Boy band P1Harmony returns with Latin-inspired album 'Sad Song'

For its new album, “Sad Song,” boy band P1Harmony tries its hand at Latin pop for the very first time.

Boy band P1Harmony [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

For its new album, “Sad Song,” boy band P1Harmony tries its hand at Latin pop for the very first time. The members were inspired during their tour in Latin America, giving them the motivation to dive deeper into the region's culture and music.

“While we were touring around the world last year, we were given the chance to hold our solo concerts for the first time in Latin America,” Keeho told reporters during an interview held prior to the release of the album, which is on Friday at 6 p.m.

“There, we were able to really feel the culture, the passion and the energy of our fans up close,” Keeho continued. “And that’s how we fell in love with Latin music. We wanted to know more about the genre and that’s how we came to choose the genre. The things that we experience during our career naturally seep through in our music, which is why experiences really matter.”

“Sad Song” comes as the band’s first new Korean album in just seven months after releasing its first full-length album, “Killin’ It,” in February. It also comes one month after releasing its first Japanese album, “Love & P1ece: The Best of P1Harmony,” on Aug. 21.

The seven-track release includes the title track “Sad Song” and the English version of the title track, as well as five other songs that members all took part in writing the music and lyrics for. The album also includes “Wasp” by members Intak and Jongseob, the first song that only certain members of P1Harmony took part in.

Boy band P1Harmony [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

“Sad Song” began with the question, “Do superheroes get sad in between saving the world?”

“We really had our hand in everything — from the concept of the album to the songs and the visualization,” Keeho said. “We began working on this album even before we finished ‘Killin’ It,’ and I even made a presentation to show the staff what we wanted for our next album. And having done that, I truly feel like we’ve found the right P1Harmony color for this.”

The irony of title track "Sad Song," which has a title that makes people expect a slow ballad or an R&B track at least, is that it is actually an up-tempo Latin dance track that tells people how they should overcome their sadness. For the song, P1Harmony once again assumes the role of a hero on the stage, an idea it has been incorporating into its music since debut.

P1Harmony had an unorthodox debut in October 2020 with an apocalyptic action film titled “P1H: A New World Begins,” showing the audience the band’s alternate universe story that K-pop bands typically have as the lingering theme of their music. P1Harmony's story is that the six members are heroes that will save a virus-stricken world with their powers.

Boy band P1Harmony [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

The band has been highlighting that theme with its first six albums, starting with the first EP “Disharmony: Stand Out” (2020) to the sixth EP “Harmony: All In” (2023). These days, the band's heroism still stands but with a tad bit more focus on the real world, according to the members.

“We released the first six albums in two series of three albums, which made it feel a little like there were certain limits to what we could sing about,” Keeho said. “It was fun and somewhat easier, but we wanted to have the freedom to write about anything. So, this album won’t be part of a series, even if it does carry the same theme. We want to keep the superhero idea but talk about the different heroes that we encounter in our daily lives.”

A sequel to the debut film is also possible, according to the members. But if it does happen, the members are determined to do it better than the first work.

“We’d love to shoot another film if we get the chance, but I think we can do much better because the first film was the very first time we had a go at acting,” Keeho said. “We were so awkward in front of the camera and we were just so focused on our music back then. I think we can pull it off much better now.”

Boy band P1Harmony [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

“It was actually the very first thing we did because we shot it before our debut,” said Intak. “If we get to film the next movie, I hope it’s a large-scale blockbuster like the Marvel series.”

P1Harmony has been achieving small successes in its career, taking slow but steady steps toward the top with steadily higher album sales, its first victory on a television music program and climbing up the Billboard music charts. The band became the first K-pop band to attend the Academy of Country Music Awards in May and the first K-pop band to perform at the Governors Ball Music Festival 2024 in June.

“We’re grateful for winning the TV show but what I think makes it really worthwhile is that our efforts and our fans’ efforts have been proven,” Keeho said. “It’s all the more meaningful because it was our first full-length album that got the win. The collective effort of us and our fans made it happen and that’s given us the positive energy we need to want to repay them even more with this album.”

“Most of all, we want to be the good memories that fans have,” Theo said. “Winning and everything is great, but we’re at our happiest when we have fun with the fans and enjoy the moment.”

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]