Especially because people have very fixed ideas about what a K-pop project is supposed to be. This process sounds much more open than that.
THE 8: We weren’t trying to be rebellious or think outside the box. We simply wanted to be true to ourselves and put our own colors into the album. Once we had that direction and found the right producers, everything came together naturally.
Mechatok: The funny thing is that, even though everything felt relaxed and like a homie vibe, these guys are operating at an unbelievably high level. When THE 8 walks into the booth and delivers vocals exactly the way you’re imagining them, it’s like someone handing you gold. That’s what really surprised me. They have the freedom to experiment, but they’re also incredibly disciplined. If we wanted the smallest vocal inflection changed, they’d nail it immediately. I don’t know many people who have that kind of work ethic. We’d still be recording vocals at four in the morning.
THE 8: There was one point where Mechatok had fallen asleep on the couch because he was so jet-lagged. Meanwhile, we were still recording vocals. The funny part is that “singasong” has all these moments where we’re literally singing “Mechatok.” Every time someone sang his name, he’d wake up for a second.
Mechatok: I felt terrible for falling asleep. We also had this huge Korean barbecue before the session, so between all the food and the jet lag, I completely crashed. But honestly, that’s what I’ll remember most. Outside the music, VERNON and THE 8 treated me so well. There was just such good energy around the whole project.
Was “Mechatok” always part of the chorus?
VERNON: Since the very first demo.
Mechatok: At first, I honestly thought it was just placeholder lyrics. By the fourth version, I realized … Wait, are you actually keeping my name in the song? I was just incredibly grateful.
VERNON: I actually thought we’d replace it eventually, too. But once we started writing the final lyrics, nothing else felt as satisfying in that spot. We kept coming back to “Mechatok.” Honestly, I like that your name stayed because your sound is so distinctive. When people ask me what genre “singasong” is, it’s hard to answer because I don’t really hear anyone else making music that sounds like yours.