N.Flying Celebrates 10th Anniversary with New Album 'Everlasting'

N.Flying returns with a new full-length album, 'Everlasting', to celebrate their 10th anniversary, singing about timeless romance.

On October 2nd, N.Flying members Lee Seung-hyub, Cha Hun, Kim Jae-hyun, Yoo Hwe-seung, and Seo Dong-sung held a press interview at FNC Entertainment's headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul, to commemorate the release of their second studio album. Released on September 28th, the album encapsulates the band's musical growth over the past decade.

Lee Seung-hyub expressed, "We tried various things with this album. I was curious about the reaction from our fans, N.Fia, and I'm happy and grateful for the positive feedback. We changed our working process and aimed for musical evolution, and it's rewarding to see fans recognizing these efforts."

The album 'Everlasting' carries a romantic message of preserving eternal moments amidst the passage of time. When asked about N.Flying's concept of romance, Kim Jae-hyun replied, "I think N.Flying itself is romance." He added, "There's the romance of being a band on stage, the fun we have offstage, and the enjoyment of youth. I'm proud and happy to be part of it. There are moments when I think, 'Yes, this is romance.'"

Lee Seung-hyub added, "Saying we want to keep playing in a band until we're 80 is romantic in itself. We have a peculiar fondness for challenges. When writing lyrics, if there's a choice between something the public will love and something romantic but potentially difficult, we tend to choose the romantic path." Yoo Hwe-seung agreed, "N.Flying's romance seems a bit challenging. It feels like burning youth, enduring hardships, and later looking back with fondness. These emotions feel romantic."

The band has completed their military service, marking the end of their 'military hiatus.' While Lee Seung-hyub and Yoo Hwe-seung maintained the group as a duo, Cha Hun, Kim Jae-hyun, and Seo Dong-sung also worked hard in their respective roles. Yoo Hwe-seung shared, "Whenever members were on leave, they would come to practice. They kept playing their instruments to avoid getting rusty. It was touching to see their sense of responsibility even while in the military. Their effort to be ready to start immediately upon discharge was impressive." He added, "I always felt how sincere we all are about N.Flying, but this was another moment that reinforced it."

During the members' absence, Lee Seung-hyub and Yoo Hwe-seung grew significantly. Cha Hun praised, "I don't know if this is the right expression, but they became more mature and responsible." Seo Dong-sung added, "I also felt a change. It must have been tough for the two of them, but they never showed it. Only after I returned did they say, 'It was hard without you.' When I asked why they didn't say anything earlier, they said it was to avoid worrying us." He continued, "I didn't find it that hard. Military life was about eating and sleeping when told. When they said, 'Thanks for coming back,' I felt they were waiting for us to fill the gap."

The most noticeable change before and after enlistment was the scale of their concerts. In May, N.Flying performed at the Olympic Hall in Seoul's Olympic Park for the first time. Kim Jae-hyun recalled, "Before enlisting, when we gathered to talk, Seung-hyub and Hwe-seung said, 'Don't worry, we'll work hard to perform in a bigger venue when you return.' We believed in their words and promised to come back stronger." He added, "When we returned, we could indeed perform in a much larger venue with more N.Fia. We had 12 great songs ready. Everything was perfectly prepared for our discharge. I'm just grateful to Hwe-seung and Seung-hyub."

Lee Seung-hyub, who is also active as an actor, played Baek In-hyuk, a band member in the tvN drama 'Sunjae Upgo Ttuiyo' last year. He continued his acting career with roles in tvN's 'Mom's Friend's Son' and SBS's 'Spring of Four Seasons.' Despite his acting commitments, Lee Seung-hyub participated in the entire album's production. He shared, "I carried my laptop everywhere, writing lyrics and recording in the car. During drama shoots, I spent a lot of time in the waiting room, so I brought my guitar and recorded. Coincidentally, I played roles that required carrying a guitar."

With the success of 'Sunjae Upgo Ttuiyo,' Lee Seung-hyub's recognition has increased. He noted, "People recognize me as 'Baek In-hyuk' rather than 'Lee Seung-hyub.' I feel more people recognize me now. Even at restaurants, mothers recognize me." His popularity as an actor has helped promote N.Flying's music. Lee Seung-hyub said, "It was thrilling to perform our music at festivals for those who knew me as Baek In-hyuk."

N.Flying's hit song 'Rooftop' is both a proud achievement and a challenge to surpass. Lee Seung-hyub explained, "When appearing on programs, we debate whether to include 'Rooftop' in the setlist. If it's just for our fans, we'd showcase various songs, but 'Rooftop' is the best way to introduce ourselves to the public." He continued, "We're grateful to have such a song, but we also need to work hard to create songs that can receive even greater love. However, thinking about this too much can be distracting during the creative process, so I try to focus on capturing the present moment."

N.Flying is part of FNC Entertainment, known for producing idol bands like FT Island and CNBLUE. As a result, they've been labeled an 'idol band' since debut. Kim Jae-hyun humorously remarked, "All members are over 30, but we're grateful to be seen as idols." He added, "The term 'idol' implies being a role model. If my drumming inspires someone to start playing drums, there's nothing more rewarding."

Lee Seung-hyub acknowledged their identity as an idol band, saying, "We started as a group formed by the company, unlike bands that come together independently. Over time, I've grown to appreciate making music with these friends. Even outside, I'd want to make music with them. The boundaries within our group have dissolved."

The members have been eagerly anticipating their 10th anniversary. Yoo Hwe-seung shared, "It felt incredibly special. I've been looking forward to it since two years ago, and last year, I was excited. As each member returned, I felt like we could do anything. The anticipation was so high that it was challenging, but when we did a live broadcast with all five members and communicated with fans, I was so happy. If moments like these continue, I wouldn't mind the challenges." He added, "It feels like we're debuting again, like a fresh start. Let's keep moving forward."

N.Flying aims for their 20th, 30th, and even 80th anniversaries. Kim Jae-hyun stated, "We've only completed one-eighth of the journey. Ten years felt shorter than expected. I want to keep the excitement of our 10th anniversary alive." Lee Seung-hyub joked, "If we reach our 80th anniversary, we'll be 110 years old," to which Kim Jae-hyun confidently replied, "We'll keep working hard until then."

"I want to make people smile through our music. We can't be there for everyone struggling, but I hope our music can bring happiness." (Kim Jae-hyun)