Anyone can have an eye fixed for vogue, nevertheless it’s extraordinarily particular to have a coronary heart for it, too. HONGJOONG has each—one within the literal sense. Adorned in crystals that kind an eye fixed motif throughout his chest (courtesy of Balmain) that shimmers all through the studio, he confidently struts in entrance of the digital camera. He was purported to put on the piece at Balmain’s males’s vogue present earlier within the 12 months, nevertheless it was rescheduled to September. HONGJOONG, nonetheless, is elated to lastly put on the outfit.
It’s the day earlier than ATEEZ’s monumental and wet present at Citi Subject in Queens, NY—one of many stops on their “[TOWARDS THE LIGHT : WILL TO POWER]” world tour. And regardless of a busy schedule, HONGJOONG arrives at StyleCaster’s midtown Manhattan studio with a large grin and boundless power. He meticulously curates each resolution of the shoot. He even introduced his personal equipment—a wide-brimmed hat to emulate his idols—and he executes every pose with precision. He’s genuinely aware of his environment, thanking the employees any probability he will get and ensuring they get their proverbial flowers for his or her laborious work.
“It offers me a lot inspiration to put on garments and outfits I’m not aware of. My opinion on vogue is altering. My favourite issues are altering too.”
HONGJOONG is a inventive pressure. His songwriting credit stretch all through the Ok-pop group’s complete discography, and he develops touching methods to unite his members (like designing a hoop for every band member to commemorate their Coachella debut). His constructive angle speaks to how aware and current he’s in each side of ATEEZ’s success—from the nitty-gritty of music manufacturing to the out-of-this-world pirate and cowboy ideas they convey to life in movies and onstage.
How would you describe your vogue evolution?
Once I was a trainee, I favored too many issues. As a result of in these days, I assumed I needed to present all the pieces to everybody. I all the time wore so many equipment and solely colourful garments. After we debuted, I acknowledged what issues match me and what issues regarded good for me onstage and backstage. I’m studying all of it as a result of I can see so many images of what I’m carrying from my followers.
My ideas about vogue naturally advanced over time. Lately, I determine what I put on in actual time. Once I put on Balmain’s garments, I additionally attempt to determine how the outfit suits with my very own vibe.
You’ve made your individual customized garments, and I believe that’s the good truth ever.
Thanks! I’m a bit shy to speak about my DIY garments as a result of I’m not an expert designer. However I’ve the arrogance to all the time make my very own issues.
Do you’ve a favourite piece you made?
In Phoenix, I dyed one among my garments after I noticed a David Bowie mural. I used to be impressed and needed to attract on my Jacquemus coloured jacket. It’s one among my favourite items. I’ve posted it on Instagram, however I’ve by no means worn it in entrance of individuals. Sometime I’d prefer to, as a result of it’s very colourful. It’s good for the summer season and matches the Olympic ring colours.
How has touring modified the way in which you type your self?
Touring has helped me in an excellent means. There are a lot of alternatives to see new outfits and garments, as a result of after we are in Korea, we’ve actually busy schedules. One in every of my hobbies is to go to some shops and see one thing new. I’m interested in what supplies they use, what colours they use, and what’s trending. After we’re touring, we’ve time to go searching.
Many manufacturers promote their garments solely in America or solely in Korea, so it’s excellent to see totally different outfits throughout the globe. It offers me a lot inspiration to put on garments and outfits I’m not aware of. My opinion on vogue is altering. My favourite issues are altering too. For this tour particularly, I’ve worn totally different sorts of hats, like searching caps and fedoras.
Do you’ve a favourite metropolis that impressed you?
In Arlington, Texas, they’re actually well-known for cowboy hats. After we went to Fort Value, I bought one and I wore it onstage. Everybody liked to see that. That’s one among my favourite cities as a result of it’s all the time altering my thoughts about vogue.
We’ve tried a number of cowboy issues earlier than in our songs and music movies, however once I noticed individuals carrying it within the unique place the place it’s from, it was so cool. Once I go to these cities within the USA, all of them have totally different cultures.
You took some Instagram images with the cowboy hat and referenced a meme that ATINY made viral throughout sendoff.
So many individuals prefer to see our interactions with followers. I loved it a lot as a result of once I’m onstage, I simply sing and dance. However once I’m off the stage, I like to work together with our followers—ATINY—as a result of we’re all simply individuals. It’s so vital that we try this after we launch new songs and we present actually good vogue. It’s extra vital that we get good communication with our followers, as a result of after we launch new songs, I need them to grasp it higher.
