Monsta X is a 7-member boy group from South Korea. They're about to release the Japanese version of their latest song "Alligator", which grew popular in Korea and tore onto KPOP scene. We're sure you will be charmed by both their perfect looks and skills. On NYLON.JP, we reveal these parts of the interview that didn't appear in the magazine!
Jooheon & I.M
Q: Please tell us what made you start rapping.
I.M: I liked rap, but I was also attracted to possibility of expressing hidden thoughts through it, so I started learning rap. I think in rap I can honestly express things that usually aren't shown in music, my story and feelings.
JH: When I was a kid I liked moving my body to the music. Sometimes I would listen to rap, and instead of having soft lyrics over a soft melody, it had dynamic sounds over a soft melody, and one could deliver their message through it, and I found it cool. What's more, there were a lot of rapper friends around me, so we started rapping together.
Q: Please say what is a charming point of the other person.
I.M: Jooheon has a mole over his left eye, it's sexy and cute!
JH: I.M's charm is his cool aura!
Q: Is there any secret of your partner, that only you know about?
I.M: Jooheon set his voice as his alarm clock, and wakes up to this sound (laugh).
JH: I.M actually has many songs for fans ready!
Q: When do you do them?
I.M: The job keeps me busy, instead of working on them during working hours, I make them in my free time.
Q. In that case, do you have any private time?
I.M: We have some leisure time when we're together, we can relax anywhere, last time we had schedules in Japan I was dancing to the NARUTO soundtrack in a hotel room.
Q. If you were to give your partner a 1st place [in a ranking], what would this be in?
I.M: I think fans know that, but Jooheon thinks about fans a lot, so "1st place in thinking about fans". He tries to represent it through the lyrics. From my point of view, it's impressive.
JH: I.M thinks about others, so "1st place in having a warm heart".
Q: Your styles are different, what do you respect in this?
JH: In rap, voice tone is important. If I were to compare, I.M is like a jeep or an off-road car, and I'm like a sports car. My raps are fast and include many words, and I.M makes a good use of his voice's power.
I.M: We're like ying and yang. When we perform on stage, Jooheon wears clothes with yellow, tiger patterns, and I wear black-based, leopard-patterned outfits. The contrast between us is expressed not only by music but also by clothes.
Q. You're rappers, but what are you conscious about during the performance?
I.M: I think we're in charge of visuals in the team, in a way. Of course not in terms of face (laugh)! We express Monsta X's color via our rap, so in this way, we are the visuals.
Q. You surely are visuals!
IM & JH: Of course! (laugh)
JH: How can we not!?
Wonho, Minhyuk & Hyungwon
Q: Please say what is a charming point of the other person.
WH: Minhyuk has a beautiful smile.
MH: Hyungwon has a big body.
HW: Wonho has a lean body.
WH: You're saying the opposite of the reality (laugh).
Q: So is there any secret of the other person, that only you know about?
MH: Hyungwon can easily live a day without saying a word.
HW: That's not true (laugh). Minhyuk has a better body than it seems.
WH: Minhyuk cherishes everything Monbebe say about him.
MH: I love you <3
WH: Hyungwon's secret... there's none (laugh).
MH: There are barely any secrets about Hyungwon.
Q: What are your positions in the group?
MH: Before the debut, during the survival show "NO MERCY", we were in charge of visuals.
HW: It's been 5 years already?
MH: Also, the 3 of us would walk out at nights during trainee days (laugh). I don't remember where we were going, was it a chicken place?
Q: What are the other people best at [no. 1], something that fans don't know?
HW: Fans may know this, but Minhyuk is really good at taking selfies.
MH: Wonho has 1st place in terms of friendliness.
WH: Hyungwon has the longest legs. I'm jealous (laugh)!
Q: As mentioned earlier, you were a visual team, please tell us about each other's charms.
MH: I've said it earlier, but Wonho is really kind. And Hyungwon is very delicate.
HW: Minyuk is funny. Wonho's charm is his muscle (laugh). I think it's the coolest muscle among idols. The best.
WH: Minhyuk has a broad back and Hyungwon has a big mouth (laugh).
HW: Ey-!
WH: But I think it's a charm everybody likes.
Q: Then if you were to give each other a role?
WH: Personally, when I introduce myself in Japanese, I always say I'm in charge of fair skin. I'm fair-skinned like a bunny, but fans say I'm a baby (laugh).
MH: I'm the prince of charms, Minhyuk!
HW: I'm in charge of being tall, right. But I think Wonho is in charge of ordering whenever we order food. He knows what's delicious. You can leave it to him.
WH: Hyungwon is like a paper doll. His body is thin so he looks flimsy and shaky like paper (laugh).
Shownu & Kihyun
Q: Please tell us the charms of each other.
SN: I can't tell he isn't handsome (laugh). Seriously, I think he's a member who still gives fans a refreshing vibe.
KH: Shownu is always honest, he works hard on everything. I think it's his charm to do well in everything he does.
Q: Then, are there any secrets only you know about?
SN: Lately, we're very busy, and Kihyun sleeps whenever he has a bit of free time (laugh). Thanks to that he seems to be in a good condition. I'm not good at getting rest in a short period of time, but Kihyun finds time for rest, even the shortest while, and rests well to keep a good health. Am I right?
KH: Exactly. I try to sleep even if it's only for 5 minutes. Shownu is an opposite of me, whenever he has some time, he tries to do something. Even when we finish a day of schedules and return to the dorm, he stays in the practice room alone at night to practice dance. I'm sure the fans don't know it, so I say it here.
Q: A situation between only 2 of you?
KH: We usually spend time with all members, so a situation of only 2 of us...
SN: A few days ago Kihyun asked me to go with him to an escape room, but I refused (laugh).
KH: Lately, me and Minhyuk are addicted to escape rooms, we often go there. That's why I asked (laugh).
SN: You said it's recent, but you've been there 2-3 times?
KH: We've been there 5-6 times. I've heard there are escape rooms in Japan, so I want to go there one day. I think Japanese escape rooms are done with great thought about details, so I can't wait.
Q: If you were to give your partner a 1st place [in a ranking], what would that be?
KH: Shownu is a physical no. 1. It's not only about big muscles, but also about good overall balance.
SN: Kihyun is the main vocalist, so it's obvious he is good at singing, and I think he loves the fans the most. Of course all members love the fans deeply, but Kihyun stays in touch with them the most via events and SNS. I think I should learn from him. I love our fans too!
Q: Shownu is said to be a good dancer and Kihyun is the main vocalist, are you sometimes envious of each other's skills?
SN: I'm really envious of the singing skills, especially during live performances.
KH: I'm not going to mention dance, but in terms of vocal we have various sensitivity, I think my vocal has a rock vibe and Shownu's has more R&B feel. I'm envious of that.
Q: I see. I have a question to Kihyun, how do you think, what is the role of Shownu as a leader?
KH: I think it's an important and difficult role. It may be a small word, but it's a weight Shownu holds and I feel he supports the team well.
