Get ready for the perfect TEMPEST

Having been in the K-pop industry for less than a year, TEMPEST have already shown one of the most remarkable abilities for a music artist: evolving quickly without being afraid of time.

The septet, born under Yuehua Entertainment and composed by HYEONGSEOP, HYUK, TAERAE, EUNCHAN, LEW, HANBIN, and HWARANG, first appeared on the K-pop scene last March with the pop song “Bad News” and the mini album “It’s ME, It’s WE”.

Now they are back with their 2nd mini-album, “SHINING UP.” Four tracks in which the boys sing the love and hope that bloomed in the summer feature the theme of “light,” which does not change over time and contains the energy and emotion of endless youth.

Panorama had a chat with them.

First of all. Nice to meet you, boys, and congratulations on your comeback. Can you please introduce yourself to the Italian public?

HANBIN: Hi! I am THE SUNFLOWER HANBIN, also the cute and reliable eldest of TEMPEST. I am the lead vocalist and the lead dancer of the team.

HYEONGSEOP: Hello. I am HYEONGSEOP, and I am the vocalist of the team. I mesmerize people with my pure and passionate vibes.

HYUK: Hi. I am TEMPEST’s main vocalist HYUK with a cool and refreshing vibe.

EUNCHAN: I am EUNCHAN, and I am in charge of the sub-vocal and the team’s model-like proportions.

LEW: Hello, I am LEW, the spring sunshine leader of TEMPEST!

HWARANG: Hi, I am the center of TEMPEST, a free spirit HWARANG. I am the main rapper and the main dancer of the team!

TAERAE: Hello, I am TAERAE, the youngest member of TEMPEST. I became more charismatic than in the previous album, haha.

You debuted in March and are already back with new music. How have these months been for you?

HANBIN: I have been concentrating on practicing to improve my skills, and I also constantly monitor my stage performances. To improve my skills, I tried to find the parts I lacked and practiced my dancing, singing, and facial expressions.

HYEONGSEOP: I practiced so much to develop a better and complete stage while monitoring past activities and performances. On the days when I did not have a practice schedule, I spent my time with family and refreshed myself for the next album.

HYUK: During our break, I practiced extremely hard. Since it was a long time, I believe all seven members have worked hard and improved much for this comeback.

EUNCHAN: While monitoring the previous activities, I spent my time doing self-development by practicing dance moves and gestures, personal acting skills, and working out to overcome what I lacked.

LEW: Over the past few months, I have monitored our previous activities and put a lot of effort into making up for my shortcomings. I worked out a lot and studied foreign languages. For the workout, I did muscle and strength workouts every day and studied English and Japanese for languages.

HWARANG: After our previous activity, I tried to fill in the parts where I was lacking and had some time to improve my skills further for the next album. Also, for iE who have been waiting for us, I spent my time keeping them updated with our current status through various contents.

TAERAE: During our break, I spent most of my time on self-development. I have thought a lot about how to perform better than I did in the first album and learned many things from watching sunbaenims’ stages. Additionally, I did a lot of workouts for better physical strength!

Your new mini-album is called Shining Up. Can you tell us more about it?

HYUK: Our album Shining Up contains the sensibility of youth that shines endlessly with the theme of light that does not change over time. This album is also filled with various genres and great songs. I am confident that this album will show both the maturity and boyhood of TEMPEST simultaneously.

I would love to analyze each track with you guys. Let’s start with the title track, Can’t Stop Shining. The vibe makes us miss Summer a lot... Can you tell us more?

EUNCHAN: It is a song that contains the freshness and spirit of the boys who have just taken their first steps. Through this song, we are ready to present the freshness that only TEMPEST can show so that you can look forward to it!

Then we have Young & Wild. It’s a song that showcases the power of youth... Can you tell us more?

TAERAE: Right! As you said, “Young&Wild” is a song that shows the power of youth. I think the song is very colorful and can offer the unique color of TEMPEST. There will be no boredom since you may feel the strength of TEMPEST throughout the song.

Only One Day is a song about love, and JUNNY produces it. Hwarang, you are listed as a lyricist for this song. How was working with a talented producer as JUNNY?

HWARANG: First of all, I would like to thank him for giving me an opportunity to write the lyrics for “Only One Day.” I appreciate that he led the way I had envisioned in my mind in a better direction while making the song. Thanks for giving me a chance to have this valuable experience.

Last but not least, Start Up. The funky groove makes it the perfect closure of the album. Can you tell us more?

HANBIN: “START UP” is a track with a funky rhythm and groove. It is a song that iE can interestingly listen to and will remain in their memory. Another secret about the song is…This song was recorded when we were preparing our debut album! Therefore, I can say that the preparation for this song took quite a long time. I was constantly preparing for our first comeback album while reminding myself of the memories of the time I practiced for the first time.

If each of you you had to choose one of these songs to describe himself right now, which would it be and why?

HANBIN: I think all the songs on this album fit the members very well. However, if I had to choose one, I think it would be the title song, “Can’t Stop Shining.” It is a fresh and upbeat song with pop music background, and every time I listen to it, I feel comfortable. Because I also smile a lot, I think this song’s vibe fits me well!

HYEONGSEOP: “Young&Wild.” I think the song is similar to the current me, who constantly challenges without hesitation to achieve dreams. Just like the song’s overwhelming atmosphere, I feel overwhelmed when I picture myself being active on the stage in the future.

HYUK: “Can’t Stop Shining,” because I think the song can show you my bright skin, pretty smile, and warm timbre with high notes, which is a total reversal, all at the same time.

EUNCHAN: “START UP” because the song presents both our intensity and an ambitious spirit.

