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New Straits Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: CRAVITY aspire to be K-pop masters
RISING K-pop sensations CRAVITY recently made their Malaysian debut at the K-pop Masterz concert series. The show was held at the Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC), Seri Kembangan, Selangor. CRAVITY, a nine-member group, debuted in 2020 and were quickly dubbed "Monster Rookies" by the South Korean media. Known for their energetic performances, captivating stage presence and unique musical style, the group consists of Serim, Allen, Jungmo, Woobin, Wonjin, Minhee, Hyeongjun, Taeyoung and Seongmin. They shot to fame with tracks such as 'Break All The Rules' and 'Cloud 9', earning several Rookie Of The Year awards at South Korean music shows. BILLBOARD Formed by Starship Entertainment, they debuted on April 14, 2020, with their extended play 'Season 1. Hideout: Remember Who We Are'. CRAVITY subsequently became the first 2020 rookie artiste to debut on the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 and earned "New Artiste of the Year" at the 12th Melon Music Awards, "Best of Next" at the 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards, and "Rookie Award" in the 4th Soribada Awards. UNIVERSE In a recent interview to mark their debut performance in Kuala Lumpur, Woobin said that Jungmo, Wonjin, Minhee and Hyeongjun participated in the show Produce X 101 in 2019, representing Starship Entertainment. "We officially became CRAVITY in March 2020. CRAVITY's name is an amalgamation of the words 'Creativity' and 'Gravity' that implies bringing you into our universe with our unique charm," he said. UPBEAT When asked to describe their music, Woobin said: "It's infectious, upbeat and inventive, a blend of K-pop, hip-hop, EDM and pop, with catchy melodies and powerful vocal and rap performances." Wonjin said: "Our music showcases a range of themes, reflecting the experiences of youth, personal growth, empowerment and self-confidence." Allen described their major musical influences as boybands Shinee, BTS, Monsta X and NCT, as well as international solo artiste Lauv. CRAVITY's recent concert might be their first in the country, but Jungmo said that they had visited KL in the past. "A few years ago, we visited Malaysia for the first time — the weather was amazing, the atmosphere was so nice, and the people's reactions were incredible. "We made so many happy memories, and personally, it's a place I'd love to visit again." All of the band's members had dreamed of becoming successful artistes. FIRST Wonjin said: "Music is the first thing that perks me up every morning, likewise my bandmates." "It's like food for my soul," added Allen. Wonjin added that while all of them are into dance music and pop, he personally prefers R&B music. "I love the chill vibes when I listen to this genre of music," he said. ROCK Allen said: "For me, rock and hip-hop any day. They are cool and fast." Have the boys dabbled in acting? "Not yet, but we would love to try acting in future. For me, starring in an action movie is great," said Serim. What was their best experience in a concert to date? Seongmin said: "That was during our recent concert 'Beyond Your Memories' in Seoul. Everyone sang and danced, and it was a truly nostalgic moment." TOUR Whenever they go on a world tour, the boys feel very excited. According to Jungmo, the most exciting thing about a world tour is visiting different countries, learning different languages and getting to know different ways of life. "We love discovering new things," he said. All members of the group now write music, and they are proud of "standing on their own feet". Woobin said: "At first, only the founding members could write music. Now all of us do. For our second album, all of us wrote at least a song." PILOT What would they have been if they had not become singers? "If I were not a singer, I would have been a basketball player," said Wonjin. "I'd be a pilot as I love flying," said Allen. TRACKS When asked about their new album 'Dare To Crave', Hyeongjun said that it has 12 songs. "Besides the first single 'Set Net Go?!' about determination and the will to succeed, the other songs include three unit tracks," he said. Allen said: "It symbolises the audacity of embracing one's desires and instincts." As for the unit tracks, they explore personal aspects of their shared identity. BLURRED Woobin said: "I produced 'Rendez-vous' about encounters that awaken blurred emotions. Serim said: "I composed 'Marionette' about complex feelings and intense relationships." Wonjin said: "And I came up with 'Wish Upon A Star', a soft and reflective song about promises kept after a long wait. "As for 'Set Net Go?!' it encapsulates youthful energy and invites fans to surge forward through life's challenges." FOOD Who is the greatest musician or singer they have worked with? "Singer and music producer Brother Su is a great person I have worked with. He bought me lots of delicious food, helped me sing better and guided me in my career"" said Wonjin. "Joohoney of Monsta X helped us a lot, he is full of brilliant musical ideas and brings such great energy to us," said Allen.
Korea Herald
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Cravity dares to crave more with its 2nd LP
Still craving more, the boy band kicks off its second chapter after rebranding In its sixth year, nine-member boy group Cravity made a grand comeback with its second LP "Dare to Crave," showing a broader musical spectrum amid unending challenges. The new album features 12 tracks centered on the theme of temptation and craving something without hesitation. The main track, 'Set Net G0?!,' bursts with fast-paced, bold synth sounds and rapid melodic repetition that reflect the emotional rollercoaster one faces when standing before a new challenge. While the group stays true to its signature sharp synchronization, this comeback adds some fun and dynamic energy to the stage performance. 'All the members wanted to deliver a powerful performance with this song. The repeated guitar riff really stands out,' said Wonjin during a group interview held in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Thursday. He also shared that the entire group took part in selecting the main track through an internal vote. This album is particularly meaningful as all members participated in songwriting and composing, and for the first time, unit songs are included. Serim composed his first self-written track, 'Marionette,' a sultry piece performed alongside Minhee and Taeyoung. Meanwhile, Jungmo, Woobin and Seongmin teamed up for 'Straight Up to Heaven,' a sentimental synth-pop number. The punk-inspired, upbeat 'Stadium' features lyrics penned by Hyeongjun and Allen, who perform the track with Wonjin. 'We wanted to bring out each member's unique charm through unit songs, which will also allow us to create more diverse and exciting concert stages,' Hyeongjun explained. Concept photos released ahead of the album pictured the breaking out of eggs, hinting that this comeback marks a turning point. The team even rebranded its team name. Originally a fusion of "Creativity" and "Gravity," or a play on "Center of Gravity," Cravity has been reinterpreted as a combination of 'Crave' and 'Gravity,' reflecting the members' hunger for growth and deeper artistry. The group also introduced grapes as the new symbol of their rebranded identity. 'Grapes can be sweet or tangy, and as they age, they turn into mature wine. It represents how we have many new sides to show as we continue to grow,' explained Hyeongjun. Alongside the rebranding, Cravity has undergone a major leadership change: Former leader Serim has handed over the reins to Hyeongjun and Wonjin, now co-leaders of the team. 'I have complete trust in them. Even when I was leading alone, they were always supporting me," said Serim. "Now, I'll do my best to support them in return.' Following the album release, Cravity will hold its 'Dare to Crave' concert at SK Handball Gymnasium in Seoul, July 12–13. Minhee expressed high expectations: 'The scale of this concert is bigger than before, and we've prepared so much. I'd say fans who miss it will seriously regret it. We're even doing solo performances this time.' Since its debut in 2020 amid the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cravity has faced countless setbacks, but instead of being discouraged, the group has steadily honed its skills. The group gained the nickname 'Covervity' for consistently uploading high-quality cover performances of other artists' songs. 'Rather than being known for covering other artists, we want to be recognized for our own music,' said Hyeongjun. 'We want to be a group that lasts 10 or 20 years, aging together with our fans.' Wonjin added heartfelt thanks to fans. 'I recently said on our fan platform that I want Cravity to be a team not just for ourselves, but for our fans. As time goes by, rather than chasing titles or prestige, I want us to bring happiness and joy to the people who support us,' he said.
