Interviews · GOLDEN HOUR Era
Numéro TOKYO — Coachella & 'GOLDEN HOUR: Part.1' Interview (Hongjoong & Seonghwa)
A joint interview with Hongjoong and Seonghwa published by Numéro TOKYO, tied to their April 2024 Coachella performance and the "GOLDEN HOUR: Part.1" release.
Seonghwa's Words — English Translation
This is a joint interview with Hongjoong; only Seonghwa's own answers are translated below, in the order they appear in the original article.
Q: How was Coachella, which you performed at in April? Also, please tell us your hopes for Summer Sonic in August. A: "I feel truly honored to have been able to stand on the Coachella stage. It became a stage where we could show ATINY (ATEEZ's fandom name) the direction we're heading in going forward, while also proving the results we've built up until now. I feel fulfilled that we were able to finish it safely. And Summer Sonic in August is also a music festival we've really wanted to perform at. Since we've been given such a great opportunity this time, I want to prepare a lot and enjoy myself while standing on that stage."
Q: You were striking during your second-weekend Coachella stage, when you let out a shout. What was going through your mind in that moment? A: "It's not something I planned to do from the start — 'WONDERLAND' was our last song, and while singing it, all kinds of memories came back to me. The hard times before our debut, and everything we overcame to get here. Remembering the moment we prepared this stage, something welled up in my chest. I think that shout was that feeling bursting out. When I met ATINY at the fan-signing afterward, a lot of people brought it up too, so I learned that if you stand on stage with real sincerity, it does get through to people."
Q: You released your 10th mini album "GOLDEN HOUR: Part.1" on May 31 — please tell us the points you'd like people to pay attention to. A: "I think this new chapter of ATEEZ will let everyone meet music and performances with a charm that's different from what ATEEZ has shown before. There are really so many points to pay attention to that I can't say them all, so first, please just listen for yourselves."
Q: Going back to the previous album, you handled the rap on "MATZ" from "THE WORLD EP.FIN: WILL." A: "I'd always liked rap, so I was happy to be given a good opportunity. As for the rap style on 'MATZ,' Hongjoong really helped me a lot with it — he made a guide vocal to match my voice, and I found my own style by following along with that."
Q: Which artists have influenced you in terms of rap, or which artists do you usually listen to? A: "Lately I've been listening a lot to Beenzino in Korea, and Tyga overseas."
Q: One of your goals this year was said to be "polishing your visuals" — what kind of beauty routine are you incorporating? A: "It's nothing special — I'm just working hard at exercising. I think 'visuals' includes not just the face but the body too, so it's really just about exercise. Other than that I'm not doing anything particular, but if I had to name one thing, it would be managing my diet."
Q: Like eating less? A: "Eating less isn't good for your health, so rather than that, it's about eating meals at set times so they don't end up too late. Right now I'm taking a break from managing my diet, but I'm planning to start again about a month or so before the concert tour."
Q: Finally, what does ATEEZ mean to the two of you? A: "For me, it's 'family.' We've spent so much time together, and shared memories through both hard times and happy ones, so I think of them as important to me, like family."
Translated directly from the original Japanese text of the Numéro TOKYO article linked below.
Official Sources
Photography, video, and audio remain the property of their respective rights holders.
Era Context
GOLDEN HOUR Era · 2024 – Present
The current chapter. Continued global touring, expanded solo visibility in fashion and media, and an evolving artistic voice — documented here as it unfolds.