LEW: “Can’t Stop Shining.” One of my mottos is “Let’s move forward without losing the light,” and this song precisely carries the story I want to convey. I want to keep running toward the world without losing the light and deliver hope to many people.

HWARANG: I would say “Young & Wild.” As you can see in the lyrics for the chorus, which says spread the wings and fly high, this contains the image of our freedom and the future journey, so I think this song demonstrates me well.

TAERAE: It’s “START UP.” Because it is the song that expresses my voice in the rap part quite well. Also, because I can show you my various facial expressions, I can also show you my talents well!

Your debut song Bad News surpassed 10M views on YouTube four days after its release, and yours was definitely one of this year’s most powerful debut stages. What is next for you?

HANBIN: I hope everyone pays attention to us growing from music to performance. I wish we perform on a bigger stage and win Rookie of the Year Award.

LEW: The goal of this album is to hit 2M views on YouTube and top first on the music program. We were nominated for the first place several times on the music programs. It was all possible because there is iE, so I sincerely want to thank you for everything. We will work hard to take first place and give our award to iE!

HYUK: We are rising higher and keep growing. We want to perform on international stages and win many awards.

TAERAE: Our next goal is to give you a more powerful performance and positive energy than the first album. For this goal, we are constantly working hard.

HWARANG: Our next goal is to win the Rookie of the Year Award, which we can only get once. It has been the goal since we were trainees, and I eagerly want it!

EUNCHAN: The goal is to show you unexpected charm compared with the first album. And to show you the distinct color of each member.

HYEONGSEOP: Our next goal is to win first place on music programs and win the Rookie of the Year Award. Especially Rookie of the Year Award is the only award we can have this time. So we are really eager to get it.

Lew and Hyeongseop, you already debuted as a duo before. How is it to work as a 7-members group now?

LEW: When two of use promoted, I was happy and fun, but the joy doubled since we became seven members! And I feel like it’s more filled and colorful.

HYEONGSEOP: It’s really fun and new. It was fun when we promoted the duo and leaned on each other. But, seven members make it feel unique and more fun than two. As much as we have individual personalities, there are many things to learn.

I’m also curious about something. When you met for the first time, which was the member that caught your eye first?

HANBIN: For me, HWARANG caught my eye first. I first met him in the company meeting room, and his tangled hair and face were awkward, unique and memorable.

HYEONGSEOP: LEW. It’s been six years since we have known each other, the reason he caught my eye is he was the first member when I joined the company.

HYUK: I would say LEW. Because even before his debut as TEMPEST, he did many activities and participated in PRODUCE 101.

EUNCHAN: It was LEW for me. Even though we were from the same school, his first impression was quite reliable.

LEW: TAERAE caught my eye first. I was surprised by his first impression of his low tone of voice with his baby face. I thought he was older than me.

HWARANG: EUNCHAN was way taller than the other members. So he caught my eye first.

TAERAE: HYUK Hyung! We joined the company with only a one-day gap! Because we share a similar date of joining the company, it made me feel a sense of fellowship. Also, I wanted to become closer to HYUK Hyung, and that’s why he caught my eye first.

Hanbin, after I-Land, you hosted a solo fan meeting; how important is being in touch with your fans for you?

HANBIN: I think it’s a precious opportunity to give back my thankful heart to my fans who support me. In between communication with fans, I could show many sides of authentic “HANBIN” myself. And it was a very precious and unforgettable memory in my life.

Eunchan, in 2020 you graduated in Fashion. Do you have any fashion tips for your fellow members? And who do you think is the most fashionable in the group?

EUNCHAN: It can be very simple, and the tip is you style it as balanced on individual body type. And I think HWARANG is the group’s most fashionable member because he really does!

Taerae, you are the group's maknae, so I think you have the last word here. If you could say anything to one of your hyungs, who would he be, and what would you say to him?

TAERAE: I want to tell LEW, my reliable team leader. I always think that being a leader of TEMPEST is so much work and not an easy job. I appreciate LEW Hyung taking that position with responsibility and leading us.

Hyuk, if you could realize just one of your dreams right now, which would it be?

HYUK: It’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s the best achievement of our promotion this year. I really want to win the Rookie of the Year award.

Do you guys have any role models in the industry?

HANBIN: Yes, but my role models are too many sunbaenims, so I can’t pick one. BTS, SEVENTEEN, IU, SNSD… I like them all.

HYEONGSEOP: It’s BTS sunbaenim. The passion for the music and show, splendid songs, and performance made me a longing. By emulating them, as a K-pop artist, I will work hard with confidence to make K-pop echo down in the whole world.

HYUK: It’s BTS sunbaenim! I want to become a person, or a group, who can positively influence people just like BTS does!

EUNCHAN: There are so many respectful chic sunbaenims. So It’s hard to choose exactly one, haha! Every sunbaenim is my role model!

LEW: My role models are BTS and IU sunbaenims. I like their music a lot and listen very often. My dream is to become a person like them.

HWARANG: Since I was young, my role model was YOON DUJUN sunbaenim, so I was challenged to be an idol, and finally, I’ve got to be like him. His kind appearance, polite and gentle attitude looks cool to me!

TAERAE: My role models are TAEMIN and TAEYONG sunbaenims. The charisma and performance on the stage were so cool! I love you, sunbaenims!

I have one last question; what do we expect from Tempest?

HANBIN: Since we just debuted a few months ago, we couldn’t show TEMPEST’s charms yet. Please look forward to our infinite potential and growth. We’ll keep growing and improving and become a TEMPEST that crosses various genres. Thank you, and we love you!