Hi, everyone! 👋 I'm Sepideh, but everyone calls me Sepi. I'm a video producer for BuzzFeed UK, and I LOVE music. I'm really into K-pop, K-hip-hop, and R&B, so when I recently got the opportunity to attend international K-pop festival HallyuPopFest, I was naturally over the moon!
I headed over to OVO Arena Wembley in London with my lovely colleague Lucia, and we got the opportunity to talk to some of the AMAZING artists performing there over the weekend.
We were curious about what K-pop idols like to listen to themselves, so we asked them to tell us their favourite song to play at the gym, their favourite British song, and many more of their "faves"! Here's what they had to say...
Note: Some groups only had time to answer a few of our questions, and some groups designated just one member to answer. Enjoy!
CRAVITY
Woobin (우빈): "Still With You" by Jungkook. It's one of my favourites right now, and it’s ~such~ a great song.
BuzzFeed UK: We completely agree with you, Woobin. You cannot go wrong with Jungkook or any of BTS!
Wonjin (원진): I'd say "우리의 새벽은 낮보다 뜨겁다 (Our Dawn Is Hotter Than Day)" by Seventeen (세븐틴).
Serim (세림): For me it's "만세 (Mansae)" by Seventeen (세븐틴).
P1HARMONY
Jiung (지웅): I think mine is "Glimpse of Us" by Joji.
Keeho (기호): "Everything" by Kehlani for me!
Intak (인탁): I like "Die Hard" by Kendrick Lamar, featuring Blxst and Amanda Reifer.
BuzzFeed UK: We love all those choices! A really great variety chosen, and we see you, Jiung, with the Joji recommendation...a man of taste, clearly!
CIX
Seunghun (승훈): I love Paul Kim, so I'd say "Me After You(너를 만나)" by Paul Kim (폴킴).
BuzzFeed UK: Seunghun, we love Paul Kim too! We are Paul Kim stans in this house.
EVERGLOW
E:U (이유): "Take a Bow" by Rihanna is a REALLY good song. I like that song!
Sihyeon (시현): I really enjoy all of Ariana Grande's songs. If I had to pick a favourite, it would be "Into You", I think.
Mia (미아): I love One Direction! "What Makes You Beautiful" is the best.
SF9
Dawon (다원): Can I say our song, "Good Guy"?
BuzzFeed UK: Yes! It's pretty hard not to sing it, now you've said it... GOOD, GOOD, GOOD GUYYYY!
KEP1ER 케플러
Dayeon (다연): "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran is one of my favourites at the moment.
BuzzFeed UK: You can't go wrong with Ed, Dayeon!
CRAVITY
Allen (앨런): One of my favourites has to be "When We Were Young" by Adele.
Taeyoung (태영): Oh, and "As It Was" by Harry Styles!
BuzzFeed UK: You guys know the classics!
P1HARMONY
Keeho (기호): Would it be super cliché for me to say "Wonderwall" or something?
BuzzFeed UK: No! No one's said that yet.
Keeho (기호): Oh, no one's said that?
BuzzFeed UK: Nooo!
Keeho (기호): OK! I'll say "Wonderwall" by Oasis, then.
Jongseob (종섭): Me too!
Intak (인탁): I like "Supermarket Flowers" by Ed Sheeran.
Soul (소울): Ooh, I really like James Blake! That song he did with Beyoncé ("Forward") is amazing.
BuzzFeed UK: BEAUTIFUL choices.
CIX
Hyunsuk (현석): I'd say "I'm Not the Only One" by Sam Smith.
BuzzFeed UK: Plucking at our heartstrings there, Hyunsuk!
EVERGLOW
Sihyeon (시현): I'm gonna say "Englishman in New York" by Sting. When I arrived in London, that was the first song I listened to!
KEP1ER 케플러
Youngeun (영은): It has to be "Problem" by Ariana Grande and Iggy Azalea.
BuzzFeed UK: Yes, Youngeun! The way that song gets me pumped is next level.
CRAVITY
Woobin (우빈): Hmmm, probably "Call Out My Name" by the Weeknd.
(BTW, Woobin started singing this, and the way he hit the high notes was MAGIC. Our jaws literally dropped; we sort of forgot we were interviewing for a second.)
P1HARMONY
Keeho (기호): I listen to a lot of Anderson .Paak’s music, and the whole Venice album is great. My answer is probably "Am I Wrong" featuring Schoolboy Q, though.
Theo (테오): I work out with Keeho, so whatever he's listening to, I'm listening to!
Jongseob (종섭): I don't really like exercise, but when I do, I enjoy listening to Jazz. Chet Baker is one of my favourites!
BuzzFeed UK: We feel you on the exercise front, Jongseob.
CIX
Yonghee (용희): I'm gonna go with "Stay" by the Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber.
EVERGLOW
Mia (미아): It's probably "Watermelon Sugar" by Harry Styles for me.
BuzzFeed UK: Yes, Mia!
*Everyone starts singing*.
SF9
Dawon (다원): At the gym, I enjoy listening to "Alligator" by Monsta X.
BuzzFeed UK: Alligator goes HARD. Time to add this to our workout playlists!
CRAVITY
Hyeongjun (형준): I'm gonna go with "Lonely" by Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco.
BuzzFeed UK: Ah, a really good song choice, Hyeongjun! The music video is really worth watching too.
