[Exclusive Interview] EPEX Reflects on Love, Longing, and Growth in ‘Romantic Youth’

From cinematic emotions to bold soundscapes, EPEX talks inspiration, challenges, and what’s next.

Since their debut in 2021, EPEX has continued to carve out their place in the K-pop scene with a blend of fresh energy, emotional storytelling, and genre-spanning music. Known for their ability to connect deeply with fans through both sound and performance, the group has steadily built a reputation for creating albums that not only showcase their talent but also capture distinct moments in their artistic journey. Each release has offered something new—whether it’s a bold sound experiment, heartfelt lyricism, or captivating choreography—cementing EPEX as a group whose growth is as exciting as it is inspiring.

With each comeback, especially through their Youth series, EPEX has shown a remarkable ability to outdo themselves. Their latest installment, ‘Youth Chapter 3: ROMANTIC YOUTH,’ continues that upward trajectory. Led by the title track “Grateful to Tears,” the album weaves together themes of emotion, artistry, and youthful resilience. Preceded by the July 21st pre-release “Picasso,” the project blends poignant storytelling with striking sonic layers, proving once again that EPEX’s artistry only sharpens with time.

In this exclusive interview, EPEX reflects on closing out their Youth series with ‘Youth Chapter 3: Romantic Youth,’ touching on the mindset that fueled this comeback, the inspiration behind ‘Grateful to Tears,’ and why ‘Picasso’ set the perfect tone for the album. They hint at the challenges faced during production, share thoughts on their evolving sound, and share a special message just for ZENITH.

HELLOKPOP: Hi EPEX! It’s so great to connect with you again. Congratulations on the release of ‘Youth Chapter 3: ROMANTIC YOUTH!’ What kind of mindset or energy did you bring to this comeback?

JEFF: Since this album is the final one in our Youth series, I felt a strong desire to wrap up the youth series in a brilliant way. More than anything, we prepared it with the hope that it would be a meaningful gift for the fans who have followed this series for over a year.

A-MIN: This is the final chapter of EPEX’s Youth trilogy, and as a group that’s living right in the midst of that youth, we began this project with a dedication to fully experiencing and enjoying every step of the preparation process and activities.

HKP: The title track, “Grateful to Tears,” has such an emotional and cinematic feel. Can you share the story or message behind the song?

WISH: The title track of our fifth mini album, “Sunshower,” told the story of a boy who couldn’t bear the pain of parting. In this album, that boy has grown up, and now he looks back on the things he was grateful for and accepts the breakup more maturely. It’s a story that shows a more grown-up side of him.

MU: EPEX has continued to talk about the growing pains and the size and impact of love. Now, we’re conveying the idea of accepting a breakup with composure and using that experience as a foundation to grow and move forward. Through this message, we aim to convey that even a breakup can be cherished as one of life’s precious memories.

HKP: “Picasso” was released ahead of the album as a pre-release track. Why did you choose that song to introduce this era, and what kind of tone were you hoping to set?

AYDEN: “Picasso” is a song about breaking limits and creating something new every moment, so when we released it as a pre-release track, I thought it was perfect to show our determination to not settle for the present and create a new tomorrow. Since it’s a track with intense sound, we also felt it would be great for catching the audience’s attention!

YEWANG: Once the title track was decided as “Grateful to Tears,” we thought it would be nice to reveal a pre-release song with a completely different vibe, so we chose “Picasso.” Personally, I felt this song was too good to release without a music video, so we worked hard to prepare one as well. I’m happy we could present such a great final product to everyone!

HKP: This marks your third full-length album and the continuation of your Youth series. How does ROMANTIC YOUTH reflect where you are now, both musically and personally?

BAEKSEUNG: Through the Youth series, we’ve expressed many different sides of youth, and it made me think more deeply about what youth truly means. I hoped that, just as I did, everyone could take some time to reflect on what they have felt in life so far and their future ahead. That’s why, in each song, we wanted to go beyond simply saying, “enjoy your youth right now!” and express the complex emotions that come with youth. Because of that, I feel like our latest album has become a true reflection of me, standing right in the middle of my own youth.

HKP: Were there any tracks on the album that challenged you the most—whether vocally, emotionally, or in terms of choreography?

AYDEN: I think “Picasso” was the hardest track to record. It has a lot of hip-hop elements, and it wasn’t easy to capture that confident, self-assured vibe in my voice. I discussed it a lot with the members and went through multiple re-recordings, so in the end, I’m proud that we created such a great final result.

WISH: There’s a track called “Bang” in the album, and the song’s vocal range is so high that I really struggled while recording it. Still, I think the process helped me grow one step further as a vocalist. 

HKP: The album leans into themes of love, longing, and sincerity. What kinds of emotions or experiences were you hoping to express through this chapter?

A-MIN: Whether it’s a person, an object, or an animal, saying goodbye always comes with a lot of regret and lingering feelings. This album portrays the act of accepting even those kinds of farewells. We wanted to express that parting with something you truly loved doesn’t only bring sadness, but it can also help you take a step forward. I think EPEX has also matured a little through this album.

