[Exclusive Interview] Hope in Every Beat: ARrC Talks New Music, Life Lessons, and Lifting Each Other Up

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In this exclusive interview, ARrC shares how they turn life’s ups, downs, and dawns into music that connects.

Since their debut with the EP [AR^C] in August 2024, ARrC—short for Always Remember the Real Connection—has steadily carved out a distinct identity in the K-pop landscape. With members HYUNMIN, KIEN, CHOI HAN, ANDY, RIOTO, DOHA, and JIBEEN, the group has built a reputation for crafting music that’s honest, rhythm-forward, and emotionally resonant. Each release has pushed their artistic boundaries further, drawing fans in with an authenticity that lives up to their name.

Now, less than a year since their debut, ARrC returns with their third EP, [HOPE], released on July 16, 2025. The project brings their musical experimentation into sharper focus. Title track “awesome” is a modern-day anthem that turns everyday mishaps into moments of groove-worthy reflection, blending early 2000s hip-hop energy with the group’s signature lighthearted resilience. Meanwhile, “dawns” marks a lyrical milestone for members HYUNMIN and CHOI HAN, who penned verses that feel like quiet confessions under fading night skies—raw, reflective, and achingly sincere.

We sat down with ARrC for an exclusive interview to discuss [HOPE], their artistic evolution, and the stories behind the songs that are already resonating with fans. From the playful chaos of “awesome” to the introspective quiet of “dawns,” the group opens up about what this chapter means to them—and why the real connection remains at the heart of everything they do.

HELLOKPOP: To start, can you share one thing you wish fans will discover about ARrC through this new album [HOPE]?

ANDY: Hello! I am ARrC’s vitamin, ANDY. This album, [HOPE], has different emotions and moods than the albums we’ve released so far. Rather than it being just bright or dark, we wanted to express those in-between emotions you often feel in your daily life, for example, a momentary anxiety or a trivial happiness found in the tiredness of a repeated everyday routine. I would be happier if our fans could think, “We can find hope in such small emotions,” while listening to our new album.

DOHA: Hello, I’m ARrC’s main vocalist and youngest member, DOHA. We took on new challenges for this album, including music. I believe you might be able to tell from our title track, “awesome,” because we tried to convey the mindset of casually overcoming unfortunate events in daily life instead of just pushing ourselves to the limit all the time. We hope our fans could think, “When ARrC expresses these feelings, they can sure make them interesting.”

HKP: Congratulations on the release of your third mini album [HOPE]! What does the word hope mean to you personally, and why do you think it reflects where ARrC is now in your journey?

HYUNMIN: To me, ‘hope’ is the feeling that helps me get through tough times in reality. Even if you don’t see it right away, the belief that there is hope out there somewhere is what empowers people to move forward. As we continue our activities, we always consider our current position as a team and the direction we should move towards. I believe our new album, [HOPE], also conveys our dedication and journey to never losing hope and working hard despite those concerns very well.

RIOTO: To me, ‘hope’ is the bravery to start again, even in a moment where you have fallen. While preparing for this album, I realized that hope is not just a type of ideal, but the standard that reminds us of the reason we are together. Beyond discussing bright and positive stories, we wanted to face various emotions in an honest attitude, and I think [HOPE] captures our intentions perfectly.

HYUNMIN

HKP: What do you want listeners to take away from [HOPE]? Is there a particular feeling or message you would like to convey to them?

CHOI HAN: If you pay close attention to the lyrics of “awesome,” it describes saying “awesome!” when fronted by the common but not-too-pleasant moments in daily life, such as losing earphones or missing the bus. We wanted to express those moments playfully, in ARrC’s style. Although it may seem trivial, we all experience both big and small failures repeatedly throughout our lives. Through this album and its entire track list, we hope to share a message of comfort and support: “It’s okay, we can get over this moment in an ‘awesome’ way” with all the listeners, because it also encapsulates our vision of ‘hope.’

HKP: The title track, “awesome” feels like an anthem for getting through the chaos of everyday life. How do you connect with its message of finding confidence and joy in life’s imperfections?

