A Conversation with Viral Affair

Viral Affair explain their band name, their unique sound, each member’s role in the group, and more!

Photo courtesy of Viral Affair

For those who are unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe it to them? How would you  finish the sentence, “Viral Affair is ___” or “Viral Affair’s music is  ___”?  
Our music is a unique “future pop,” modern, synth-pop sound that is a combination of different genres of music, ranging from old 60s/70s rock all the way to hip-hop, K-pop, and EDM. We grew up in different countries around the world, experiencing new cultures and listening to a lot of music. Our music is basically a mixture of all our personal experiences expressed through sound, blending cultures to create colorful new sounds. We’ll say “Viral Affair’s music is a mood.” We think music is all about evoking and conveying people’s emotions and setting the mood. Through our music, we try to set [our] unique mood, which reflects our members’ different backgrounds and personalities. When people think of Viral Affair, we hope that they feel our mood through our music. When they listen to our songs, we want people to connect and relate their own experiences and personal feelings to our vibes.

What is the story behind your band name? 
We formed the band in 2019 and started making music at the beginning of 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic started. The idea of a “viral” virus spreading rapidly was something that intrigued us. Since we started making music during the pandemic and we wanted our music to also spread quickly, it fit well with our direction. From there, we decided to go with Viral Affair, as the ambiguous meaning of the word “affair” was also interesting. 

What makes Viral Affair different from other bands?  
We are very hands-on and in charge of planning, directing, and promoting all our work. We engage in and lead every process. Sometimes it is tiring to put that much effort into every part of the preparation process, but we think that as artists, we need to show our own colors not only in our music, but also in our visual content and marketing strategies. That way, we can really show the band’s unique identity to the public. 

What traits or skills does each member add to the band?  
Haesung: As a vocalist, his vocal color and melodies are attractive and quite unique. He gives  off a distinctive aura and has a captivating mystique. Sometimes he is unexpectedly slow, but it’s one of the points that makes him attractive.
YJ:  He is a passionate leader who organizes tasks well and motivates each member to improve themselves and work hard. He takes care of each member in detail, and his passion for music and songwriting is the driving force of the band. Usually, he loves to joke around and laugh, but [he] can also be serious when needed.  
Chulho: He is a lovable person who is innocent and purely loves music. Even though he is  clumsy from time to time, he plays with energy and gets into his zone whenever he is on stage.  
Minsung: He is our lively and cheerful maknae, who lightens the mood whenever we are down. His skills in image-making and video-making improve the quality of the artwork and designs [that we use]. 

Photo courtesy of Viral Affair

Please describe your newest single, “Inside Your World,” and why people should go listen to it!  
“Inside Your World” is a song that starts off slow but bursts with energy starting [in] the first chorus! It’s our take on a modern rock song that features synths and different samples, but [it] primarily focuses on the guitar sound and strong vocals. In contrast to our first single, “Align,” we wanted to showcase a different side of us through a heavier sound. The lyrics delve into the ideas of self-reflection, discovery, modern addictions, and relationships. We think a lot of people can relate to our message and get energized through our new song! 

Please describe your song “Align” and compare and contrast it to “Inside Your World”!  
“Align” is a modern synth-pop song that evokes nostalgic emotions through a dreamy sound that reminds you of hot summer nights. [It’s a] song that reawakens forgotten emotions from the monotony of everyday life. It’s definitely a mood, and a personal favorite of a lot of our fans. The intro of the song immediately catches the ear with its unique structure and refreshing melody. The harmony of vintage synths and sophisticated sounds gives you a feeling of wanting to get away from your busy life and reignites the desire to chase forgotten dreams. We recommend it [for] a drive on a hot summer night or whenever you need a chill vibe. The combination of the groovy vocal melody, with its distinctive tone, blended with the retro synth and powerful bass sounds, highlights the charming and distinct color of Viral Affair.

Can you share a “TMI” story from the recording of “Inside Your World” or from the making of the music video?  
Recording the instruments for “Inside Your World” was quite a process. Our drummer Chulho and bassist Minsung were both in the army serving mandatory military service. We were tight on time, so we organized sessions in the studio so they could record when they were on leave from the military. Although it took a couple of takes, it was worth it in the end! As for filming the music video, filming on the beach turned out to be more difficult than we anticipated. Performing on sand was really slippery and hot, and filming from early morning [until] sunset was a bit tiring. A “TMI” is that our drummer and make-up artists suffered from sandfly bites while we were filming. They’re still suffering from the bites to this day.  

Where do you find inspiration for your music?  
We can get inspired anywhere, anytime, and from anything around us. Everyday situations can be surprisingly inspiring. Sounds from our everyday [lives] give us inspiration to explore new musical ideas and experiment with sounds. 

What are your plans for the rest of 2022? Can you give any hints about any music you are currently working on?  
We’re working hard on an EP and finishing up the demos to pick out the best songs. We are really experimenting musically and exploring different genres. The tracks will feature unique synth sounds in combination with intricate guitar riffs. We’re also utilizing more technology in our music and performances, so [there might be] a surprise to look out for. Hopefully, we can release the EP by the end of this year or early next year. We’re also looking to perform at music festivals in Korea and perform more concerts in general.  

What are your long-term goals for Viral Affair?  
Our goal is to hear our songs everywhere we go, all around the world. We also want to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and win Grammy Awards in the future.  

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about your music? 
We try to make music that is timeless. If you hear our songs once, we’re sure it won’t be the last time you listen to them. We express messages that anyone can relate to, through a timeless sound.

Check out Viral Affair’s newest single here, and keep up with the band on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter!

View the Substack version of this piece here!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.