WINNER: ‘We Don't Put Limits on Genre'

The South Korean group on their diverse new album ‘EVERYD4Y,’ dealing with the pressure wrought by immense chart success and what the future holds for them

- Riddhi Chakraborty

While no artist is exempt from the highs and lows of the music business, it’s safe to say WINNER have had a particularly bumpy ride. With a delayed debut, a series of prolonged hiatuses and losing a member, the odds seemed to be stacked against the South Korean boy group for several years. This year, however, signaled a record-breaking change of tides.

Formed in 2013 after winning the Y.G. Entertainment and television network MNET’s idol survival show WIN: Who Is Next, WINNER debuted in 2014 with five members. Comprising leader Yoon, vocalists Taehyun and Jinu and rappers Hoony and Mino, they released their first studio album 2014 S/S to considerable commercial success and were the first boy group to debut from Y.G. Entertainment since veteran group Big Bang in 2006.

WINNER’s evolution since that landmark release has been fascinating to trace. Initially favoring trap and R&B ballads (“empty,” “color ring”) during their 2014 debut era, the group dove into more sophisticated sounds in 2016 with the release their first EP EXIT : E. The project’s lead single “Baby Baby” garnered a wide amount of attention thanks to its bluesy vibe while the pop/rock-fueled “Sentimental” made them stand out from other K-pop artists. Soon after, the group entered a 12-month hiatus which saw the departure of main vocalist Taehyun, who was largely responsible for the blues/rock influence. Fans were alarmed, unsure of what it meant for WINNER’s future.

As the world waited with bated breath to see what would come next, the remaining four members chose the route of reinvention for their 2017 comeback. With tropical house dominating a lot of K-pop releases that year, Winner embraced the trend with the island-flavored “Really Really.”