Sounds Like My Type: Catch The Young Turns Crush Confessions Into Summer Soundtrack With ‘Ideal Type’

Catch The Young’s “Ideal Type” brings back the quiet thrill of youth, first love, and the moments we never forget..

Catch The Young might just be one of the most refreshing bands to emerge from the K-Pop scene in recent years. Debuting on November 1, 2023, under Evermore Entertainment, the five-member “youth pop rock” band arrived with a promise: to capture the emotions, chaos, and beauty of growing up—and to turn those feelings into music that resonates. Their debut EP, Fragments of Youth, was a powerful introduction, packed with raw energy, melodic sincerity, and a strong sense of identity that stood out in an industry that often leans toward polished perfection.

The band is made up of five incredibly talented members: Sani, the bassist and leader who brings calm focus and emotional grounding to the group; Jungmo, the drummer whose dynamic rhythms keep the energy pulsing; Kihoon, the guitarist and vocalist with an expressive tone that feels both tender and grounded; Namhyun, the main vocalist whose voice serves as the band’s emotional center; and Junyong, the keyboardist and maknae, adding color and depth to their arrangements. Since debut, Catch The Young has steadily built their presence through sincerity and sound. Their sophomore release, Fragments of Odyssey, and their reinterpretation of Mono’s nostalgic hit “You, Always (2025)” showed their ability to grow without losing their roots. Reflecting on that artistic evolution, Sani shared: “We felt like our first release had a strong focus on showing who we are as a band and introducing our identity. But since then, we've been continuing to make music and perform live, and I think our sound is becoming more and more defined.” That sense of growth is woven throughout their newest digital single, “이상형 (Ideal Type),” which was released on June 26, 2025.

Ideal Type is a charming and breezy listen that feels like the start of summer. It’s not flashy or explosive—instead, it draws you in with warmth, melody, and just the right touch of nostalgia. From the first few seconds, it feels like stepping into a memory: soft sun, a flicker of butterflies, and the universal thrill of wondering whether someone could be the one. But the meaning runs deeper than that. “With the song ‘Ideal Type,’ we hope listeners can enjoy it by imagining their own ideal type,” Namhyun explained. “But at the same time, the title can go beyond just a person—it can also represent following and pursuing your dreams or hopes, which can give some encouragement to everyone.” To bring that warmth and wonder to life visually, the band leaned into a travel diary-like concept for the music video. When asked about the inspiration behind the sunlit visuals, K Fuse sat down with the group and asked:

K Fuse: The music video shows you on a field trip—grassy plains, a lighthouse, sunlit road trips. What inspired this visual concept, and how does it reflect the song’s message? Sani shared openly:

“After the song was made, the overall vibe of the music video was pretty clear. Since the track itself is bright and refreshing, the music video naturally took on that same energy by being students going on a trip with friends, which felt like the best way to express that freshness.” He also noted how personal touches helped shape the shoot: “One of the filming locations, the schoolyard, is actually a place where Namhyun used to play a lot as a kid, so it added a personal touch. We also filmed at the guesthouse since it was a trip with friends. To be honest, the sunset scene wasn't part of the original plan, but filming went later than expected, and it ended up fitting well. I think we managed to keep that youthful and breezy concept throughout the video, and it matched the song perfectly. Although the filming was a bit tiring, I'm happy with how it all turned out.”

That idea of youth in motion is exactly what the track delivers. Musically, Ideal Type strikes a beautiful balance between synth-pop brightness and indie rock soul. It’s upbeat without being overwhelming, and sentimental without being heavy. Vocally, the band leans into softness—layered harmonies and phrasing that feels more like confession than performance. The chorus doesn’t explode, it floats—leaving a bigger impact on listeners as they relate their own experiences to the song.

When asked to describe the band’s mood right now, using three words inspired by the song’s vibe, the members offered a set of words that felt as true as the music itself:

Namhyun quickly replied, “Energy.” to which Jungmo agreed.

Kihoon, Junyong, and Namhyun all quickly agreed on, “Youth!”

Kihoon thoughtfully added, “First love?” to which Junyong nodded, wrapping it up perfectly: “First love, youth, and energy.”

Kihoon summed it up beautifully: “We hope that when people see us, it feels like falling in love for the first time, they gain energy as they watch our performances, and experience youth together with us.”

That passion extends far beyond the surface. Catch The Young isn’t trying to fit into a mold—they’re building a bridge between generations through sound. “Our motto as a band is to create music that can resonate with all generations,” they said. “We're blending rock elements that older generations can enjoy with pop elements that appeal to younger listeners to ultimately make music that brings different age groups together through sound that everyone can connect with.” Their creative sincerity and youthful storytelling are exactly what make a song like Ideal Type feel timeless. It’s breezy enough for a summer drive and nostalgic enough for late-night journaling. And even in its simplicity, it reflects the group’s ongoing artistic ambition. “Since it's our first album, but not our first digital release, we're putting in our best effort to make it as strong as possible,” Sani shared. “We're adding a lot of new elements to try things we haven't done before and to show sides of ourselves that fans haven't seen yet.”

Still, they’re not chasing perfection. They’re chasing meaning—and memories. As Kihoon said, “If I were to describe our group, especially to people around our age, I'd say we're a team that grows together, creating music that feels like youth. We want to make songs that, when you look back one day, feel like cherished memories. At the same time, we want to be a group that does music that moves forward into the future and can grow and journey with.” And that’s the heart of Ideal Type. It’s not just about finding someone—it’s about finding yourself along the way. It’s the sound of a band growing up with their audience, writing songs you’ll one day look back on and say, “That was the soundtrack to when everything was starting.”

Catch The Young isn’t just catching ears—they’re catching memories.