Epex: ‘No Matter Who You Are and What You’re Going Through, Epex Will Cheer You!’

Epex, the eight-piece Korean boy group, debuted as a unit of C9 Entertainment in 2021. With each member—Wish, Keum, Mu, A-Min, Baekseung, Ayden, Yewang, and Jeff—representing an independent “apex,” the band sums up the synergy of eight individuals in tandem as a solid team of artists.

Epex is a promising and distinctive name in the imposing ecosystem of K-pop. Like many other groups, the outfit shares the spirit of unity in diversity and shared dreams but sticks out in dedication to using music as a vehicle to raise the voices of youth exploring the different phases and challenges they face—the intricacies of personal growth, peer pressure, and the pursuit of dreams. In Wish’s words, “We’re explaining youth from various viewpoints through our music.”

Beginning with its debut EP, Bipolar Pt.1: Prelude of Anxiety (June 8, 2021), and continuing through its most recent release—a second full-length album and the newest chapter in its Youth trilogy—Youth Chapter 2: Youth Deficiency (November 5, 2024)—Epex’s songs chronicle youth experience while addressing issues that speak to their target audience. It’s what, in my opinion, Epex aims for—to make music that matters rather than just being an attractive pop act.

In our following conversation centered on Youth Chapter 2: Youth Deficiency, the band members vividly reaffirm their artistic vision and musical identity while reassuring the listeners, mostly youngsters feeling deficient; as Keum says, “Deficiency is something that anyone in their youth would have experienced, and we are experiencing deficiencies as well. We wanted to convey that we understand by offering comfort and solace.” Read more in the excerpts below.

How does Youth Chapter 2: Youth Deficiency build on the themes established in the previous chapter of the Youth trilogy? What new perspectives does this album bring to the table?

Yewang: While our first full-length album talked honestly about the bright side of youth and realistic concerns faced by youth, the second studio album describes various situations and emotions derived from ‘deficiency’ and ‘choice’ by youth, such as their values, goals, and relationships, in more depth. We especially focused on conveying the message of accepting and admitting our ‘deficiency,’ which is why most songs in this album provide comfort when listening.

Wish: Our two full-length albums are connected organically in terms of music and story. Under an umbrella theme of youth, we talked about dreams, concerns, and love in Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days and youth’s central ‘deficiency’ and ‘choices’ that follow in Youth Chapter 2: Youth Deficiency. We’re explaining youth from various viewpoints through our music.

Can you share some insights into this album’s songwriting and production process?

Baekseung: We started working on this album right after wrapping up the first full-length album’s promotions. Since we’re unfolding the trilogy under the theme of youth, we listened to and sang multiple songs, which helped us all grow further and improve in song interpretation. In addition, all members discussed a lot about different expressions and details so we could help the listeners immerse themselves in this album’s message even more.

MU: While preparing for this album, we considered delivering the themes of ‘deficiency’ and ‘choice’ to all the listeners. We also went through multiple re-recordings and edits to highlight the emotions of youth carried by each track, and I am very satisfied with the final result.

Which song on the album resonates with you the most personally? How does it reflect your own experiences of youth?  

Wish: I’d choose “It is what it is.” I felt overwhelmed listening to this track because it carries lyrics that resemble a warm and comforting touch, and that is why its lyrics are my favorite from this album. There are moments in life when you might feel like crumbling down because things are not going according to your plans or think less of yourself by comparing your values to others, and this song offers comfort for everyone who is going through those moments.

Jeff: For me, I have two tracks, “Loner” and “It is what it is.” They were memorable to me because they directly talk about the pains and struggles of youth while providing comfort.

What message do you hope to convey through the theme of “deficiency” in youth? Is there a specific incident that prompted this theme to become the album’s centerpiece?

Keum: Deficiency is something that anyone in their youth would have experienced, and we are experiencing deficiencies as well. We wanted to convey that we understand by offering comfort and solace.

MU: We also wanted to convey that feeling deficient is not necessarily a bad thing, and you can find a better version of yourself by choosing the best option in front of you. We chose the themes of this album with the hope of sending comfort through music and lyrics, so we recommend people around our ages and everyone in their youth to listen to our album at least once.

The visuals in K-pop are often just as important as the music. How does the visual concept of “Youth Chapter 2” complement the album’s theme?

A-Min: The concept photo where two versions of ‘me’ looking at each other in different backgrounds signifies the bipolarity of reality and disaster, and this concept also represents the universe story of our Youth trilogy. Since Youth Chapter 2: Youth Deficiency expresses multiple emotions of youth, the album’s visual concept adds to Epex’s storytelling with different vibes.

Baekseung: Especially the concept photos for “Universe” represent the narrator who is approaching the ‘you whom I’ll choose’ with an image floating around the galaxy. “My Girl” concept photos that were pre-released are related to the concept photos from our fourth mini-album, Prelude of Love Chapter 1. ‘Puppy Love.’ The narrator grows from a shy and passive person in love who is like a toy soldier to an active person who can directly express one’s emotions by saying, “I choose you.”

How do you see the themes of youth and its challenges evolving in your future projects? Are there specific topics you’re excited to explore next?

Ayden: As the word ‘youth’ is difficult to explain, I believe we can tell endless stories about it. We’ll showcase a new side of youth in our third full-length album with the keyword ‘awakening,’ so please look forward to it!

Keum: In the future, I want to talk about overcoming hardships with music! I found comfort in certain songs, and I hope our fans will find comfort in listening to our songs.

In what ways do you believe your music can influence or resonate with young people facing similar issues of deficiency in their own lives?

Yewang: I believe in the power of voice in addition to a song’s melody and lyrics, and I hope to send comfort and solace to everyone with my voice. It is truly motivating to hear that our fans gaining strength by listening to our music. I have received so much energy from our fans, and I look forward to repaying that energy with my voice.

This album surely touches on a topic that is quite pertinent and closely related to the mental health of young people. What are your thoughts on this?

Ayden: We’re also in our youth, so I want to send a message that we can do anything we want. Epex will always stay with you as you’re trusting yourself and keeping that faith. Fighting!

A-Min: Everyone has deficiencies, so I hope you don’t blame yourself because you’re struggling right now; instead, give yourself a pat on the back! No matter who you are and what you’re going through, Epex will cheer you!