Though fresh to the scene, KEYVITUP are already raising a cheerful din that the whole town is glad to hear.
Hyunmin, Taehwan, Sena, Jaein, and Rukia have made their entrance with the debut EP KEYVITUP, released under Inkcode, a label founded by K-pop royalty Kim Jaejoong of JYJ and TVXQ. They did not simply debut; they arrived with pedigree, and that pedigree announces itself.
The early buzz is fast becoming a roar. Online, KEYVITUP have already been marked as a fifth-generation act to watch. One fan, @eyopkr, simply called them “a good-looking boy group”, and on that score, there is no arguing.
Each member brings their own fire. Hyunmin leads and sings, while Taehwan sings and spits; Sena holds the melody, Jaein dances, raps, and sings in equal measure, and Rukia, the youngest, raps with the nerve of a veteran. Together, they are not five pieces but one sharp unit.
The EP brings five bold tracks to the table: “BEST ONE”, “KEYVITUP”, “LEGENDARY”, “SHOW ME SOMETHING”, and “POLAROID”. What makes it stand out is the members themselves lending a hand to the songwriting, a small touch that makes the whole record feel personal, honest, and clearly made with the fan in mind from the opening bar.
In a recent sit-down, the five spoke freely. They named their favourite tracks, traded behind-the-scenes stories, and reflected on their growth as idols. Beyond the music, they are already packing their bags for KCON LA and KCON Japan, keen to meet the international fans who have taken to them so swiftly.
For a debut, this is quite the opening move.
Might you walk us through the creative workings behind the EP, from the first spark to the final cut?
TAEHWAN: When we first set to work on the EP, we played the opening trio, “BEST ONE”, “KEYVITUP”, and “LEGENDARY”. For “BEST ONE”, three of us had a hand in the writing. “KEYVITUP” is rather more special, as every single member took part in the lyrics. As for “LEGENDARY”, the moment we heard it we were eager to perform, so we vowed to give our very best, hoping the fans might hear something truly uncommon in the sound. The remaining two, “SHOW ME SOMETHING” and “POLAROID”, take a different turn entirely, and with them we aimed to reveal a side of us not yet seen.
What does a typical recording or production session look like for KEYVITUP?
HYUNMIN: We all worked hard to capture the mood of each song while supporting one another along the way. The directors and staff also created a comfortable, relaxed environment during recording and filming, which allowed us to perform more freely.
You have only just released this EP into the world, so which track would you say best captures the heart of KEYVITUP?
TAEHWAN: My own favourite from the album is “LEGENDARY”, for it carries a powerful, almost cinematic impression. The way the track builds and unfolds is rather uncommon, and that alone holds the ear. Yet if you ask which piece best embodies the spirit of keeping it up, then the answer must be the title track, “KEYVITUP”. Every member had a hand in the lyrics; each of us offered our view, and when it came time to record, we thought long and hard about how best to draw out its singular character.
HYUNMIN: I shall choose a different one. My favourite is the final track, “POLAROID”. The lyric is rather lovely, a reflection on how we wish to preserve this beautiful moment just as one would a polaroid photograph. So when we sing it, we try to capture that mix of emotion and joy, making it an easier, gentler listen than some of our other numbers. As for the track that truly represents us, that would be “LEGENDARY”. Though we did not take part in writing its words, it holds our ambition and our hopes for what lies ahead.
RUKIA: “BEST ONE” is my personal favourite. It is an R&B number, so it carries a fresh and easy feel. The choreography is rather unusual, with an acrobatic touch, and I believe that will be quite entertaining for those watching. That is why “BEST ONE” pleases me most. Yet if you ask which song best stands for us, then I would say “KEYVITUP”.
SENA: I like “LEGENDARY” best. It gives us a chance to pour out our energy on a fresh beat with a dramatic, synthetic sound. But if you want to know where we truly showed our own identities and colours, that would be “KEYVITUP”. So that is the one I would recommend.
JAEIN: “KEYVITUP” is my favourite. I am fond of hip hop, and to me this track has everything the genre needs. I also think it will really land with fans who enjoy that same kind of sound.
The title track blends old-school boom-bap with modern K-pop energy—how did that sound direction come together?
TAEHWAN: When we first heard the beat for our title track, we felt a strong old-school hip-hop vibe. As we prepared for recording, we wanted to add our own colour to it. So we thought, why not blend in a modern K-pop sensibility on top of that? Thankfully, the company gave us the opportunity to explore that direction. During recording, we focused on bringing out our own colour through the details and the lyrics.
You are off to KCON LA and KCON Japan, so how do you go about preparing to perform for your international fans?
HYUNMIN: KCON LA and Japan mark our first taste of a global stage, and this is no ordinary stage but a rather grand one. We are deeply grateful for the chance to perform. Of course, we are working incredibly hard, as this will be our first encounter with fans from abroad. We want to give them the best we have. We are rehearsing as much as we possibly can, so we can walk off that stage with no regrets, knowing we gave it everything.
TAEHWAN: Getting to perform on a stage this big has pushed us to aim even higher and set fresh goals. To have this chance so early on feels very fortunate. So we are working on our vocals and our performance. To the fans who will be there, we simply want to show our gratitude for this opportunity by giving a truly special performance and sharing our own charms along the way.
You have spoken of your love for hip hop, so tell us, who was the artist that inspired you most growing up? And how did that influence carry you through your training days?
TAEHWAN: When I first joined Inkcode, I had not given much thought to hip hop artists, as I was a vocalist. My inspiration came instead from R&B singers and ballads. So my inspirations were Bruno Mars, along with BTS and R1SE, both of whom are well known for their place in traditional K-pop.
HYUNMIN: When it comes to international artists, Coldplay really struck a chord with me. Their songs gave me a lot of comfort, and so did the positive energy they brought to the stage. Watching them perform made me realise that one day, when I became an artist, I wanted to share that same kind of warmth with the people watching and listening.
What core message do you want listeners to take from your debut EP?
RUKIA: I think the core message is confidence. Through lyrics like “You’re the best one” and “We’re the best one”, we wanted to show our confidence while also sharing that energy with listeners and encouraging them to feel confident too.
What do you want to say to your international fans?
JAEIN: Thank you so much for supporting us and cheering us on from afar—we truly appreciate it. Even with language and distance between us, it means a lot that we can connect through music. We’ll keep working hard to show you more of KEYVITUP’s unique colour and energy, so please keep supporting us.
Debut EP KEYVITUP is out now, follow via @keyvitup_inkode
