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Monsta X draws inspiration from Christian doctrine on deadly sins

October 22, 2018
This publicity photo of Monsta X was provided by Starship Entertainment. (Yonhap)

This publicity photo of Monsta X was provided by Starship Entertainment. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) — Rising K-pop boy band Monsta X drew on the Christian theme of the seven deadly sins to film the music video for their new studio album set to be released Monday.

The new full-length album, “Take 1. Are You There,” and its main track, “Shoot Out,” will be unveiled at major local online music stores at 6 p.m.

The album conjures up the images of divine beings as it delves into sets of two opposing themes like light and darkness, good and evil and life and death.

“Shoot Out,” in particular, depicts the frustration from loss and agitation and a subsequent search for salvation.

The seven Monsta X members each enact the motifs of the seven Christian sins — pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth — in the music video for the main track in their signature charismatic and sexy vibes.

“We came up with the idea of the seven sins after we searched for subjects that could frankly express the inner world,” member I.M said during an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Monday.

The members sported see-through stage costumes in their “boldest” efforts to add to the music video’s strong vibe. “People say Monsta X fasten only two buttons (of their shirts) when others unfasten two buttons. For me, the semitransparent costume was the boldest of all the changes,” member Kihyun noted.

As to who the “you” in the album title “Are You There” is, many open interpretations are possible, from “one’s inner world” to “somebody who could help (one),” according to the members.

The new album was prepared over a prolonged period of time while Monsta X went on a world stage tour that started in May in Seoul and took them to European, Asian, North and South American cities and most recently, Japan.

“As it was prepared for a long time, the quality of the music has improved,” Wonho said.

The latest world tour fueled new confidence in the three-year-old K-pop band. “I found new possibilities from the world tour. (It taught me that) I have a long way to go.” Kihyun said. “The best performance is only possible when I have confidence in myself. Being short on confidence makes spectators uneasy and displeased.”

“Our role is to stage performances that are good enough to be proud of,” member Hyungwon said.

Adding to their blooming confidence, Monsta X is set to become the first K-pop band to perform for the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour, having been invited to perform at six U.S. cities as part of the high-profile end-of-the-year event.

The band members were thrilled by the event’s preview video, which put Monsta X among the ranks of such famous global artists as Shawn Mendes and Cardi B.

Member Jooheon said, “I hope I can arrange collaborations with the artists we will meet at Jingle Ball. I am planning to ask their opinions when I finally meet them.”

“We have filmed a video of us singing with foreign artists in the Korean language. It will be sensational if it gets released in the near future,” Minhyuk added.

The members — all in their early 20s — are stressed as much as they are thrilled by their rapid ascent in the K-pop scene, they said.

“Having worn in-ear (monitors) at high decibels for a long time during performances, I have a ringing in my ears. The buzzing, if it continues till bedtime, worsens the feeling of emptiness to an extreme level,” I.M said. “I think this is part of our process of pursuing progress.”

Monsta X has an ambitious goal for their future. The members have recently heard that management agency Starship Entertainment recorded revenue of 10 billion won (US$8.8 million). They said they want to propel the company’s revenue to 100 billion won.

“I would attempt to make it to the range of a trillion won. I will also try to list the company (on the stock exchange),” member Shownu said half-jokingly.

“We won’t settle down no matter how far we go up,” I.M said, adding that, “(We will) pay attention to Monsta X’s path forward.”