WAKEONE's Kep1er is a nine-member girl group formed through the reality competition show 'Girls Planet 999' composed of CHAEHYUN, HUENING BAHIYYIH, YUJIN, DAYEON, YOUNGEUN, YESEO, HIKARU, MASHIRO, and XIAOTING. They debuted in January of 2022 with the mini-album 'FIRST IMPACT' with "WA DA DA" serving as its title song. Now, five months after the release of 'LOVESTRUCK!', the nonet is back with another mini-album which marks their fifth one, titled 'Magic Hour.' 

The album contains five new songs including the title track, "Galileo," which is a disco-funk song that contains the feelings of a girl defining the meaning of love with the person she fatefully found, and the B-sides "The Door" and "Love on Lock." What makes this album more special is that it also has unit songs: "Tropical Light" sung by YUJIN, XIAOTING, YOUNGEUN, and YESEO, and "TAPE" sung by MASHIRO, CHAEHYUN, DAYEON, HIKARU, and HUENING BAHIYYIH. With 'Magic Hour,' the girls of Kep1er fill the magical world with love.

To commemorate their anticipated comeback, allkpop had the pleasure of chatting with the members of Kep1er for an exclusive interview about 'Magic Hour,' performing in front of fans, their experiences from 'Girls Planet 999' and 'Queendom 2,' and more. Keep reading to learn more about Kep1er!

allkpop: Hi, Kep1er! It's such a pleasure to interview you! First of all, congratulations on your new album! Tell us how you prepared for this awaited comeback. 

Kep1er: Hello, Kep1er here! We're back with our fifth mini-album, 'Magic Hour.' It's been quite a ride since we wrapped up 'LOVESTRUCK!' in April. We had our first arena tour in Japan and went to KCON LA. Meeting our amazing fans along the way really fueled us up for this album. And we've been grinding to show just how much we've grown since our last release. We hope you had a blast listening to our new comeback album!

allkpop: I love the concept photos – you all look so beautiful! Are there any behind-the-scenes stories you would like to share with us when you were taking the concept photos as well as when you were filming the music video? 

Kep1er: We tried something new in this album - recording unit songs. And the concept photoshoot for each unit was an absolute blast. In "Tropical Light," you'll see YUJIN, XIAOTING, YOUNGEUN, and YESEO, while "TAPE" features MASHIRO, CHAEHYUN, DAYEON, HIKARU, and HUENING BAHIYYIH. We went all in with the school-inspired denim styles, showcasing some cool and contrasting charms. Our music video is a total package of Kep1er's lovely and quirky visuals too, so please stay tuned! 

allkpop: What is your favorite track from the album, and why? 

Kep1er: We, of course, like every song on the album, but if we had to pick a favorite, it would definitely be the title track, "Galileo." Our past title tracks were usually fast-paced, and it felt like our individual charms zoomed by in a flash. However, with "Galileo," we get this opportunity to truly bring out each member's charm in different parts of the song. When you catch our live performance, you'll witness nine distinct expressions and gestures, each filled with our personalities! 

allkpop: You were formed through the reality competition show ‘Girls Planet 999,’ and then not more than a year later, you participated in another competition show, ‘Queendom 2.’ Aside from your training period, you have honed your skills by taking part in these programs, which is not easy. What have you realized or learned from your experience?  

Kep1er: Looking back now, there are moments when we're like, "How did we even manage that?" (laughs), but these experiences have really toughened us up and pushed us to grow. They’ve let us show the world who Kep1er is and what we are all about. And most importantly, they’ve given us precious opportunities to perform on numerous stages. 

allkpop: How do you think these shows have helped you become who you are today? 

