EXCLUSIVE: The Boys Of K-Pop Group SuperM Talk About Their Passion For Dance, Fitness, And Their Hit Song "We DO"

With over five million followers on Instagram and close to 11.5 million streams for their latest single "We DO" just two months since its release—SuperM is a force to reckon with in the Korean music scene, and their status as some of the country's biggest Hallyu stars is much deserved. 

In case you missed it, the seven-member group (which was formed by SM Entertainment and Capitol Music Group) composed of Exo's Baekhyun and Kai, WayV's Ten and Lucas, NCT 127's Taeyong and Mark, and SHINee's Taemin got together to give music fans a summer anthem for the books. "We DO," which came out in April, only furthered SuperM's status as a super group; their songs have been streamed and their music videos viewed by fans from different corners of the globe, all of which have earned them the attention of brands, sponsors, and other partners.

Since SuperM's debut in 2019, they've hit milestone after milestone and just a year and a half later, we see them making waves of a different sort as they lead an international campaign of healthy, positive living. 

The "We DO Well Together" campaign was launched in collaboration with Prudential Corporation Asia, whose CEO Nic Nicandrou says, "Prudential and SuperM share a common goal. We want to promote the importance of staying fit and healthy, especially during these times. Together, we want to motivate people to attain wellness in a positive, proactive and fun way.”

Like SuperM, the life insurance company is all about making fitness a priority and encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to get moving. And with the massive hit song "We DO," Prudential hopes to bring SuperM's killer dance moves to the forefront as their own way to care for their health during this time—and that others can cop, too! 

As a group known for their razor-sharp choreography and explosive energy, we talk to SuperM about how exactly they stay physically and mentally fit to nail each and every one of their performances, plus what they'd like to share with their fans about the importance of staying healthy. 

In this interview, see what SuperM's members had to say about their collaboration with Prudential Corporation Asia for the "We DO Well Together" campaign:

Still riding on the success of their latest single "We DO," the SuperM boys go deeper into their reasons for wanting to release something upbeat and hopeful at this time.

"If you simply listen to the ‘We DO’ single and watch the music video, you may think this is just a fun upbeat song. But if you read the lyrics, it implies the message that we can do it and there is nothing we can’t achieve," says Kai. Taemin adds, "I hope people can find strength through the song and overcome difficulties together." 

Essentially, the song is an anthem for everyone searching for a can-do attitude. With so many difficult things coming at us from all directions since the COVID crisis came into full swing more than a year ago, SuperM felt that it was important to remind everyone that we can still prevail. 

Taeyong adds a different layer to the conversation as he points out the fact that SuperM isn't an original group per se. All seven members come from other musical acts (Kai and Baekhyun are from EXO, Taemin is from SHINee, Mark and Taeyong are from NCT 127, and Ten and Lucas are from WayV), and how they get together is no easy feat. For Taeyong, he hopes that people can learn how to overcome differences and see that we all have more in common than we might realize. It's an important lesson to teach in a time when so many have found reasons to sow division.

"...People from different parts of the world can come together and share their love with each other. I believe we can gradually improve and find joy in life if we come together instead of acting only as individuals. I hope everyone can get that energy from me and SuperM!" Taeyong says. 

When they give it more thought, SuperM considers "We DO" as an invitation to their fans to keep pushing through challenges, no matter how big. Though they've released powerful, dance-worthy songs before, nothing compares to what "We DO" has given their fandom in the past. 

It's a truly special release as they wanted it to evoke images of extending a helping hand to anyone who could need it right now. If that gesture could have a sound and the feeling could be visualized, "We DO" and its music video would be it. 

"As a group of people making music, we feel proud that we can spread positive energy through this song and gain strength in return as people have fun taking part in it with us," Taemin shares. 

"If you listen to our previous album, Super One, we tried to convey the message of hope in the midst of the pandemic. This 'We DO' single is special because we put in similar efforts to continue with the messages of encouragement. So I hope that many people can find the confidence and energy to feel capable again through this song," continues Kai. 

Of course, the song is also special for what it literally is: an epic number showcasing what the SuperM boys are best at—moving in solid unison, rapping, dual-language singing, and working the camera to make their fans swoon.

"I really loved my part in many ways. I had so much fun doing the recording, and vocal-wise it was a style that I haven’t tried before so it felt much more special to me," says Ten. 

Looking back at the experience of filming "We DO" and ultimately all their performances whether live or filmed, SuperM agrees that they wouldn't have all that energy and motivation without three things: a mind and body that are fit for the kind of work that they do, the support of fans and behind-the-scenes crew, and naturally, each other.

In Mark's own words, he shares, "I know that I’m never alone during the ups and downs of training and performing. We all try to share positive energy with each other."

Taeyong, on the other hand, summarizes it perfectly: "Our fans give us lots of support, and the members support and rely on each other. My family also always helps me maintain my high energy. When I’m going through a hard time, things get better after I meet them and see their faces."

For Kai, it's getting in the right headspace before each big performance. He visualizes what each performance might be like, and that helps him prepare. This healthy anticipation is key to him giving his best. Taemin, meanwhile, is all about bouncing back their fans' positive energy right back at them to get pumped for shows, while Lucas is big on incorporating wellness practices in his life to keep him grounded. 

