ENHYPEN – BORDER: CARNIVAL (HYPE Version)

ENHYPEN – BORDER: CARNIVAL (Hype Version)

Tracklist

1. Intro : The Invitation
2. Drunk-Dazed
3. FEVER
4. Not For Sale
5. 별안간 (Mixed Up)
6. Outro : The Wormhole

[Description]

“4th Generation Hot Icon” ENHYPEN Releases Second Mini Album “BORDER: CARNIVAL”!

“BORDER: CARNIVAL” Expresses ENHYPEN’s Honest Feelings About the World They Encountered After Their Debut.

The Title Song “Drunk-Dazed” Depicts Seven Members Being Enchanted by a Dizzying, Colorful Carnival!

‘4th Generation Hot Icon’ ENHYPEN! Back after 5 months.

ENHYPEN, who rose to fame as the ‘4th Generation Hot Icon’ upon their official debut in November 2020, is back with a new album after 5 months. True to their status as a ‘global fan-made group’ born from the choices of K-pop fans worldwide, they sparked immense buzz from the start. Their debut album ‘BORDER : DAY ONE’ set the highest sales record among the group’s albums (based on single albums), and within two months of their debut, they won four rookie awards, proving themselves as ‘the best rookies of 2020.’ Their second mini-album, ‘BORDER : CARNIVAL,’ released on April 26, is expected to once again unite the hearts of fans around the world.

‘BORDER : CARNIVAL,’ ENHYPEN facing a world as vibrant as a carnival

ENHYPEN expressed the complex emotions they felt ahead of their debut, which served as both a starting point and a boundary, through their first album, ‘BORDER : DAY ONE.’ Their second mini-album, ‘BORDER : CARNIVAL,’ contains honest emotions about the unfamiliar world they encountered after their debut.

After their debut, ENHYPEN was invited into a completely new world. The new space they entered was filled with splendor, giving them the feeling of being at a dazzling carnival. Everything they experienced there was ‘brand new,’ and nothing could be explained by the rules they had known before. ENHYPEN felt disoriented in this upside-down, chaotic environment where boundaries had dissolved, yet they were also fascinated by the strangeness. However, the initial confusion soon gave way to a sense of being swept up in the festive atmosphere, drawn by the attention and cheers of the crowd, gradually moving toward the heart of the carnival. ENHYPEN captures these emotions that arose after their debut in their new album, “BORDER: CARNIVAL.”

Three sophisticated visuals encapsulated in the concepts of “UP,” “HYPE,” and “DOWN”

ENHYPEN visualized the emotions that blossomed when they first encountered the carnival-like world through three concepts. The moment of being invited into the dazzling carnival is expressed as ‘UP,’ while ‘HYPE’ portrays the gradual intoxication of enjoying the party in their own way. ‘DOWN’ depicts the confusion arising from a world where up and down are reversed and boundaries are blurred.

These emotions are also reflected in the music. The first track, “Intro: The Invitation,” which contains an invitation to a new world, the title track “Drunk-Dazed,” which sings about the emotions after entering a carnival-like, dazzling environment, and “Outro: The Wormhole,” which makes you curious about ENHYPEN’s next story, are among the six tracks that are organically connected to complete a single story.

In intoxication and confusion! Title track “Drunk-Dazed”

While the debut track “Given-Taken” pondered whether the opportunity to debut was something given to the members or something they had to fight for, the title track of the second mini-album, “Drunk-Dazed,” is a sincere reflection on the world they have experienced since their debut. ENHYPEN describes this unfamiliar and dazzling place as a carnival.

‘Drunk-Dazed’ is a track with a rocking sound that captures the dazzling energy of a carnival. As the song unfolds, the dark atmosphere grows increasingly intense, mirroring the chaos, intoxication, and daze that ENHYPEN felt. The metaphorical lyrics and the members’ captivating voices blend seamlessly to perfectly embody the song’s theme.

Additionally, ENHYPEN promises a high-level performance with choreography that fully captures the song’s atmosphere. The movements and facial expressions of the members, which express the dazed feeling of gradually becoming intoxicated by a new world, will create a mesmerizing stage. Through precise pacing, the performance delivers an overall sophisticated yet powerful vibe.

The music video, which visually portrays the image of a boy becoming intoxicated by a dazzling carnival, is also impressive. It employs vibrant camera work and various directing techniques to create a dreamy and chaotic atmosphere. Notably, the group dance scenes showcasing ENHYPEN’s performance skills and Seong-hoon’s solo dance under a red rain are the standout moments of this music video. The visuals and sophisticated dance moves, which are even more refined than those in their debut album “BORDER: DAY ONE,” are enough to captivate the viewer’s attention.

