April 22, 2024. In their first interview with Weverse Magazine, PLAVE spoke of writing a never-ending movie with PLLI at the heart of the story. October 23, 2026. More than two years later, PLAVE once again turns to the language of film to describe the time they share with their fans. This time, their wish is for the story they’re writing together with PLLI to be “a movie with a happy ending, no matter where you pause it.”
For your new mini album, “HYPERDRIVE,” PLAVE took on the role of race car drivers.
Even with the same props and settings — racing helmets, cars, tires, photo walls, and racetracks — each of you brought your own personality to the concept through your poses and gestures.
YEJUN: Since the concept is all about racing toward a single star, I wanted my poses to convey a sense of victory and accomplishment.
In the visual sampler, I crossed my fingers to make a victory pose with two number ones.
But fans started teasing me, asking if I was trying to show off my Class 2 driver’s license with those two ones. I couldn’t help but laugh because I actually do have a Class 2 license!
EUNHO: I had a lot of fun shooting the visual sampler we released earlier.
The idea was to step up to the photo wall and pose like I was totally at ease.
I was a little nervous about the racing concept at first, but once we started shooting, I realized it wasn’t all that different from what I’m used to.
So I just thought back to posing on red carpets at award shows and gave it my best shot.
HAMIN: The first thing that came to mind when I heard about the concept was freedom.
Race car drivers have to make their own decisions, sometimes in the heat of the moment, once they’re out on the track.
So rather than planning out my poses beforehand, I tried to move freely and imagine myself as an actual racer. I thought that if I kept my movements light and relaxed, that sporty feel would come through naturally.
Beyond the visual concept , you also explored new musical territory on this album, experimenting with genres like EDM and bossa nova for the first time.
BAMBY: Whenever we work on a new album, our top priority is to make music that people enjoy listening to while also showing what PLAVE is capable of.
Trying something new always comes with some pressure, but we believe we can get through anything as long as we’re together.
Since “Star Trace” is a high-energy EDM track with a sporty feel, we incorporated a lot of big, dynamic movements to make the performance just as exciting to watch as the song is to listen to.
I was really happy with how it turned out, and I couldn’t wait for our fans to see it.
EUNHO: Like you said, we wanted to explore new genres and show a different side of ourselves with this album. I’m really happy that we got to make an EDM track our title track.
We’ve been working together for a long time now, so I feel like I have a pretty good sense of which parts would bring out the best in each member’s voice and how to bring out sides of them we haven’t shown before.
That makes it easier for me to let my imagination run wild and explore new possibilities.
I don’t think of PLAVE as a group that has to fit into any particular mold.
What was it like bringing out new sides of each member while staying true to PLAVE’s distinctive vocal qualities?
You each seem to have your own approach to producing and vocal directing.
YEJUN, for example, pays close attention to every detail, from individual words and syllables to breathing, while NOAH focuses on the emotions and overall feel of a song to help the members better understand what they’re trying to express.
EUNHO, meanwhile, has a keen ear for the finer details of the sound.
YEJUN: For this album, we focused on making songs that were easy to get into but still packed a punch.
One thing I realized is that making something sound effortless doesn’t mean you can pay less attention to the details. If anything, you have to be more meticulous.
So we spent a lot more time fine-tuning the little things this time around.
NOAH: I spent a lot of time thinking about the lyrics in particular.
Since the songs move between Korean and English, I wanted to make sure the flow and the message stayed consistent, even as the language changed.
More than anything, I wanted us to tell stories that more people could relate to and find comfort in.
EUNHO: Getting the vocal tone right was also really important.
I believe a song needs to grab your attention within the first few seconds, so throughout the vocal directing process, I paid close attention to how each member’s voice fit into the overall sound of the track.
What was the creative process behind the choreography for “Star Trace” like?
Even in the synchronized sections, each member brings subtle variations to the movements, while the shifting formations seem to trace the path of a star, much like the song’s title suggests.
HAMIN: We really focused on making the performance feel like a continuation of the story told in the music video.
As the title “Star Trace” suggests, we wanted every movement to look as though it left a trail of stars across the stage.
Even the moments when each member puts their own spin on the choreography are part of creating that trail.
BAMBY: The process itself actually went pretty smoothly.
This time, we wanted to give the choreography a slightly mechanical feel, so we went for clean, precise movements that would complement the EDM sound. We also tried to create shapes resembling constellations through our formations and movements across the stage.
“HYPERDRIVE” is an album that shows a lot of new sides of PLAVE. And since we’re aliens from Asterum, I think you’ll really get a sense of just how unique and extraordinary our orbit is.
Bringing out the best in PLAVE must take a deep understanding of each other’s personalities and strengths, as well as a shared vision of the kind of group you want to be.
It reminds me of something you said in a previous interview with “The Kids Donga.” “At the end of the day, we’re the ones who know PLAVE best, right? And we’re the ones who can make music that truly reflects how we feel.”
