Among the vintage chandeliers and velvet tapestries in Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre, iKON held the long-awaited, first-ever American concert for the K-pop boy band earlier this month. This year’s Take Off World Tour marked the eight-year-old group’s first time properly touring the States and, of equal significance, was iKON’s first time visiting the U.S. since undergoing a transformative label change. Amid a pulsating excitement in the crowd, iKON members Bobby, Ju-ne, Song, DK and Chan (Jay was absent due to fulfilling his South Korean military duty) did not disappoint such a highly anticipated show by bringing heaps of musical talent and heart.
Throughout a setlist that included recent songs from the May full-length album TAKE OFF, revamped versions of the group’s most beloved tracks, and solo spotlights for each iKON star, the enthusiasm remained palpable throughout the show from the crowd and the members themselves. “New York City, make some f-cking noise!” DK yelled with infectious energy early on in the set. “Thanks for coming out today; thanks so much.”
Bobby also acknowledged the fervor, sharing, “It’s so freaking hot here, and it’s all because of you guys,” highlighting the lasting connection between iKON and their global fans, affectionately known as iKONICs.
Since iKON’s start in 2015, the group’s heavy involvement in their music shines in their ability to make uptempo anthems like “Rhythm Ta” (co-written by Bobby and co-composed by Ju-ne) and sentimental favorites like “Love Scenario” or “Why Why Why” (with Bobby writing and composing on both) sound fresh in 2023.
While the concert saw them embracing music throughout their career, it also served as a platform for iKON to share exciting news.
DK enthusiastically announced, “We have the great news that Bobby dropped his solo album and I think there will be another one…in October.” The announcement of Bobby’s next solo endeavors (later confirmed as the four-track EP titled ROBERT coming October 10) points to the unwavering support and unique camaraderie within the group as the guys work on iKON alongside different individual endeavors in music, acting, modeling and more.
The September 5 show also points to iKON’s journey as one of resilience and adaptation that few groups in the industry can boast. Under a new label home in 143 Entertainment after leaving the agency that recruited them together, YG Entertainment, these six members of iKON prove that no matter their challenges, their music and passion for their craft and each other are still leading to new career milestones.
Before turning up with Brooklyn fans, iKON reflected backstage about their eight years together including label changes and career shifts, plus hints to what’s on the way for the band and each guy.
Jeff Benjamin: We met the first time you came to New York, but a lot has changed. I want to say congratulations on those changes and, finally, your first tour in America! Overall, tell us where iKON is right now.
Bobby: Well, our company changed. We had this really great opportunity and met this really nice guy. He was like, “Why don’t you join us [at 143 Entertainment] and have some opportunities for yourselves to learn more about this industry and everything?” I mean, YG is a very beautiful and great company. But like, they literally do everything for you, you know? All we had to do was, like, be on the stage and write music—that’s all. So, we just wanted to learn more since we were young and that’s why we chose this path. It was really hard but a lot of fun.
Jeff Benjamin: What kind of opportunities have you had to learn more about the industry?
DK: We’re able to release our albums freely, and make music that resembles iKON’s colors and style freely. We also feel really good that we are now back in New York and able to perform.
Jeff Benjamin: iKON always had positive reactions on the Billboard charts ever since debut. What did you think took so long for a proper iKON tour here? Were there different priorities and plans at your former company?
BOBBY: Honestly, we don’t know. [Laughs] We don’t know why it took so long to get here because, like I said, all the plans were made by the company. I believe that YG had, like you mentioned, their priorities. But one thing that’s for sure is that, even if it was so late, we’re really happy to be here and we want to thank all the fans that came to see us. We’re so very happy and excited about everything.
SONG: It’s the first time we’re meeting American fans and the first time being here touring the U.S. But being able to communicate with American fans on stage for the first time is something we found particularly exciting and were looking forward to.
CHAN: And it’s not just like we’re coming here for an event or two [like in the past]; it’s that we’re actually here and can be in front of our fans to perform and spend quality time with them.
Jeff Benjamin: I want to congratulate you on a milestone eight years during this tour. Even through these recent changes, you remained together. What was significant about continuing this as a group?
SONG: It doesn’t quite matter what company we go to or which agency we’re at; what was important in our minds is that we are together, here as iKON. I personally felt like that is most important and has a really significant meaning for all of us together.
DK: A really big point, possibly even the biggest point, was that we wanted to keep meeting our fans for a long time. But in order to do that, we have to remain together as iKON.
Have these professional changes brought new influences to your music, or is iKON music still iKON music?
DK: Rather than us changing as iKON, we wanted to present new and exciting music to the fans, so being able to offer ourselves in this exciting and interesting fashion was very important to us.
Jeff Benjamin: iKON’s had two big releases, including your full-length TAKE OFF album with several solo songs by members plus BOBBY’s new single. How are you balancing group and solo work now?
DK: Since we just did group albums, we think it’d be good to be able to focus on both group and soul albums. For example, BOBBY’s solo music recently came out—
BOBBY: And the new one’s coming in October—it’s going to be crazy.
DK: And if we can get it to where we all have solo albums, plus group albums coming out, that would be really, really cool, in my opinion.
Jeff Benjamin: DK, you’ve shared how you work with and produce other members’ solo projects. Do you still work collaboratively, even with all these recent changes?
DK: DK: Of course. And Bobby helped me quite a bit actually, particularly with the TAKE OFF album. One thing that I particularly want to emphasize is that no matter what company we’re in, whether it’s solo or group work, we really like to give each other feedback, collaborate and rely on each other. Us being able to all work together is quite a big priority for me and I think it’s really fun as well.
Jeff Benjamin: Ju-ne, you sang “Want You Back” on TAKE OFF, and I loved your song “Night Flight” from the SOULBYSEL Compilation this year. I felt both had R&B influences. Is this indicating a solo album for you?
JU-NE: Sometime next year, I’d like to do a solo album that embodies my style, but I’m not quite sure what genres it will contain just yet—I compose stuff based on things that I’m really into at the time. But I do know that the fans really, really want a solo album, so maybe sometime next year.
Jeff Benjamin: There was a trot track “Fighting” by Song also on TAKE OFF. Is that where your musical interests lie, Song?
SONG: I’ve always wanted to be able to try a solo trot song—there’s nothing quite as exciting as the performances for trot songs, especially in this concert, so I hope everyone looks forward to it.
Jeff Benjamin: Chan, you’re a bit of a mystery regarding solo songs. Is there an ambition to go there soon or not yet?
CHAN: [Laughs] So it’s not confirmed yet, but even though I hear from the fans all the time that they want a solo album, I think maybe when the next iKON album comes around, there will be my own solo song. But maybe not quite yet for, you know, a full solo album.
Jeff Benjamin: DK, what else do we need to know?
DK: Next year, my solo album is coming out! I hope the fans will look out for these solo promotional activities, but we won’t stop as iKON. At all. I just hope the fans will continue to look forward to that as we keep moving forward.
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