With their fifth EP ‘The Action’, BOYNEXTDOOR embraces the excitement of movement, challenge, and development. The six-member group — SUNGHO, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, TAESAN, LEEHAN, and WOONHAK — infuses their characteristic blend of sincerity and ambition into an album that honors bravery and creative growth. It portrays youth as a bold spirit that dares to experiment and turn uncertainty into artistic expression.
For the group, taking action represents more than just a theme — it embodies a mindset. “Taking action in this album means challenging yourself and pushing your own limits,” WOONHAK shares with CLASH. “If you don’t attempt anything, nothing will happen. It’s all about the mindset of wanting to explore new things and learn from the entire experience.”
That urge to experiment influenced every aspect of ‘The Action’. “We explored many new methods of creation for this album,” JAEHYUN explains. “For instance, WOONHAK and I would sit in our hotel room and attempt to record under our blankets to minimize sound. Regarding ‘Hollywood Action,’ I’m not a huge fan of movies — I don’t watch many — but this time I wanted to ensure I referenced some. That was a fresh challenge for me.”
The EP also signifies another step in BOYNEXTDOOR’s journey as self-producing artists. With LEEHAN joining JAEHYUN, TAESAN, and WOONHAK in the songwriting credits for the lead single, the group continues to hone their artistic voice. “All six of us actively share our opinions and help to create our music,” LEEHAN states. “We want to ensure that we can truly carve out our own identity by directly contributing to the album’s creation — and that’s our goal going forward.”
The opening track ‘Live in Paris’ establishes a dreamy, cosmopolitan vibe, blending various languages and musical genres. “It’s all about the late-night creative hustle,” JAEHYUN elaborates. “We equate that with the time difference between Seoul and Paris, so with Paris as the theme, we thought it would be fun to incorporate elements of the city and its language into the song — for example, lyrics featuring ‘Un, deux, trois’ or ‘ni modo.’ That added an eclectic and exotic feel.”
The lead single ‘Hollywood Action’ exudes cinematic confidence, combining swing rhythms and brass accents with sharp choreography and compelling storytelling. The visual concept was instrumental in defining the EP’s identity: in the concept photos for ‘The Action,’ each member personifies a different movie genre — RIWOO as a superhero, LEEHAN in a thriller, SUNGHO in a whimsical coming-of-age tale, JAEHYUN in an action film, TAESAN in a ‘90s youth drama, and WOONHAK in a mystery. “If there were a movie for the song, it would look something like that,” TAESAN notes.
This same creative spirit is evident in ‘JAM!’, an impromptu, free-spirited track that captures their friendship through sound. “It’s truly about that jam session where friends come together, freestyle dance, and interact musically,” WOONHAK explains. “It’s very genuine and raw — and it perfectly reflects our chemistry because we always play music, goof around, and enjoy ourselves. It’s a song that is distinctly BOYNEXTDOOR.”
Next is ‘Bathroom,’ a rock-infused track that explores the tumult of relationships with raw vocals and emotional depth. RIWOO considers the balance of vulnerability and authenticity: “What really distinguishes BOYNEXTDOOR is how we convey relatable, straightforward emotions and youthful narratives in our music — that’s what we aimed for with this track as well.”
The EP concludes with ‘As Time Goes By,’ a tender yet impactful reflection on love and letting go. SUNGHO regards it as one of their favorites: “The lyrics in the song are very detailed and effectively convey the emotion the singer is experiencing — it’s something everyone can relate to. While all the other tracks focus on taking action that leads to change or consequences, in love, sometimes you need the courage to say goodbye. Our vocals harmonized beautifully with the melody, which is why we all adore this song.”
Throughout ‘The Action’, BOYNEXTDOOR delves into the entirety of youth — hardship, friendship, love, and heartbreak — with a sincerity that feels both personal and universal. TAESAN summarizes it well: “These are all feelings that young people experience. Just like the name of our group, BOYNEXTDOOR, we aim to be the friendly figures beside you, sharing experiences with our fans, resonating with them, and singing about the life experiences we navigate.”
‘The Action’ EP is now available.
Words: Isadora Wandermurem // https://x.com/d
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With their fifth EP 'The Action', BOYNEXTDOOR welcomes the excitement of progress, challenges, and development. The six-member group — SUNGHO, RIWOO, JAEHYUN, TAESAN,