By C. J. De Mel, Jadetimes News
The headlining act on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage this year isn’t Coldplay or Dua Lipa, but Seventeen, a Kpop boy band poised to make history. With 13 members and over 10 million albums sold last year, Seventeen trails only Taylor Swift in global sales. Despite Kpop's worldwide success, the UK has been slower to embrace the genre. Bands like BTS, Blackpink, and Stray Kids have broken through, often with the help of Western collaborations. However, Seventeen stands out for their self produced and self written music, setting a new precedent as the first Kpop act on Glastonbury's main stage.
Band leader Choi Seungcheol, known as S Coups, expresses the group’s sense of responsibility and excitement about this milestone. “There’s a great sense of responsibility,” he says. “We’ll keep coming back to that feeling and do our best to prepare, so that we can blow everybody away.” Seventeen’s performance at the festival represents a shift from Glastonbury's traditional rock roots, reflecting evolving musical tastes with acts like Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Dua Lipa, and SZA also featured prominently.
Performing shortly after lunchtime on Friday, Seventeen is unfazed by the early slot. “The time of day doesn't really matter to us,” says S Coups. “It's actually even better that we’ll be performing in the afternoon because the audience can see us better under sunlight.”
Seventeen’s music, known for its fresh and vibrant energy, is a testament to the fun side of pop. Their journey began in the pistachio green basement of Pledis Entertainment, where members endured a rigorous four to five year apprenticeship. Rapper Jeon Wonwoo, or Wonwoo, recalls the grueling selection process, much of which was documented in the online series Seventeen TV.
During a pivotal hiatus, three members were replaced, and Woozi, a classically trained musician within the group, suggested they create their own music. This move proved crucial, as Woozi has since cowritten and produced most of their songs, fostering a culture of creative involvement among the members. “Being engaged in our creative process goes a long way towards making our music more authentic,” S Coups explains.
The band's relationship with Pledis is built on mutual trust rather than conflict. “Sometimes we’d make something and it would come out differently than the company had planned,” says S Coups. “It's more like convincing them to come over to our side and understand our vision.”
Seventeen debuted in May 2015 with an hour long live showcase and the release of their first EP, 17 Carat. The group, composed of S Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino, is divided into vocal, hip hop, and dance teams, embodying a collective spirit. Despite a hierarchical structure where Woozi oversees music and Hoshi leads choreography, each member contributes uniquely.
Their journey hasn’t been without challenges. Injuries are common due to their demanding choreography, and their debut EP initially sold just 1,400 copies in its first week. However, their sound has evolved over the years, incorporating various genres and reflecting their experiences.
Their recent mini album, FML, showcased a more introspective side, with songs like “Super” celebrating their internal strength. The FML EP was the best selling record of 2023, winning album of the year at the Asian Music Awards. To introduce new fans to their work, Seventeen has released a 33 track compilation, 17 Is Right Here, featuring their singles and a new track, “Maestro.”
As they prepare for a world tour, Seventeen aims to connect with fans across the globe. “We’d like to reach fans in as many countries as possible,” says S Coups. “I still believe that we have a long way to go and we want to become even more successful.”
