#이펙스

[softy-bunny]

[kep1er-net]

the_EPEX: [📹] Kep1er 김채현님과 Only one in Universe🪐 #내가널택해#온리유댄스 @official_kep1er Reels 🔗http://instagram.com/reel/DCJo9BnS663/… TikTok 🔗 http://vt.tiktok.com/ZSjSwPJSa/ Shorts 🔗 http://youtube.com/shorts/nuHBJ4RyGJ4…

[onyourm-u]

Brutally Analyzing EPEX’s Stage Presence Archetypes

Another typical day of scrolling videos on Youtube. One video I came across was from the username "everglow-up." I knew the clickbait-y title would lure me into her channel, but boy did I find the video interesting and informative.

This video was particularly talking about Billlie's Stage Presence Archetypes based on the following:

Aura (Feminine vs Masculine)

Energy Type (Overt vs Covert)

Energy Type (Overt vs Covert)

Presence Type (Dominant vs Charismatic vs Sensual)

If you'd like a deep dive into those concepts, go ahead and check out the video I have linked above, or check out this video of hers as well.

I have also seen her do an analysis of other groups like EXO and Red Velvet, but I haven't seen her do EPEX or NCT (which I might make a blog on in the future).

I will mainly focus on EPEX's Stage Presence Archetypes using those concepts.

Disclaimer: This is not to determine whether a member's presence is good or bad, but I will point out some of their weak points. I am not writing this to hate on any member nor will sugarcoat any of my takes. If you disagree with any of these, it's okay—just don't be a jerk about it. If you want to, then don't read this.

Ayden

Masculine Overt Charismatic

As a performer, Ayden seems underappreciated. He has one of the best stage presence in the group. Similar to Keum, he also has the perfect balance of almost everything. He tends to maintain great consistency and energy level throughout every performance. His strong facial expressions and body language are in perfect harmony.

At the same time, those facial expressions are appropriate for each concept. When he needs to exhibit the cutesy "Noona's Cat," he becomes this little dancing ball of fur, especially with his fluffy platinum-blonde hair. Oh, man!! It was such a joy to watch. When he needs to exude a dark "Rebellious Wolf," he turns a 180. He would give you passion and hardcore. In other words, he is a versatile performer. His fancams are never tiring to watch.

Overall, the issue with his stage presence would be his face looks too aggressive sometimes. But it's not bothersome enough to ruin his performances.

Keum

Masculine Overt Dominant-Charismatic

The first thing that I thought when I saw Keum's stage presence was, "I love it!" From facial expressions to body language, he has the perfect balance in almost any aspect. He knows what facial expressions are suitable for each concept and do these effortlessly without seeming too intense.

I've seen his performances in Produce X 101, and they were crème de la crème. His Dominant side started to manifest during Believer, and integrating it with his Charismatic facial expressions was just on point. As for Super Special Girl, it showed how he can smoothly adapt to a wide range of concepts.

Under normal circumstances, performers look dead when they stop moving their faces. But with Keum, he manages to capture my attention regardless.

On the other hand, his stage presence comes with extraneous factors despite carrying out consistently good performances. His wardrobe styling and hair color choices could be the leading contributors to this. While everyone else had hair and outfits with vivid colors, he stuck to the monotonous palette during Do 4 Me era. This made him visually overshadowed by (for lack of a better word) more multicolored members like Baekseung or Ayden. I wish he had a more striking hair color other than blond with brighter concepts.

Wish

Masculine Overt Charismatic-Sensual

Wish is like the Overt version of EXO Xiumin. He has both strong facial expressions and body language whenever he performs. He tends to move in an "in your face" manner with a hint of such subtlety.

The performance that really showcased his Sensual side is Lone Wolf. That song was totally made for him. He had pink hair at the time they performed it on music shows, but the fact that he had black hair during their Seoul concert was such a cherry on top. It really helped in strengthening his overall stage presence.

However, the issue with Wish's stage presence is consistency. They tend to be what I call "all or nothing." One minute, he outperforms everyone, and then the next, his facial expressions are almost nonexistent. This happens when the camera pans away from him. He also seems to struggle with versatility, which becomes apparent when the song does not suit his stage presence archetype. He was quite too seductive in cute songs like Do 4 Me because he doesn’t have the right facial expressions, and was boring to watch on Hymn to Love because he didn’t have any.

Baekseung

Masculine Covert Charismatic

Baekseung possesses strong facial expressions. But unlike other Charismatic performers, his body language does not come across as “in your face.” Hence, I classify him as a Covert performer.