That is your first time enjoying massive arenas and stadiums for a number of dates. What’s the expertise like in comparison with different excursions?
Each ATEEZ live performance that we did this 12 months is larger than the earlier years. Yearly is totally different, and each metropolis is totally different too. We began in very small halls after we first got here to the U.S. This time, we’re in stadiums and are making hit songs within the U.S. It’s one thing totally different that we’ve to launch higher songs and we’ve to indicate higher levels to our followers.
However on the identical time, I need ATINY to really feel like we’re not far-off. If we change into extra well-known, our unique followers will suppose that as a result of we’re enjoying stadiums, we’re so far-off from them. I don’t need any of our followers to really feel like that.
I simply need them to really feel like they’re all the time close to us and that our songs relate to their life. After our live shows, we get to satisfy our followers, and I wish to make that communication and interplay vital for them.
What’s it prefer to collaborate with the manufacturing staff when producing songs?
We’ve got a producing staff, EDENARY, and the chief of the group is Eden. He’s one among my closest buddies, as a result of I met him 10 years in the past in our firm and we grew up collectively. Once I take part in making songs, it’s very pure. We use the identical studio. If I’ve a key phrase and style in thoughts, they develop and provides the songs and demos again to me. They ask concerning the route, and there’s backwards and forwards about suggestions.
Once I’m within the U.S. or one other nation, we do plenty of Zoom conferences to debate and make the songs. We get to enterprise and we take into consideration our subsequent albums and ideas. In order that’s what makes our music very ongoing.
“I’m grateful for our members and ATINY as a result of they’re all the time with me. When ATINY are telling us their tales, that provides me a lot motivation to make music.”
What creatively drives you as a songwriter?
Michael Jackson first impressed me to make music once I was in center college. Once I first listened to “Billie Jean,” I used to be actually curious concerning the instrumentals. It’s not simply easy synthesizer and piano sounds. I used to be like “How did he make this?” I used to be looking on YouTube the right way to make “Billie Jean” instrumentals. I’m finding out English now, however again then I didn’t know that a lot. The entire feedback on the video had been in English. I translated all of it and began to make music due to that.
Michael and David Bowie nonetheless give me plenty of inspiration. However on the identical time, I’m grateful for our members and ATINY as a result of they’re all the time with me. Once I make music or write lyrics, there’s all the time inspiration from them too. When the ATEEZ members discuss privately or once they inform their very own tales, I take into consideration all of that within the songwriting course of. Even when ATINY are telling us their tales, that provides me a lot motivation to make music.
What was your favourite vogue present?
My first vogue present was Balmain final 12 months, and this 12 months I went to Comme des Garçons. Once I first arrived on the resort room for Balmain’s vogue present, I opened the invitation to see that it was all about flowers. I like flowers and I felt so fortunate to see that it was the theme of my first vogue present. I used to be like, “Olivier [Rousteing] knew one thing!”
Once I noticed all of the outfits on the runway, there was a costume that had flowers throughout it. I used to be so impressed by it that I missed the 2 or three outfits that had been strolling after that. I liked the outfit that I wore to that vogue present as effectively—the one with a French-style beret.
ATEEZ members simply opened up their private Instagram pages. Have you ever loved making your individual profile?
I’m not somebody that normally makes use of social media that a lot. Once I was a trainee, I simply didn’t use it. Now that we’ve made our personal particular person accounts, once I wish to publish one thing, I simply do it. I don’t use Instagram that a lot as a result of I simply comply with the members. I actually get pleasure from importing, and I’m so completely happy once I do it.
Once I publish on my feed, it’s all cool aesthetics. Nevertheless, my Instagram tales are so loopy. If I get an thought, I simply wish to do it. I exploit so many filters.
What’s your favourite filter?
The one the place it multiplies a photograph or video. Actually, that one is my favourite. However my vibe is all the time altering.
This interview has been edited for readability.
Photographer: George Chinsee
Inventive Course: Sasha Purdy (@sashapurdydesign)
Manufacturing Assistant: Lea Veloso
Hair: Nari Ju at Cheongdam Contigo (@cheongdam_contigo)
Make-up: Mi Yeon Music at Cheongdam Contigo (@cheongdam_contigo)
Styling: Chaewon Kim
