u/moonie-moon

As we continue to see the Korean wave expand throughout Latin America, more and more South Korean artists are finding in Latin sounds a new way to express themselves and, above all, to connect with their fans. ENHYPEN is a clear example of this with their new remix featuring SANTOS BRAVOS.

The group has demonstrated its interest in exploring this connection through collaborations such as their work with Brazilian singer Luísa Sonza, but also from a much more personal perspective, by learning about the sounds, culture, and even the languages of Latin America in order to build a deeper bond with those who have supported them since their debut.

After years of building their own identity and a conceptual universe marked by stories, characters, and different stages, 2026 marked a new chapter for ENHYPEN. For the first time, the group brought BLOOD SAGA world tour to Latin America, with Mexico as one of their most important stops with three nights at the Arena CDMX and a special performance with Santos Bravos at Campo Marte.

This clearly demonstrates how some stories aren’t confined to a single place. ENHYPEN’s story began in Korea, but today it’s also being written in Mexico and around the world, thanks to their vision of continuing to bring their music to every corner of the globe.

There are moments in an artist’s career that serve as turning points, moments when everything they’ve built up to that point intersects with the stories yet to be told. For ENHYPEN, one of those moments came with "THE SIN: BLISS", an album that not only marked a new musical chapter for the group but also reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming their first album to top that chart.

Behind this achievement lies a period of hard work and learning. In fact, it was a time when they were most creatively involved so that ENGENE could enjoy it to the fullest, while at the same time continuing to seek new ways to connect with their listeners around the world.

And of course, to maintain that special connection with Mexico, ENHYPEN spoke with LOS 40 Hallyu about this new chapter, their first No. 1 on the Billboard chart, the growing connection they’re building with Latin America, and their highly anticipated collaboration with SANTOS BRAVOS on a remix of “Bloody Paradise x VELOCIDADE” (PETERBLUE Remix). So here’s everything they shared with us.

>When an artist performs in Mexico, fans never stop telling them, “Bro, you’re Mexican now.” It’s a very Mexican way of saying that they’re officially part of Mexico.
> >After three concerts and everything you’ve experienced here, can we officially say that ENHYPEN is Mexican now?
>
>ENHYPEN: Ah, of course! Absolutely.
>
>Jungwon: I heard that when you come to Mexico, welcoming you with such warmth is a very cultural thing here. Is that true?
>
>That’s right. Did you feel like Mexico welcomed you in a special way? Or did you feel a little bit at home here?
>
>ENHYPEN: Without a doubt, that’s exactly how it was!
>
>Guys, THE SIN : BLISS just hit number one on the Billboard 200 for the first time. Congratulations!
>
>ENHYPEN: Thank you, thank you.
>
>Some even say that THE SIN : BLISS is ENHYPEN’s best album. What is it about this album that makes you feel it represents who ENHYPEN is right now so well?
>
>Jay: I have to say that, in terms of the album’s quality and production level, it’s one of the best we’ve ever made. We put all our effort into it and gave it our all for this album, at this point in our careers. Plus, it was one of the albums we spent the most time preparing for before its release, so it holds a very special place in our hearts. And on top of that, the fans really liked it, so we’re very happy about that.
> >If you had to choose just one song or one moment from the new album to show someone who ENHYPEN is this year, which one would you choose and why?
>
>Jake: Personally, I think the title track, “Bloody Paradise,” would be the first song we’d want them to hear, because it best represents this album and captures all the emotions and messages we’re trying to convey through it.
>
>But aside from the title track, of course, I’d personally recommend the album’s final song, “Highlight.”
>
>And I think we’ve been through a lot of different things this year, with plenty of ups and downs, but I feel that, at the end of the day, as the year wraps up, it’s all going to become one big highlight—truly the pinnacle, the highest point of our career this year.
> >So we’re really looking forward to finishing it off strong. We have a lot planned through the end of the year, so it’s definitely going to be a standout year.
>
>Let’s talk about “Bloody Paradise.” The remix with Luísa Sonza is really good, and it’s a song with that Brazilian funk sound.
>
>What was your first reaction when you found out you’d be collaborating with Luísa Sonza?
>
>Sunghoon: Since “Bloody Paradise” belongs to the Brazilian funk genre, we thought from the start that it would be very meaningful to collaborate with a local artist. We also felt that by working together, we could create much more synergy. So we were really excited when we found out.
> >Jay, this question is for you about the mariachi remix of “Bloody Paradise.” The song is very Mexican. I love this song, and I think it’s amazing that you incorporated elements of Mexican sound and culture.
>
>Who inspired you? Why did you get this inspiration, and why did you decide to do it this way?
>
>Jay: First of all, even though this is probably a pretty different genre from what I’ve done before, I’ve been listening to a lot of Mexican music for a long time.
>
>There’s a guitarist I really like, Carlos Santana. I’ve liked him since I was a kid. I even have a guitar from the same brand he uses, and I really like his sound.
> >So I think that, through him, I’ve studied the chords and elements that capture that distinctive Mexican feel quite a bit.
> >I wanted to incorporate all of that into the song, and, drawing on everything I’ve learned so far, I ended up creating this version in a traditional Mexican genre like mariachi, based on the image of Mexico I had in my head.
> >I remember when you sang a Luis Miguel cover in Mexico, your spanish is really good. Mexico has a very strong connection to mariachi and regional music. Was there a specific Mexican artist, song, or sound you had in mind when you came up with this version?
>
>Jay: I didn’t have a specific artist in mind while looking for inspiration for this song. The Mexican music I originally liked to listen to belongs to genres quite different from this one, but I saw what fans were saying about the song and how they were uploading their own versions.
>
>I saw that many k-pop fans in Mexico were making mariachi covers and uploading them to youtube.
>
>It was amazing to see all those covers, and I think that by watching them, I was able to better understand what the fans wanted, what they liked, and what changes or twists we could add to the song.
> >So I thought it would be interesting to take that authentic cultural element from Mexico and incorporate it into our song. I don’t think I used any specific artist as a reference. > >One of the things I really love is how this version connects directly with your fans.
>
>What does it mean to you to see ENGENE take your music and transform it with sounds and elements from their own countries or cultures? >
>Jungwon: I think, in fact, our music videos don’t just have a performance aspect, they also contain a lot of stories.
> >Sometimes, when we watch things on youtube, everyone has a different interpretation. Our fans really immerse themselves in our universe and our stories, and they end up discovering things that even we hadn’t imagined.
>
>I think it’s a lot of fun, and we often find it fascinating to see that.
>
>And I think it’s also one of the things that makes k-pop so appealing, because this is a culture that has developed so much within k-pop. So we just love it.
>
>Okay. We know you did a collaboration with SANTOS BRAVOS. What motivated you to do another Latin collaboration with this new remix featuring SANTOS BRAVOS?
>
>Jake: We met recently in Mexico. We performed on the same stage as them and had the chance to talk to them in person.
>
>And I think it’s really interesting that k-pop isn’t just about korean music anymore.
> >It’s about people from all over the world enjoying music in the same way, and it was really cool to have the chance to collaborate with SANTOS BRAVOS.
>
>We love music, and we love this remix. It’s really interesting and fun because they know latin american culture and are very familiar with this musical style.
>
>So I think we’re learning a lot from them.
>
>And I think it’s a great remix that a lot of people and fans are going to enjoy.
>
>If you could describe this remix in one word, what would it be?
>
>Sunghoon: One word? I’d say “party.”
>
>I haven’t been to that many parties, but I felt like this song gave off a really festive vibe, so I wanted to choose “party.”
>
>To wrap things up, I want to say something… There are so many people in Mexico and Latin America who are excited to keep discovering what’s next for ENHYPEN. Thank you for daring to create something different to continue expanding your universe. It’s really awesome. I love your concept.
>
>What would you like to say to the people who have been walking alongside you so far and who are looking forward to seeing you again very soon in Mexico?
>
>Sunoo: This time, during our BLOOD SAGA tour, we visited Latin America for the first time. So many people in the audience welcomed us with such warmth that it made us very happy.
>
>So, if we have the chance, we’d definitely like to return to Latin America and feel that energy again as we connect with our fans.
>
>ENHYPEN: See you soon!

