TEMPEST: “TEMPEST’S GROWTH IS ACHIEVED TOGETHER WITH IE”
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
EVERLAST KOREA is proud to present an exclusive interview with the talented and up-and-coming group, TEMPEST! The group recently released their 3rd EP titled, <ON and ON>, and also celebrated their 300th Day with their fandom, iE. TEMPEST’s fan-base has grown on a global scale, and iE’s are already looking forward to seeing more of what these members have in store. Before the new year, EVERLAST KOREA is excited to share some insights on TEMPEST as a group, as individuals, and as musicians. We hope EVERLASTERS and iE enjoy this exclusive interview with TEMPEST!
LET’S WELCOME TEMPEST
Video Courtesy: Yuehua Entertainment.
EVERLAST KOREA: Hello TEMPEST! Can you please introduce yourselves to EVERLASTERS?
LEW: Hello, EVERLAST KOREA readers. I'm the shrewd leader, Captain Bear LEW!
HANBIN: Hello, I’m HANBIN! The one with the brightest energy in TEMPEST. I look forward to your kind attention.
HYEONGSEOP: Hello, I’m HYEONGSEOP, TEMPEST’s youth. Nice to meet you!
HYUK: Hello, I’m TEMPEST’s main vocalist, HYUK. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for the attention!
EUNCHAN: Hello, I’m EUNCHAN, the homme fatale in TEMPEST. FIGHTING! EVERLAST KOREA!
HWARANG: Hello, I am the outspoken charisma, and TEMPEST’s main rapper and main dancer, HWARANG. Nice to meet you!
TAERAE: Hello, EVERLASTERS! I’m TEMPEST’s maknae, TAERAE, who has a charming low-tone voice.
WE ARE TEMPEST
Video Courtesy: Yuehua Entertainment.
EVERLAST KOREA: Using three words, how would you describe TEMPEST as a group?
EUNCHAN: Fresh, energetic, and intense! Youth, freshness, and intensity are all in TEMPEST. Hope you love it!
TAERAE: Instead of three words, I will describe it in three syllables, novelty! Because we continuously try to show new and more diversity.
EVERLAST KOREA: Using one word, how would you all individually describe your charms and personalities?
LEW: "Sincerity." I always do my best. I believe if I do my best from the bottom of my heart, I will show my true worth someday.
HANBIN: I am literally me, “HANBIN!” Because my name means “shining.”
HYEONGSEOP: Flame. I have a flaming desire to be a bright and shiny person, always, anywhere, and anytime. Also, my name contains the meaning, “flame.”
HYUK: “Rainbow.” Because I have a diverse charm and personality like the rainbow.
EUNCHAN: I would say “infinity charm!”
HWARANG: The word that can describe me well is a “dog-like cat person.” I have a bright energy and positive qualities like a dog, but I also have a chic and charismatic side like a cat. Please look forward to me!
TAERAE: I will say “smile.” Since my school days, I heard that my smile is “pretty” often, and I like myself when I’m smiling.
EVERLAST KOREA: What makes TEMPEST unique as a group? This can be from a music standpoint, the members relationships, and/or the members personalities.
HYEONGSEOP: We are a team with good “teamwork” and “chemistry.” We often talk to each other, and since we were trainees, the atmosphere of caring for each other has naturally been formed.
HYUK: I think our fans love the authentic side of us. It seems that the members sympathize with the realistic lyrics that contains the members worries and thoughts. We will work hard to become a special group for more people in the future.
HANBIN: It has been almost a year since we debuted. It is an honor that I could be a member of TEMPEST. Recently, I’m happy every day and I even think, “I am thankful that I could have been a part of TEMPEST!”
HWARANG: I think TEMPEST is another family to me. We have been sharing happiness and sadness for so long together, so we are able to bond more. It seems that as time passes, we cherish each other more and more.
EVERLAST KOREA: If you could tell a new iE to watch a specific video of TEMPEST, which video would you tell them to watch? This is other than a music video!
HANBIN: It’s really hard to pick one. We have tons of fun content. But if I have to choose, I recommend the TEMPESTart! series. It is the most fun and authentic content from TEMPEST.
2022 RECAP & HIGHLIGHTS
Video Courtesy: Yuehua Entertainment.
EVERLAST KOREA: It’s been almost nine months since all of you made your debut, and all of you must have learned so much within this span of time. What is one thing you have learned individually or as a group within the past year?
LEW: As TEMPEST, every day is a continuation of learning for me. I am always trying to learn with a humble attitude. Recently, I learned how to express my gratitude to the people I am grateful for.
HANBIN: I learned a lot during the 9 months since our debut. I especially learned how to manage my facial expressions while performing. There are times when you can’t avoid accidents on stage, like when the sounds don’t come through the headset, or the mic case falls out, or there could be something wrong with the outfit; In such a situation, I try to sing calmly and confidently without panicking, so it would not interfere with the entire performance.
HYEONGSEOP: It is “teamwork” as a group and “growth” as an individual. I learned things I didn’t know while working with the members who grew up in different environments from me. Also, when I am upset, I rely on the members and overcome it. And personally, I felt a lot of self-development through various activities, while I sweat and sing in front of our fans. All of these are gifts from the members and iE.
