Musica

MOONBIN&SANHA's INCENSE is pure Madness

INCENSE. With a bit of Madness. These are the keywords for ASTRO’s MOONBIN&SANHA’s comeback as a unit. Returning after ten months since their second mini-album, REFUGE, MOONBIN&SANHA are here to show a different side of their artistry by seeking a new way to represent the sexiness that no one else will exceed through this new album.

INCENSE is an irresistible collection of six songs, each marked by its own scent. The title track, “Madness”, is a pop dance song with an intense bass sound and EDM and big band elements.

The album had over 61.000 copies sold on its first day of release (data from Hanteo) and is now MOONBIN&SANHA’s second-best-selling album in first-week album sales with over 129.985 copies sold. Both MOON BIN and YOON SAN-HA participated in writing lyrics and composing for the album, including their solo tracks. They hit the jackpot when it comes to fascinating fans worldwide with their growing musical spectrum.

Panorama had the chance to chat with them.


Congratulations on the release of «INCENSE». Can you tell us more about this album?

MOON BIN: MOONBIN&SANHA’s second mini album «REFUGE» represented a refuge for listeners. Our third mini album «INCENSE» represents our wish to make others happy with our own irresistible scent in the refuge we created through the previous album.

This is your third work as a subunit; how was the process of preparing «INCENSE» different from «IN-OUT» and «REFUGE»?

MOON BIN: We discussed our opinions for the album more actively with the company. That led us to put more thoughts into the album and feel more affectionate with it.

Why the word «INCENSE»?

MOON BIN: For this album, we had the idea of creating an album with one of the human’s five senses. We thought that ‘scent’ or sense of smell is the most memorable sense of all, so it has become our new album’s concept.

There is something I’m pretty curious about. «INCENSE» comes in two versions: the white one is called IMPURE, while the gray one is called PURE. Can you tell me more about the concepts behind the two versions?

MOON BIN: We wanted to represent the fragile and precarious side before feeling happy through PURE version, whereas IMPURE version represents a more stable side after gaining happiness through ‘scent’.

In these albums, you are showing us a different side of yourselves. What’s still to be discovered?

MOON BIN: We’re releasing our third mini album already, and this album includes songs that we composed and wrote lyrics for the first time. It motivates me to create albums and performances that include more of our opinions and ideas.

YOON SAN-HA: I think I become more ambitious as we release each album. I want to meet more fans, hold events if possible, and work hard to show more various charms. These are my goals.

This album has six tracks. ‘Madness’ is the title track. What made you choose it? MOON BIN, you co-wrote it. Do you want to say something more about it?

MOON BIN: For “Madness”, there was a reference song that I had discussed with the composer team as a vision and vibe of this track. I had a feeling that “Madness” should be a title track among other tracks. Even though there were some challenges as we were trying new things when working on this song, it was a fun process.

MOON BIN, you are also credited as a lyricist and co-composer for the B-side ‘이끌려’. Which kind of song is it?

MOON BIN: I am a fan of pop and R&B genres, so I created the melody for ‘이끌려 (Desire)’ with the other composers. It represents the reckless attraction of two opposite people being very different from each other.

YOON SAN-HA, you helped write and compose ‘바람’, which we can translate as Wind. Which was your inspiration?

YOON SAN-HA: ‘바람 (Wish)’ has two different meanings. It can mean wind literally, and it also means ‘wish’. This song is about my message of gratitude for AROHA. I made this song wishing that my voice can be delivered to AROHA’s heart through the wind.

Out of the album's six tracks, which one is your favorite and why?

MOON BIN: I would choose “Perfumer” because this song would be the best representation of MOONBIN&SANHA in this album.

YOON SAN-HA: Since I composed and wrote lyrics to ‘바람 (Wish)’ for the first time in the album, that track is my favorite.

You are a "tried and tested" duo. How is it working you two together, and how does it differ when working with all the ASTRO's members?

MOON BIN: I think unit activities are calmer because there are fewer members. In addition, when we perform as a unit, we need to put out more energy.

YOON SAN-HA: I think the main difference would be the overall vibe. We would get calmer when it is just two of us, but we would get more active and loud when there are more members.

If you could describe yourself with one word, one scent, and one color, which one would you choose and why?

MOON BIN: Race. The scent of fire, red, and shining. I shined brightly through various activities.

YOON SAN-HA: Diary. There are so many things I feel as every year passes by, and I imagine myself recollecting new thoughts and feelings at the end of 2023 as well, so I would describe myself as a diary.

It's the beginning of a new year. You already gifted us with new music. What should we expect next?

MOON BIN: I’m most curious about the reaction to our new album. I also look forward to the good news that would be revealed early this year.

YOON SAN-HA: At the beginning of each year, I wonder what would happen this year. For now, I greatly look forward to the reaction to our new album. I can’t wait.

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Marianna Baroli

Giornalista, autore

(Milano, 1986) La prima volta che ha detto «farò la giornalista» aveva solo 7 anni. Cresciuta tra i libri di Giurisprudenza, ha collaborato con il quotidiano Libero. Iperconnessa e ipersocial, è estremamente appassionata delle sfaccettature della cultura asiatica, di Giappone, dell'universo K-pop e di Hallyu wave. Dal 2020 è Honorary Reporter per il Ministero della Cultura Coreana. Si rilassa programmando viaggi, scoprendo hotel e ristoranti in giro per il mondo. Appena può salta da un parco Disney all'altro. Ha scritto un libro «La Corea dalla A alla Z», edito da Edizioni Nuova Cultura, e in collaborazione con il KOCIS (Ministero della Cultura Coreana) e l'Istituto Culturale Coreano in Italia.

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