Four-member K-pop boy group XLOV, consisting of Wumuti, Rui, Haru, and Hyun, made a bold debut earlier this year with their single album, ‘I’mma Be’. They quickly turned heads with their genre-blending sound, strong visuals, and unique gender-fluid concept, a first in the K-pop space. Just six months later, they are back with their second single album, ‘I ONE’, marking another confident step forward in their journey and expanding the story they began with their debut.
In an exclusive interview with Namaste Hallyu, XLOV opened up about their latest comeback, ‘I ONE’, their growth since debut, and their dreams of meeting their fans, EVOL, in India.
Having already made a striking impression with ‘I’mma Be’, the group’s return with ‘I ONE’ is a reflection of their desire to push their artistry further. The new single album features three tracks—‘1&Only’, ‘1 of LOVE’, and ‘BIZNESS’, along with instrumental versions, and this time, leader Wumuti has taken on a bigger creative role. Not only did he participate in writing the lyrics for all the songs, but he also produced the album. “‘I ONE’ carries the message that all beings in the world, including us, are unique and irreplaceable. Our fire moves you, and we want to make that fire burn even stronger,” Wumuti shared, summing up the heart of the album’s concept and the message they hope to deliver to fans.
The album is led by the title track ‘1&Only’, a vibrant and summery song that blends Afrobeat and Afropop influences. The choreography complements its breezy energy, and the music video continues the storyline first introduced in their debut. “In ‘I’mma Be’, you can see XLOV’s visuals and artistry within our own spaces; in ‘1&Only’, we’ve completely stepped outside. So, you can think of it as the story that unfolds after coming out into the world,” Wumuti explained. That idea of stepping out and exploring new directions feels a lot like XLOV’s own growth as artists, too.
But the road to this comeback wasn’t without its challenges and plenty of memorable moments. Rui, Haru, and Hyun all agreed that Wumuti was a huge source of strength during the recording process. Rui recalled struggling with a vocal part while practicing, but Wumuti’s guidance helped him overcome it.
In my part, I couldn’t sing it well while practicing. But while recording, Wumuti would always say, ‘try like this’, ‘try like this’. So, I was like ‘Ah, I don’t know, just do it’ and then suddenly it came out really well and Wumuti was like, ‘what was that?’ and highly praised me. So, I was so happy and glad that it came out well.
– Rui
Hyun shared a similar experience with the line “Muy fine si bonita chica,” which was initially written in a lower tone. With Wumuti’s support, he was able to adapt the delivery to suit his natural voice. Haru also leaned on Wumuti’s direction to deliver a high-energy rap part. Reflecting on the recording sessions, Rui added, “We were all really nervous. Still, you [Wumuti] being like this made us do better.”
For his part, Wumuti expressed joy and pride in the members for all the hard work they poured into this comeback, sharing, “This time, I had the responsibility of being the producer as well. And, compared to ‘I’mma Be’, this time, the members did really well in recording and showed their mature sides.”
With their comeback successfully behind them, XLOV is already looking ahead to what’s next. From experimenting with different genres to collaborating with their favorite artists, the members have plenty they hope to achieve. When asked about dream collaborations, Wumuti was quick to name BLACKPINK’s Jennie, adding, “If I get a chance to share a stage with Jennie someday and create music together, I would be very honored.” Meanwhile, Hyun connected the Afro-inspired sound of their latest comeback to his dream collaboration, naming South African singer and songwriter Tyla.
We tried Afro recently, right? So, I recently thought that if we could ever get a chance to collaborate with Tyla and share our music, perform together, it would be so amazing.
– Hyun
That spirit of support and shared vision doesn’t stop with just the members; it extends to their fans as well. No conversation with XLOV is complete without talking about EVOL, who hold a special place in their hearts. Each member offered a unique and heartfelt way of describing the fandom. Hyun compared them to a four-leaf clover that brings “me the luck I could never have on my own.” Rui described EVOL as people he simply cannot live without, motivating him to work harder and keep improving. For Wumuti, EVOL feels like family, “Sometimes an elder person in the family who raises me, and sometimes, like my younger sibling.” Echoing that same sense of warmth and familiarity, Haru likened them to a comforting blanket, making a clever wordplay on their fandom name EVOL, which sounds like the Korean word 이불 (blanket).
For me, EVOL is literally a blanket. Like, they are with me in my sad times as well.
– Haru
Looking ahead, XLOV shared their excitement about connecting with international fans, including fans in India. “We are aware that so many EVOLs are waiting for us all over the world. We also want to meet you as soon as possible. We’ll find the opportunity and run to you to show the coolest concert,” said Wumuti. He also shared a heartwarming message for their fans in India, expressing his gratitude and love.
We want to thank you so much for loving us, XLOV. We look forward to seeing what EVOLs in India would be like and how good their energy would be. Let’s make sure to meet with full energy someday.
– Wumuti
With ‘I ONE’, XLOV proves that they’re more than just a rookie group; they’re storytellers, performers, and artists unafraid to grow. From the mysterious allure of ‘I’mma Be’ to the bright, confident energy of ‘1&Only’, they continue to carve out a space that’s all their own in K-pop.
Watch the full exclusive interview with XLOV here:
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