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| Photo = TV Daily DB |
Dragon Pony (An Taegyu, Pyeon Seonghyun, Kwon Sehyuk, Go Kanghun) held a showcase for their third EP, 'RUN RUN RUN', on the 10th at Yes24 Wonder Rock Hall in Mapo, Seoul.
RUN RUN RUN continues the coming-of-age arc the band began with the EPs POP UP and Not Out and the digital single Earth Boy. Confronted with countless choices and no single right answer, the album’s message is simple: don’t get bogged down in overthinking — run after what your heart wants. All four members served as the main producers and handled the lyrics, composition, and arrangements for every track.
An Taegyu said, If our earlier releases were about getting started and staking out our ambitions, this record is about really taking off. We wanted it to convey the image of all of us running forward together.
Kwon Sehyuk said the songwriting process has made him think more and broadened his perspective. Above all, he added, we have more to say now, and even after this EP we want to keep channeling what we feel into new songs. Pyeon Seonghyun called the release meaningful because it contains everything they wanted to express.
The title track, \"Ah, Everything Goes My Way!\", captures a young person’s fierce cry to live authentically rather than by society’s expectations.
On choosing the song as the lead single, An Taegyu explained that the band felt this is the moment they need to succeed. The title itself — \"Ah, Everything Goes My Way!\" — felt like a direction to follow. After putting so much care into the track, it stood out as what they needed most. During meetings the choice was unanimous among members, and the company also responded positively during internal monitoring, so they settled on it.
Pyeon Seonghyun admitted it was initially difficult to find the band’s distinctive color while working on the EP, but said that through many conversations they think they captured it. Kwon said he’s happy they feel they’re slowly discovering their identity. Pyeon added that their CEO praised the finished album, saying their color is finally starting to come through, which felt rewarding.
The members described Dragon Pony’s identity in more detail. Go Kanghun said one of the strongest elements he found while making this album is a newfound boldness in their playing — a confidence to be adventurous with instrumentation so long as it doesn’t overwhelm a song’s mood. He said the band has grown at striking the right balance: showing their musicianship without compromising a strong track.
Pyeon Seonghyun said he believes every young person today is imperfect. With that in mind, he said, the band wants to lay out their imperfect stories honestly and hopes listeners, especially young people, will empathize and find comfort in the music. Being frank about those stories, he said, is central to their identity.
The group also weighed in on the recent resurgence of bands in the Korean music scene. An Taegyu noted that the band scene has become more active and festivals are drawing bigger crowds, though he’s unsure how much mainstream attention bands are getting. That uncertainty, he said, motivates them to work harder. Echoing a previous sentiment about serving as a \"lubricant\" for the scene, he said they want this album to help them reach a wider audience and continue engaging listeners through upcoming activities.
Go Kanghun added that even before Dragon Pony debuted, many veteran bands had been broadening and energizing the scene. The group hopes to keep that momentum going by delivering strong performances and growing as a band that helps sustain the scene.
When asked if they feel their popularity increasing, Kwon Sehyuk recalled a friend sending him a clip showing their song playing at a gym. Go Kanghun admitted it sounds cliché, but sometimes while out and about — on the subway or walking — people recognize them despite their casual appearance, tap them on the shoulder, or say they enjoy the music. He said those moments are truly appreciated.
Three members of Dragon Pony were born in the Year of the Horse, and the band said they plan to charge ahead this year. Go Kanghun said he wants to try everything his way, like the title track, and treat that as a kind of mantra. An Taegyu added that, since all the other members are Year of the Horse, he feels their energy is uplifting and hopes it will make this year’s activities feel more relaxed.
Their ambitions are high. An Taegyu said they want to firmly establish their musical identity and hopes their songs remain on listeners’ playlists for a long time. He said being remembered by many people over time would be more satisfying than short-term chart numbers, and he hopes the band becomes known for music people can joyfully move to, true to the album’s name.
Pyeon Seonghyun laughed and admitted he doesn’t dismiss chart positions entirely. He said, half-joking, that he has a small wish: they want to chart — a goal he mentioned repeatedly, to much amusement.
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| Photo = TV Daily DB |
[Sports Today reporter Yoon Hye-young ent@stoo.com]
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