P1HARMONY
Soul (소울): I'm a big fan of Studio Ghibli, especially Spirited Away, so I'd say "The Sixth Station" by Joe Hisaishi.
Keeho (기호): I love to fall asleep to "Better Off" by Ariana Grande.
Jongseob (종섭): "My Funny Valentine" by Chet Baker for me!
BuzzFeed UK: Totally! Jazz really helps us to calm down in the evening too.
EVERGLOW
Onda (온다): I like the piano as a sound, so I'd say something like "River Flows in You". I like New Age songs, and I enjoy listening to Yiruma a lot.
KEP1ER 케플러
Xiaoting (小婷/샤오팅): It's got to be "Off My Face" by Justin Bieber.
BuzzFeed UK: Why are you smiling so much, Xiaoting? Do you like Justin?
Xiaoting (小婷/샤오팅): *Blushes*.
CRAVITY
Allen (앨런): I don't remember all the lyrics, but for me it has to be "Don’t Stop Me Now" by Queen.
P1HARMONY
Intak (인탁): I choose "Original Me" by Yungblud featuring Dan Reynolds.
BuzzFeed UK: The ENERGY that song holds! That's definitely one to sing out loud at karaoke, Intak.
Keeho (기호): Probably "Don’t You Worry 'Bout a Thing" by Stevie Wonder or "I Say a Little Prayer" by Aretha Franklin...something like that! I like to belt those notes out! I can't, but I try.
Theo (테오) and Soul (소울): The only answer is "Sober" by Bigbang.
BuzzFeed UK: An absolute classic.
EVERGLOW
Aisha (아샤): "봉봉쇼콜라 (Bon Bon Chocolat)" by Everglow (에버글로우). I know it's our song, but I just love it! I can't help but sing it!
SF9
Zuho (주호): "Champagne Supernova" by Oasis is mine.
BuzzFeed UK: Oooh, a slower-paced track! And a fab choice.
KEP1ER 케플러
Yujin (유진): After work, I get excited and I want to play fun music, so I stick on our song "Wa Da Da" on my way home.
CIX
Seunghun (승훈): Do you know "O" by Coldplay?
BuzzFeed UK: Yes!
Seunghun (승훈): That's my choice! I really like that song.
BuzzFeed UK: Love that, Seunghun. That song really is calming — ideal for a late-night driving playlist.
EVERGLOW
E:U (이유): Can I say "Listen" by Beyoncé? I'm the only one that has a driving licence here (laughs), and that song is my go-to. It's so soulful!
SF9
Zuho (주호): Ermmmm, "Mamma Mia" by ABBA!
*Everyone starts singing*.
Zuho (주호): I'm glad you know the song!
KEP1ER 케플러
Yeseo (예서): Definitely "Party" by Girls' Generation (소녀시대).
*Everyone points to Yeseo, implying she's the life of the party*.
Yeseo (예서): I'm 18, so no parties for me! I just enjoy listening to fun songs.
CIX
BX (비엑스): Oooh, I'll choose "2002" by Anne-Marie.
BuzzFeed UK: Yes, BX! Anne-Marie is a solid artist to have on the party playlist.
EVERGLOW
Sihyeon (시현): I'm gonna say "24K Magic" by Bruno Mars.
KEP1ER 케플러
Hikaru (ひかる/히카루): "Good Days" by SZA; I absolutely LOVE her voice.
CIX
BX (비엑스) and Hyunsuk (현석): Definitely "Text Me" by DPR Live. It's a tune!
EVERGLOW
Sihyeon (시현): Do you know f(x)?
BuzzFeed UK: Yes, we know f(x)!
*Sihyeon and Aisha gasp*.
Sihyeon (시현): Really? My choice is "Airplane" by f(x). It's a famous K-pop song!
SF9
Jaeyoon (재윤): "Now or Never" by...us!
BuzzFeed UK: The way we would not stop dancing in our plane seats if this came up on the playlist!
KEP1ER 케플러
Chaehyun (채현): "Blue" by Taeyeon (태연). I love her — her music and her voice are just so great!
CIX
Hyunsuk (현석): "Sad!" by XXXTentacion, I suppose!
BuzzFeed UK: It's all there in the title, Hyunsuk.
SF9:
Zuho (주호): I really enjoy ABBA, so I'm gonna say "SOS"!
EVERGLOW
Onda (온다): Is it weird to say "Rain on Me" by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande? When I'm sad and I need energy, I listen to "Rain on Me".
KEP1ER 케플러
Yujin (유진): I listen to our song "See the Light". The reason is, it’s one of our opening songs, and in the lyrics we say "We are Kep1er", so I feel like it's the best song to listen to before going onstage. Does that make sense?
BuzzFeed UK: Totally!
EVERGLOW
Mia (미아): For me it's "Stack It Up" by Liam Payne and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.
BuzzFeed UK: It seems like you're a big fan of the One Direction members' music, Mia?
Mia (미아): Yes, I love it!
SF9
Yoo Taeyang (유태양): So we loop all the songs we're going to play that day and listen to them all backstage — I guess that's quite common for performers. Aside from that, it would have to be "Tempo" by Exo.
BuzzFeed UK: You can never, ever go wrong with Exo. Ever.
Note: Some answers have been edited for length and/or clarity.