Despite his passive energy type, he was able to attract enough attention from the audience through his looks and hair color. This case was most evident with his long pink hair during Do 4 Me era. Apart from the fact that it makes him look like a real-life AI, it is one of the contributing factors to accentuating his naturally Charismatic stage presence.

Although Baekseung managed to maintain the same energy level throughout performances, versatility is something that he needs to work on. He made the facial expressions work for each performance, but he has been doing the exact same set for songs with totally different vibes. For instance, he winks and sticks his tongue out during AOTS (a dark hardcore song) the way he does with Do 4 Me (a light funky one).

Jeff

Masculine Overt Dominant-Charismatic

Jeff manages to balance both his Dominant side and Charismatic side. I was confused about classifying him as either one of the two at first. His facial expression is either too strong for a Dominant performer or too subtle for a Charismatic performer. Thus, I came to the conclusion that he is both.

He relies a lot on body language without having to become as expressive as other Charismatic performers. Even if he becomes as expressive, he does it with great timing. But for the most part, he furrows his brows and intensely stares into the camera for the entirety of each performance, which I'd like to call the "Squinty Eyebrows."

In that sense, it's both a pro and a con. It's a pro because even if he doesn't do much with his face, he doesn't come across as boring. Similar to Baekseung, it's a con because THAT'S IT. That's all he does whenever he performs. He may do a little aegyo or the double squinty brows and all that jazz. But other than that, he's bringing nothing new to the table.

A-Min

Feminine Covert Dominant-Sensual

Being the only Feminine performer in the group, one thing I like about A-Min is that he has great chemistry with a group full of masculine performers. Despite the difference in stage presence aura, he blends in so well since he is a Covert performer. There are three other Covert performers in the group, making him not seem entirely invisible in performances.

A-Min doesn't do much with his face but projects it through his body language instead. He has both loud and subtle movements without making it seem "in your face," which I think is still interesting to watch. This, in turn, makes him both a Dominant and a Sensual performer. Lone Wolf is THAT performance that he absolutely nailed along with Wish, another Sensual performer. Whoever thought of making them do a dance duet in the intro is such a genius. It really displayed their sensual sides so well.

However, I thought A-Min would show off his cuter side in songs with lighter concepts. But nah...he remained constant. He manages to keep a stable level of energy but lacks versatility. He does the same thing as he usually does with more serious concepts, making him less fascinating to watch. This is quite a shame because he has the potential to be more cutesy in a more Dominant performer way.

Yewang

Masculine Covert Dominant

Like other Dominant performers, Yewang relies more on body movements. His facial expression would sometimes complement his overall stage presence (Not to be confused with Charismatic performers. They treat facial expressions as the main course of their stage presence, while Yewang's is a side dish).

However, he would come across as aloof (even more than MU) whenever he missed the right timing for the expressions. Either he stares at the camera and does the "squinty brows" the way Jeff does, or he looks straight-up dead.

He managed to improve some of these aspects in just a year. Just look at his fancams in No Questions compared to Hymn to Love. He was a bit dull and boring on the former, but he had a better grasp of what to do on the latter. He had better timing for using his face and toned his gaze down a bit, and it's not boring at all. He still needs to work on his longevity and consistency. He sometimes struggles to retain the same energy in the long run.

MU

Masculine Covert Dominant

MU, like Yewang, tends to use facial expressions to complement his stage presence. Except, it doesn't work at all. In other words, he is a Dominant performer trying hard to exude Charisma. This is why watching his fancams often felt like watching a triangle trying to fit into a round hole (particularly during the AOTS era). He emphasized his facial expressions so much that they came across as unnatural. While it is supposed to aid his stage presence, it just looks so funny and awkward on him.

I get that he wants to go for the vibe of each concept, but I don't think he needs a loud face to do just that. He could just stand there and still be entertaining to watch. All he has to do is rely more on body language. He was able to attain this with his performance during Breathtaking, and it was...breathtaking. It was pleasant to watch, as he did a fantastic job utilizing his stage presence.

On a side note, he still struggles to fit in his Dominant side in EPEX's Dark and Charismatic-heavy concepts, which makes him more aloof than he actually is. He is not a bad performer, just a confused one. He hasn't explored himself as a performer enough to find the right stage presence type. He has a long way to go.

Group Chemistry

EPEX overall has yet to fully establish their chemistry on stage. Despite this, they have a perfect balance of Overt and Covert performers. While they have a balanced number of Dominant, Charismatic, and Sensual performers, there's no doubt that their performances cater to the Charismatic performers. The songs and choreographies are Charismatic-heavy, so it makes sense that members with this archetype stand out the most. It does not help that most of them are Overt performers. Heck, even Baekseung stood out among them. While he is a Covert performer, he is also a Charismatic one.