ENHYPEN’s story of the present day

ENHYPEN shares their sincere emotions through the title track and stimulates the empathy of the current generation through the other tracks. They present themes that resonate with the emotions of their generation, inviting listeners to reflect and grow together. The third track of ‘BORDER : CARNIVAL,’ ‘FEVER,‘ tells the story of a boy searching for and waiting for someone who will recognize him, while the next track, ‘Not For Sale,’ speaks for those who long for warmth in a world driven by cold calculation. “Suddenly (Mixed Up)” features a person who suddenly gains attention online in a time when non-face-to-face interactions have become the norm. The lyrics incorporate relatable themes that could easily happen in real life, evoking empathy.

ENHYPEN, equipped with the DNA of HYBE Labels—the label that has propelled artists like BTS and Tomorrow X Together to success. During the album teaser period, they released high-quality content such as an intro lyric video, concept mood board, and concept photos, heightening anticipation for the new album. The content, which was satisfying in both quantity and quality, caught the attention of K-pop fans worldwide, and ENHYPEN demonstrated the buzzworthy appeal of a “4th-generation hot icon.” With a strong global fanbase formed even before their debut, the production expertise of HYBE Labels’ producers such as Wonderkid and Bang Si-hyuk (“hitman”bang), and ENHYPEN’s ability to turn every stage into a legend, the group is poised for another leap forward.

TRACKLIST

Intro: The Invitation

This track marks the beginning of the mini-album ‘BORDER: CARNIVAL.’ It maintains the rock-oriented tone of the album while creating a psychedelic sound that feels like opening the curtain to a new world. The structure connects to the outro of the previous album, ‘BORDER: DAY ONE,’ emphasizing the continuity between the two albums. It expresses ENHYPEN’s entry into a new world beyond the boundaries of their debut, evoking a sense of euphoria as if they had arrived in paradise.

Drunk-Dazed

This is the title track of the album, a pop rock song infused with a rocking 808 bass sound. Wonderkid and Bang Shi-hyuk (“hitman”bang), who have been with ENHYPEN since their formation, participated in the songwriting process. The lyrics express ENHYPEN’s sincere emotions about the unfamiliar and chaotic experiences they have gone through since their debut. The song compares the world they are experiencing for the first time to a chaotic carnival where rules are broken and everything is turned upside down, depicting the intoxicated and dazed state of the boys. As the members’ emotions fluctuate, the darkness and energy of the song gradually intensify.

FEVER

A modern pop R&B song. Sensual lyrics such as “Because of you, my whole body is on fire. Because of you, my heart is thirsty” and a simple song structure combine to create a unique feel. The image of a boy searching for and waiting for someone who will recognize him is expressed by comparing him to a vampire with a lower body temperature than humans. He sings of his desperate longing for the other person, saying that although the fever began because of you, you are also the one who can heal it.

Not For Sale

This is a pop song that many people can enjoy listening to. It reflects the worldview of today’s teenagers, who believe that everything has a price. A boy who believed that you have to give something to get something in return is confronted with someone who is an exception to this rule. The song captures the emotional changes he experiences when he meets someone for the first time whom he wants to give everything to without expecting anything in return. It conveys the feelings of those who are searching for warmth in a cold world.

Suddenly (Mixed Up)

This song blends hip-hop and rock sounds, creating an impressive sense of excitement and intense energy. The unique synthesizer sounds and electric guitar playing combine to create a dark yet powerful track. In these times when it is difficult to meet face-to-face, the boy resolves to live a quiet life, but suddenly finds himself at the center of attention, and his resolve crumbles. Nevertheless, he says he will accept this as his destiny. Set in 2021, when non-face-to-face interactions have become the norm, the song draws on the online world that has deeply penetrated our lives, evoking widespread empathy.

Outro: The Wormhole

This track serves as the finale of ‘BORDER: CARNIVAL’ and acts as a bridge closing the ‘BORDER’ series and leading into the next album. It is an ambient-style piece that uses synthesizers to depict natural sounds like seagulls and waves. It suggests the end of a carnival so enchanting that reality and fantasy blur, and the protagonist being sucked into a completely different spacetime through a wormhole.

[Details]

– 1 CD

– Photo Book: 190 x 190 (mm) / UP ver.: 104 pages / HYPE ver.: 112 pages / DOWN ver.: 100 pages / 1 copy per version

– Lyric Book: 100 x 140 (mm) / 16 pages / 1 copy per version

– Photo Card: 54 x 86 (mm) / 2 random cards out of 15 types per version

– Lenticular Card: 54 x 86 (mm) / 1 random card out of 7 types per version

– Carnival Ticket: 150 x 70 (mm) / 1 type per version

– Signed sticker: 75 x 75 (mm) / 1 type per version

– Poster: 760 x 520 (mm) / 1 type per version / Folded insert

– First edition Polaroid: 1 randomly inserted from a total of 450 (*Included as standard in all products)