CHOI HAN: When I first heard “awesome,” the lighthearted and easygoing perspective it took on everyday life felt really refreshing. I found myself relating to the lyrics and thinking, “Yeah, maybe it’s okay to just let things go sometimes.” That’s why this song has become a reminder for me that things don’t always have to be perfect, and that even letting go can take courage. I hope “awesome” can offer that same kind of comfort and a little smile to our fans, too.

KIEN: For me, the days when things don’t go as planned or get a little messy often end up becoming the most fun memories. That’s why our title track, “awesome,” really matched my personality. I tend to take unexpected moments lightly and with a sense of humor, just like the song does. I think that connection made the whole process even more exciting and enjoyable for me.

HKP: In a time when a lot of music leans into intensity or escapism, “awesome” leans into reality—with humor and lightness. How do you see that message resonating with your generation?

JIBEEN: There are times when we need bold sounds and themes that take us beyond reality, but I also think the opposite is just as important. “awesome” is a song that holds a bit of humor and positivity to help you smile through the tough days. It’s not about denying reality, but about encouraging yourself within it and choosing a lighter, more uplifting mindset. I hope that when listeners hear this track, they can think, “Yeah, even this kind of moment can pass with a smile!” and feel a sense of cheerful connection.

KIEN

HKP: If fans could take away one core feeling or mantra from “awesome,” what would you want it to be?

RIOTO: I hope that through ‘awesome,’ our fans feel that they are enough and great as they are. Not every day can be special, but if you can enjoy it at your own pace and laugh, that makes up a truly awesome day. I hope this song can offer our fans that type of ease.

HYUNMIN: I hope that when our fans listen to this song, they will gain the courage to accept themselves for who they are. Sometimes, you can make mistakes or there may be moments that aren’t perfect, but being able to cheer for yourself means that you are already awesome. I hope that such warm reassurance will be delivered to our fans.

HKP: Is there a b-side that surprised you once it was finished, either emotionally or sonically? What makes it stand out to you now?

CHOI HAN: “kick back” is a song that expresses the feeling that we are together very well. It combines two different genres, yet remains easy to listen to and enjoyable. There is a line that goes, “We are blooming like a flower on the road,” and this means that even in a tough reality, we are able to depend on one another and be each other’s source of strength; that’s why this song is especially comforting for me. After listening to the final product, I thought it conveyed our story really well, and I felt a great sense of warmth.

ANDY: “vitamin I” is a song that helped me find myself again. The title and the lyrics are particularly memorable. Especially, the line “you need I” holds the message of, ‘at the end of the day, what you really need is yourself’ and to find strength on your own, which really touched me.

CHOI HAN

HKP: Tracks like “night life” and “dawns” feel like sonic diaries—introspective, atmospheric, and honest. How do these songs reflect your lives offstage, or the quieter moments behind your public image?

JIBEEN: I think “night life” is a song that illustrates what we are like off stage. After we complete the stages, there are times when we constantly think about music, create things, and argue with our inner selves. It’s a track I relate to because it captures the solitude and focus that come with quiet nights, along with the determination to hold on to yourself even in the middle of a repetitive routine.

HYUNMIN: I participated in writing the lyrics for “dawns,” and I wanted to capture the strange, mixed emotions that come with the early hours of the morning. There’s this quiet sense of unease, that blank feeling, but also a bit of excitement, like something new might be about to begin. I tried to express that moment when you’re scrolling through digital content under the glow of your phone, and time just slips by without meaning. I think I worked on this song while imagining how people my age might feel during those late-night hours.

HKP: Was there a particular moment during the making of this album that made you feel proud, excited, or even nervous?

DOHA: The most memorable moment of recording for this album was when the members all got together to listen to the songs after we had recorded our individual parts. We cheered each other on a lot, telling each other things like “the emotions here are so good,” and “this part suits you perfectly.” During that moment, I felt proud because I could sense that we were becoming a lot stronger as one team.

ANDY: The Dokkaebi character in the music video was the most memorable to me. There’s a scene in the music video where I am surrounded by Dokkaebis, and even though I knew they were fake, seeing them in person was really intimidating. Throughout the entire time we were filming, I was positioned right next to JIBEEN.

