For the South Korean boy band Ateez, there's no better feeling than being onstage and seeing their beloved fans before them—dancing to every beat and singing along to every lyric in their songs.

And having already seen how enthusiastic and talented Filipino fans are during their first visit to the Philippines last year, Ateez couldn't help but look forward to experiencing more of the same in the upcoming Manila stop of their "The Fellowship: Break the Wall" world tour.

"They were so energetic that time, so we expect their energy again in our concert. And their singing was really good from my memory," Hongjoong, the leader of the eight-man band, said in a recent video conference arranged by Sony Music and KQ Entertainment for Southeast Asian journalists.

Also composed of Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho, the fourth generation pop band held court in Manila for the "K-Pop Masterz Ep. 2" festival, which also featured iKon and GOT7's Youngjae. But this time, Ateez will have the Araneta Coliseum all to themselves on Sept. 16.

"It's definitely our Atiny. Because of them, we created a lot of memories during our last visit there. So, thank you so much," San said, when asked about what he remembers most from Ateez's first Manila gig. "We will make sure that we can go see them soon and create more beautiful memories with them."

Aside from their ongoing world tour, Ateez also has a new mini album out. Described as "exciting and energetic,""World EP 2: Outlaw," the six-track collection features the lead single "Bouncy (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)," which exudes "an unblockable sense of ‘heung' (uniquely Korean exhilaration). "Outlaw" is Ateez's second million-selling record, after "The World EP.1: Movement" last year.

"We have also released a few songs since, so they can expect those, too," Hongjoong said.

After debuting in October 2018, Ateez quickly made its mark in the music scene with "standout performances that combine runway aesthetics with darker tones lined by hip-hop and electronic trap mixes." The multiawarded group is also known for harnessing the power of storytelling in creating a "full musical experience."

Excerpts from the interview with Ateez:

What do you remember most from your Manila trip?

San: It's definitely our Atiny. Because of them, we created a lot of memories during our last visit. Thank you so much. We will make the time and make sure that we can go see them very soon and create more beautiful memories with them.

What are your thoughts about your upcoming headlining concert in Manila?

San: I'm looking forward to it since it has been so long since we have seen each other. I want to show a lot of great performances. And I'm a food lover. I'd like to try a lot of Filipino food. That would be great.

Yunho: I know that the Filipino Atiny have been waiting for this. So I want to go there quickly and perform on awesome stages. I have good memories of the fruits I ate in the Philippines before, so I want to try them again.

Hongjoong: This is our first solo concert in the Philippines, so our Filipino fans can expect some stages that they will see only for the first time.What are the things you like about the new EP?Seonghwa: First of all, thank you. Among the tracks in our album, I find "Djangjo" particularly compelling.

Do you have anything that you would like to achieve in the second half of the year?

Seonghwa: My ambition is to reveal more facets of Ateez and engage our fans, Atiny, with enhanced performances.

Hongjoong: Also, we have a few events for Ateez's birthday (anniversary)... There will be a lot of happenings in the upcoming few months, so please wait for that.

Your EP "Outlaw" and the "Bouncy" music video drew inspiration from Western films. If you were to star in your own movie, what would be the story?

Yunho: If I were a movie director, I would like to create a lot of action films with our members, because we're very good at doing powerful performances and are very active.

Wooyoung: It would be great if there are a lot of action scenes. Our members are good at using their body. Another [good] genre will be comedy. That would be fun, too.

Hongjoong: In our training room, or in our own places, we just enjoy our time. We always laugh because of each other. That's why comedy is one of the good genres to make if we want to make some movies.

To the uninitiated, or someone just getting acquainted with your catalog, what song would you recommend to get a full sense of what Ateez members are as artists?

San: I personally would like to recommend "Wonderland." It's from our first album and this song shows our energy and how we sing. So please listen to that one.

Yeosang: New listeners often perceive us as a dynamic performance team, after witnessing our stages. But actually, we also have a lot of b-sides with other ideas and genres, like soft, beautiful songs. Therefore, I would encourage listeners to explore our discography.I would also recommend the song "Turbulence." The lyrics are very beautiful, so please listen to that one.

What goes into your preparation for live shows? What do you most enjoy about it?

Jongho: Rather than having a set preparation time, we try our best until we're satisfied. After the shows, we give each other feedback and work on what was lacking so we can improve. The moment I find most enjoyable is being onstage and performing in front of our fans. When we see them, we get a lot of energy and we're really thankful to Atiny for that.

Hongjoong: In my case, when onstage, I can feel the communication with Atiny. That time was the best moment ever. Because when they sing along with our songs, I can see that their eyes are saying, ‘We really enjoy this concert and we miss you.' That feeling is the best moment onstage.

For Mingi and Hongjoong: Can you describe your writing process for "Outlaw"Mingi: For me, I paid a lot of attention to detail with the lyrics this time. For the title track, I wanted straightforward lyrics with impact in each word. And for the b-sides, I tried to match the concepts and add impactful lyrics and details.

Hongjoong: In my case, I participate in writing the song lyrics, usually with the production team Edenary. When they make songs, melodies or beats, we get the guide version of the song, so there are no lyrics usually. I write some lyrics first for that, then I suggest some themes or titles. Sometimes, Edenary gives their suggestions to me first, and then we send lyrics to each other.

Sometimes, when I'm not in Korea, we usually communicate through Zoom or FaceTime, and we talk about the lyrics, or fix them.

You have been very busy the past year with two Korean releases, one Japanese release and a massive world tour. What keeps you motivated through it all?San: Despite the busy schedule. The reason we could stay motivated is because of Atiny's love and support. While difficult at times, the energy and love from fans empower us. I gain strength to do my best as we go through our schedule.

Yunho: Seeing the members constantly striving and achieving goals around me motivates me, too. We're learning from each other to achieve our goals. Wouldn't it be enough if the members showed each other plenty of motivation? We motivate each other all the time. So even though we have a very busy schedule, we can go through it very well.

How does the love and support from fans influence your creative process? How do you express your gratitude to them?

San: Being onstage, we feel the support a lot. But while preparing, working, performing music, we do get tired, mentally. But knowing there are people who love me this much empowers me to happily work on things one by one. I'm very thankful to Atiny.

Hongjoong: The Atiny always wait for our new songs and new stages every time, so we always try to listen and see their opinion on what they want to hear and see. When we make our album and new stages, we consult with the production their opinions and what they want. This is part of the good relationship and communication with Atiny when we make new things for them. We get more energy from them and experiences from all that. INQ