From left, Min, Taemin, Shuto, Hyunyul and Kiyoon of boy band Hi-Fi Un!corn pose during a recent interview with The Korea Times at a studio in Nowon District, Seoul. Korea Times photo by Yun Da-been

Having successful predecessors can be a double-edged sword. If there is someone you can model yourself on and get help from, your journey to achieving your goals will be safer and smoother. In negative instances, however, you can easily get trapped in a never-ending cycle of comparison.

For the members of boy band Hi-Fi Un!corn, debuting under FNC Entertainment — home to two popular bands FTISLAND and CNBLUE — is more of a blessing than a curse. Consisting of bassist Kiyoon, guitarist Hyunyul, drummer Min, vocalist Shuto and vocalist/guitarist Taemin, Hi-Fi Un!corn is FNC's newest band that arrived on the music scene last year, which was formed on "The Idol Band : Boy's Battle" — a Korean-Japanese joint audition program produced by FNC and the Japanese broadcaster TBS.

"We think it is not pressure, but an honor to debut as a junior group of FTISLAND and CNBLUE," Taemin, from Pennsylvania, said with a smile in a recent interview with The Korea Times at a studio in northeastern Seoul's Nowon District. "We have many things to learn from them, so we are very lucky to have them as our seniors. Whenever we see them, we feel that we should work harder to walk in their footsteps."

Taemin calls Jung Yong-hwa, the leader and lead vocalist of CNBLUE, a "father figure" who supports his team the most. Jung not only appeared as a producer in "The Idol Band," but also gave Taemin's band its name, "Hi-Fi Un!Corn," hoping it would become a unicorn of this era that showcases quality music to people.

"From 'DoReMiFa-Soul' to 'Over the Rainbow' to ''ABC is,' Jung has participated in the creative process of many of our songs," Hyunyul explained. "'DoReMiFa-Soul helped us secure the No. 1 spot on 'The Idol Band.' 'Over the Rainbow' is our debut single, while 'ABC is' is a theme song for the Japanese drama, 'Wakeari Onna Diary.'"

Jung often gives them heartfelt advice, according to Taemin.

CNBLUE's Jung Yong-hwa / Courtesy of FNC Entertainment

"Since our debut, we have frequently appeared as an opening act for our senior groups' concerts, so we had the chance to communicate with them after these events," he said. "When I asked Jung how to tackle nerves before taking the stage, he advised me to hypnotize myself to control my feelings. I once tried that before a concert by telling myself that I was not nervous at all and that I was in my best shape. Surprisingly, it worked really well."

Jung has played a vital role in Hi-Fi Un!corn's upcoming full-length album "Fantasia" as well, with five out of 10 tracks having his name on their credits. All of them, including "DoReMiFa-Soul" and "Over the Rainbow" were previously unveiled, but they will still be featured in the band's new studio album that seeks to present its diverse musical gems. The album, which will hit shelves on August 28, is fronted by the two lead singles: "Left or Right" and "Phantom Pain."

"Both of them are the theme songs for Netflix's Japanese drama, 'Dear Sa-chan,'" Hyunyul noted. "'Left or Right' is a bright tune about a man who has to choose between two women, while 'Phantom Pain' is a sad ballad expressing the sorrow of losing an important person."

As vocalists, Taemin and Shuto poured a lot of effort into delivering the songs' vibes.

"To better understand the tunes, I watched different TV series and films to immerse myself into the music," Japanese member Shuto said in Korean.

Although the number of bands is growing in Korea these days, the country's music scene is still largely dominated by idol groups that gravitate toward dancing. Despite this trend, the Hi-Fi Un!corn members' unrivaled love of music and instruments prompted them to join "The Idol Band" and become part of a new boy band.

In Min's case, he first picked up some drumsticks when he was only five. Min is the youngest member of Hi-Fi Un!corn.

Boy band Hi-Fi Un!corn / Courtesy of FNC Entertainment

"My father is a drummer so I grew up playing the drums," he recalled. "I used to play CNBLUE's songs with my dad and dreamed of becoming a drummer. Then, one day, my father recommended that I take part in the audition for 'The Idol Band' and I ended up joining Hi-Fi Un!corn."

Hyunyul and Kiyoon, the only members in the band who have fulfilled their compulsory military service, said the time they spent in the army has had a huge influence on their career choices.

"I began playing the guitar when I was an elementary school student, shortly after watching my older sister's guitar performance," Hyunyul said. "However, after starting my military service, I realized that I was quite serious about music. So, after being discharged, I traveled around different places with a guitar on my back and began sharing my performance videos on YouTube. That's when a staff member for 'The Idol Band' got hold of me and asked me to participate in her program ... I used to love performing alone, but thanks to the show, I learned the joy of playing with others."

Kiyoon said, "I dreamed of becoming a musician after watching the shows of FTISLAND and CNBLUE, so I went to an arts university. In my case, I stumbled upon a number of musicians while I was serving in the military and thought their lives were something that I craved. That is why I applied for 'The Idol Band' immediately after returning to civilian life. I was particularly attracted to the show because FNC was involved in it."

Shuto and Taemin also thought "The Idol Band" was a one-in-a-million opportunity.

"It is a bit embarrassing to unfold this story, but I was so happy when I saw my friends going wild during my performance at a festival at my high school," Shuto said. "So I thought I had to partake in the audition for 'The Idol Band' as soon as I learned about it. I was also an ardent fan of K-pop and K-dramas."

Hyunyul, Taemin and Kiyoon of boy band Hi-Fi Un!corn CHAT during a recent interview with The Korea Times at a studio in Nowon District, Seoul. Korea Times photo by Yun Da-been

Taemin said, "I always loved performing with others, but as I grew up, it became challenging to find the right partners to team up. Then, one day, I heard about 'The Idol Band' audition and decided to participate in the program and make friends. I actually did not expect to win the show."

All five members were born in the 2000s, but have more than 40 years of combined playng experience when it comes to their instruments. Kiyoon believes that their extensive experience, coupled with their diverse backgrounds, will help them carve out their own niche in the music industry.

"I have confidence in our abilities," he said.

Hyunyul elaborated, "We have not yet discovered the musical style that best defines us, but we are trying out various genres to do so ... We also want to come up with a lot of self-written tracks in the days ahead."

The talented band dreams big and aims high.

"I hope we can perform at Tokyo Dome one day," Shuto said. Tokyo Dome is one of the most coveted concert venues in Japan that can accommodate up to 50,000 spectators.

Hyunyul, Kiyoon and Taemin are setting their sights on the U.S.

"It will be so great if we can join the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, one of the largest music festivals in the U.S., like other Korean artists," Kiyoon said.