Another bond beyond MONSTA X.. Shownu X Hyungwon, the most natural evolution of the first unit [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

The MONSTA X unit Shownu X Hyungwon made a dazzling return, wielding the solid foundation of their 11th year and the genuine chemistry of lifelong friends. From unintentional sensuality that precisely hit the delicate needs of the public and fandom, to their summer festival declaration where they called each other "beast" and "prince of faces," the two, after nearly 2 years and 10 months, are ready to ignite this summer with deeper emotions and irreplaceable physicality.

Recently, we conducted a roundtable interview with Shownu X Hyungwon at Starship Entertainment's office in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of their second mini-album "LOVE ME."

Shownu X Hyungwon debuted as MONSTA X's first unit by releasing their first mini-album "THE UNSEEN" in July 2023. Returning with their second mini-album "LOVE ME" after nearly 2 years and 10 months, they express the emotion of love more delicately and three-dimensionally, infused with deeper emotions and authenticity.

The title track "Do You Love Me" is a song capturing the complex emotions of pushing and pulling each other while unsure of love. Shownu X Hyungwon's signature cool yet delicate vocals enhance the song's immersion. Notably, both members directly participated in production and choreography, completing a more authentic message and even more powerful performance.

Having worked together for over 11 years as MONSTA X, the chemistry between Shownu and Hyungwon was flawlessly perfect. Shownu said, "I think our chemistry has improved a bit compared to the previous work. Although I haven't directly compared it to the past, we've occasionally tuned our rhythm through consistent events and festivals for three years after releasing our first album, so I believe we'll show a much better synergy than before."

Hyungwon also expressed affection, saying, "When practicing with Shownu, even without speaking, I'd think, 'Our tastes are becoming similar when we wear the same shoes and clothes.' Our personalities were already similar, and it seems they're becoming even more alike over time. Even if we don't intend it, I hope this synergy shines through on stage."

While the two boast a perfect synergy that understands each other without words, their efforts to captivate the hearts of the public and fandom on stage remain ongoing. When asked about the image fans desire from Shownu X Hyungwon, Shownu candidly shared, "I'm always curious and working on this myself. All I can do is perform and sing, so it's quite difficult to know how it will be perceived by the public. Therefore, I actively accept the company's opinions, including those from the marketing team, and aim to move in a direction that meets fans' needs."

In contrast, Hyungwon is finding answers through diverse attempts. Citing "refreshing" and "complete EDM" as genres he wants to challenge, he said, "I think fans don't just like us because we're sexy or cute; they like us because we can pull off such concepts." He revealed his firm belief in MONBEBE. He continued, "We'll show various materials within our capabilities, leaving the final judgment to the fans. We'll keep what we do well, but musically, we'll continue to make new attempts."

So, what is the true taste of MONBEBE as perceived by the two? Hyungwon smiled cheerfully, saying, "First, they like handsome people." He sharply analyzed, "The sexy points fans feel are very detailed. It's not just 'muscles!' but rather things like naturally flowing sweat or unintentional fingertips—they seem to particularly enjoy such subtle details."

Upon this, Shownu shared a frank experience, "I've tried to target (sensuality) a few times on stage at Navy Headquarters, but it seems fans don't really like overtly targeted actions." Hyungwon immediately agreed, "Ultimately, unintentional naturalness is the most important."

When asked about the reactions of MONSTA X members to the new album's title track, Shownu coolly replied, "The feedback wasn't very good," making the scene burst into laughter. He added, "It seems members generally prefer songs with strong hooks. In fact, the feedback on the self-composed song Hyungwon wrote was better."

In contrast, Hyungwon proudly described the members' steady support. He said, "The members' overall tendency is not to express their feelings openly. They don't say things like 'You'll do well on your own, I believe in you,' but they showed steady support through actions, such as visiting the music video filming set or sending coffee cars." He emphasized, "Especially, the members who saw our song and choreography said, 'It's exactly like Shownu X Hyungwon.' That meant we delivered the best and most stylish stage, and those words gave us great strength."

Despite the members' cool appraisal, the two were clear in their confidence in the title track. Shownu explained, "I had a clear feeling about the title. We even considered making it a song by Hyungwon, but since the beat was good and the song was exciting, we decided after consulting with the company." Hyungwon also showed confidence, saying, "It's a beat and melody where we can showcase our performance well. For a unit, synergy is crucial, and this song fits perfectly in terms of part distribution."

The two boast a special narrative even within MONSTA X. Regarding their relationship, Shownu said, "It seems we're aging gracefully. As time passes, we become closer and gradually more like friends. When working on projects, the positive aspects far outweigh the difficulties. Our keywords are 'naturalness'."

Hyungwon also expressed deep affection, saying, "If I had a lifelong friend, it would be Shownu. I think we'll be friends who can sit together and share a bottle of soju even when we're white-haired grandfathers." He further revealed his long-term goal as an artist: "Currently, our music is strong in performance and limited to love stories, but as time passes, I want to create chapters with more diverse stories, such as our friendship."

Are there any jealousies from other members toward the two who are fully immersed in unit activities? When Hyungwon joked, "Everyone seems uninterested," Shownu replied, "Although I spend the most private time with Hyungwon, there's a member I talk to a lot during schedules. I talk a lot about music with Jooheon, and when I ride in a car with Minhyuk, we chat until our voices get hoarse," hinting at the still-strong and cheerful MONSTA X vibe.

Ahead of the new album release, Shownu X Hyungwon shared their impressions of appearing on the YouTube content "Hyori's Watering Hole," operated by Girls' Generation member Hyoyeon. Shownu said, "Thanks to Hyungwon's connections, we were able to appear to promote the unit." He added, "Especially, I was deeply impressed by Hyoyeon's tireless efforts beyond what was necessary. Inspired by her energy, I'll work hard on this promotion."

Hyungwon also added his emotional recollection of the filming. He said, "There were many moments so fun I wanted to run outside while filming. Thanks to that, my status as the top comedian is now solid. Men are Shownu, women are Hyoyeon. It was an incredibly impressive shoot that I'll remember for a long time," proving the warm atmosphere on set.

The new album's performance also fully utilized the two's strength in physicality. When asked which artist they'd like to film a new song challenge with, Hyungwon immediately named singer Rain (real name Jung Ji-hoon). Hyungwon said, "I really hope Senior Rain does it. I actually saw him at the gym, and his physicality was truly amazing. Since we created the choreography thinking about physicality, it would be perfect if a senior with such perfect physicality does it."

The highlight that raised fans' expectations to the peak was undoubtedly their plan to attack "Waterbomb." Previewing a fiery stage, the two solidified their resolve by naming the adjectives they wished to receive from each other.

Hyungwon joked, "I'm going all out for this Waterbomb," and added, "My personal goal is for Shownu to definitely earn the title 'This is a beast' at Waterbomb. I think his body is really great, but he hasn't yet had a title that showcases it. I hope these aspects are highlighted through this stage." He continued, praising Shownu endlessly, "A body with such pride that no one would think, 'I want to be like that.'"

Blushing at Hyungwon's unrestrained praise, Shownu smiled and replied, "Then Hyungwon is the 'Waterbomb Prince of Faces'," revealing the confidence of a perfect visual unit.

MONSTA X's second mini-album "LOVE ME" was released at 6 p.m. on the 21st through various online music sites.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.