The group N.Flying has stood before the public as a complete group for the first time in about two years. Having been active as a duo during the members' military service, they are embarking on a new beginning with their second full album 'Everlasting'.
N.Flying (Lee Seung-hyub, Cha Hoon, Kim Jae-hyun, Yoo Hwe-seung, Seo Dong-sung) held a commemorative interview with Maeil Business Star Today on the afternoon of the 2nd at the FNC Entertainment headquarters located in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of their second full album 'Everlasting'.
On this day, Yoo Hwe-seung expressed his feelings about the comeback, saying, "During the military hiatus, we met often among ourselves, but since we were active as N.Flying with only two members, the absence was significant. As we waited for this comeback together with the fans who supported us during that time, I felt overwhelmed with emotion."
They also shared their thoughts on reaching their 10th anniversary. "In fact, we have been waiting for the 10th anniversary since last year," Yoo Hwe-seung began. "There were so many things I wanted to do that it was tough, but when I met the fans through a live broadcast on our debut anniversary, I was so happy. So I thought, 'If moments like this continue, it might be okay to endure a little more hardship.'" He smiled brightly.
Before the release of their new album, N.Flying announced the start of their complete group activities through their solo concert 'N.Flying 4: Full Circle' held at the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul from the 9th to the 11th.
Kim Jae-hyun said, "Before we enlisted, Lee Seung-hyub and Yoo Hwe-seung told me, 'Don't worry, when we come back, we will create a space where we can have more fun.' I believed them without a doubt, and when I returned, I was able to perform in a larger venue with the fans. I was also very grateful that the two prepared such great songs."
In response, Seo Dong-sung added, "While we were away, the two older members must have had a tough time. However, they never showed us any signs of that while we were in the military. When we got back, they simply said, 'Thank you for coming back.' I felt touched because it felt like they had everything prepared and were waiting for us to fill in."
Released on the 28th of last month, 'Everlasting' marks the starting point of a new journey for N.Flying as they celebrate their 10th anniversary. The album, whose title means 'eternity' and 'unchanging', contains a romantic message of wanting to hold onto eternal moments and remain unchanged despite the passage of time.
When asked what N.Flying's romance is, Kim Jae-hyun replied, "I think we ourselves are romance," and added, "There is romance in the band when we are on stage, and there is romance in the way we play together in private. I feel the pure romance of youth when I see the members, and I am happy to be a part of it." He smiled brightly.
In line with the title of a full album, this album consists of a total of 12 tracks, with leader Lee Seung-hyub leading the songwriting and composition for all songs. Having actively participated in the songwriting for junior artists, Lee Seung-hyub presented 10 self-composed songs in 'Everlasting'. Additionally, Yoo Hwe-seung contributed to the composition of 'Moebius' and the lyrics of 'Log', enhancing the album's completeness.
“We tried various approaches to infuse more of N.Flying's color. Since we have been doing a lot of festival and live-oriented schedules, there were times when I didn't get to listen to the refined sounds in the recordings. So I thought, 'What if we try to capture the tone like we do when we perform live this time?' Therefore, I aimed for a lively mixing rather than a clean feel.” (Lee Seung-hyub)
The title track 'Everlasting' features an acoustic piano intro reminiscent of Britpop, along with marching drums and a standout guitar solo. Leader Lee Seung-hyub participated in the song's creation, conveying the message, 'I want to live as someone who is always unchanged in your heart' through the lyrics.
When asked why they chose 'Everlasting' as the title track, Yoo Hwe-seung replied, "I was working with Lee Seung-hyub, and I think we both felt without saying it that 'this is the title.' Through 'Everlasting', I wanted to show not only the fans but also the general public how N.Flying, celebrating its 10th anniversary, will approach music in the future." His eyes sparkled.
Having debuted as an FNC Entertainment band in 2015 when band music was not the 'trend', N.Flying has now reached its 10th anniversary. They still appreciate the label of 'idol band'.
Lee Seung-hyub stated, "A few days ago, we went on stage for a live performance, and the MC introduced us as an 'idol band.' I think that's right, and I want to maintain that label until the end."
Kim Jae-hyun added, "All the members are over 30 years old, but we are grateful to be called idols. Doesn't idol mean a role model? If someone starts playing the drums after watching my performance, I couldn't be happier."
So what do the members envision for N.Flying in 10 years?
Lee Seung-hyub said, "Musically, I don't know. We create based on what we feel at the time, so I can't say what we will be thinking then. However, one thing that won't change is that we will still be making heartfelt music just like we do now."
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
