On June 26, Korean rock band CATCH THE YOUNG made a refreshing comeback with their latest digital single, ‘이상형 (Ideal Type)’, a breezy synth-rock track with a touch of pop experimentation that captures the awkward honesty of a young person trying to confess their feelings.
Having debuted in 2023 with the mini-album ‘Catch The Young: Fragments of Youth’, the band has been steadily expanding their body of work and shaping a sound that feels true to who they are. With several singles and two mini-albums behind them, each release has helped them grow more confident and intentional in their musical direction. Now, they’re charging ahead with their first full-length album, set to release later this year.
Speaking about this major milestone, the band’s leader and bassist, Sani, confidently shared, “Since it’s our first album, but not our first digital release, we’re putting in our best effort to make it as strong as possible. We’re adding a lot of new elements to try things we haven’t done before and to show sides of ourselves that fans haven’t seen yet.” The band’s drummer, Jungmo, added that all the members are putting their music degrees to good use and “really putting in the effort to make our first album more deep, meaningful, and musically diverse.”
Expanding on that, Sani offered a deeper look into how the band’s creative process has shaped their evolving sound.
We felt like our first release had a strong focus on showing who we are as a band and introducing our identity. But since then, we’ve been continuing to make music and perform live, and I think our sound is becoming more and more defined. I don’t think I can say our first album or latest single is necessarily better than the other, but with every release, I do think our unique color and style are becoming clearer.
– Sani, bassist and leader of CATCH THE YOUNG
CATCH THE YOUNG has always explored themes like youth, dreams, and emotion, and ‘Ideal Type’ stays true to that while also sharing a bigger message through the charm of a love confession. Vocalist Namhyun sheds light on how ‘Ideal Type’ blends personal reflection with a broader message meant to uplift.
With the song ‘Ideal Type,’ we hope listeners can enjoy it by imagining their own ideal type. But at the same time, the title can go beyond just a person but also represent following and pursuing your dreams or hopes, which can give some encouragement to everyone.
– Namhyun, vocalist of CATCH THE YOUNG
Despite their growing discography, CATCH THE YOUNG remains grounded in their approach to music-making. They aim to create sounds that span generations while evolving with each release. As member Junyong put it, “Our motto as a band is to create music that can resonate with all generations. We’re blending rock elements that older generations can enjoy with pop elements that appeal to younger listeners to ultimately make music that brings different age groups together through sound that everyone can connect with.”
With ‘Ideal Type’, the band shows not only their willingness to experiment with lighter, synth-pop textures but also their ability to retain sincerity in storytelling. The single showcases their growth as artists, both in genre and emotional nuance, while opening doors to new audiences.
Outside the studio, CATCH THE YOUNG continues to make their mark on stage. They’re slated to perform at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival and the 2025 Jeonju Ultimate Music Festival, where they’ll be returning for the second year in a row. They’ll also mark their debut appearance at the 2025 Sound Planet Festival, proving that their reach and resonance are only growing stronger.
About CATCH THE YOUNG
CATCH THE YOUNG is a South Korean alternative pop-rock boy band under Evermore Entertainment that debuted on November 1, 2023, with their first mini album, ‘Catch The Young: Fragments of Youth.’ The group comprises five members: Sani, Kihoon, Namhyun, Junyong, and Jungmo. The band calls its music genre ‘Youth Pop-Rock,’ encapsulating the core topic of youth and the band’s strength in harmony, multi-vocal, and performance skills. In less than a year since their debut, they performed at the biggest music festivals in Korea, including the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival and Jeonju Ultimate Music Festival in 2024, which they’ll perform for the second time in a row in 2025. As the next generation K-Rock band, they plan to take on new challenges and expand their activities globally in 2025 by releasing a full-length album, promoting in Japan, and touring in the Americas and Europe.
Photo Credit: Evermore Entertainment
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Loved the MV of ideal type. Thank you NH for this article.