Client: CLASH
In a south-west London basement, converted into a starkly lit dance rehearsal space, are nine of xikers’ ten members (Junghoon is in Seoul on rest) wearing sweats and sneakers. They’ve had their first ever British meal, a traditional fish ‘n’ chips. It’s the day before their first ever UK show, and they’ll go from here onto their first ever European tour. At not even a year old, xikers – Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Seeun, Yujun, Hunter and Yechan – are experiencing a hell of a lot of firsts right now.
“I grew up watching idols and dreaming of becoming one,” says Yujun. “But there’s a difference in perspective between watching and becoming. When we take to the stage and meet all of our fans, it’s a completely different experience. There’s a form of joy that comes from communicating with them.”
Seeun, whose high cheekbones constantly disappear and reappear beneath his grey hoodie, remembers clearly their first ever meeting with ‘roadY’, as their fans are known. “It was so fascinating seeing them. You’re spending all your time [pre-debut] in the practice room and there were moments when it was difficult but when we first saw them… it made everything worthwhile. Everything you’ve prepared for them can finally be shown, and there’s a sense of pride in that.”
xikers crashed into the K-pop sphere last March with ‘도깨비집 (TRICKY HOUSE)’, a burning meteor of a song, equal parts fun and ambitious. A second single, the chunky ‘ROCKSTAR’ also from their debut mini-album, ‘House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing’, was released less than a month later. That summer, xikers dropped their second record, ‘House of Tricky: How to Play’, with two singles (‘DO or DIE’, ‘HOMEBOY’) then hit the road touring, starting in the US.
Taylor Glasby 