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ENHYPEN. Photos courtesy of BELIFT LAB
Making music is much like storytelling, with messages and narratives often woven into songs. K-pop boy band ENHYPEN, however, have taken that idea a step further, building an entire universe around their story rooted in vampiric lore.
This vampire narrative — intertwined with explorations of themes like desire and fame — has been present throughout the group's releases since their 2020 debut, following their formation through the survival program “I-LAND.”
It runs throughout the boys’ artistry, reflected not only in their songs and music videos but also in cinematic album trailers and even in their own fantasy webtoon series “Dark Moon.”
Five years on, having grown into one of K-pop’s most popular acts that boasts millions of album sales and performances in large venues and major music festivals, the seven-piece act has stayed true to its vampire concept while continuing to develop new ways of telling it.
“We think the concept of vampires leaves a lot of room for imagination, and it allows us as a group to express a wide range of emotions and stories within that concept,” member Sunoo said in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News.
“Because we’ve been building this universe since our debut, we’ve been able to maintain a narrative that feels uniquely ours. Moving forward, we plan to continue expanding this vampire narrative and share our story with fans in new and creative ways,” he added.
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This commitment to inventive musical storytelling is reflected in ENHYPEN’s seventh extended play (EP), “THE SIN : VANISH.”
Released on Friday, January 16, the 11-track album sees ENHYPEN break from the traditional format, incorporating narration and skits between songs. The group even enlisted award-winning actor Park Jeong-min, who recently went viral for his appearance in Hwasa’s “Good Goodbye” video, as the project’s narrator.
“THE SIN : VANISH” tells the story of vampire lovers on the run. It continues the narrative from the band’s previous EP “DESIRE : UNLEASH,” which explored the desire to turn a loved one into a vampire — a crime in ENHYPEN’s world where humans and vampires coexist.
Below is the rest of our interview with ENHYPEN, in which they discuss “THE SIN : VANISH,” the value of incorporating stories into their releases, and their recent donation to relief efforts for flood-affected communities in the Philippines.
(From left) Heeseung, Jungwon and Ni-ki
ENHYPEN is known for weaving stories throughout your albums. Why is it important for you to embed your music with these stories?
JUNGWON: First of all, embedding stories into our music allows fans to connect with it more easily and naturally. It goes beyond just listening, inviting our fans and listeners to watch, think, and experience our music with us — creating a truly immersive experience that can be felt both visually and emotionally.
What does your creative process usually look like? Does the concept or story come first before the songs or do you build the album’s story around the songs?
HEESEUNG: In the process of planning an album, its overall storyline and flow are carefully discussed. We think it’s a key step in ensuring that the entire album is naturally connected as a complete, well-crafted story.
“THE SIN: VANISH” continues the narrative from “DESIRE : UNLEASH” and talks about vampire lovers on the run. What inspired this next chapter of your story?
JAKE: In this next chapter, we wanted to capture the wide range of emotions and situations that come with being on the run — tension, thrill, confusion, and more. This album isn’t just about the tracks; it also includes narrations and skits that help guide the story, allowing fans to imagine and experience the emotions within it alongside us.
What made “Knife” the standout choice for the lead single?
SUNGHOON: We chose “Knife” as the lead single because we felt it has an impact that instantly grabs attention. We also thought the song delivers ENHYPEN’s powerful energy both visually and sonically, leaving a strong impression on fans.
Aside from the lead single, is there another track you’re particularly fond of? What makes it special for you?
JAY: Personally, I really love “Sleep Tight.” It’s also JAKE’s first self-composed song and the moment I heard it, it hit me right away with its fresh arrangement. It just stuck in my head.
NI-KI: I’m especially attached to “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” I vividly remember when we filmed the chapter film in the desert during our U.S. tour, and the track’s raw yet captivating melody really brings out the emotions in it. I just enjoy it so much every time I listen to it.
“Stealer” is described as having “an exotic, Latin-inspired groove.” I feel like we haven’t really seen you explore Latin sounds before. Does this represent a new style you’re experimenting with?
HEESEUNG: Personally, I’ve always really enjoyed Latin-inspired genres, so I listen to them a lot. I’m really excited that we could finally show our fans this style mixed with our own sound in “Stealer.”
Jay and Jake
JAKE, this album features your first self-composed track, “Sleep Tight.” How does it feel to share your own composition and what do you hope listeners take away from the song?
JAKE: As you mentioned, my first self-composed track is featured on this album. I had so much fun working on it, and since I’m a fan of R&B, I wanted it to have an R&B vibe. The track contains the emotions meant to be shared with a loved one who goes on a challenging journey of escape. I hope listeners can feel the tension, thrill, and subtle emotions along the way.
The album features an impressive lineup of collaborators, including actor Park Jeong-min, Dynamic Duo’s Gaeko and So!YoON! of Se So Neon. How did these collaborations come about and what was it like working with them?
SUNGHOON: We feel honored that all three of these amazing individuals helped us with this project. I’m personally a big fan of actor Park Jeong-min. I always try to watch the movies he stars in, so it’s truly an honor to work with him. I thought his delicate expressiveness is remarkable, and if he could do the narration, it would help us convey our story even better to ENGENEs and listeners.
JUNGWON: We felt truly grateful that such accomplished talents from different fields worked with us on our album. We reached out to people whose voices and styles we felt would fit the mood of each song perfectly, and we were so glad when they got onboard. Thanks to them, we were able to bring the songs to life more completely, and the whole process was a meaningful experience where we learned so much and gained a lot.
Sunghoon and Sunoo
I also wanted to touch on your donation for flood-affected communities in the Philippines. That gesture meant a lot, not just to your local fans, but to many Filipinos. What inspired you to take that step and what message would you like to share with those affected?
SUNOO: Lately, we’ve heard about people around the world facing difficult situations and unexpected natural disasters. The Philippines, in particular, means so much to us, as it’s where we held our very first stadium concert in Southeast Asia. We wanted to empathize with the pain of those affected by the recent floods and offer our support through this donation.
We sincerely hope it will provide meaningful assistance, and that everyone impacted can soon regain their health and safety while feeling even a small sense of hope and comfort. ENHYPEN are always sending our love and support.
The past year has been an incredibly busy year for you, with the “WALK THE LINE” tour, the release of “DESIRE: UNLEASH,” performing at Coachella, and so much more. How do the members manage to find time to rest and recharge despite such a packed schedule?
NI-KI: I usually enjoy listening to music, so on my way to and from work, I often pick songs that match my mood or the vibe of the day. Although it’s a brief moment of time, it really helps lift my energy.
Lastly, what is ENHYPEN most looking forward to in 2026?
JAY: What we’re most looking forward to is showing fans the next chapter of ENHYPEN. Not just our growth, but the new dimensions of ourselves. With the new sides revealed throughout this album “THE SIN : VANISH,” I hope that in 2026 we can show an even broader range of ourselves in both music and performances.