YEWANG: Personally, I think the word ‘thank you’ in the title track, “Grateful to Tears,” still carries traces of pain. I wanted to express the kind of feeling that cherished something so much that you can say ‘thank you’ even while accepting the pain.

HKP: If you could describe ‘ROMANTIC YOUTH’ as a color, what would it be and why?

BAEKSEUNG: I think it would be orange. Near the end of the “Grateful to Tears” music video, there’s a scene with orange lighting and twinkling lights like fireflies, and I think that scene matches ‘Youth Chapter 3: ROMANTIC YOUTH’ the best.

JEFF: For me, it’s light purple. If I think about each song individually, they might all have different colors, but when I look at the album as a whole, for some reason, a dreamy light purple comes to my mind! Maybe it’s because youth is something no one can predict and is hard to clearly define.

HKP: The visuals and styling of this era are striking. How did the concept influence your look, and were there any standout styling moments from the shoot?

AYDEN: Since ‘romance’ is the keyword for this album, I think we expressed it in many different styles! There’s a cute side to it, but we also incorporated butterfly wings and adopted a more mature styling approach than in our previous work to showcase growth. As a behind-the-scenes story, while filming the group choreography scene for the “Grateful to Tears” music video, we wore white T-shirts and jeans in the rain. But because WISH’s hair color is red, the color eventually bled, and his white t-shirt turned pink! It was a funny memory.

MU: We tried to express the images that would come to mind when you think of ‘youth.’ In the concept photos, we first released calm, monochrome images, and then shared photos with vibrant colors to convey acceptance of imperfections and a welcoming of new moments. Personally, I wanted to try a new style, so I dyed my hair pink for the first time! Do you think it suits me? (laughs)

HKP: EPEX is known for expressing a wide range of emotions through your music. Was there a specific feeling you wanted to capture with this album that you hadn’t explored before?

WISH: Personally, through the title track, “Grateful to Tears,” I aimed to convey a contradictory emotion that appears happy yet somehow feels sad. It’s a kind of feeling that’s hard to explain in words; sad, but not entirely sad.

HKP: How do you think EPEX’s sound or identity has evolved across the Youth series—and what makes this particular chapter stand out?

YEWANG: I think there’s a big difference in the words and attitude we use to express the same theme. There are so many great lyrics, so I hope people listen closely and pay attention to them. Since this is the final chapter of the Youth series, it also feels like we’re expressing the conclusion of the story.

JEFF: Musically, we expanded the spectrum of the theme of youth by trying songs with intense, bold sounds like “Picasso,” which we hadn’t attempted before. Personally, while the previous two albums in the Youth series marked the beginning of youth that is full of wandering and uncertainty, this album feels like embracing all of those factors and stepping into the brilliance at the very center of youth. It’s as if the protagonist of our music has reached the final stretch of a journey toward discovering one’s true self in this third chapter.

HKP: You’ve built a solid discography by now. Are there any favorite songs from previous releases you still love performing live?

BAEKSEUNG: That would be “Hymn to Love.” We always perform it as our encore song, and it’s a song fans really love because we can all jump and enjoy it together without a single worry.

WISH: I’d also say “Hymn to Love,” since it’s the track that always wraps up our concerts. Whenever it plays, all members and our fans can’t help but start jumping together!

HKP: What do you hope listeners take away from ‘ROMANTIC YOUTH’—especially fans who have been with you through the entire Youth journey?

YEWANG: This album contains light and easy-listening tracks, but it carries messages like ‘I’ll move forward in my own way’ and ‘romantic challenges that are only possible in the time of youth.’ I hope the listeners notice and appreciate those messages.

AYDEN: Throughout the Youth series, we’ve shared stories about many different lives and faces of youth. Since youth can’t be defined as just one thing, I don’t think it’s about finding a single answer or interpretation, but more about feeling it with your heart. No matter the difficulties people may face, I hope everyone always keeps a positive mindset toward the bright future ahead!

HKP: With ‘Youth Chapter 3: ROMANTIC YOUTH’ wrapping up the current trilogy, do you see this as the true ending to the Youth series, or is there more of the story to come?

A-MIN: Personally, I think the current Youth trilogy has been about capturing the feelings we’ve had while standing in the middle of our youth. In the future, we would like to tell stories about youth from the perspective of someone who has already been through that time, looking back on it as an observer. Since there are endless stories to tell about youth, I don’t think we can say for sure that this is the final ending!

JEFF: If you look at all three albums in the series, there are still some empty pages left… I’ll stop my comment here.

HKP: Without giving too much away, is there anything you can tease about what’s next for EPEX?

BAEKSEUNG: We cannot share much about what stories we’ll unfold in the future, but we’ll present good stories while studying and thinking about what our fans would enjoy!

HKP: Lastly, please leave a message for ZENITH reading this.

MU: Thank you for reading this interview. We’re back with an album filled with great songs, so please continue to show your love for EPEX’s music and our upcoming activities! Thank you.

Listen to EPEX discography on Spotify or Apple Music.
Connect with the members of EPEX on X, X (members), Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook.

*Special thanks to the members of EPEX, C9 Entertainment, and Helix Publicity for this exclusive interview.

Image and Video Credits: C9 Entertainment