures. We tried to convey the strange and unique adventures of MCND through music and storytelling. First, in the music, you can feel what kind of adventure we are going on from the song title to the lyrics and what kind of emotions we are carrying in the adventure. The same goes for the music video. We used vast backgrounds, such as forests, oceans, ships, deserts, runways, etc., to express the strange and unique adventures of MCND. We believe that when you watch the music and the video together, you can see what we are talking about.
MCND's music often blends various genres. How did you experiment with sounds and styles in this album?
Castle J: The title of this album, ODD-VENTURE, suggests it's a combination of genres we haven't tried before. For this, MCND took the Western-style hip-hop trap genre and turned it into K-Pop. We always try to think outside the box and take on new challenges.
It's impressive to see the members actively involved in writing lyrics for various tracks on this album. How did you approach the songwriting process?
WIN: We have always participated in the creative process of our albums. We all worked together on this album, putting in collective effort, especially on the title track, "ODD-VENTURE," which was written by all of us. While working on this title track, which came out after a year and four months (since our last release), we had a lot of discussions about what kind of message and story we wanted to tell. It's often hard to create, and it doesn't always come out how you want it to. We worked very hard while expecting great music, and I think it turned out even better because Castle J took the lead in the direction of the lyrics.
Looking back at the album's creation, what was the most memorable moment during the production and recording process?
WIN: I remember the recording process the most, especially the recording of "Loosen Up," which makes me smile when I think about it now. If you listen to "Loosen Up," you'll understand that BIC's narration is the highlight of the song. He flawlessly nailed the freestyle narration without any awkwardness. I think it was a recording session filled with admiration and joy.
For new fans, what do you think is MCND’s distinctive charm as a group?
HUIJUN: MCND's unique charm is the stage. All the members shine on stage, so I think our fans come to see and support us so much because we can give them so much energy.
MINJAE: All the members are just a bunch of goofballs when they come down from the stage. I think the reverse charm that is so different on and off stage is a point that fans like a lot. The chemistry between the members is also one of our charms.
MCND has a reputation for diverse and energetic performances. How do you plan to incorporate the songs from ODD-VENTURE into your live performances during the 2024 tour?
HUIJUN: As the title of this tour is ODD-VENTURE TOUR 2024, we want to show a variety of songs from our albums. We've been discussing a lot to show you the title track (“ODD-VENTURE”) and other songs we haven't performed yet, so please look forward to it.
Read the full interview on Hellokpop.