HYUK: I learned the “stage” itself. Now, I have peace of mind now, and I think I’m good at finding the camera (lol), right?
EUNCHAN: I especially feel it a lot on-stage. I am learning that being able to be loved is really a great gratitude.
HWARANG: “Consideration.” Since it was my first time working in a group, there were a lot of difficult and awkward parts at first, but as time went on, I came to think that rather than trying to match the other person to my standards, we have to match each other and meet in the middle.
TAERAE: I learned I should spend time wisely. There are many things to do within a given time, so I had to use my time efficiently. Only then can we show you a better appearance!
EVERLAST KOREA: It hasn’t even been a year since your debut, and the group already had fan signings! What was it like to see iE in-person? Let alone seeing that you had a lot of fans even prior to debuting!
HYEONGSEOP: When iE was looking at us, their eyes glowed like a jewel. That scene was so precious - I wanted to record everything, even the sound of every breath.
EVERLAST KOREA: Not too long ago you performed on the KCON 2022 JAPAN stage. What was it like to perform not only outside of Korea, but to perform on a global and diverse stage?
HYUK: KCON was our first overseas stage. It was our dream and wish to perform on such a big stage, and we were very honored and thrilled to have it come true. It was a stage where we could feel the heat and the hot atmosphere of our fans. I thought that I would like to see iE all over the world very soon.
EVERLAST KOREA: Congratulations on recently winning your second “Rookie of The Year” award from the 2022 Genie Music Awards! You’re also nominated for and will be attending upcoming award shows. What does it feel like to be recognized by bigger award shows like MAMA, Asia Artist Awards, and the Genie Music Awards?
LEW: It is an honor to have two “Rookie of the Year” awards, and we were able to receive the awards because so many people were beside us. We thank all the staff members who always work hard, and we always thank TEMPEST’s family and parents. We love you.
Above all, thank you, iE, who passionately supports and loves TEMPEST. Ahh, and also, we are attending a big award ceremony at the end of the year, and have the opportunity to perform on stage! We are grateful and honored to be able to showcase and promote TEMPEST. We will do our best!
ACTIVITY & COMEBACK PROMOTIONS
Video Courtesy: Yuehua Entertainment.
EVERLAST KOREA: Your mini-album, <ON and ON> is supposed to reveal the “youth”, “boyhood” and “maturity” of the group. What can you reveal further about these themes, as you all continue to evolve your music and yourselves as artists.
HYEONGSEOP: Our sincerity towards musi,c and the friendly appearances off-stage. As a team that reflects our gradually growing story in music and exchanging emotions with our fans, I think TEMPEST’s growth is achieved together with iE. All the members have various charms in real life, and even sometimes shrewd and sometimes clumsy.
EVERLAST KOREA: All of the tracks on your latest mini-album are AMAZING! But if you had to choose which track you could play all day long, which song would it be?
EUNCHAN: I think all the members would think the same as me - I would pick “Raise Me Up.” The song expresses the freshness of boyhood well. The song is exciting and addictive, and you’ll be able to listen to it comfortably.
EVERLAST KOREA: The photo concepts for this mini-album were fire! What did you all think about the photo concepts for this mini-album, and do you have a particular photo of yourself or another member you like best?
TAERAE: I think my photo is the best shot! There is a photo taken of me lying down, and it is the first time I took a photo lying down. The photo came out looking like the brightest in the world. I feel good just looking at it.
EVERLAST KOREA: You released a music video for “Taste The Feeling” on TikTok prior to the mini-albums release. Do you have any fun memories or moments while creating this music video? The theme of the video was fun, bright, and made iE just want to be part of the video with all of you!
HANBIN: As the video shows, we really enjoyed filming. We filmed in a very comfortable atmosphere, and we usually play together well, so we didn’t try to act, but we just filmed how we play together in daily life. There were also delicious plates that we could actually eat, so the filming process was entertaining and enjoyable!
EVERLAST KOREA: As iE continues to grow and continues to support your music and content, what would you like to say to your fans?
TAERAE: We will keep working hard by cooperating and participating in the album production to show you our best sides, so please keep sending lots of love to us. We will appreciate it! Thank you, iE!
CREDITS
We want to give a big thank you to REELS Corporation for allowing EVERLAST KOREA to cover TEMPEST’s promotions for their new mini-album. REELS Corporation Inc. was founded in 2020, and works as a public relations and consulting agency based out of Seoul, South Korea. It is also a subsidiary of REELS America Investment, Ltd. REELS Corporation helps with decision-making required for labels to rise within the global market via data & consulting services. As the phenomenon of the Hallyu Wave has already taken over the world, especially within the past decade, the company’s mission is to make K-Pop break the status quo of being a niche genre, and help transition it into becoming a mainstream genre of music.
We also want to give a big thank you to Yuehua Entertainment and the TEMPEST members for allowing us to conduct an exclusive interview. Yuehua Entertainment Korea is a global entertainment group paving new pathways as a leader in the global cultural content industry through investments in new businesses within music, film, TV series, and shows with unique methods or by discovery and production of differentiated content suitable for diverse markets.
SOURCES
All photos and videos are credited to Yuehua Entertainment.