This does not imply that non-Charismatic performers live in their shadows, as there are Charismatic members who also have another archetype. Keum and Jeff are both Charismatic and Dominant, while Wish is both Charismatic and Sensual. That does not disorient them from Dominant performers, especially A-Min, who is also a Sensual performer.

It would have been better if they had more concepts or choreographies that show their Dominant side, especially when the non-Charismatic Dominant performers are all Covert.

Subjective Takes

I know—it seems like I have written Keum as the one with the best stage presence, but Ayden takes the lead on who is more interesting to watch. Apart from the hair color choice, he tends to bring more charm and color to every concept in comparison. I realized this when I tried to watch another member's fancam (I think it was a Baekseung one). I accidentally saw Keum and Ayden next to each other, but the latter happened to captivate my attention more.

As for the rest, they are great performers. Maybe they're not as excellent as you want them to be now, but there is always room for improvement.

I believe EPEX as a group has so much potential, especially Wish. They are the group whose growth and development would totally look forward to.

After all, it has only been a year since they debuted, and they have six more years to learn and perform better. STAN EPEX!!

[mykpopwire]

interview: EPEX continues to grow with their very own unique music style

EPEX returns with their sixth EP, Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2. ‘Can We Surrender?’, the final chapter of their Bipolar album series, which began with EPEX’s debut in 2021. While Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2. ‘Can We Surrender?’ details the dark and uneasy realities that boys face when they reach the end of their limits, it wraps up the emotions of adolescent anxiety and first love that were narrated through Prelude of Anxiety and Prelude of Love series. In the recent interview with global media outlets, EPEX shares more about the EP and also about the team’s growth.

A-MIN (left), KEUM (right)

"FULL METAL JACKET" is a very hard-hitting, rock-heavy track and it is way different from past EPEX's title tracks. Talk to us about the preparation that EPEX did for this comeback. Are there any artists as a point of inspiration, or for reference when preparing for this particular comeback?

KEUM: I'm confident that all the members have evolved while preparing for this comeback. I believe various aspects such as our performance, mindset, and other artistic elements like visuals have improved. As for the musical direction of the group, we didn't necessarily have a specific role model. Instead, we discussed the idea of becoming someone else's role model rather than setting someone as our own role model.

Could you share with us the most memorable moment from the album preparation process for "Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2. ‘Can We Surrender?’"?

YEWANG: I still remember the first time I heard the song while we were preparing for this album. The choreography was incredibly intense, and it left us all a bit stunned.

A-MIN: This was the first time we worked with backup dancers for our performance, and the practice sessions with them were a new experience for us. It's a memorable moment for me.

AYDEN (left), MU (right)

"Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2. ‘Can We Surrender?’" contains four new songs, with all different stories and genres. Which song does each of you feel the most relatable, memorable or meaningful to you personally?

JEFF: I think the most memorable track from this album is the most intense one, the title track, "FULL METAL JACKET".

A-MIN: The track "Hit the Wall" resonates with me the most because everyone encounters their limitations at some point in their lives.

KEUM: Expanding on what A-MIN mentioned, the song "Hit the Wall" discusses the perceived limits we may have, which may not actually be true. This message can provide solace to some and encourage everyone to persevere and continue moving forward.

Your latest album, "Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2. ‘Can We Surrender?’" sold over 240,000 copies in one week based on the Hanteo Chart data, which is your highest since debut. What are your thoughts on this?

KEUM: By looking at the numbers, it's clear that we've made significant progress and improvement, which fills us with pride. Thanks to our fans and other people who have sent a lot of love to this album, we're able to show our improvements and share our music with even more people.

BAEKSEUNG (left), WISH (right)

We have been hearing a lot of good things about EPEX. From your own point of view, what is your biggest strength or charms, individually and also as a group?

KEUM: Our visuals!

BAEKSEUNG: I personally believe it's the friendly atmosphere we create as a team and the unique music style and performance that only EPEX can deliver.

MU: I'm convinced that the charms we possess as a group are unique to us and cannot be found in any other.

What aspect of your music do you want people to focus on?

YEWANG: Since we infuse our own stories into our music, I hope people pay attention to the song lyrics. Additionally, as artists who create music tailored to our age group, I hope people pay close attention to our singing and dancing style.

To someone that is new to EPEX, what is one song that you recommend them to listen to?

