It’s about time to get to know xikers again

Since their explosive debut in 2023, xikers chose the path less traveled. For the first three years of their career, the ten-member powerhouse anchored themselves within the HOUSE OF TRICKY universe – a saga that defied the industry’s trend of fleeting concepts.

But true artists refuse to be confined by their own walls. After concluding HOUSE OF TRICKY with the 6th EP in October 2025, the group has been cooking up in the studio, ready to chart a brand-new course.

Enter May 2026. The coordinates have reset, and the era of boyhood has officially given way to something far more magnetic and matured with the release of their 7th EP, ROUTE ZERO: The ORA.

Born between 2003 and 2005, the members are now navigating that volatile, exhilarating transition into adulthood through their newest release. Their title track, OKay, cloaked in strange, avant-garde visuals and a wonderfully eerie, Halloween-esque aesthetic, serves as a brilliant counter-programming to the usual predictable sounds of summer.

Now taken their new era to music show stages, their presence is untamed, synchronized, and fiercely confident. They are no longer the rookies who debuted on a fresh vibe – they are a matured collective executing flawless, high-octane art.

HARPER’S BAZAAR: In the transition period between HOUSE OF TRICKY and ROUTE ZERO: The ORA, what thoughts have been most prominent in your minds?

MINJAE: Through the HOUSE OF TRICKY series, I feel like we’ve had the chance to explore and show a really wide musical spectrum as xikers. That in itself was a large influence on the direction we chose to take for this next chapter.

But during the transition between HOUSE OF TRICKY and this next series, I spent a lot of time thinking about what kind of sound truly represents us and how we can further define our own color going forward. The personal is so tied in with the group because the growth of each of us as individuals during this time period has affected the way we faced this new project. My own artistic vision melds into part of the group’s because I’ve also been focusing on growing more as a producer and showing that part of myself within our works too.

HARPER’S BAZAAR: How would you describe the new identity of xikers?

HUNTER: I’d say we are now a more mature version of xikers. We were all very young when we first debuted, so we gave off a youthful, fresh, and energetic vibe. With this new series and this new album, you can really see our growth and maturity. Not just in the music itself, but even our voices have slightly changed compared to when we debuted. It’s sort of a transition from teenagers to adults.

“We are now a more MATURE version of xikers”

– HUNTER from xikers –

HARPER’S BAZAAR: What is the creative process like? How specifically did each unit – rap, vocal, and dance – contribute to this EP? Shortly before the new EP, you had special projects for each units. How did working on these project bolster your confidence?

JINSIK (Vocal Unit): The vocal unit worked on a project called Heroine before ROUTE ZERO: The ORA. It was actually the first time our vocal unit covered a Japanese song, so it was a very new, refreshing experience for us. It really pulled together because each member recorded parts that suited them well. The positive response from roadys to that cover really boosted my confidence going into this comeback. As for the 7th EP, the overall creative process felt really smooth.

YUJUN (Performance Unit): While preparing for the performance unit project – a dance performance for Armani White and A$AP Ferg’s SILVER TOOTH. – I felt like the choreography was something I could really express myself well through. So, I put a lot of effort into practicing, and even on the day of filming, I was very detailed in checking everything. I kept looking for better angles and gestures that I could do throughout the shoot to really get the vibe I was going for. Looking back, I honestly feel pretty satisfied with how the video turned out, and it definitely helped boost my confidence.

HARPER’S BAZAAR: In 2025, you have had 2025 WORLD TOUR [Road to XY : Enter the Gate], meeting fans across the world. How  have  your  international  touring  experiences  influenced  your  creative  stance? Especially SUMIN, MINJAE and YECHAN, the trio which famously write their own raps?

MINJAE: We’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to perform on so many different stages, and it’s definitely had a big influence on how I write my rap parts. It’s helped me develop a better sense of choosing and writing lines that carry stronger energy when I deliver my rap live.

SUMIN: Touring around the world allowed us to naturally use a lot of English on-site. Because of that, I’ve picked up quite a few different English phrases and new words along the way. It’s been really useful and fun incorporating them into our lyrics.

