CATCH THE YOUNG on “In Your Arms,” Autumn Emotions, and the Future of K-Rock
- iamraeiam
- Oct 28
- 11 min read
CATCH THE YOUNG reflects on their latest single, their creative process, and more in this exclusive interview.
Since their debut in late 2023, CATCH THE YOUNG has quickly become one of Korea’s most promising new rock bands, blending heartfelt lyricism with vibrant, genre-crossing soundscapes. Under Evermore Entertainment, the five-member group — Sani, Kihoon, Namhyun, Junyong, and Jungmo — has coined their own genre, Youth Pop-Rock, which captures the raw energy, emotions, and fleeting moments of youth. In less than a year, the band has performed on some of Korea’s biggest stages, including the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival and Jeonju Ultimate Music Festival, earning a growing reputation as the next wave of K-Rock talent.
Their latest single, “안아줘 (In Your Arms),” continues a prolific year of releases following their remake of the 90s classic “You, Always (2025),” the instrumental track “The Young Wave,” and the bright summer anthem “Ideal Type.” As autumn arrives, the band embraces a more sentimental tone, exploring themes of longing and connection through soft vocals and soaring guitar melodies. With each release, CATCH THE YOUNG not only expands their musical identity but also deepens their bond with listeners, proving that their youth is not just a theme but a spirit that drives their art.
Now, with their newest single warming hearts and their festival performances still echoing through the scene, we sat down with CATCH THE YOUNG for an exclusive interview to talk about their creative journey, the story behind “안아줘 (In Your Arms),” and what’s next for this rising band shaping the sound of modern Korean rock.
Hello CATCH THE YOUNG! For readers who may be discovering you for the first time, could you each briefly introduce yourselves and share your role in CATCH THE YOUNG?
Sani: Hello, I’m Sani, the bassist of CATCH THE YOUNG.
Kihoon: Hi, I’m Kihoon, the guitarist of CATCH THE YOUNG.
Namhyun: Hello, I’m Namhyun, the vocalist of CATCH THE YOUNG.
Jungmo: Hi, I’m Jungmo, the drummer of CATCH THE YOUNG.
Junyong: Hello, I’m Junyong, the youngest member of CATCH THE YOUNG, and I play the keyboard and also do vocals.
Congratulations on releasing your new digital single, “안아줘 (In Your Arms)”! What message or feeling do you most hope listeners carry with them after hearing the song?
Sani: Thank you. Our new single, “In Your Arms,” is built around themes of longing and loneliness, but it’s not an entirely sad song. We wanted listeners to recall the lingering feelings of a past farewell as a memory rather than just sorrow.
Kihoon: Sometimes we all feel lonely, and when that happens, I hope people listen to “In Your Arms,” not to avoid those emotions, but to feel and embrace them truly. I hope it brings comfort to anyone going through a hard time.
Namhyun: Everyone has those random lonely days, and I hope this song can bring warmth and comfort to people on days like that. I sang it with the intention of offering comfort to those who need it.
Jungmo: It’s a song that I think fits perfectly for moments when you want to feel comforted. While everyone will interpret it differently, I hope it helps listeners recall their own memories and feel both comfort and happiness through them.
Junyong: It’s a song that can give you comfort when you’re tired or feeling worn out. If you listen closely to the lyrics, I think you’ll be able to feel that warmth and solace.
What are you most proud of about this release, whether musically or personally?
Sani: Every time we release new music, I feel that our overall quality keeps improving. This was our first time releasing a ballad single, but I’m really happy with how “In Your Arms” turned out, as it’s everything we hoped for.
Kihoon: I take a lot of pride in my passion. That passion drives me to keep pursuing and studying the kind of music I want to create, and I think that’s something I’m proud to carry with me.
Namhyun: There’s a part in the bridge where I sing, “Stay with me~ whoa~” and that section was quite challenging during practice, so I was proud that I managed to pull it off well during recording. It’s one of my personal favorite parts in the song.
Jungmo: Personally, I’m most proud of the final chorus. Partly because I think I recorded it well, but also because it’s the part where the emotion builds up to its peak, which makes it even more powerful.
Junyong: I really like how we were able to express the song’s dramatic and grand atmosphere with minimal synth sounds.
Compared to your brighter and more playful summer single “Ideal Type,” this track has a more mature, sentimental tone. What led you to explore this contrast in back-to-back releases?
Sani: That’s right. While “Ideal Type” focused more on bright energy and performance, “In Your Arms” leans toward emotion and vocal expression!
Kihoon: In “In Your Arms,” rather than avoiding certain emotions, we wanted to convey the idea of accepting them more maturely and finding a way to move forward.
Namhyun: We chose songs that match the mood of each season. “Ideal Type” is a refreshing, upbeat song perfect for the hot summer, while “In Your Arms” is a lyrical, comforting track that fits well with the cooler, more sentimental feeling of autumn.
