Interviewer: Deena Jasmine (Chikkmagaluru, Karnataka, India)

Editor: Jayati Bhardwaj (Delhi, India)

FISTBUMP (피스트범프) is a four-member South Korean band under Now Entertainment. The band currently consists of four members: Wooju on guitar, Haroo on bass, Shy on drums and Jaebaek on vocals. They debuted on August 29, 2020, with the digital single FISTBUMP Vol.1. When you listen to FISTBUMP, it’s not just about the music. It’s about the way they make you feel. There’s something raw and real in every song, whether it’s the guitars’ energy, the lyrics’ honesty, or just the way it all comes together.

Since their debut, FISTBUMP has been dedicated to making people feel seen, heard, and even connected through their music. Every track they release, every performance they give, is a step toward bringing people closer together. In this interview, let’s dive into their journey, how they’ve carved their path, the challenges they encountered on their way, and what’s next as they keep moving forward.

Could you briefly share a bit about yourself and your role in the band with our audience?

Wooju: Hello, I am Wooju, and I am the leader of FISTBUMP. I make the overall songs for the team.
Haroo: I am Haroo, and I’m in charge of the bass and sometimes the vocal parts.
Shy: Hello, I’m Shy, the drummer of FISTBUMP, quietly overseeing the band from behind.
Jaebaek: Officially, as the main and lead vocalist of FISTBUMP, I create and lead the mood of the songs. Unofficially, I share positive energy through conversations to bring out synergy with the members.

Your music blends rock, K-pop, and emotional storytelling. How did you all find your unique sound, and how did it come together over time

At first, it was definitely through a lot of trial and error, assembling and disassembling various sounds and lyrics. Over time, FISTBUMP’s colour became clearer. We’re working hard to solely convey our emotions and world to the listeners.

Your lyrics are often deep and personal. How do you find the balance between sharing those raw emotions while still staying true to FISTBUMP’s unique sound?

As mentioned before, we believe that a lot of trial and error was important in finding our sound, our voice and our colour. Even with the same topic, each member has different views and feelings, and also different ways of expressing those feelings. With so much input, the first step is finding a consensus that all members can agree on, and from there, we think about how to deliver those emotions to the audience. What’s most important in this entire process is honestly putting those sentiments into the music.

Jaebaek: I aim to talk about all relationships—love, the past, present, future, and every emotion felt while living through them. My goals are pretty clear when I am working on lyrics and what I want to show, so it helps a lot. Additionally, I also want to express even more diverse ways of life through music in the future.

Looking back on your debut and the early days of FISTBUMP, what has been the biggest challenge for the band so far? And how did you overcome it?

This only applies to me as the leader. The dream of early FISTBUMP hasn’t changed much from the current one. The biggest challenge is, of course, performing in front of tens of thousands of people! To overcome it, I just focused on what I had to do, let go of past regrets and future anxieties, and focused only on the present.

Your music has sparked a lot of conversation, and many fans feel a deep connection to it. What’s been one of the most memorable moments with a fan that stuck with you?

The most memorable moments through this journey as FISTBUMP have been every single time when we meet Hi-Five (fandom name)! It is because of their constant love and support that we can keep going.

Your recent track “Misery” taps into deeper emotions. What was the inspiration behind it, and how did the creative process unfold?

We wanted to create a slightly different atmosphere from our previous songs. “Misery” expresses the dark emotions hidden behind bright feelings. During the creative process, we wanted to put more power into things like the guitar sound, melody progression, and lyrics. So, we had many conversations among members and carefully assembled everyone’s opinions.

From ‘FISTBUMP Vol.1’ to ‘Vol.3,’ how does it feel to see your music evolve? What’s been the best part of that journey?

Seeing myself grow feels really good. I’m still lacking a lot, but I expect a lot of changes and growth to come. The best part of this journey is meeting each and every Hi-Five, and that we’re getting more good opportunities and stages!

If you could recommend one of your songs to a new listener, which one would it be and why?

Since it’s almost summer, we recommend “At the End of Summer” and “Our Story.” They are sounds that go well with summer! Also, it’s a song we made last summer, and it’s a song that member Wooju personally likes. We hope you come to visit the summer that FISTBUMP draws.

What’s next for FISTBUMP? Any exciting plans or projects you’re working on that you can share with our audience?

First of all, we want to produce a new album in the summer if possible. Since it’s summer, we think the feeling of the songs will also be refreshing.

The Korean wave is growing rapidly in India, and many fans love listening to K-pop. Would you like to share a message with our Indian K-pop fans?

K-pop is already loved in many countries and is gaining a lot of attention just by being made in Korea. Rather than just liking it because it’s K-pop, we want to work hard so people will like FISTBUMP as a band. Please look at us kindly and support us. If things work out, we want to go to India too, and connect with Indian fans, sing together, and share our emotions through music.

Wooju (leader)

Could you share a unique fact about yourself, and what are your hobbies?

My hobbies? I like going to big and small performances. And a unique fact about me is that I talk to myself a lot, especially when I make songs.

What are your personal goals as a leader and for FISTBUMP as a group?

My personal goal is to stand at Tokyo Dome, where HIDE of X-JAPAN (who inspired me to start music) once stood. When I watch videos of artists performing at Tokyo Dome, I get choked up. It’s my biggest dream. smiles

Haroo

Could you share a special memory or turning point from your trainee days?

I don’t think I really had trainee days, so I don’t have a particular story. Before joining FISTBUMP, I had never properly played bass, so I clearly remember the difficulties of practising bass and playing an instrument on stage.

What are some of your dreams and aspirations for the future?

My biggest dream is for our current activities to stabilise, so we can perform anytime in any country and continue big performances that many people can watch.

Jaebaek

What are some hobbies or interests you have outside of music and performing?

Well, for the longest time, I thought I didn’t have any hobbies. But after interacting with my fans, I realised I watched around 50 dramas last year. So, I am guessing that can be counted as a hobby.

Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your style?

This might sound serious, but I learn about vocal diversity and muscle usage by watching many live videos of vocal artists. I also observe stage attitude a lot.

Shy

As the youngest in the group, do you feel any special responsibilities or challenges?

Since I’m in charge of the drums for the team, I believe that if I break down, the whole band could fall apart. So, I pay more attention towards my mental and physical health and work harder to carry heavy responsibility. I wanted to challenge myself with dancing, so I prepared a solo stage and performed once. I want to continue improving.

Drumming seems to bring you a lot of joy. But what do you enjoy most about playing the drums, and is there a style or genre you’d like to challenge yourself with in the future?

I started playing drums back in high school, and it was due to my father’s recommendation. And I am beyond thankful for that. smiles It was so fun, and I really enjoyed doing it, so I started learning properly when I realised my inclination. During my college entrance exam preparation, it was really hard for me to practise, even though I wanted to play more, I couldn’t. I endured that time and managed to come this far. As for a style I want to try in the future is heavy metal using a double pedal.

What are some hidden talents or hobbies you have that fans might not know about?

laughs My hidden talent is that I can recognise an idol song within one second. I think it’s a skill I developed through all these years of loving them and listening to them ever since I was a child.

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On behalf of the entire team at Hallyuism, we would like to extend and express your precious time and share insights about your journey, FISTBUMP. We wish you all the best with your future projects. And lots of love from India!

We hope you all loved reading this interview as much as we loved conducting it. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!