WISH: I recommend the song "SUNSHOWER." It's a track with a pleasing sound and a public appeal, making it a song that sounds great right from the first listen.

AYDEN: I agree with WISH. "SUNSHOWER" is a fantastic song to get to know EPEX for the first time. Then I would love for them to try listening to other songs, and realize that EPEX is capable of many different things.

JEFF (left), YEWANG (right)

Each part of the Bipolar album series showcases different sides of your artistry. Can you talk about the evolution of your music and how it aligns with the main concept of this series?

A-MIN: Throughout the release of six EPs, we explored various genres, allowing us to gain experience across a diverse array of musical styles. This process has helped us clarify the genres we want to delve deeper into in the future.

BAEKSEUNG: Additionally, as we delved into various genres across these EPs, I believe we were able to consolidate all those experiences into this final EP. The title track, "FULL METAL JACKET," is a highly intense song that fuses together all the genres and experiences we encountered in our previous EPs.

WISH: Our individual skills have definitely improved, and I can confidently say that the content of our lyrics has become more detailed and comprehensive. Initially, our lyrics might have been a bit too abstract, but over time, we've sharpened the message we aim to convey through our music, making it clearer.

AYDEN: With the enhancement of our individual skills, we've naturally become more adept at expressing our emotions. Additionally, as all of our songs are enjoyable to listen to, we've also developed better ways to express them.

Is there any EPEX song that you haven't got a chance to perform on stage and would like to perform one day?

BAEKSEUNG: We're currently gearing up for something special. We'll be performing on stage with FANTASTICS to the song "PEPPERMINT YUM" for an event called D.LEAGUE so please stay tuned for that exciting performance!

A-MIN: From our songs, we would love to perform the third track of this album, titled "Hit the Wall." It's an intense song, and we're eager to create choreography and deliver a performance for our fans as soon as possible.

Thank you C9 Entertainment and Helix Publicity for the invitation.

Watch EPEX ‘FULL METAL JACKET’ MV here!

*photos courtesy of C9 Entertainment

Don’t forget to like, follow and subscribe to MY K-POP WIRE for more K-Pop interview, debut, comeback and event updates!

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Connect with EPEX!

Twitter / X: @the_EPEX & @by_EPEX

Instagram: EPEX

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TikTok: EPEX

[kpopallday24]

EPEX PLAYLIST via Spotify

[seoulbeatscom]

Alice, formerly known as Elris until they moved companies and rebranded last year, came back on April 19 with their chaebol crush-tinged MV “Show Down.” Although powerhouse girl group IVE popularized this “chaebol crush” concept, it is clearly catching on in K-pop. The five members of Alice channel this idea as they establish themselves as role models in “Show Down.” They are music producers crushing the stage; determined and sculpted boxers; passionate dancers; and the picture of luxury with shopping bags draped across their arms (and a sports car entrance). 

Going from a debut album with “anxiety” in the title to a comeback centered around love and “sunshowers” is growth. And something rookie group Epex underwent. With almost two years under their belt, the eight members of Epex are clearly ready to take another step of maturity. The funny thing is “Sunshowers,” the title track of their latest album Prelude of Love: Chapter 2. ‘Growing Pains,’ is probably the most bright and upbeat lead single in their discography to date. 

[tokkaeri]

Mu twitter post - 241101

나랑 같이 가🫂

EPEX #이펙스 #MU #뮤

[everythingbap]

🕺🏽 ‘TWIST YA’ Simply K-Pop [CON-TOUR] showcase A/N: Jongup shows up at around 54:30

[hk-kpop-page]

現場直擊📸 ➟ #EPEX

◍ 2024.03.08

◍ 上水廣場 X  EPEX 2ND CONCERT [So We are not Anxious] in HONG KONG記者會

◍ 上水廣場2樓中庭 (上水龍琛路39號)

上水廣場X EPEX 2ND CONCERT [So We are not Anxious] in HONG KONG記者會

八人八色秀「世一」「MM7」「大癲」等廣東話潮語 勁歌熱舞嗨爆全場為演唱會預熱

3月8日，韓國8人男子組合EPEX今天於上水廣場出席「上水廣場 X  EPEX 2ND CONCERT [So We are not Anxious] in HONG KONG」，搶先跟粉絲見面以及預祝演唱會成功，吸引大批傳媒及三百名粉絲到場，場面相當熱鬧！

今次為EPEX首度訪港，門票一開賣旋即火速售罄，人氣絕不輸其他韓團！而為了可與偶像作近距離接觸，大批粉絲在記者會當日一早帶備打氣手幅及燈牌到場，務求爭取最佳位置等候EPEX的出現。EPEX 甫出場，即引起全場粉絲尖叫歡呼，並高舉各式各樣的應援物來歡迎偶像。