Jungmo: Through “In Your Arms,” we wanted to express a wide range of emotions and show that CATCH THE YOUNG can also do this kind of music and that we can deliver emotional, sentimental performances just as well.
Junyong: As autumn arrived, we wanted to share a song that feels a little more emotional and sentimental.
The release of “안아줘 (In Your Arms)” feels perfectly timed with autumn, a season often tied to longing and reflection. How do you think the season enhances the emotions of the song?
Sani: Music is a time-based art. You can’t judge a song by just one second of it! The goal of pop music, in my opinion, is to convey emotion over the span of about three minutes. For “In Your Arms,” we aimed to create that emotional impact through its gradual build-up.
Kihoon: I think autumn is a season that deeply affects how we reflect on the passing year. It reminds us of what we’ve gone through and what’s still ahead, and that mix of emotions makes this song fit the season even more.
Namhyun: As mentioned before, when the weather gets colder, like in autumn, I’ve heard it’s scientifically proven that people tend to feel a bit lonelier. I hope that when listeners play “In Your Arms” during those moments, it feels like our song is gently comforting their hearts.
Jungmo: In Korea, there’s a phrase, “you catch autumn feelings.” It comes from that sentimental loneliness the cool weather brings. I think autumn is the perfect season to feel emotions like reflection, regret, or comfort. And “In Your Arms” is the perfect track to listen to at that time.
Junyong: Just like we say we “catch autumn feelings,” I think fall naturally brings out loneliness and melancholy. That’s why I believe “In Your Arms” is the right song to ease that loneliness and feel comfort.
The soaring guitar solo is such a memorable moment—how did you approach creating it to match the song’s sense of longing and warmth?
Kihoon: I focused on creating a melodic line that feels emotional and pleading rather than flashy or technical, so that the feelings of this track could be conveyed more deeply. Please listen carefully to the guitar solo part too!
If fans could only remember one lyric or one moment from the new single, which part do you hope stays with them the most?
Sani: My favorite line is, “Hold me, find me as I wander through the scattered pieces of memories.”
Kihoon: I really like the lyric, “Someday, hold me like that day in our memories.” I chose it because it expresses the wish to always be someone whom our fans can lean on, no matter what happens or how much time passes.
Namhyun: I hope the listeners remember the line, “Before I knew it, the sky in my room was filled with you and me.” Just like the lyrics, I’d love for CATCH THE YOUNG to fill the skies of your room one day, too.
Jungmo: For me, it would simply be the phrase “In Your Arms,” or “hug me.” That phrase alone carries so many emotions, because it can mean love, loneliness, or comfort. As CATCH THE YOUNG continues our journey, and as our fans walk beside us through their own youth, I hope this song reminds everyone of the comfort, hope, and determination we share together.
Junyong: I like the line, “Even if everything is just a dream, even if it’s only for today, just stay with me.” It feels like a warm message we would like to share with our fans.
When recording such an emotional track, how do you each get into the right mindset or feeling before stepping into the booth?
Sani: I try to read through lyrics as much as possible and focus on finding the right emotions before recording.
Kihoon: I spent a lot of time thinking about the direction of the song and tried to immerse myself in different emotions, especially loneliness, while spending my own time with it.
Namhyun: I drew on memories and feelings of loneliness from my childhood and sang while completely immersed in those emotions.
Jungmo: Since I’m the drummer, it’s not always easy to express detailed emotions through my instrument. But I believe that when a performer fully channels emotion into their playing, it can still move people. For “In Your Arms,” I closed my eyes before recording and imagined the story and this line of the song from the intro, “Hold me tight with your eyes closed,” as if they were my own story, and played with that feeling in mind.
Every release comes with its own journey. What challenges did you face while writing, recording, or even filming the music video for “안아줘 (In Your Arms)”?
Kihoon: When recording, I wanted the guitar to convey a sense of breath and emotion all on its own. I experimented a lot with tone and picking nuances to express that feeling, which made the process a bit challenging.
Namhyun: While recording, I tried to immerse myself in a wistful emotion, blending in more breath and adding greater dynamic shifts to my delivery than usual. It was difficult during the recording, but afterward, I felt that my skills had definitely improved.
Jungmo: Personally, “In Your Arms” wasn’t particularly difficult for me. It’s the kind of style I really enjoy, and even when we filmed the music video, everything went smoothly without much trouble.
Junyong: Since “In Your Arms” is a slower ballad compared to “Ideal Type,” it was a bit difficult to maintain the right mood throughout the song.
How did each member contribute their own style or emotion to the final version of the track?
Sani: I think each of us naturally added our own style of playing or singing into the track. For me, as a bassist, it’s not easy to express emotion through the bass. So I tried to keep my lines simple and restrained, focusing on matching the drums.
Kihoon: I tried to immerse myself in my personal emotions as much as possible while playing. I thought about the difficult days I’ve had, and times I tried to ignore my feelings and just keep going. I hope listeners don’t suppress their emotions but allow themselves to truly feel them through this song.