YECHAN: While on tour, I had many opportunities to see how different songs were received by the fans when we performed them live. Those experiences helped me understand which songs and vocal styles get better reactions. So, when working on music, I now consider how to create songs that people can relate to and enjoy together, while also bringing out stronger reactions from the crowd.

HARPER’S BAZAAR: What is the MV filming experience like to each of you? Is there something you’ve never attempted before that finally comes to life during filming OKay?

JUNGHOON: Filming the music video was really fun. It honestly felt like all ten of us were just dancing around and having fun together. One new thing we tried this time was this duet section I have with JINSIK, where we danced in a mirrored style. It was a fresh and really interesting experience for me.

JUNMIN: There were a lot of high-energy scenes in the OKay MV, and the individual shots outside of the group choreography were a bit challenging for me. I’m not naturally someone with super high energy, so it took some effort to really bring that out. If I were to pick one new thing I tried for the first time, I’d say it was dancing from start to finish while wearing a horned hat, which definitely wasn’t easy.

HARPER’S BAZAAR: During the creative process for this new music, what kinds of musical ideas or opinions did the members share with each other?

HYUNWOO: While we were working on the album, I heard YUJUN practicing in the rehearsal room and felt like I could help out. Since vocals are something I’ve focused on a lot, I shared some tips and things that have helped me personally. It was really nice being able to support each other during the process.

HARPER’S BAZAAR: All five tracks on ROUTE ZERO: The ORA showcase completely different sounds. Reflecting on that versatility, which musicians or artists across any genre are you currently following? Is there a particular artist who comes up often in your group chats nowadays?

HUNTER: I personally love R&B music, and I’ve been listening to a lot of Kehlani, Jayson, and others. Recently in our group chat, MINJAE sent us lots of hip-hop-related music for us to check out. It’s been nice to listen to since, as a group, xikers has really experimented with genres and delved into them too.

HARPER’S BAZAAR: After this new EP, have you discovered any new fashion obsessions?

SUMIN: While filming the music video for title track OKay, I wore a pair of sunglasses and they suited me so well that I ended up buying them for myself in two different colors. I’ve been using them a lot ever since, and I’m actually wearing them right now while answering this!

HARPER’S BAZAAR: What are you looking forward to most during this promotional cycle?

SEEUN: Just getting to meet roadYs again is really exciting for me. It’s been a while since our last comeback, so I’m especially happy, and I can’t wait to show everyone our performances.

JUNGHOON: I think this track really highlights the strengths of having ten members, especially when it comes to the performance. I’m really curious and excited to see how people will react to it.

HARPER’S BAZAAR: xikers is known for flawless, high-energy live performances that require intense focus and coordination. Before hitting the stage, what is the one thing you tell yourselves?

JUNMIN: I tell myself not to overthink it and just go out there and enjoy the moment. The more I think, the more likely I am to make mistakes or not fully enjoy it, so I try to keep it simple.

YECHAN: Since we’ve worked really hard preparing for each performance, I try to remind myself to trust both myself and the team. Before going on stage, I tell myself to just have fun with the audience and enjoy the moment together.

HARPER’S BAZAAR: Now in your fourth year as artists, what makes you most proud to be a member of xikers?

YUJUN: I’m most proud of the team xikers itself. It means a lot that people recognize us for our performances, and that’s really thanks to roadY who acknowledge all the effort we put in.

HYUNWOO: Sometimes when I’m filming or recording on my own, it can feel a little lonely, but whenever we’re together as a team, there’s this real sense of strength and support. There’s nothing more reassuring than that.

“Whenever we’re TOGETHER as a team,
there’s this real sense
of STRENGTH and SUPPORT.
There’s nothing more
REASSURING than that”

– HYUNWOO from xikers –

HARPER’S BAZAAR: What is something you’ve learned about your fellow members since your debut that you truly love and that hasn’t changed?

SEEUN: I like how honest and confident our members are. Seeing them always believe in themselves and move forward gives me a lot of positive energy and influence as well.

HARPER’S BAZAAR: How do you define “success” in this new era? And what goals have you set for the remainder of 2026?

JINSIK: For me, success in this new chapter would be if both roadY and the general public listen to this album and think, “xikers really did it again.” As for my goal for the rest of 2026, it’s simple: to stay healthy throughout the year.

Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam