MONSTA X AND THE AGE OF REASON

Korean band Monsta X talk about their twelfth EP Reason - a solid six-track offering - and how they admire their fan base.

- Ambika Muttoo

It's one in the morning in Seoul. You wouldn't be able to guess how late it is looking at Monsta X as they harmonise on a boisterous Happy New Year, in a conversation that then bounces animatedly between English and Korean. Their twelfth EP, Reason - a solid six-track offering - had dropped just hours earlier, kicking off a series of promotions on a packed day. Joohoney (Lee Joo-Hoen) and Hyungwon (Chae Hyung-won) are almost twinning in fleecy plaid and light sweatpants. Kihyun (Yoo Ki-hyun) has cut his hair shorter from when we saw him during his solo EP's Youth - release towards the end of October 2022. He's dressed in a simple black hoodie and relaxed, light jeans, complementing I.M (Im Chang-kyun), who's in all-black, more tailored sweats. Minhyuk (Lee Min-Hyuk) rounds off this quintet in what looks like a pale grey acid-washed shirt and tapered jeans. Their leader Shownu (Son Hyun-woo), incidentally, is due for discharge from his mandatory military enlistment in April, making this an excellent first quarter for the band.