It’s “Just the Beginning” for UINONE

The band describes their album, its creative cover art, and long-term goals.

Please introduce yourselves and describe what traits and skills each member contributes to the group!

KIMUZI: I’m KIMUZI, UINONE’s vocalist. I believe my voice embodies the band’s identity. I focus on amplifying emotions and expressing our messages through lyrics and melodies.

Jaeil: I’m Kim Jaeil, UINONE’s guitarist. My role is crucial in shaping the band’s overall sound. While our music is rooted in rock, I constantly explore ways to add new colors to it.

Taeyang: I’m Seo Taeyang, UINONE’s bassist. My role is to create depth and cohesion within our music, ensuring that it isn’t just about flashy melodies or intense beats, but also an organic and dynamic flow.

Jaemin: I’m Jo Jaemin, UINONE’s drummer. I control the rhythm and groove of the band, making sure each song’s emotion is conveyed through dynamic drumming.

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “UINONE is ___” or “UINONE’s music is ___”?

KIMUZI: “UINONE is a band that translates emotions into music.” We incorporate psychedelic and experimental elements to express raw emotions in their purest forms.

Jaeil: “UINONE’s music can be interpreted differently depending on the listener.” Within a single emotion, we explore multiple layers and perspectives.

Taeyang: Our music is intense yet emotional, capturing a wide range of human emotions, from loneliness and anguish to the love found within them. If you listen to [our] album in [track list] order, you’ll find yourself deeply immersed in our journey.

Jaemin: Our experimental sound allows people to experience the dynamic essences of emotions.

What is the story behind how you became a band?

Jaeil: We all had a clear goal to be in a band at some point in our lives.

Taeyang: We were all walking different musical paths, but we naturally came together when we realized we shared the same vision.

KIMUZI: We wanted UINONE to be more than just a band. We wanted to tell a story and build a unique world.

Jaemin: It never felt like just work for us. It was always a dream we needed to achieve. After going through different experiences, we became certain that we shared the same vision, which solidified us as a team.

What three words or phrases best describe your new album, Herman?

ALL: “Ethereal,” “Primal,” [and] “Emotional.”

What is the meaning behind your album title?

KIMUZI: Herman represents the pinnacle of emotions we seek and an ideal state of being. The title wasn’t decided from the start. As we worked on the album, the concept became clearer, and eventually, we realized it was the central theme of the project.

What is the Herman cover art meant to represent, and how did you choose it?

KIMUZI: The album cover represents the ideal we are searching for. It’s not a clearly-defined form, but rather a blurred yet powerful presence. To visually express this journey, we designed the artwork so that the covers of our two pre-release singles seamlessly connect with the final album cover, creating a unified image. We worked with the Korean artist GOND, who not only has incredible skills but quickly grasped our narrative, making the collaboration feel natural and effortless.

Why did you choose “Seoul” and “Mahaom” as the pre-release singles from Herman?

KIMUZI: These two songs best represent the album’s overall atmosphere. “Seoul” captures the emotional essence of the album, while “Mahaom” clearly defines UINONE’s sonic identity.

Please talk about the songs on Herman: fun facts, behind-the-scenes stories, descriptions of them… whatever you want to share!

KIMUZI: I particularly love the flow from “Apocalypse” to “Amazon” to “Confusion.” These songs express the album’s themes in the most intense and straightforward ways, both in terms of sounds and emotions.

Jaeil: “Sand wave” was originally a completely different song, with a different melody and sound. The day before recording, we discovered that the melody unintentionally resembled a foreign artist’s song, so we rewrote the entire track in a single day.

Taeyang: “Mahaom” was the first song KIMUZI sent me before I officially joined the band. At the time, I was busy with other projects and wasn’t sure if I could commit, but the moment I heard “Mahaom,” I thought, “This is it.” That’s when I decided to join UINONE.

Jaemin: Originally, “Beck (Outro)” was planned as a bonus track. But as we progressed, we realized it felt like the closing credits of a movie or a reflection on the album itself. It also serves as a bridge to our future musical direction, which is why we decided to include it in the final track list.

If you had to make a music video to go with a UINONE song that does not already have one, which song would you pick, and why?

KIMUZI: I’d love to make a music video for “Amazon.” The song carries such a raw and mysterious energy that I think it would translate beautifully into immersive visuals.

Taeyang: I’d pick “Sand wave”! It’s the only song on the album with a slightly quirky, playful vibe. KIMUZI and Jaeil made it in just a day, and my bass recording flowed effortlessly. Plus, the audience response to the track has been great!

What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

KIMUZI: In the short term, we want to create more albums. There’s still so much we want to express and so many visuals we want to bring to life. Also, we’d love to win an award this year.

Jaeil: I’d love to collaborate with a variety of artists, not just in music but across different creative fields. I want to explore new artistic directions beyond sound.

Taeyang: Our goal is to share our music with more people and perform on bigger stages. We dream of playing at major rock festivals, both in Korea and internationally.

Jaemin: In the long run, we want to establish ourselves as a band with a distinct identity, ensuring that our music continues to evolve and offer fresh experiences.

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourselves or your music?

KIMUZI: UINONE’s music is a story. It can be interpreted differently by each listener, and even the same song can evoke new emotions every time you listen. We hope that through our music, everyone can find their own “Herman.” And this is just the beginning. We won’t stop. We’ll continue to evolve, create, and challenge ourselves to reach new heights. Please stay tuned for our upcoming projects and albums. We have a lot more to show you.

Check out UINONE’s album, Herman, here!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Photos courtesy of UINONE.