NOAH: Our title track, “Star Trace,” is about our determination to travel from star to star to reach you. Since we’re aliens, PLAVE and PLLI are actually connecting across different planets.
We wanted the songs to convey just how far we’re willing to go for our fans, even if it means traveling from one planet to another, and to express the love we share with PLLI.
BAMBY: Everything around us inspires us. The members and PLLI are especially big sources of inspiration because we spend so much time together.
We might know ourselves better than anyone else, but PLLI are the ones who motivate us to keep growing and becoming an even better version of PLAVE.
So I guess you could say this album was inspired by PLLI, made possible by PLLI, and created for PLLI.
NOAH, In a previous LIVE, you talked about how challenging it can be to keep creating, but also how fortunate you feel to be able to do what you love.
You said you never want those challenges to overshadow that sense of gratitude.
Given how much time and effort goes into making music, how do you stay motivated and make the most of that opportunity when things get tough?
NOAH: I’m really grateful that I get to make the music I love and that there are people who look forward to hearing it.
When things get tough, I sometimes get so caught up in what I’m working on that I lose sight of that for a moment.
So I try to remind myself from time to time that I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do. It doesn’t necessarily make the hard parts go away, but it helps me remember why I want to keep going.
When that happens, rather than putting pressure on myself to get everything right from the start, I try to focus on one small thing I can do right then and there.
Sometimes, just working on a little melody or bouncing ideas off the other members helps me get unstuck. And when nothing seems to work, I’ll take a short break.
Thinking about how happy PLLI might be when they hear what we’ve made always makes me want to try again.
I guess that’s how I find the motivation to start over, one step at a time.
It sounds like you’ve found your own way of working through those challenges.
YEJUN, when a fan asked you on Weverse how you unwind, you mentioned that sometimes you let yourself be lazy, leave your place a little messy, and eventually settle back into your routine.
You also talked about how important it is to have a routine of your own. But I imagine sticking to those small, everyday habits isn’t always easy.
YEJUN: I definitely don’t stick to my routine perfectly every day, either.
Sometimes I work late and don’t get around to tidying up, and other days I just want to do absolutely nothing and relax. When that happens, I remind myself that it’s okay to take it easy for a day.
Then, when I have a little more time, I’ll catch up on the chores I’ve been putting off or get back into my usual routine. That helps me find my rhythm again.
To me, a routine isn’t so much a set of rules I have to follow as something familiar I can always come back to when things feel a little out of balance.
When I’m onstage, I always want to do better, and there’s so much on my mind.
But at home, I try to let go of that pressure by focusing on the little things.
Eating well, getting enough rest, and making my space feel comfortable all help me recharge so I can give my all onstage again.
Rather than putting pressure on myself to make the most of every day off, I’m learning to pay attention to what I actually need in the moment and find a balance that works for me.
What about you, HAMIN?
In a previous Weverse LIVE, you talked about going through a difficult time in your life, comparing it to the strong winds that blow just before a flower blooms.
Looking back, how do you feel about having made it through that period?
HAMIN: To be honest, I feel a little shy saying I’ve “overcome” that time in my life.
It’s not like I could stop the wind from blowing, so I think it’s more accurate to say I learned how to hold on when things got rough.
Back then, there was really only one thing I could do, and that was show up at the practice room again the next morning. It wasn’t some big moment of determination that got me through.
It was all those little days, one after another, that eventually became my foundation.
I also had the other members by my side, going through it all with me, and PLLI, who kept believing in us even when things were tough.
You also ended that LIVE by saying you hoped PLLI wouldn’t have to experience any pain from loving you.
What did you mean by that?
What does it mean to you to want fans to be able to love PLAVE, and you as an individual, without that love becoming a source of pain?
HAMIN: PLLI were the ones who stood by me when the winds were at their strongest. And I know that because they care about us so much, they sometimes worry about us, too.
That’s what I meant when I said I didn’t want loving us to be painful for them.
I just want loving us to be something that makes them happy, not something they feel obligated to do.
That reminds me of something you said about “HYPERDRIVE.”
You described the album as being about choosing to slow down and take in what’s around you rather than racing ahead at full speed.
After weathering those difficult times, learning to hold on, and finding the space to pause and look back, how do you see PLAVE as a group today?
YEJUN: I think PLAVE is at another turning point right now. To me, the “Caligo” series was an opportunity to introduce PLAVE to a wider audience.
Now that we’ve wrapped up that long, epic story, it feels like we’re at the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
I’m trying to find the right balance between holding on to everything we’ve built so far and continuing to bring something fresh to the table.
HAMIN: I think our Asia tour last year gave us a chance to catch our breath and look back on everything we’d been through together.
We’d been going nonstop for so long that before we knew it, the tour was already over!
We talked it over as a group and promised each other we’d give it our all on this year’s even bigger world tour.
So right now, I’d say we’re more fired up than ever!