Kep1er: We've learned how to connect with the audience on stage. Back when COVID-19 had us all locked down, we couldn't meet many fans in person. Also, we had this idea that we should just stick to our rehearsed routines. But, as we gained more stage time and got to meet fans in real life, we started thinking about how to go beyond our prepared acts and really engage the audience. We believe we've leveled up quite a bit through these experiences. 

allkpop: I read in an interview that reading fan letters is what keeps you going despite the difficulties. What are the words that you really hope and want to hear the most from people, especially your fans? Words that when you hear them, you get so much energy and you actually will be able to kind of forget your exhaustion! 

Kep1er: Kep1ians often lovingly call us "짱플러" ("jjangp1er," meaning "Kep1er is the best"). We love this term because it makes us feel recognized as the best, and it motivates us to push ourselves harder to live up to that title. 

allkpop: This is just like a fun, random question! Your group name, Kep1er, is from an astronomer. Now, you’ll be releasing the album’s title track which is called “Galileo” – he is related to science as well! When you were studying, did you like the subject Science? Were you interested in Science, or did you find it difficult? 

Kep1er: Yeah, absolutely! We thought it'd be cool to weave in the names of Johannes Kepler and Galileo Galilei, astronomers who lived in the same era, into our music. It adds a catchy and memorable touch. As for Science... well, back in school, it did seem like quite a challenge, but since becoming Kep1er, we've developed this fondness for planets and all things space-related. Sometimes when you Google "Kep1er," planet pictures pop up before our group does. So, we're all determined to put in the effort to make sure "Kep1er" shows up first (laughs). 

allkpop: This is your 5th mini-album already! Time flies so fast! What are you most thankful for in this journey of yours as a member of Kep1er? What’s something, maybe an experience or story, you wouldn’t forget?  

Kep1er: Every moment holds a special place in our hearts, but if we had to single out a few, it would definitely be our debut and those incredible fan meetings and arena tours. Our debut marked the start of an exciting journey together, and meeting our fans in person made us realize the overwhelming love Kep1er gets. It was truly a priceless time. We're eager to keep making more unforgettable memories in the days to come! 

allkpop: The group is made up of members from South Korea, Japan, and China. At first, there were difficulties in terms of communication, but are you all now confident and good at sharing each other's thoughts? Given that communication is one of the most important things when you’re in a group! 

Kep1er: When we started out, language was a bit of a barrier, and we had our fair share of head-scratching moments. But now we communicate with each other so smoothly! We've reached a point where we can practically read each other's minds with just a look. (laughs) And when all nine of us get together, it's like a non-stop chatter and energy explosion. That's the magic of Kep1er – our nine-member synergy and chemistry! 

allkpop: Earlier this year, you had a concert tour in Japan! How was it like to finally experience the warm cheers from your very own fans, Kep1ians? I know it feels different when you’re surrounded by your fans compared to performing at a festival! 

Kep1er: During rehearsals, we looked at that huge, empty concert hall and wondered if we could ever fill it up. But when showtime came, and our fans flooded the venue, it was magical. Even on days with bad weather, like when a typhoon hit, our fans braved it all to be there for us. Seeing them sing along to our songs in Korean and cheer us on brought us great joy. It only reaffirmed that becoming Kep1er was the right decision. So, if the opportunity arises, we'd absolutely love to go on tour again and reunite with our fans! 

allkpop: Do you have any routines or preparations you do before taking the stage? You may feel nervous but how do you usually overcome it? 

Kep1er: Before going on stage, we've got this ritual where we hype each other up. We encourage each other to leave it all out there and we're yelling stuff like, “Let's give it our all!" It's all about going in with the mindset that we're going to give our absolute best. Plus, being up there with each other makes those pre-show jitters a bit easier to handle. 

allkpop: Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! Lastly, feel free to leave a message to everyone and invite them to listen to your new album! 

Kep1er: Kep1er is back with 'Magic Hour,' where love fills the world. We hope everyone who listens to our album and songs falls in love with Kep1er. We're looking forward to upcoming fan meetings in both Korea and Japan and we're absolutely thrilled to meet Kep1ians. We're excited about the journey that lies ahead beyond this album and can't wait to walk it with you. Love you! Thank you!