MONSTA X's Jooheon returns with his 2nd mini-album '光 (INSANITY)', showcasing his growth as a solo artist after 2 years.

MONSTA X's Jooheon has made a comeback as a solo artist. Jooheon released his 2nd mini-album '光 (INSANITY)' on January 5 at 6 PM through various music distribution sites. '光 (INSANITY)' is a new album about 2 years and 8 months after the release of Jooheon's solo debut album 'LIGHTS' in May 2023. He expanded the concept of the previous work '光' to '光' (Kwan: light, madness) and developed music based on a three-dimensional worldview. He is responsible for the lyrics, composition, and production of all songs in the album, and amidst the luxurious features that transcend eras and genres, the title track 'STING (Feat. Muhammad Ali)' is a song that most intricately embodies the image of 'bee' that symbolizes Jooheon. The charismatic performance and powerful rap merge, radiating a sharp presence, and one can feel Jooheon's unique intense energy. -- It has been 2 years and 8 months since your solo comeback, how do you feel? Jooheon: I am really happy and excited to deliver new music. Above all, I released my first solo album before enlisting, and now I am releasing my second album after discharge, which I think is personally meaningful. -- You were in charge of the lyrics, composition, and production for this album '光 (INSANITY)', how did you decide on the tracklist structure, and what message did you want to convey? Jooheon: The track structure is the same as the 1st mini-album, focusing on the emotions and sensations when listening from the first song to the last 7th song. In particular, I depicted a worldview connected to the 1st mini-album, where in the 1st album 'LIGHTS', I conveyed the message that 'the deeper the darkness, the stronger the light becomes', while in this 2nd album '光 (INSANITY)', I included the message that 'you cannot shine unless you go mad' through light and madness. It started from the question of 'how can everyone exert their power and shine brightly in a dark world,' and I hope you can see that 'Jooheon' as an artist continues to expand the worldview of light with his vision and realizations about light. -- The featuring lineup, including voice sampling from Muhammad Ali, Tiger JK, and IVE's Rei, is also eye-catching. Is there a special reason for incorporating Muhammad Ali's voice into the title track? Also, how was the collaboration with other artists? Jooheon: First of all, I am honored to pay homage to the legendary Muhammad Ali's famous quote, 'Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.' Fans often call me 'Honey' (Jooheon → JOOHONEY → HONEY), and many express me as a bee, so I thought about whether there could be a theme that expresses 'bee,' and Muhammad Ali's quote came to mind. I wanted to give positive energy to myself and many people through the confidence to fly toward dreams and the energy to achieve goals accurately. Regarding IVE's Rei, I have always liked her vocal tone. I wanted many people to feel Rei's charm, and I am truly grateful to her for agreeing to collaborate. -- What kind of song is the title track 'STING'? Please tell us the message you wanted to convey in the lyrics and points to appreciate. Jooheon: It is a song themed around Muhammad Ali's famous quote, and it has a hip-hop scent reminiscent of the strong impression from the mixtapes I used to do. As a rapper capable of performance, I hope you see it as an intense song where powerful and sensory dance harmonizes with music. -- Please tell us one track other than the title track that you are particularly attached to. Jooheon: The track I am attached to is 'NO BRAIN NO PAIN.' This song is similar to existing MONSTA X songs 'Stand Up,' 'LOVE FOREVER,' and my 1st mini-album track 'Don't Worry Be Happy.' While it may seem like I do intense music, I have always included warm music in MONSTA X's albums and my albums. This song also contains that warmth and harmonizes with a refreshing rock sound, making it a song that warms the heart. In particular, this song conveys the message of breaking through the reality of overthinking and not being able to do anything, born from my experiences in the military and my belief of 'just do it, just go.' Since it is a phrase I have tattooed on my body, I hope it becomes an important song for me and MONBEBE (the name of the fans). -- The boxing concept and visuals have also become a topic of discussion; please tell us if there were any points you wanted to emphasize visually. Jooheon: I hope you think of the points as 'competition, sweat, perseverance, and passion.' I believe boxing has romance, and it is a sport that proves the efforts accumulated in the ring, so I wanted to express that passion. -- One of the messages of this work, 'you cannot shine unless you go mad,' is impressive; please tell us about a moment when you were so immersed. Jooheon: For me, every moment is immersion. If not, my heart does not settle. Of course, there are times when I get tired, but I always want to do my best in what I am given, and I think it is important how to tighten my feelings and start. I want to live while being immersed in every moment and working hard, and I want to go mad for that! Only then can I shine brighter than anyone else. -- Please say a word to MONBEBE who love you. Jooheon: Dear MONBEBE, I put passion into every album, but I think this album is particularly well-matched with 'passion' and resembles the 'Jooheon' of the past the most. Since I worked hard, I hope to receive a lot of love. MONBEBE is the most important light to me, so I want to convey that this activity is about shining together like crazy. I am really excited to prepare for this solo album, group activities, and MONSTA X's new world tour after a long time, so please look forward to it. I love you, MONBEBE!