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The seven-man band AMPERS&ONE boasts quite the international lineup. Group leader Kamden and Kyrell are from the United States. Brian hails from Canada. Mackiah is from Australia, and Jiho, Siyun and Seungmo are from South Korea, where the group is based. Formed in 2023, the septet recently released their latest mini album, “Loud & Proud.” Of the title, Kamden said, “We all decided to be loud and proud of ourselves in whatever we do in life. That mindset also carries into how we perform the songs on this album.” Jiho added, “The overall vibe is powerful, with melodies and beats that really stick in your head. I think fans will especially enjoy focusing on those points.” All seven members participated in this interview, which has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: Everyone says that touring can be difficult. What did you do to maintain your health?

Jiho: During the early part of our first North American tour, there was one show where I wasn’t in the best condition and couldn’t perform one of the songs. Since then, I’ve made sure not to eat too much right before going on stage. Normally in Korea, I don’t really eat breakfast, but on tour I realized I needed energy to perform, so I made a habit of waking up and having breakfast every day.

Q: Did you work on any of the songs while you were traveling around the U.S.?

Kamden: Yes, I wrote lyrics for a few songs. On long travel days, I played the songs on repeat and thought a lot about what kind of message I wanted to convey. I usually prefer writing lyrics in my own practice room, where I can block out any distracting noise. But for the first time, I wrote [part of] “I’m Down” on the airplane. And surprisingly, it turned out pretty well!

Mackiah: While we were touring in America, we … started working on our raps whenever we had free time. Personally, I focused on what I wanted to express and jotted down keywords for each track.

Q: Does the music you hear in a particular city or country inspire your own work?

Kamden: Definitely. Actually, not just the music, but I think each country has its own vibe. During our U.S. tour, I came up with some melodies just while walking down random streets.

Siyun: I also get inspiration from the scenery, the artwork and the people we see along the way when we’re driving or walking through a city.

Q: What do you recall about some of the cities where you played your concerts?

Kyrell: I had already been to New York City before, but exploring it with all the members was special. We loved Joe’s Pizza! We also had a blast at the Mall of America in [Minnesota]. I do wish we could have explored more of the cities we visited. I remember Nashville had a really great vibe, even just driving through.

Brian: I had only been to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Seattle before in the U.S., so everywhere else was new to me.

Seungmo: L.A. left the biggest impression on me. We stayed there the longest and so many fans came to see us. I especially remember how beautiful the sky was.

Q: What is a bucket-list venue that you want to perform in one day?

Kyrell: I would love to perform all over the world, but one of the top venues on my bucket list is the Tacoma Dome, since it’s close to my hometown!

Seungmo: I’ve always wanted to perform at Wembley Stadium in the United Kingdom. I love soccer, so I know the stadium well, and seeing the artists who’ve performed there makes me really want to do it, too.

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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)

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