K-pop boy group OMEGA X’s first sub-unit, OX:N, dropped their debut epilogue N earlier this month. It’s their first release of 2025, coming seven months after their second Japanese mini-album To. The new unit, made up of Jaehan, Xen, Jehyun, and Yechan. takes its name from the Roman numeral IV, representing the four members and the idea of infinite possibilities. Their debut mini album packs five tracks: SUIT&TIE, title track YOU, LET ME IN, ORPHEUS, and CAUSE OF YOU. We caught up with the group virtually to talk about the themes behind their music and what inspired it all.
“SUIT&TIE” talks about the contrast between outer calm and inner turmoil. For each member of OX:N, what’s one inner thought or feeling you hope listeners truly grasp when they hear the songs on N, beyond the polished exterior?
Jaehan: The overarching theme of this album is love, and as we all know, love comes in many forms. I believe that in order to give love to others, you have to take care of and love yourself first. So through this album, I wanted to convey the message that it’s important to learn how to love yourself.
Yechan: Simply put, I just want to become a good person. On the outside, as an idol and a singer, I have to show a cool and polished image, but on the inside, there are dreams, ambition, and desire. I want to shape those feelings more healthily and grow not just as an artist, but as a person too.
As a smaller unit, do you feel a stronger sense of creative freedom or responsibility?
Jaehan: I feel a stronger sense of responsibility. When we had 11 members, there was this subtle feeling that someone else would cover a certain part if I didn’t. But now that it’s just the four of us in OX:N, it’s more like, “if I don’t do it, no one else will.” That shift has made me take more responsibility, and I think that mindset pushes us in a better direction.
Xen: I actually feel a stronger sense of creative freedom. When there were 11 of us, I had to convince 10 other people to get on board with my ideas. But now, I only need to persuade three, so I think I’ve gained more freedom to try things I’ve always wanted to do in this new environment.
Story continues below this ad
India has one of the largest K-pop fan bases in the world, and your fans here often translate Korean lyrics into regional languages. How does it feel knowing your emotions are being felt in languages you’ve never spoken?
Xen: Through platforms like X and other social media, we’ve seen that a lot of people in India are supporting us and showing interest. So the first thing that came to mind was how much we want to go and meet them. If the opportunity comes, we’d love to spend time with our fans in India as soon as possible.
OMEGA X is an 11-member K-pop group under IPQ. The members are Jaehan, Hwichan, Sebin, Hangyeom, Taedong, Xen, Jehyun, Kevin, Junghoon, Hyuk, and Yechan. N’s first track, SUIT&TIE, plays off the idea of a refined image. It explores the tension between how one appears and what they actually feel, staying calm and composed on the outside while falling into love on the inside. The title track, YOU, is a pop-heavy song that taps into the Y2K aesthetic and early 2000s millennial sound. LET ME IN brings the emotion, exploring the regret that follows a breakup, and the slow desire to love again. ORPHEUS draws straight from Greek mythology, the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, channeling that aching longing for a lost love through soulful vocals and haunting lyrics.
