Korean rock band CATCH THE YOUNG made a refreshing return to the music scene on June 26 with the release of their single ‘이상형 (Ideal Type)’—a breezy synth-rock track with pop experimentation that captures the awkward honesty of a young person trying to confess their feelings. Marking their second release of the year following the April 29 instrumental single ‘The Young Wave’, ‘Ideal Type’ is the perfect summer track, filled with a vibrant and youthful sound. The single highlights the group’s evolving sound and steady rise in the Korean indie rock scene. More than just a standalone release, it also serves as a lead-up to the group’s debut full-length album, set to drop later this year.
Consisting of leader and bassist Sani, guitarist Kihoon, drummer Jungmo, vocalist Namhyun, and keyboardist-vocalist Junyong, the self-producing band continues to carve out their identity through music that captures the magic of youth, dreams, and self-discovery.
In an exclusive interview with Namaste Hallyu, the five-member rock band opened up about their latest single ‘Ideal Type’, their plans for the future, and shared a heartfelt message for their Indian fans.
Namaste Hallyu: Congratulations on your comeback with ‘Ideal Type’! What was the process of making the single like, and were there any challenges?
Sani: We used more synth sounds compared to our previous releases because we wanted to emulate pop music. To emphasize the vibe of the song ‘Ideal Type,’ we incorporated bright and cool sounds, and also shot our music video with the same refreshing feeling.
Kihoon: Sani sent us the demo of the first verse, and after listening to it, I thought that it would be nice if the second verse had more energy and a band-like riff, so we finished the rest of the song together. Rather than presenting a new challenge for us, this song has the same riff from start to finish, so we wanted to highlight that riff section of the song.
Namhyun: Thank you so much for your congratulations! As usual, we first made a demo version of this song, and based on that demo version, we recorded our instrumentals and vocals, and then filmed the music video. We filmed the music video in various locations in Korea, including Jeongseon, Jumunjin, and Samcheok in the Gangwon province. All locations were so pretty that I really enjoyed filming. Especially for the field in Jumunjin, I have a lot of childhood memories playing there with my father and my friends, so the experience felt new and special to me.
Junyong: We recorded the song together with each of our instruments. Like the title of the song, filming for the music video for ‘Ideal Type’ felt romantic and beautiful.
When we make music, sometimes it starts with our members playing together, while other times, each member will make guides and then work on the rest of the song together as a group. When we were recording ‘Ideal Type,’ we tried many different methods of working on the music. Personally, I experimented with patterns, rhythms, and fill-ins that I don’t normally play while working on this song.
– Jungmo
NH: Do you have any memorable stories of creative conflict or synergy from the making of your upcoming album?
Sani: I think when we have differing opinions, there’s no avoiding creative conflict. But I think it can work as a positive synergy that inspires new ideas that we couldn’t think of!
Jungmo: For me, honestly, I think the drum and bass can be considered as a pair, so there are a lot of moments of good chemistry I find with Sani. For example, the drum patterns can change based on what Sani plays with his bass, and vice versa.
Namhyun: When we play together, we share a lot of creative ideas about performances or about our songs. Because we’re different, sometimes we have creative conflicts or have differing ideas, but this also helps us come up with diverse ideas and broaden our perspectives, which I appreciate.
Junyong: As we jam with each other, we develop our songs and work on them together. Also, as we work on songs both individually and collectively, we try as many approaches as we can as a band to progress the songs together.
Kihoon: When I feel stuck creatively, short and quick ideas that members share as we’re speaking to each other help me overcome the creative blocks, and I think that’s when we feel the most synergy.
NH: As you work on your first full-length album since your debut, what do you hope fans will take away from it?
Kihoon: I want to promote the charms of band music more widely, and even if we speak different languages, through our music’s melody, energy, and mood, I hope to share various emotions.
Jungmo: We hope to share our best strength in a new vibe with the audience, while still reaching them in a way that is not overbearing. The message that we want to share through our full-length album is still a secret, but please listen to it a lot when it’s released!
Namhyun: As we have always done, we are trying to capture moments of daily life through our songs. We’re also preparing a variety of music, including songs that are exciting and songs that are comforting.
We are preparing to show you new sides of us and talents that we have not shown you before, as CATCH THE YOUNG. While we were going through the process of CATCH THE YOUNG’s beginning and growth so far, our upcoming full-length album will show a version of us that has evolved.
– Sani
NH: India has a strong rock scene. If you had the chance to share the stage with an Indian rock band, what kind of sound would you love to blend with yours?
Sani: The unique rhythm of Indian music especially stands out to me. The structure of alternating rhythms and meter changes reminds me of the progressive metal genre, which I think could go well with band music.
Kihoon: Along with the sound of traditional Indian instruments, I want to try integrating the characteristic scales. I think it would produce a unique melody and sound, which I would look forward to.
Namhyun: I know that Indian music often has unique and fun scales and sounds, and I think mixing those exciting sounds with our own color in a performance would be a new, good experience.
NH: What differences have you noticed between performing at larger events like the Pentaport Rock Festival or JUMF and smaller campus stages, and how have these experiences influenced this comeback?
Sani: With more experience we gain on different stages, I think our range of performance seems to expand. Although each of these stages has its characteristics, considering all of the experiences of our performances so far, we were able to showcase the improved version of ourselves with the latest single promotions.
Jungmo: I don’t think the size of our performances particularly matters, so they are not that different from one another. However, I think gaining experience from performing on different stages will give us the confidence to show even better performances on bigger stages.