EPEX一行8人以廣東話向現場粉絲打招呼，並大秀「世一」、「MM7」和「大癲」等廣東話潮語，令現場粉絲十分驚喜！在閒談環節中，EPEX「吊大家癮」稍稍透露香港場驚喜表演內容；而同時有「大胃王男團」之稱的他們也當然少不了分享想品嘗的港式美食。而為了給演唱會預熱，八子緊接著準備了大熱歌曲「FULL METAL JACKET」的勁歌熱舞表演，全場尖叫聲此起彼落，嗨爆全場！

最後，為答謝一眾粉絲的支持，EPEX更特地走到台下與現場粉絲大合照留念，盡顯親民一面！

關於Landmark North上水廣場

「Landmark North上水廣場」是新鴻基旗下新界北部的地標購物商場。上水廣場總面積達190,000平方呎，匯聚多個國際知名品牌及各式各樣時尚潮流店舖食肆，極受顧客歡迎。此外，上水廣場每月均舉行各式大型推廣活動或禮品換領活動，讓顧客於消費購物期間獲額外獎賞，增添購物樂趣。

地址：香港上水龍琛路39號 (港鐵上水站A4出口)

查詢電話： 2639 9638 網址： https://www.landmarknorth.com.hk

#이펙스

[the-dreamnote]

dreamnote_imekorea #EPEX #이펙스 의 에이든, 제프 님과 함께 La la la la la lemonade~🍋✨ #보니 #라라 #에이든 #제프 #BoNi #Lara #AYDEN #JEFF

[kep1er-net]

the_EPEX: [📹] Kep1er 서영은님과 Get out of my way Right now🔥 #FULLMETALJACKETChallenge @official_kep1er TikTok 🔗 http://vt.tiktok.com/ZSN2Evh3B/ Shorts 🔗 youtube.com/shorts/0kUr_XwuB9c… Reels 🔗 http://instagram.com/reel/CyXueh8y8nO/…

[pictomu]

Mu instagram post - 241115

𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒐𝒘

EPEX #이펙스 #MU #뮤

[mykpopwire]

media release: EPEX Releases 5th EP, Prelude of Love Chapter 2: Growing Pains

EPEX has made a comeback with their 5th EP, Prelude of Love Chapter 2. Growing Pains. This EP serves as a direct continuation of the story being told in their previous releases BIPOLAR Pt. 2 Prelude of Love and Prelude of Love Chapter 1. Puppy Love. Prelude of Love Chapter 2. Growing Pains details the process of boys going through their first breakup. Track by track, the EP takes you through the different stages of emotions one goes through during their first heartbreak.

“It’s a comeback after six months since “Hymn to Love,” so I’m very nervous. I like the atmosphere of our title song, so I’m even more excited about the comeback. We hope that ZENITH will look forward to us as much as we prepared with love and hard work.” - BAEKSEUNG, member of EPEX

“I’m happy and excited to show our fans our new concept and music. Even though it is the 4th comeback, our trembling and anticipating hearts have become clearer. We will make more comebacks with diverse concepts in the future, but as this moment will never return, we will do our best for this comeback.” - WISH, leader of EPEX

The EP includes four new tracks, with the title track called “여우가 시집가는 날 (Sunshower).” It tells the story of a boy who is going through a painful breakup for the first time. “여우가 시집가는 날 (Sunshower)” is an up-tempo Pop-Dance song featuring funky guitar beats, a fresh brass sound and the EPEX members’ energetic vocals.

Watch EPEX 여우가 시집가는 날 (Sunshower) MV here!

*photo courtesy of C9 Entertainment

Don’t forget to like, follow and subscribe to MY K-POP WIRE for more K-Pop interview, debut, comeback and event updates!

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Connect with EPEX!

Twitter: @the_EPEX & @by_EPEX

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TikTok: EPEX

[kpopallday24]

EPEX 6TH EP ALBUM [PRELUDE OF ANXIETY CHAPTER 2. ‘CAN WE SURRENDER?’] at amazon

[kpoploveblog]

EPEX (이펙스) - Youth Chapter 2：YOUTH DEFICIENCY The 2nd Album (2024)

2024.11.05

Track List: 01. UNIVERSE 02. My Girl 03. 1997 (낭만소녀) 04. It is what it is 05. Attosecond 06. Wonderful (경이로운 일상) 07. Closer (잃어버린 것들에 대하여) 08. Loner

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