Monsta X return with high-octane mini album 'Fantasia X', reveal new video for title track
Monsta X has dropped their new mini album 'Fantasia X' and revealed the official music video for the title track 'Fantasia'. They've had a rough few months but the K-pop boy band has finally made a triumphant return with 'Fantasia X' which, following its release on May 26, has already trended at #1 worldwide on Twitter and entered the top 3 US iTunes Albums Chart. In addition to their mini-album, Monsta X also dropped a music video for the high-tempo title track, 'Fantasia', which rappers I.M and Joohoney helped write. "I know people all around the world are having a hard time right now. I’m hoping we can give a little bit of fun to everyone through the release of our new album," shared Monsta X’s leader, Shownu.
As a whole, 'Fantasia X' talks about the first moment that the members of Monsta X felt so stunningly empowered. The mini-album opens up with the title track, 'Fantasia', which is full of Monsta X’s signature energy and power, delivering their passion to break through anything and everything that's in their way. The members further explain, "Every day, we repeatedly experience trial and error. Nonetheless, we take on tomorrow without taking any break. We put forth a hundred efforts just to get one thing, but it’s so easy for that tiny bit to disappear."
They continued, "Just as the fierce process and intense competition make us stronger, we are heading off in search of a place that won’t shake in the face of the heavy storm, jealousy, expectations, and disappointment towards me." For the group's fandom Monbebe, this album serves as both a catharsis and a victory lap. With everything from legal disputes and scandals threatening to derail the group's success, Monsta X and their fans have barely had a second to catch their breath. But on 'Fantasia X', they are declaring their commitment to their music, each other, and their fans, making a bold statement that despite all the roadblocks and stumbles, they're still here, and going strong.
Both IM and Joohoney participated in writing, composing, and arranging all seven tracks on the mini-album. Rapper IM expanded his musicality even further with leading the production on the EDM track 'Zone.' Composed by Joohoney, sub-title track 'Flow' features an arrangement that intersects pop, intense synth, and dub sound. The rapper, who recently took time off to focus on his mental health, hopes that this song will help listeners find comfort. Speaking about the track he states, "We, who live a fancy life, endure pain on the outside as if nothing was wrong with a composed exterior. It comforts me to compare ourselves to swans by saying, 'I am shining!'
He continues, "Swans on the surface of the water are graceful and beautiful, but swans' feet below the surface are stirring the water harder than anyone else. 'Flow' is meant to portray the message 'Stop stirring your feet and just live with the flows.' When you listen to the chorus, it says, 'Sometimes when you're so exhausted that you're out of breath, let's just go with the flow. We all live by looking flashy and pretending to be fine, but let's put it down for a while and think as it goes'."
Earlier this year, Monsta X released 'All About Luv', which marked the first all English-language album released by a K-pop group ever. Despite their promotional run being cut short due to a variety of issues, the album debuted at No 5 on the Billboard 200 Chart, making it only the third K-Pop group to chart within the top 10 and earned rave reviews from NPR, ET, Variety, Access, AP, Forbes, Consequence Of Sound, Billboard, and TIME who stated, "'You Can’t Hold My Heart' is a change of pace: en emo pop-rock track with guitar backing. It’s sweet but salty, and tightly executed with its nods to rock. And it’s a sign of dissolving borders — across language, across genre, across culture."
Stream 'Fantasia X' on Spotify and Apple Music. For more information on Monsta X, follow them on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Spotify.