Following the wrap-up of his domestic fan sign events for the second mini-album, Gwang: INSANITY, Monsta X’s Joohoney got real about the method behind the madness.
According to Jooheon—scratch that, Joohoney—you kind of have to lose your mind to actually succeed. In a personal note to fans (shoutout to the MONBEBE), he broke down the thread connecting his first project, LIGHTS, to this new one. The core vibe? “You have to go crazy to truly shine.” He noticed that the heavier the darkness weighs on you, the brighter the eventual glow-up. “I wanted to share the confidence to truly shine like crazy,” he explained, dropping the sentiment in both Korean and English so nobody missed the point. Smart move.
Dropping “Gwang: INSANITY” wasn’t just about making noise; it was about flipping struggle into straight-up confidence for the listeners. The guy’s discography is telling a story, right? It’s all about that clash between the shadows and the spotlight.
And, because he’s a class act, Joohoney made sure to tag everyone who had a hand in the project—like, everyone. We’re talking:
- The “Ye-Yo brothers” handling production duties.
- Rei for lending those vocals, plus Shin Eun-soo for killing it in the MV.
- His childhood hero, Tiger JK—yeah, that happened.
- Even the late, great Muhammad Ali for the inspo.
He shouted out the whole squad: his Monsta X brothers, management, the VC team, video crews, marketing folks, hair and makeup artists, stylists, and dancers. Basically, if you touched the album, you got a nod.
But, of course, he saved the mushiest stuff for the fans—“I express my sincere gratitude to our MONBEBE, who put the final period that completes this album.” He doubled down in English, basically saying the album isn’t really finished until the fans get their hands on it. Aww.
So, What’s Next for Joohoney? “No Brain No Pain.”
Looking forward, Joohoney isn’t slowing down—like, at all. “I will never let go of music; I will keep researching and moving forward,” he promised, pretty much ordering fans to stay tuned. He signed off with the mantra “NO BRAIN NO PAIN,” wishing everyone a life that, well, “shines crazily.”
The album visuals? Clean. Joohoney front and center with the Gwang: INSANITY title splashed across the frame. The tracklist reads like a mood board: “Gwang,” “Fear,” “STING,” “Push,” “Bite,” “Touch the Sky,” “NO BRAIN NO PAIN,” and “光 INSANITY.” It’s a solid look at the album’s whole sonic—wait, what’s the word?—architecture.
He wrapped it up with a simple, kind of repetitive (but we’ll allow it) declaration: “I love you. And I love you again, our MONBEBE.”