Translation from spanish to english by me.

Even when the end cannot be seen, EVAN’s strong message, that he will find his own direction and continue moving forward, is reaching listeners’ hearts through his music.

EVAN’s first solo mini album, “DEATH OF ME,” brings together the kind of music he wants to make and the stories he wants to share with the world. EVAN personally took the lead in producing the album, wrote the lyrics for every track, and participated in composing seven of its eight songs. Through these eight tracks, he expresses the experiences he has gone through, the emotions he encountered along the way, and his determination to continue moving forward.

The title track, “Death of Me,” conveys EVAN’s determination to overcome anxiety and difficulties as he stands at a new beginning and moves forward. The other songs also contain thoughts and struggles that he has deeply reflected on, from his resolve to maintain his own pace amid the noise of the world to his longing to experience a wider world.

Although each song begins with a different personal concern, they ultimately come together around one message: a positive attitude toward life and the determination to face the future. Rather than remaining in darkness, the album consistently conveys the hope of finding one’s own light. In this way, EVAN’s perspective on the world and the values he wants to communicate through his music become clear.

Listeners have responded warmly to EVAN’s honest stories. Fans have praised the sincere lyrics and EVAN’s voice, saying that his music provides comfort to people who are exhausted. Others have described the album as feeling like a self-portrait because EVAN’s thoughts and emotions are so clearly reflected in it. Some listeners have also said that certain songs were so emotional that they brought them to tears while they listened and read the lyrics.

The emotional impact of the album has also been reflected in its sales. “DEATH OF ME” surpassed 530,000 copies in first-week sales, making it a “half-million seller.” Among the albums released by soloist acts that year, only two, including “DEATH OF ME”, had reached that milestone.

The album also achieved notable results on international charts. “DEATH OF ME” entered the iTunes Top Albums chart in 36 countries and regions and reached No. 1 in 11 of them. It also appeared on Japan’s Oricon chart, Billboard Japan, and the U.S. Billboard album chart.

The title track “Death of Me” also entered the UK Official Singles Sales and Singles Downloads charts and ranked highly on YouTube’s global daily trending music-video chart. In addition, EVAN achieved two music-show wins, adding achievements across music charts, album sales, and live performances.

“DEATH OF ME” is an important milestone for EVAN as a self-producing artist, thanks to its honest expression of his inner world and his sincerity toward music. More than simply being his first solo album, it introduces listeners in Korea and around the world to EVAN’s emotions, musical identity, and distinctive artistic color.

Having announced a new beginning by turning his own story into music, EVAN now has listeners looking forward to seeing how he will continue to expand his musical world.