Namhyun: When it comes to performing at universities, there are a lot of people around our age, so we feed off their energy and get excited as well. In terms of festivals, when we performed at our first festival last year, we were a little nervous and wanted people who enjoy rock to also enjoy our stage. I think for sure, performing on bigger stages helped us be more at ease during this comeback with ‘Ideal Type.’
Junyong: To me, festivals, campus stages, and club performances don’t necessarily feel that different from each other. While we always try our best in order to deliver the best possible energy and make our audiences happy, in our own concerts, we prepare for them as if they were an episode of a drama, so audiences can truly feel joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, or the whole range of emotions. Even when we are remixing songs or recording our stages, being able to share the excitement with the audience makes the experience even more enjoyable.
I believe that we should present a better performance every time we step on the stage. In terms of university campus stages, because there are a lot of people around our age group, the energy we receive from the audience is impressive. When we’re performing at club stages or large festivals, there is a mix of people who just love music and people who are seriously into one specific genre, so we try our best to share a positive influence with everyone who is in attendance. Whenever we wrap up a stage, I always feel motivated to create a structured, impressive performance, thanks to the energy from the audience.
– Kihoon
NH: Your sound blends energetic rock with melodic pop, which you describe as Youth Pop‑Rock. How do you balance staying true to your rock roots while experimenting with pop elements?
Sani: We added a more pop-oriented touch by layering synth sounds from the keyboard over the core rock elements such as drums, bass, and guitar. I also think the fact that all of us sing brings even more color to our music.
Kihoon: Pop is a genre that many people enjoy, and we believe that combining it with the rock sound unique to our band creates music that’s not only nice on the ears but also full of heart-pounding energy. We’re aiming to make songs that people of all generations can enjoy together.
Namhyun: We often incorporate sections that are derived from rock music, but our overall sound leans more toward pop. Our vocals also follow pop-style melodies at times, but we occasionally add rougher, rock-inspired elements, like gritty vocals or shouts during live performances. All of this helps us shape a sound that’s uniquely ours.
Junyong: By adding a touch of mainstream appeal through pop elements, we try to make our sound more approachable. At the same time, like in ‘The Young Wave,’ we focus heavily on the instrumentation to highlight the rock side of our music.
NH: Looking back, what has been the most memorable performance of your career so far, and where do you still dream of performing?
Sani: Our performance at the 2024 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival was the most memorable for us. It was a dream stage, and the energy from the crowd was incredible. As for our next dream stage, I think it would be performing at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Namhyun: I think it was during our first anniversary concert. Looking back on that performance, I couldn’t help but compare myself to who I was a year earlier, and it really hit me how much I had grown. As for dream stages, there are so many we hope to stand on. We’d love to perform at Gocheok Dome in Korea someday, and we also hope to join major international festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and S2O Songkran.
Junyong: Our performance at the 2024 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival was full of energy, and we were proud of how it turned out. Looking ahead, we hope to become a global band and share our music on the Coachella stage one day.
NH: If you could describe the next chapter of CATCH THE YOUNG in one word, what would it be and why?
Sani: If I had to describe it in one word, it would be ‘march.’ We may not be at the very beginning anymore, but we’ve come a long way, and there’s still a much longer path ahead. That’s why ‘march’ feels like the right word.
Kihoon: I’d say ‘pioneer.’ We’re constantly trying new things, and with our full-length album in the works, we want to open a new chapter, so ‘pioneer’ felt like the right word to capture that spirit.
Jungmo: I think ‘consistency.’ Just like the word means, we want to consistently show you our journey of growth!
Namhyun: I’d choose a ‘path through a rose garden.’ The road ahead will likely be as beautiful, vibrant, and striking as roses. But just like their thorns, we know it will come with its share of pain and challenges behind the beauty.
I want to choose the word ‘challenge.’ In our upcoming first full-length album, we are taking on new challenges and trying new things. We hope all of our listeners enjoy.
– Junyong
NH: If you had to introduce your music to someone with just one song from your discography, which would you pick and why?
Sani: It would have to be our first EP’s title track, ‘YOUTH!!!.’ It perfectly captures youth and energy, and as CATCH THE YOUNG’s debut song, it’s one that instantly feels like a CATCH THE YOUNG track to anyone who hears it.
Kihoon: It would be ‘YOUTH!!!.’ Not only is it our debut title track, but it’s also a song that feels timeless, always leaving a nostalgic impression no matter when you listen.
Jungmo: I think it’s ‘YOUTH!!!.’ It’s CATCH THE YOUNG’s debut song, and it also represents the youthful feeling really well.
Junyong: I also think it would be ‘YOUTH!!!.’ Since our keyword is ‘youth,’ I think our debut track truly conveys our charms.
I think ‘YOUTH!!!.’ would be the best song for this. The youth described in the lyrics perfectly reflects this very moment; our current journey as we invest our youth and move forward together.
– Namhyun
NH: What message would you like to share with your Indian Catcher?
Sani: I hope we can meet all of our fans in India soon. Until then, CATCH THE YOUNG will continue to move forward. Bye~ धन्यवाद।!!
Kihoon: To our Indian fans! I hope that we will be able to perform in India, share our music and energy, and make even more memories together. Let’s meet soon!
Jungmo: Hi, everyone! We will be sure to come and meet our Indian fans in person soon.
Namhyun: To our Indian fans! Thank you so much for supporting us. We will be sure to find you with even better performances and diverse activities. Let’s have fun together when we meet!
Junyong: I hope there will be a chance for us to play music in India together, and perform in India as well!
With ‘Ideal Type’, CATCH THE YOUNG continues to show just how much heart and honesty they put into their music. As they gear up for their first full-length album, the band is excited to keep growing, exploring new sounds, and connecting with fans around the world.
Photo Credit: Evermore Entertainment
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