Namhyun: My tone carries a lot of breath and emotion in this track. I sang while recalling memories from my childhood and letting those feelings flow naturally into my voice.
Jungmo: For me, it wasn’t just about loneliness; it felt closer to a kind of desperate cry. During both the recording and the music video shoot, I tried to pour out every bit of emotion. When I listen to “In Your Arms,” I don’t just hear sadness or regret, but I also sense the struggle of holding emotions back, yet still letting them break through from time to time.
Junyong: I played the keyboard with a sense of my own loneliness in mind, using a wide range to create a more powerful and expansive sound.
You’ve released a wide range of singles this year: a 90s remake, your first instrumental track, a summer love song, and now this emotional ballad. How do these different styles reflect CATCH THE YOUNG’s identity and growth?
Sani: CATCH THE YOUNG has always aimed to create music that transcends generations, so experimenting with various styles feels only natural for us. We’ll continue to grow and evolve, striving to make music that resonates with people of all ages, so please keep looking forward to our journey.
Kihoon: Musically, I think we’ve become more diverse and mature. As we explore countless genres and deeper emotions, our sound continues to gain richness and depth. But I’d say we’re still very much in the process of growing!
Namhyun: By trying out different genres and challenges, we’ve been gradually shaping and defining our own color as a band.
Jungmo: I believe CATCH THE YOUNG’s identity lies in telling stories that people from any generation can relate to. That’s why we constantly explore music and emotions from different eras and genres, to deepen our understanding and show our growth through our sound.
Junyong: Staying true to CATCH THE YOUNG’s motto of creating music that everyone can enjoy, regardless of generation, we’ve been experimenting with a wide variety of styles.
You’ve been part of Korea’s biggest music festivals for two years in a row—how have these experiences shaped the way you connect with audiences through songs like this one?
Sani: Music holds incredible power, and I believe artists and fans can communicate through music even without exchanging a single word. Of course, meeting the audience in person is wonderful, but even when that’s not possible, releasing songs allows us to stay connected through sound.
Kihoon: People often describe our music as energetic and youthful, but I think youth also includes moments of loneliness, frustration, and melancholy. I hope listeners can see that CATCH THE YOUNG isn’t just about bright, upbeat songs, but we’re also a band that conveys deeper feelings and sincerity.
Namhyun: We haven’t performed “In Your Arms” live at a festival yet, but I think that opportunity might come soon. Now that the weather’s getting cooler, it feels like the perfect time to share something more emotional with the audience through this song.
Jungmo: When it comes to musical communication, I think there’s always room for variation. For example, the message we want to convey through high-energy, passionate tracks is different from what we express in more sentimental, lyrical ones.
Junyong: Fast and exciting rock songs are great, but as artists, I believe it’s equally important to connect with people through emotional songs like “In Your Arms” that touch the heart in a different way.
With this release, what do you feel is the next step in CATCH THE YOUNG’s story?
Sani: We’re preparing music that we truly believe many people will love. Please look forward to it!
Kihoon: I think it’s finally time for us to bring together everything we’ve built so far and show the world the many different shades of our sound. I’m really looking forward to our first full-length album.
Namhyun: We’re working on songs in various styles that reflect how we’ve grown, everything we’ve experienced, and how we felt along the way.
Jungmo: We want to tell many different stories about brilliance that everyone can relate to, but also about bold, adventurous moments. We’re excited to share those with you soon, so please continue to show us your support and love.
Junyong: We’re currently preparing our full-length album. It’ll include powerful rock tracks and deeply emotional ballads, so we hope everyone looks forward to it!
Lastly, please leave a message for fans reading this.
Sani: Thank you so much for all the love you’ve given us so far. If you continue to stay with us for a long time, we’ll make sure to return that love. We’re always truly grateful.
Kihoon: As time goes by, I feel a growing sense of responsibility for the messages we share through music. We’re all living this life for the first time, so I want to become a guitarist who can grow together with everyone, sharing comfort and emotions through both the challenging and the happy moments. Please keep supporting us!
Namhyun: We’re already nearing the end of 2025, and the weather’s getting chilly, so please take care and stay warm! I hope you’ll continue to look forward to our journey and stay with CATCH THE YOUNG as we grow. We’ll keep doing our best to repay your love with music that reflects how much we treasure you. See you soon!
Jungmo: Please keep listening to our single “In Your Arms.” We always keep in mind that we can exist because of you, and we’ll keep moving forward with gratitude in our hearts!
Junyong: We’ll continue to meet you with new and diverse sides of ourselves. Thank you so much for your love and support.
Listen to CATCH THE YOUNG's Discography on Spotify or Apple Music.
*Special thanks to CATCH THE YOUNG, EVERMORE ENTERTAINMENT, and Helix Publicity for this exclusive interview.
Image and Video Credits: EVERMORE ENTERTAINMENT
