Here at The Honey POP, we’re proud to call ourselves 82DE! And now we’ve leveled up, and might be able to call ourselves the luckiest 82DE out there, because we have an exclusive interview with 82MAJOR!
We caught up with the 82MAJOR members in the midst of their FEELM promotions, and chatted with them about touring, the FEELM aesthetic, their writing process, and more! And yes, we did take the opportunity to ask Seongmo about his reaction to the ‘W.T.F’ intro. You’re welcome!
THP X 82MAJOR Exclusive Interview
Hey and welcome to The Honey POP! We’re really enjoying the FEELM era! We’d love to start by hearing your thoughts on this era. How has this album cycle felt for you?
Park Seokjoon: This promotion felt even more special because we were able to show a new atmosphere and concept. We also worked hard to show a different kind of charm on stage compared to before.
Hwang Seongbin: It was meaningful because we were able to express “love,” which was the keyword of this album, in many different ways. I also felt that we became much closer emotionally with the fans.
The title track ‘Sign’ is a more understated version of 82MAJOR compared to others like ‘TROPHY.’ We love both, but can you tell us why you chose this direction for FEELM’s title track?
Cho Seongil: Since we always try to show new sides of ourselves, this time we wanted to convey a more mature mood. We wanted to express a delicate and sensuous charm, so we prepared it in a more restrained direction.
We obviously have to mention the ‘W.T.F’ intro! Starting an album by beefing with your group-mate is maybe the most iconic move ever. We are completely obsessed with it! Of course, you’re all very hands-on in the studio, but Seongmo, what was your reaction when you first heard Yechan’s lines?
Nam Seongmo: Yechan recorded it first, and then the company played it for me. When I first heard it, I thought it was funny. I actually thought that the natural and free atmosphere brought out the charm of ‘W.T.F’ even more. Haha.
We’re sure there are plenty of new 82DE joining the fandom right now. If someone gets into 82MAJOR thanks to FEELM, which of your older songs would you recommend they check out first, and why?
Park Seokjoon: ‘Illegal.’ It’s a song we made before our debut, and we participated a lot in everything from the song to the choreography, so I have a lot of affection for it. I definitely want to recommend it to others too.
Hwang Seongbin: For me, it’s ’82!’ It’s a song that contains ’82,’ the symbolic number in our team name 82MAJOR, and it also includes stories about Korea and 82MAJOR’s unique energy, so I think people hearing us for the first time will be able to feel our color.
82DE absolutely loved the concept photos for FEELM, too. Can you talk a little about why those aesthetics were chosen and how they speak to the album’s concept?
Kim Dogyun: We wanted to show the charm that comes from detailed moods, like our gazes and expressions. That’s why I think we chose an overall restrained and sensuous visual direction.
Cho Seongil: Since FEELM is an album that combines “Feel” and “Film,” we thought an atmosphere that looked like a scene from a movie was important. We wanted to express the emotions in a more dreamy and captivating mood. I think that’s why we used elements like black suits and a dark mood.
Is there a mood or aesthetic you haven’t tried yet that you’d love for 82MAJOR to explore in the future?
Hwang Seongbin: Personally, I really want to try electronic music. I think we could show 82MAJOR’s own color even within a strong sound and atmosphere.
Park Seokjoon: I’d also like to try rhythmical genres like Afrobeats, and I want to challenge ourselves with genres that have strong energy and atmosphere, like tech house.
We love how varied FEELM is, from jazz to rock to house, and more! What’s your process for incorporating all those different influences? Do you pick the genres you want to work on first, or does that come later? We’d love to hear any reference playlists you might have!
Yoon Yechan: Rather than deciding on a specific genre from the beginning, I think the direction often forms naturally from the mood of the song. We develop the songs while sharing a lot of opinions with each other!
Nam Seongmo: The members also share the music we each listen to in everyday life. Through that, we discover new genres and sounds, and I think those various experiences build up to create our own music.
It’s a really interesting time for K-Pop at the moment, as it seems to still be getting a broader and broader audience! Do you find inspiration from others in the industry?
Hwang Seongbin: I think we learn a lot and get inspired by watching the music and stages of many different artists. We don’t stay within just one genre; we learn by looking at many different elements.
Cho Seongil: And then we think about how we can express what we’ve learned in our own style!
And Seongmo, do you think your experience as an MC on Show Champion and seeing so many performances every week inspires you when you get in the studio?
Nam Seongmo: Thankfully, through being an MC on Show Champion, I get to see many artists’ stages up close! I learn a lot while watching their stage arrangements, performances, and the way they communicate with fans. That naturally makes me think of 82DE, and it makes me want to get on stage quickly with an even cooler side of ourselves!
Similarly, how does performing live affect all the members’ songwriting processes, and vice versa? Do you imagine performing the tracks as you’re making them, and how does that sway any creative decisions?
Kim Dogyun: I think all of that applies. When we actually perform on stage, the fans’ loving gazes and cheers give us strength, and sometimes we make songs for the fans because of that.
Park Seokjoon: And we do imagine the actual stage while making songs! In the case of ‘Need That Bass,’ it started from the thought that it would be nice to have a song everyone could jump around to and enjoy together at festivals.
And speaking of 82MAJOR performances…The Honey POP was lucky enough to attend the BE THE TIGER concert in London earlier this year, and we truly, truly loved it! What are some of your favorite moments or memories from the tour?
Yoon Yechan: First of all, thank you so much for coming to see our performance. It was our first time performing in Europe, and I remember how all the audience members loudly sang along to our songs. We received incredible energy from the 82DE in Europe!
Nam Seongmo: During the Paris concert, we sang the “popolopo” chant, and the fans all sang along together in really loud voices. It truly felt like the whole venue became one, and I still remember the passionate energy I felt then!
This year has been super busy with the tour and a comeback already! What does the rest of 2026 look like for you?
Cho Seongil: First, while promoting FEELM, we’ll make good memories with the fans! We’ll also show many 82MAJOR performances through various festivals, overseas concerts, and more.
Park Seokjoon: For the rest of this year, we’re working hard to meet fans more often. We’ll be visiting 82DE in many different places, so please look forward to it!
And lastly, thanks so much for chatting with us. Is there a message you’d like to share with 82DE before you go?
Hwang Seongbin: Thank you for giving so much love and support to this FEELM promotion. Thanks to 82DE, I think we’re able to continue taking on new challenges. We’ll keep showing you many good sides of ourselves, so please stay with us!
Kim Dogyun: I think we’re able to grow more thanks to 82DE. Thank you sincerely for always supporting us, and I hope we can continue creating many more moments together. I love you.
We love you more! We’re going to be riding the high of chatting with etume for a while! What did you think of our exclusive interview with 82MAJOR? What’s been your favorite part of the FEELM era? Let us know in the comments or @TheHoneyPOP on Twitter! You can also find us over on Facebook and Instagram.
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