[INTERVIEW] EVNNE SWITCHES STYLE UP WITH "HOT MESS" • POP TOKKI

EVNNE has made a vibrant splash into 2025 with their fourth Mini Album, ‘HOT MESS.’ As they enter their second year as a group, the seven-member boy group has continued to evolve their artistry. With the title track, “HOT MESS,” EVNNE shares a free-spirited and more laid-back song, a complete 180 from their previous releases. This new album shows EVNNE’s wish to enjoy every moment, even the messy ones. Its playful and witty, and brings a fresh perspective. The visuals reflect this with bright and warm colors, creating a feel-good atmosphere.

Two concepts shape this release: “Sowing” and “Splatter.” The “Splatter” concept represents EVNNE freely and boldly enjoying themselves in a space bursting with various colors. In contrast, the sub-concept “Sowing” portrays a more relaxed EVNNE in a serene, garden-like setting, showing they can keep their cool through crazy situations, much like how, when tending to a garden, one must patiently solve issues to produce best results.

EVNNE’s new release HOT MESS includes six new songs: “HOT MESS,” “Birthday,” “Love Like That,” “CROWN,” “Youth,” and “KESHIKI (Korean Ver).”

The title track, “HOT MESS,” is a vibrant, pop-rock song that relays the wish to live in the moment rather than being stuck by the abstract and turbulent emotions one may feel. The song’s bright and chaotic elements in the music video are a perfect pairing for the fresh take of the song. The music video is artful and blends the border between reality and the abstract with an emotional climax. EVNNE members YOO SEUNGEON and PARK JIHOO both participated in writing the lyrics.

Member JI YUNSEO also contributed to the songwriting for “Love Like That,” capturing the unique charm and essence of EVNNE as a group. Another standout track, “Youth,” features lyrics written by SEUNGEON. This song blends rock-inspired guitar riffs with Wobble Synth, creating intense emotion. The lyrics convey that crashing and breaking are inevitable parts of youth and life—crucial moments in the journey toward achieving one’s dreams. The track resonates with the idea that growth and success await even amid struggles. “景色 (KESHIKI)” was initially released as a Japanese digital single in November 2024 after first being revealed during their fan meeting ‘EVNNEING-PRESSO,’ and KEITA, EVNNE’s leader composed the track and wrote the lyrics.

Ahead of the release of ‘HOT MESS,’ we got to sit down with EVNNE in a roundtable interview to ask about their inspiration and emotions related to this album. The group shared their personal experiences and their thought process behind identifying with the title “HOT MESS.”

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POP TOKKI: Your new album is all about finding joy in messy situations. Can you tell us about a moment in your career where you had to apply this mindset to a situation you’ve faced?

JI YUNSEO: Every day, every time

PARK JIHOO: I have one. One time, we thought we were going to miss the cue because the platform we were standing on to rise above the stage moved slower than everyone was expecting. So when we did get on the stage, we were a little confused at first. But we just got into it because the song had already started, and we instantly decided to give it a go. Eventually, we had so much fun on that stage, like any other performance.

POP TOKKI: Which song from the new album best describes the members’ personalities?

PARK HANBIN: I think “CROWN” suits us the most. It is a very powerful and bold song, so I think it fits our characteristics that we want to portray well.

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EVNNE has consistently kept their fans on their toes with exciting new activities and releases. The dynamic group will host a two-day concert, *SET N GO*, on April 5th and 6th at Yes24 Live Hall in Seoul, South Korea. 2024 was a particularly eventful year for the group, with the release of two mini-albums, ‘Un: SEEN’ and ‘RIDE OR DIE,’ alongside several remixes including “UGLY (Will Not Fear Remix),” “Badder Love (MINDA Remixes),” “Trouble (arcon Remix),” and their digital Japanese single, “景色 (KESHIKI).”

In addition to these musical releases, EVNNE embarked on their 2024 EVNNE FAN-CONCERT [SQUAD:R] ASIA TOUR, performing in cities across Asia. The group also made their North American debut with their Ride with EVNNE showcase tour. Between their debut and the release of their second mini-album ‘Un: SEEN’ the title track “UGLY” reached #7 on the Billboard LyricFind Global Chart, and in the week of March 30th, “TROUBLE” ranked #2 on the Billboard LyricFind U.S. Chart. EVNNE’s momentum continues to soar as they break boundaries and make their mark globally.

EVNNE continues to build on their success with this new release, shaping their own distinctive sound that leaves a lasting impression on listeners, whether they’ve been with the group since their debut or are new listeners experiencing their music for the first time.

Want to listen to ‘HOT MESS?’ You can stream EVNNE’s newest releases on Apple Music or Spotify! Let us know what your favorite track is off “HOT MESS” on our Instagram and Twitter/X.