The album title, “HYPERDRIVE,” refers to a fictional propulsion system often seen in science fiction that allows spaceships to travel faster than light.
It’s a way of venturing into the unknown, even if such technology remains impossible according to our current understanding of physics.
With that in mind, where does PLAVE hope to go next? What’s a dream that might seem out of reach right now but that you’re determined to make a reality someday?
NOAH: I dream of a day when people all around the world can sing along to our music.
It would make me so happy if we could connect through our songs and share the same emotions, even if we don’t speak the same language.
I think our own “HYPERDRIVE” is our genuine love for music and our determination to keep going. I want us to keep learning, trying new things, and building something together, one song at a time.
EUNHO: My dream is pretty similar to NOAH’s. I’d love for us to sing together with PLLI all around the world, especially the fans we haven’t had the chance to meet yet.
Some of those stages might seem a long way off right now, but I believe we can take on those challenges as long as the five of us are together.
What keeps us moving forward is PLLI’s support and the trust we have in each other.
With that and all the hard work we’re putting in, I really believe we can turn those moments we’ve only imagined into reality.
EUNHO, in an interview with “Billboard,” you described PLAVE as a group of “pioneers” who keep pushing boundaries and breaking new ground.
PLAVE has continued to carve out its own path, becoming the first fifth-generation idol group to perform at a stadium, the first virtual idol group to sell over a million copies of an album in its first week, and now achieving three consecutive million-selling albums.
Every track on “HYPERDRIVE” also reached the top of major Korean music charts shortly after its release.
Since being a pioneer means venturing into uncharted history, what new ground do you hope PLAVE will break next?
EUNHO: I did call us pioneers, but honestly, I don’t think we set out with some grand mission to blaze a trail.
We were just heading in the direction we wanted to go, and it turned out there wasn’t a path there yet.
And I think milestones like performing at a stadium and selling over a million copies of an album were only possible because PLLI discovered us and showed us so much love.
I’m really grateful to PLLI for always cheering us on and giving us the confidence to keep challenging ourselves and growing.
If there’s one thing I want us to be known for going forward, it’s simply being a group that makes great music and puts on performances people can’t wait to see.
After all, we’re ready to give all the PLLI on Terra all the love we’ve got!
I don’t think our destiny is something I can write on my own. It’s a story we’re writing together.
HAMIN, you’ve also talked about how every artist has their own goals, and how PLAVE is still figuring out what you want to create and the kind of mark you want to leave as an artists.
Looking back on your journey so far, how do you think PLAVE has evolved, and what kind of mark do you hope to leave in the years ahead?
HAMIN: Looking back, I think our journey has really been shaped by the questions we’ve asked ourselves along the way.
At first, it was, “Can we really do this?” But at some point, that changed to, “What do we want to create?”
There was a time when just being able to stand onstage felt incredible.
Now, we’re choosing the stories we want to tell and making our own decisions about our sound, and I feel like we’re gradually finding our identity as artists. This album is part of that process, too.
As for the mark we want to leave, it’s actually nothing too grand. I just hope that someday, when PLLI are going about their lives and happen to put on one of our songs, it’ll bring back fond memories of that time in their lives.
And we’ll always be there for them. When we meet again, I hope they’ll look at us and think, “Wow, they’ve gotten even better since last time.”
That’s the kind of mark we want to leave. More than anything, I hope the time PLII spend listening to our music is the happiest, brightest part of their day.
And we’ll keep working hard to make that happen.
BAMBY, after watching “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” with PLLI, you talked about how, in the end, some things remain unchanged because the memories and feelings we hold on to stay with us, and how that made you realize that perhaps the present had been perfect all along.
It reminded me of something you said in an earlier interview with “CINE21.” You mentioned that you and the members often remind each other not to lose sight of where you started, and that the more the world changes, the more important it is to stay true to yourselves.
With so much changing so quickly, and PLAVE continuing to move forward, what’s the one thing about PLAVE you hope will never change?
BAMBY: I’ve always felt like our lives are kind of like a movie.
And after watching “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” with PLLI, that feeling became even stronger. No matter how far you travel through time, the memories and feelings you carry with you stay the same. I found that really comforting.
That’s also what I meant when I said we shouldn’t change just because the world around us does.
If you think of our lives as a movie, the scenes and settings are always changing. We’re performing on bigger stages, technology keeps getting better, and more people are discovering us.
But I’ve come to realize that those aren’t really things we can hold on to.
So if you ask me what I hope will never change about PLAVE, I’d say it’s the way we felt when we first started making music.
We wanted to make PLLI happy, and our love for performing is what brought us this far.
I never want us to forget that. As long as those things stay the same, I think we can look back at any point in our journey and say, just like I did after watching the movie, “Maybe everything was perfect just the way it was.”
I hope the story we’re writing together with PLLI will be like a movie with a happy ending, no matter where you pause it.
*Part 2 of our PLAVE special, featuring an interview about their tour, will be published on Monday, October 26, at 12 PM KST.