ANDY

HKP: Can you share any memorable or humorous moments from recording or preparing [HOPE] that fans might not be aware of?

RIOTO: I bleached my hair for the first time, and in the music video, some students also had bleached hair, even with similar outfits to mine. After filming ended, I was having dinner with our staff, and we saw a student walking towards us in the distance. I instantly thought it was a ghost resembling me, so I was extremely surprised! Turns out that person was another cast member, and we ended up laughing a lot together.

HKP: Which track on [HOPE] challenged you the most creatively, and why?

JIBEEN: “dawns” was especially challenging for me. The song has such a delicate and quiet atmosphere, so instead of expressing emotions in a strong, obvious way, I had to hold back while still being sincere, and that was definitely harder. I wanted to capture the feeling of an empty street at dawn, but expressing that kind of mood using only my voice took a lot of thought. I remember going back and listening to every line over and over, adjusting things little by little during the recording process.

CHOI HAN: For me, “kick back” was the song that required a lot of attention since its rhythm is very unique. I had to pay more attention to timing than usual, and I remember trying a lot of different approaches to really bring out the mood of the song. It’s a track that required deep emotional focus, too, so even during recording, I was constantly adjusting and controlling how I expressed those feelings. Maybe that’s why it felt like the most rewarding track for me when it was finally finished.

RIOTO

HKP: If you could describe your personality as one of the tracks on [HOPE], which song would it be and why?

HYUNMIN: I think it’s “awesome” for me. I naturally tend to say things like “It happens” a lot, so even when something goes wrong or doesn’t feel great, I usually just say “It happens” and move on. That’s why the message we’re trying to share through “awesome” really hit home for me, and I could genuinely relate to it.

KIEN: For me, it would be “vitamin I.” I always try to love myself just as I am, and this song carries the message that among all the essential vitamins for people, the most important one is the “vitamin I,” or yourself. I hope all ARrCers listening to this song also cherish and value themselves every day.

HKP: Looking back at your debut EP, [AR^C], and now [HOPE], how do you feel your sound and message have evolved? What are you most proud of in this latest chapter?

HYUNMIN: If our previous albums were about new attempts and our determination to move forward, this time we’re singing about living through the time after that determination, about the feeling of trying again even on repetitive days, and the comfort we find when we feel connected to someone. I think our emotional expression has become much more delicate, and that’s something I’m really proud of. I hope listeners can feel that too.

DOHA: When we first debuted, we were most focused on showing people that “we can do this type of music, too,” but this time, [HOPE] signifies a chance for us to share our true story. Genre-wise, it is much more varied than before, and we tried to convey our emotions as honestly as possible. Not only musically, but also in our styling and choreography, we contributed many ideas and participated more in the creative process, which makes us feel even prouder.

DOHA

HKP: How does your group dynamic influence the way you create music? Are there particular strengths each member brings to the process?

ANDY: Because we’ve known each other for so long, there are certain ways we connect without needing to speak out loud. When we work on music, just based on their gaze, we can feel “Oh, this is good,” and I think that shows our chemistry. We can naturally share opinions and respect each other’s style, which I think leads to even better results.

CHOI HAN: Each member has clear strengths, so when we work on songs, I think our roles are assigned quite naturally. While one member excels in sound direction, another demonstrates strength in determining the melody line, and the other is skilled at delicately conveying emotions from the lyrics. I always feel that songs which would have been difficult to complete alone become possible when we come together as members. Trusting and relying on each other’s strengths makes our music more solid.

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

RIOTO: Songs in this album capture the moments we resonated with deeply in real life, and we hope you’ll be able to relate to them as well when listening to the album. Thank you for always being with us, near and far. All thanks to you, we are able to continue to show you good stages. Please continue sending us your love and support!

KIEN: ARrCer! Thank you so much for always cheering for us. We hope to continue meeting you more often, with music and performances that bring us closer together. We also hope that our songs always accompany your days. Please show ARrC a lot of love!