Rising band returns with 2nd EP full of self-produced tracks
Dragon Pony released its 2nd EP “Not Out,” with a message of support for to all young people striving to achieve their dreams.
The quartet, debuted September 2024, consists of vocalist An Tae-gyu, guitarist Kwon Se-hyuk, bassist Pyun Sung-hyun and drummer Ko Gang-hun. The band’s 2nd EP is the first release since its debut album six months ago.
“If our debut album was an introduction to the kind of music we aim to create, this album reflects our determination to go even bolder and push ourselves further. It’s an album that contains a lot of our personal stories, touching on the dreams, goals, love and breakups, successes and failures that young people like us experience during uncertain times,” said An during the press conference held in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Wednesday.
“The name of the album title and title track, ‘Not Out,’ come from a baseball term, meaning that even in a strikeout situation, the batter is not out yet and still has a chance to run,” explained Pyun, referring to the term used in Korea for an uncaught third strike. The song uses this “Not Out” moment as a metaphor for fearless youth, encouraging them to push forward without hesitation.
Starting with An’s powerful vocals and guitar play, “Not Out” is an energetic track built on a solid foundation of intense drum and bass harmonies, delivering a surge of energy to listeners.
“There’s a lyric that says, ‘I want to do well, I said I would, but nothing seems to go my way.’ We wanted to send encouragement to those who are trying their best but feel like things aren’t working out. This song is about facing challenges without fear, regardless of the outcome,” shared Kwon.
You Hee-yul, the head of their label Antenna and a renowned hitmaker, participated in writing the title track’s lyrics. “He told us that since we’re a band, we should define our own identity and universe. That’s why this album contains more of our autobiographical stories compared to our previous one,” said An.
The band participated in writing and composing all of the tracks in the album. Besides the title track, the album includes “Never,” which transitions from acoustic guitar to a full rock sound; “Waste,” a grunge-influenced track with a refreshing drum beat; and “To. Nosy Boy,” a blues-based track featuring a standout guitar solo.
The final track, “On Air,” is a song the members wrote during their trainee days, capturing the overwhelming emotions they felt from training to debuting.
Since debut, Dragon Pony has consistently credited all songs under the band’s name rather than individual members, highlighting strong teamwork. “We always think about how to fairly incorporate everyone’s ideas in the decision-making process. It’s really fulfilling to work together and strive for the best results,” said An.
“We don’t just play our designated instruments — if needed, we practice and play other instruments too, completing our recordings without additional session musicians. That’s something we’re really proud of,” said Pyun.
Ko mentioned that since all members contribute to songwriting, selecting the title track turned into a friendly competition.
“We all wrote songs and voted on them for the new album as well, and it was an intense process indeed.”
The band will hold its first solo concert May 3-4 at the Shinhan Card SOL Pay Square Live Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul. It will then expand its reach with a performance in Taipei on May 24.
"We plan to perform the entire new album live, as well as rearrange other songs into special versions exclusive to this concert. Plus, we’ll be playing instruments we don’t usually perform with,” said An.
Asked about their long-term goals, Ko shared their dream of headlining Glastonbury, one of the world’s most prestigious rock festivals. “So many rock bands we admire have played there. If we ever get a chance to perform on that stage, I don’t think we could ask for anything more,” said Ko.
jy@heraldcorp.com
