Young Posse returns with cinematic music

Five-member K-pop group Young Posse has returned with cinematic storytelling and music.

"Cold," the group's special album released Sunday, consists of seven tracks, including the title track and its accompanying music video, starring Young Posse members and Taiwanese actor Jing Hua Tseng. The visually striking music video, filled with rich color palettes, was filmed in Taiwan.

“The album carries an unexpected storyline and atmosphere, which surprised many people. I believe this will showcase a new side of Young Posse. One comment that really stuck with me likened the music video to ice cream, saying that it shows how the world can be cold and sweet at the same time,” said Sunhye, the group’s leader, at a press conference held Tuesday following the release of the special album on Sunday.

“Jing Hua Tseng plays the male lead, Oscar, while Doeun and I take on the roles of the female leads. The story follows a pair of siblings, abandoned by their father, who plot revenge," said Yeonjung, expressing hope that people enjoy the music as a soundtrack to the video.

Doeun, who took on her first acting role for the music video, thanked her co-star. “It was my first time acting in a drama-style production, but Jing Hua Tseng translated his lines into Korean and spoke in Korean throughout the shoot, which helped ease my nerves.”

The title track “Cold” starts with a modern rock-inspired electric guitar riff before expanding into a grand orchestral arrangement. The song captures the feelings of loneliness caused by emotional distance in relationships. Singer-songwriter 10CM, known for his unique vocal tone, features on the track, adding depth to its melancholic atmosphere.

The album also includes “Cold (YPS Colder ver.),” a rearranged version with a more chilling tone and a stronger focus on the members’ vocals to create a full-circle story as the seventh and final track.

Why has the album been designated a "special album"?

"Unlike our previous releases, which focused on Young Posse’s own story, this one revolves around the theme of ‘Cold," said Sunhye, noting that the members challenged themselves with the hip-hop ballad of the title track. "We plan to continue exploring new styles," she added.

While the title track leans toward a hip-hop ballad, Doeun emphasized that the album still contains the classic, intense hip-hop tracks that Young Posse is known for. “I really hope people listen to all seven tracks in the album and explore the wide spectrum of music in it.”

Having debuted in October 2023, Young Posse may be a rookie group, but it has already performed at several festivals and earned positive reviews for its stage presence. Looking ahead, Sunhye shared the group’s ambitions: “We dream of performing at major music festivals like Coachella or Lollapalooza. Our goal this year is to grow into artists who can own those stages."