But if there's one thing all of them agree on, it's that they all keep pushing themselves to be at one hundred percent to be able to give back. From day one, they've all believed that everyone, from their fans to their staff, deserve only the best of SuperM. They refuse to slack off or not deliver as expected, because without these people, SuperM wouldn't be where it is today.  

Those who have been with SuperM since the beginning won't be surprised to learn that the component of the performances they train for the most is their choreography. Mastering dance moves forms such a big part of the appeal of Korean music artists that SuperM's members always have to be on top of their dance game.

The thing is, the boys live for dance; it's not a chore, not a punishment, not something they do just because. After years of being performing artists, all of them have reaped the benefits of staying on their feet, literally and figuratively. The reasons why they love dance so much are the same ones they'd like to tell their fans about, to get them to explore dancing, too. (You don't have to be good at it—you just have to enjoy it!). 

"...Dancing is about expressing your emotions through your body, and not words. And sometimes, it’s even more powerful than words," Taemin shares.

"Apart from that, when you work towards something you love, I think you gain positive energy as well. That’s why I think the most important thing is to enjoy doing what you love," Kai shares. He shares the same sentiment as Taeyong who says, "You can work, make friends and share each other’s passion while doing what you love, such as dancing. I think it’s great to find what you enjoy and continuously work on it."

Lucas sees the group's opportunity to train together to perfect their moves as the best way to combine fitness and a social life. While it's true that being a K-Pop star demands that they sacrifice much of their personal time to work, Lucas is thankful that learning dance moves with his co-members also means having a good time with friends. 

Mark reflects even more deeply and talks about how dance can bring people together when otherwise, they would little reason to cooperate with each other. 

"We all have our strengths and ways to influence our community... Dancing brings us together and lets us work together as one group. That could be an impactful approach to help shape the society," he says. 

Overall, it's this shared love for dance and seeing how it's brought them together despite their different backgrounds that have fostered a deep sense of teamwork among them. Though each member of SuperM would make an excellent solo artist on their own, there's something about being in a group that performing individually can't give—and it's something they would never trade for the world. 

"It’s different for each person, but I feel that there are pros and cons to performing  solo and as a group. When I’m performing on my own, I am able to dance what I feel most comfortable with, but when I’m performing within a group, I feel that it’s critical to understand and cooperate with each other," Ten points out.

Harmony is Kai's word of choice; you don't feel it, or learn it, when you're onstage on your own but when you're in a group, you learn to move with others, to adjust, to share the physical and emotional space of each performance. 

"I can find more strength working together as a team as we rely on each other on stage. There are precious moments that we share only within the group and I think that’s how we’ve deepened our bond with each other," Taeyong continues. 

"When we are working as a group, it’s great that we can share the pressure among us," Lucas continues. 

And really, it's not only about the pressure, but sharing best practices, too. If you're not so great at something, your bandmates are there to help you grow and deal with weak spots. And when you're the best at something else, it's good to be generous and lend what you know to anyone who needs help. Give and take—it's what underscores a great dance performance. 

To be real, dancing hasn't just kept the SuperM boys in good physical shape. It's taught them how to resolve disagreements more healthily, become more respectful and sensitive, and more open to learning about the unfamiliar. Just as good dance partners require both parties to keep an open mind and a sharp eye for each other, SuperM's members do the same. 

"Instead of trying to act upon our own subjective point of view, the key part is that we respect each other’s thoughts and try to understand each other," Taemin points out.

"We all came from different backgrounds and teams, but we were all called for the same reason. Even before the establishment of SuperM, we all had high respect for each other," Mark says.

"...It’s natural that there are different cultures, styles and characteristics in each country. But we were able to embrace the differences and understand each other in order to overcome the difficulties we faced through our music and performances," Kai says.

It's clear how SuperM, especially with the release of "We DO," reaffirms the power of working together, especially if it means motivating each other to stay healthy in mind, body, and spirit.

Filipinos will find their love for dance relatable; in the same way SuperM uses dance to bond with each other, celebrate their talents, and give their fans what they love about Korean music, Filipinos can use it to invite positivity into their lives and connect with each other when times get rough.

In fact, the boys of SuperM challenge all Filipinos to join Prudential Corporation Asia's Dance for Wellness challenge.

To conclude the interview with SuperM, here's what each of them had to say about the challenge:

"Don’t be shy and join the challenge. You’ll get the energy as you take part in it and find yourself smiling." - Taemin

"It looks so good that everyone is having fun dancing. I’ve been watching all of you guys." - Ten

"I hope that you guys can feel the joy that we wanted to share and join the challenge." - Lucas

"The choreography [of 'We DO'] is very simple and fun, so I think you will have a lot of fun while doing it. Also, you are doing some quick cardio exercises just by dancing along, so I hope everyone can try it in a healthy and fun way." - Kai

"Dance with us - even for just a short while! I feel so much happier when I move around!" - Taeyong

"I strongly believe that there is no limit to positivity. I wish that everyone who have seen our video can join the challenge and spread this healthy message. We all live in one big community. Each and every one of us can make an impact!" - Mark

 

Photos from @superM and courtesy of Prudential Corporation Asia