LNGSHOT
Image Credit: Jang Jungwoo
First, congratulations on being named Billboard’s K-Pop Rookie of the Month for February. What does the name “Billboard” mean to LNGSHOT, and how does this recognition feel?
OHYUL: Billboard always felt distant to me ever since I started training at 15. Being chosen as Rookie and even shooting a pictorial feels surreal — mostly, I’m just grateful.
RYUL: Charting on Billboard was a childhood dream of mine. Being selected as the K-Pop Rookie is incredibly meaningful and truly an honor.
WOOJIN: It’s where so many of my idols appear — a place I’ve always wanted to reach. This selection feels like I’ve taken a real step closer to that goal.
LOUIS: Like many artists, Billboard was a long-term goal for me. Being selected makes me feel like I’ve moved closer to that dream.
You experienced a wide range of performances even before debut. Was there a moment that made you feel you’d grown the most?
OHYUL: I spent a lot of time preparing with our CEO (Jay Park), and through that I learned the importance of mindset and human connection. I especially remember him keeping our promise to stand on the MMA 2025 stage together.
RYUL: Performing “Saucin’” and our mixtape songs in front of actual audiences helped me build real confidence on stage.
WOOJIN: It was a completely different kind of learning from my trainee days. Through real events and stages, I realized performance isn’t completed by just singing, rapping or dancing — and that helped me grow a lot.
LOUIS: The most memorable moment was our performance at Hanyang University’s festival. We had to suddenly change the choreography 20 minutes before going on stage. That experience made me realize what it means to perform as a “professional.”
Your pre-debut mixtape also drew a variety of reactions. Was there any feedback that stayed with you?
OHYUL: The fact that many people asked for it to be officially released meant a lot. It felt like they simply enjoyed what I made as a trainee.
RYUL: As the rapper of the team, I received a lot of rap-focused feedback, and the love for the mixtape really motivated me.
WOOJIN: I often heard, “Every song is good,” which made me realize how important it is to deliver sincerity — not pretending, but expressing real emotion.
LOUIS: After the “Saucin’” MV dropped, I watched many reaction videos and comments. Surprisingly, a lot of people preferred the mixtape, which was refreshing to see.
The name “LNGSHOT” symbolizes belief in an unlikely but game-changing ‘long shot.’ What would each of you say is your personal ‘long shot’ — your strongest weapon?
OHYUL: I think our strength is that we don’t get easily shaken. Even when we’re unsure or confused, we try to stay steady. All four of us share that trait.
RYUL: Our individual colors and wide spectrum are our biggest strengths. Because our weapons differ, we become even stronger when we come together.
WOOJIN: I think it’s the fact that all four of us are essential. Without even one member, our color wouldn’t be the same. We value naturalness and authenticity over perfection, so “the four of us together” is our biggest weapon.
LOUIS: I agree with the members. Personally, I’d say my strength is that I’m quick to read the room — probably the fastest among us.
The line “Yeah we Michelin in this thang” is striking. With hip-hop groups increasing rapidly, what makes LNGSHOT confidently call themselves ‘Michelin-level’?
OHYUL: I think differences show naturally when you work sincerely and do your best. Our “natural sincerity” will become our biggest distinction.
RYUL: We always try to look further ahead and stay honest. Persistence and authenticity will set us apart.
WOOJIN: Our photos, our chemistry with the CEO (Jay Park) in our content, the mixtape — all the things we showed before debut reflect where our confidence comes from. That lyric is something our CEO (Jay Park) wrote. I think he meant that even if not everyone knows us yet, the people who do will recognize the quality — like a hidden gem you discover. It was his way of telling us to be confident.
LOUIS: Each member has a distinct identity, yet when we’re together, our roles become even clearer. That’s what differentiates us most.
What message did LNGSHOT most want to deliver through the debut EP SHOT CALLERS? And what did you focus on most during production?
OHYUL: “Realness.” Our CEO (Jay Park) and staff emphasized being sincere and real, and watching them work with that mindset was genuinely moving.
RYUL: We wanted to show our range and convey our passion for music. Beyond lyrics and melody, we focused on the narrative and the expression of “We’re really starting this game now.”
WOOJIN: Music had to be at the center. We wanted songs that we would enjoy performing, too. I think SHOT CALLERS is about showing who we are through actions rather than words.
LOUIS: We wanted to show we could pull off diverse styles. And we practiced a lot before filming because we really wanted the music video to come out well.
All members participated in writing and composing this time. When did your opinions clash the most, and when did you feel the strongest synergy?
OHYUL: Differences always came up — we’re all different people. But our shared goal of making good music carried us through. The strongest synergy was during “Never Let Go.” WOOJIN and LOUIS first built it using a YouTube-type beat, and RYUL and I added melodies and lyrics. That process really made me feel like, “We’re a real team.”
RYUL: Some detailed parts took time, but we all understood the message we wanted to convey, so choosing and finalizing the tracks went smoothly. “Never Let Go” was definitely the smoothest collaboration.
WOOJIN: Instead of rigid rules, we kept references loose and created freely. We had more than five tracks, but these five naturally felt like the sound we wanted — something aligned with our CEO (Jay Park)’s color but still ours. All of us especially loved “Never Let Go.”
LOUIS: Our biggest disagreement was while making “Backseat” — we all had different opinions on the song’s structure. On the other hand, “Never Let Go” came together effortlessly.
Among the songs on the EP, which track does each member feel most attached to?
OHYUL: “FaceTime.” I love old-school R&B, and I was confident while recording it. Its pure vibe reflects who we are now, and the members’ voices sound amazing on it.
RYUL: “Saucin’.” It has the strongest energy and coolest lines — I think it really shows our identity.
WOOJIN: “Never Let Go.” LOUIS and I started building it together during a time when I wasn’t in the best place mentally, so I poured a lot into it. I even recorded the demo on my laptop and mixed it myself, so it holds a lot of memories.
LOUIS: Same — “Never Let Go.” I still vividly remember creating it in the practice room.
Is there a piece of advice from Jay Park — your producer and CEO — that has had a lasting impact on your life?
OHYUL: “We only have each other. Protect one another.”
RYUL: He influenced my rap tone and English pronunciation a lot. He always said to remember the genre’s roots and make sure the meaning comes through clearly. And he would say, “Find your own color” — that helped me tremendously.
WOOJIN: I remember him saying, “There’s a reason we met.” I want to prove myself worthy of being chosen.
LOUIS: He often says, “Live humbly.” Seeing someone so successful remain humble makes me rethink my own attitude and be more grateful.
What goals has LNGSHOT set for 2026?
OHYUL: Best New Artist. If we win it, that would be a true “long shot.” We’ll work hard until that day.
RYUL: Same — Best New Artist. It won’t be easy, but that challenge itself is part of our identity.
WOOJIN: I want us to work hard and show the world what we’re capable of — and appear on the Billboard charts.
LOUIS: I’ll work hard until the day we win Best New Artist.