Carving out a distinct identity in the fast-evolving K-pop industry, TRENDZ—comprising HAVIT*, HANKOOK, LEON, YOONWOO, ra.L, EUNIL, and YECHAN—represents a remarkable blend of high-octane stage presence and hands-on artistic independence. Rather than relying solely on conventional performance structures, the seven-member septet actively shapes their own creative direction, contributing directly to their choreography, music composition, and visual narrative. From deconstructing classical influences to infusing intense adrenaline into every live show, TRENDZ has proven that true artistic growth comes from constant evolution and genuine expression.
Now, the group is set to hit another major milestone in their international trajectory: returning to the European continent for the third time, following their successful 1st World Tour NEW DAY in 2024 and their GLOW Europe Tour in 2025. Headlining The A Festival Paris 2026—organized by 5oceans and Envol Prod at the Paris Event Center—TRENDZ will deliver an explosive live performance alongside an array of exclusive opportunities for European FRIENDZ.
Festival attendees can access dedicated Fan Benefits packages, including Hi-Touch, Group Photos (10 participants), Fan Signs with 15 seconds of 1-on-1 time per member, individual smartphone selfies, and an ultra-limited 1-on-1 Meet & Greet capped at just 10 participants. As a unique highlight on Saturday, October 24, 2026, all seven members will also conduct a Special Dance Workshop & Experience. This interactive session offers fans a rare opportunity to learn choreography directly from the group in an intimate setting.
If TRENDZ were analyzed not as onstage performers, but as an offstage creative production team, how would responsibilities—such as video direction, sound design, and choreography—be distributed among members, and what would your signature production style be?
HANKOOK. If we were in charge of the entire creative and production process ourselves, I think we would divide the roles based on each member’s strengths and interests. First, as the leader and the oldest member, HAVIT and I would oversee the overall planning. I would take charge of video direction, while ra.L and EUNIL, who are involved in songwriting, composing, and producing, would handle the sound and music. LEON and YECHAN would be in charge of performance, and ra.L and YOONWOO would work together on the visual side. I think we could create something really interesting by bringing all of these different strengths together. To me, TRENDZ feels most like TRENDZ when each of our individual colors comes together as one. Even just imagining the whole process sounds like it would be a really fun experience!
Long transit hours impose a slower rhythm and moments of introspection. What non-musical subjects, genres of literature, or personal research quietly shape your private conversations and indirectly feed back into your artistic mindset?
EUNIL :During long journeys, I usually spend a lot of time watching movies and exploring different kinds of content. Experiencing works from many different genres, both visually and through sound, allows me to indirectly experience professions, environments, and different periods in history that I wouldn’t normally encounter in my own life. It gives me a chance to feel and empathize with emotions and experiences that I might not come across in my everyday life, and I find that very inspiring. I definitely think those experiences have also influenced the way we approach and express our music and performances.
LEON :When I’m traveling, I actually try to clear my mind as much as possible, so I often play simple puzzle games like Sudoku. Outside of that, I spend a lot of time watching other artists’ performances and choreographers’ work. I find it really interesting how the same piece of music can feel completely different depending on how someone interprets it through performance, and watching that often gives me new ideas as well. Oh, and I also watch a lot of fancams from our own performances! They help me notice things I could improve, and they also show me which parts of our performances fans especially enjoy.
If you were to deconstruct a traditional classical piece or opera aria and reassemble it within TRENDZ’s performance framework, how would you balance the theatrical solemnity of the original material with the high-octane energy of modern K-pop?
ra.L: These days, there are a lot of different attempts in K-pop to combine classical music with modern sounds, so it’s definitely something I’d like to try someday. I think the most important thing would be to preserve the atmosphere and emotions of the original piece as much as possible while still bringing TRENDZ’s own musical identity and energy into it without losing either side. Rather than simply turning a classical piece into a K-pop song, I’d want to reinterpret it in a way that preserves what makes the original special while also making people think, “This really sounds like TRENDZ.” Since classical music is such a broad field, I think the biggest challenge would actually be deciding which piece to choose!
Your live shows demand extreme physical and mental expenditure. How do you navigate the sudden psychological transition from the intense adrenaline peak of performing in front of a live crowd to the quiet, reflective recovery period immediately following the concert?
HAVIT: Performing is always something I enjoy, and I’ve never once regretted choosing this career. But when I return to everyday life after a performance, there are definitely moments when a sense of emptiness suddenly hits me. When that happens, I try to spend as little time alone as possible. I communicate with our fans, go to church, and meet up with friends. At the same time, I also enjoy things like books, movies, and games—things that allow me to step away from reality for a while and completely immerse myself in something else. That’s how I gradually find my way back into my everyday routine.
YOONWOO: For me, the emotions I feel on stage tend to stay with me for quite a long time. Rather than the adrenaline from a performance suddenly disappearing, it gradually and naturally settles down over time, so thankfully I don’t really experience a strong sense of emptiness afterward. Maybe it’s because I want to hold onto the memories of being on stage for as long as possible, or maybe it’s because my personality doesn’t tend to have big emotional ups and downs. Either way, I’m able to hold onto those positive memories and emotions for a long time. So I don’t feel greatly affected by the emotional transition—I simply try to accept and appreciate those feelings as they are.
YECHAN : I tend to carry the excitement and adrenaline I feel on stage back into my everyday life. So even when I return to practice, I think back to how I felt while performing, and that helps me practice with even more energy and excitement. I also encourage myself by thinking, “I can do even better at the next performance.” In that sense, rather than leaving those feelings behind after a show, I try to use them as motivation for the next one.
Performance concepts rely heavily on fashion, cinematography, and visual aesthetics. How actively do you participate in defining your visual narrative, and where is the line between strategic concept design and your own personal artistic input?
ra.L: “On My Knees” is the project that reflects our own opinions and ideas more than any of our previous releases. From the very beginning, when we were deciding on the musical direction, the members spent a lot of time discussing our ideas together, and we continued exchanging a great deal of feedback throughout the entire process until the music was finally completed. The company helped us take the direction we proposed and develop it into something more concrete. Many members of the staff worked hard to reflect our opinions as much as possible, and thanks to that process, I think we were able to present music that truly represents TRENDZ. We were also very grateful that our fans showed so much love and support for this release. Their response gave us a lot of encouragement and confidence.
*As per agency’s communication on Sep 29th, Havit will skip the European Tour due to health reasons.
Elisa Cutullè