In just a couple of months, ATEEZ will celebrate their seventh anniversary since they debuted on October 24, 2018. In the past nearly seven years, the members have grown up before our eyes, both on a physical level as well as in a professional and artistic sense. While many things have changed, however, many have also stayed the same, and something that many ATINYs admire and praise the group for is their unceasing determination to keep pushing themselves in different aspects of their lives.

Recently, an interview was released by Billboard Korea featuring the eight members of ATEEZ. The interviewer is clearly either a fan or did extensive research on the K-Pop group, as the questions asked of the members were thoughtful and personal based on ATEEZ’s individuality from other musical artists. From asking about the “core force” that drives the members (with the overwhelming answer being “ATINY”) and how involved they are in their creative process, to inquiring about what they do in their downtime and their individual passions, the interview encompasses a variety of topics that any ATEEZ fan will find interesting and insightful.

The interview is too long to completely summarize here, and the article itself deserves all of the clicks for how well-done it is! However, here are a few of what we believe to be some of the most endearing, inspiring, and ATEEZ-esque quotes from the interview.

• Question: When I think of ATEEZ, the first word that immediately comes to mind is “intensity.” Whether it’s in your music or your performances, there’s an unmistakable energy—driven, heartfelt, and all-in—that defines who you are. What would you say is the core force that fuels ATEEZ and fills everything you do?
  • Hongjoong: What fills ATEEZ? Simple. It’s ATINY. We all have our personal goals, and of course we have goals as a group, but at the end of the day, the real drive behind everything comes from ATINY. That “all-in” energy people talk about when they describe us? It’s because of that. We always wanna show ATINY our best, put on performances we can be proud of, and keep delivering that raw ATEEZ vibe without losing what makes us, us. Everything starts from wanting to make ATINY proud.
  • San: I think it all comes down to being real. I always step on stage like it might be my last, and I think that mindset helps me connect with people in a genuine way. And honestly, ATEEZ has received so much love from ATINY. That love pushes us to go even harder, because we just wanna give back everything we’ve been given.
  • Wooyoung: Honestly, ATINY is the biggest part of it. But I’d also say our teamwork plays a huge role. No one in this team ever half-asses anything. Everyone’s always giving it their all, and I think that’s what makes ATEEZ leave such a strong impression.

• Question: From pirates to anarchists to outlaws from Westerns, the characters in ATEEZ’s storytelling often embody a bold spirit—challenging norms and stepping beyond the boundaries of convention. Do these recurring themes reflect the core values or motto of ATEEZ as a team?
  • Hongjoong: Yeah, for sure. Dropping unexpected music at unexpected times, trying out video styles no one saw coming, and chasing goals that might seem impossible—no one told us to do it that way, but I think it’s become our shared mindset. Not just for the members, but for everyone on this journey with us. Honestly, I feel like ATINY might be the same. Moving forward, I wanna keep being that steady captain who gives strength and courage to our fans, our team, and everyone who believes in us.
  • Mingi: I feel like ATEEZ is the kind of team that, if there’s a wall in front of us, we’ll find a way to break through it—no matter what. Revolution-style. That’s kind of our vibe.
  • Jongho: Honestly, the courage and drive people see in us might’ve started out as boldness—or maybe just raw passion. But I think that’s what made ATEEZ feel like a group that charges forward no matter what, almost like a collection of pure willpower. Boldness and passion aren’t that far from courage and determination, right? (Laughs) So yeah, I feel like all of that naturally lined up with the storytelling we’ve built.

• Question: ⁠ATEEZ’s music is known for blending a wide range of pop elements in just the right places. From your perspective, what musical characteristics best capture what makes a song feel truly “ATEEZ”?
  • Seonghwa: For me, it’s all about newness. ATEEZ is always trying out different genres and putting in the effort to make that freshness feel like us. I think what makes something feel “ATEEZ” is how we take something new and turn it into our own vibe.
  • Yunho: I think what makes something feel like ATEEZ is how we play with dynamics—knowing when to push and when to pull back. 
  • Yeosang: What makes us feel like ATEEZ is that we don’t box ourselves into one genre. We’re always exploring different styles to show all sides of who we are. And it’s not just in the music—it’s in our performances too.
  • San: It’s the boldness. We don’t shy away from the unknown. Instead of repeating what’s safe, we push forward with something new, and we do it the ATEEZ way—with no fear.
  • Jongho: One thing about ATEEZ is that we can take on all kinds of genres and still make them feel like us. We’re also a team that works hard to break the stereotype that “idols aren’t artists.” No matter what kind of music or style we try, we want people to recognize it as ATEEZ and know that we’re here to challenge those limits.

Read the entire interview and view all of the exclusive photos of ATEEZ from Billboard Korea here!