Onstage, Riize is filled with power. However behind the scenes, the six members of the Okay-pop boy group are a lot calmer, and a bit sillier, becoming for a bunch of younger males ranging in age from 21 to 25.
Contemporary off the finale of their U.S. tour on the Peacock Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, Riize — consisting of members Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton — filters into the convention room of The Hollywood Reporter’s L.A. workplace.
“We actually felt ourselves rising with each present,” Sohee, 22, tells THR by means of a translator in regards to the group’s expertise on tour. The group’s in good spirits following the conclusion of their U.S. leg — they’ll head to Mexico Metropolis to finish the North American tour days after this dialog.
Riize launched their newest single album, Fame, final month. For the members, it’s been an opportunity to discover sonically. “I feel we’re consistently attempting new types and reinventing ourselves,” Shotaro, 25, says.
Under, the Okay-pop group speaks with THR about “Fame,” what they’ve realized on tour and the way they’ve realized to speak with each other.
Are you able to inform me a bit about your new single, “Fame”?
ANTON Together with “Fame,” there’s two different songs, known as “One thing’s within the Water” and “Sticky Like.” I might say all three of the songs this time are types and genres that we haven’t actually tried earlier than. We at all times prefer to strive new issues. The main target observe, “Fame,” is definitely a rage-type beat, like a hip-hop-style observe that I feel is a really new sound for us. Total, I might say the idea for this single album is type of darkish and sort of moody. I feel our followers will prefer to see a brand new facet of us this time.
How do you tackle attempting new genres or new types?
SHOTARO I feel we’re consistently attempting new types and reinventing ourselves. Every time we strive a brand new style as a workforce, we get actually excited. I feel that we present plenty of development by attempting these genres, and that’s considered one of our workforce’s strengths. Nevertheless, we do have our personal private style inside style.
Do you have got enjoyable moments you bear in mind from recording these three songs? Or perhaps a problem that you simply really feel you overcame when making it?
ANTON I feel for “Fame,” a few of the songwriters for the precise songs got here whereas we had been recording, and I feel they type of made the vibe of the recording enjoyable and fascinating for us. Whereas additionally difficult us to strive new issues, I feel they type of made the entire expertise actually enjoyable.
SHOTARO As a result of we’re attempting new types, it felt new for us as effectively.
Why do you assume now looks like a very good time so that you can strive a brand new fashion?
EUNSEOK I feel this style of rage that we’re attempting with “Fame” could be very fashionable proper now. However not solely that, it’s a style we haven’t tried earlier than. I feel in studying new genres and trying new issues, it actually pushes us as a bunch.
ANTON Our final launch was our first full-length album, Odyssey. With the discharge of Odyssey, we type of had this message of at all times rising, and rising since our debut. Possibly “Fame” is type of not like a complete completely different path from that, nevertheless it’s type of a unique tackle Riize itself. I feel we needed to essentially showcase a brand new facet of ourselves to our followers and simply listeners.
Are you able to inform me a bit about what tour has been like?
SOHEE With each new metropolis, we might really feel ourselves getting extra acclimated, and we might really feel that the followers had been opening their hearts much more to us. One of many causes we actually sit up for the American tour is due to this, and we actually felt ourselves rising with each present.
Do you’re feeling that you simply had a largest lesson for your self, as a performer, that you simply realized over the span of the tour?
ANTON I feel simply being real and honest, we’ll at all times make it to whoever’s watching or listening. Despite the fact that this U.S. tour was a brand new expertise for us. I feel we had been in a position to do it fairly comfortably. The entire locations that we carried out right now round had been theater areas. They had been like tremendous enormous arenas and something. We might make eye contact with our followers as effectively. It was humorous, additionally, from my perspective, seeing the members attempting to talk English. (Anton, a Massachusetts native who grew up in New Jersey, is a local English speaker). It was only a actually enjoyable time total, and I can’t wait to return again sometime.
Do you guys really feel that there was like a second on this tour that felt particular to you for any purpose?
SHOTARO We carried out on the Peacock Theatre yesterday, so it felt so particular as a result of we carried out at identical venue final yr [for their U.S. showcase]. It felt like we had so much coming again with our first abroad tour. It was good. [It was] particular.
Is there a track that you simply’ve been singing for the tour that you simply gained a brand new appreciation for after taking part in it each night time?
WONBIN I might say “Unattainable.” The refrain repeats thrice, and it’s stationed on the finish of our present. It may be a bit exhausting, however due to the viewers participation — they usually had been actually concerned and yelling for us — I didn’t even actually really feel drained. That felt very new.
As a bunch, how are you feeling? You’ve simply had your two-year debut anniversary. How do you assume issues are feeling for you guys?
SHOTARO I feel we really feel tighter knit as a bunch. We’ve had some development musically as effectively.
EUNSEOK I feel our teamwork has undoubtedly improved, and there’s a backwards and forwards or sort of a name and response that we have now with one another.
Is there something specifically you’re feeling you’ve both improved on since your debut?
SOHEE One factor I understand is it’s not simply singing and dancing on stage, however the very strategy to the way in which I work together with the viewers has sort of grown. I’ve actually realized how one can benefit from the present by having open communication with the viewers.
ANTON I used to be going to say the identical factor.
What’s a purpose you have got for your self as a bunch?
ANTON I feel since we’ve now handed our two-year mark — and whereas we are going to proceed to discover new genres and music and check out new issues — I feel hopefully Riize will sometime get to seek out our core identification, set up that and construct upon that. I’m simply excited for the long run. As a workforce, I feel we’re able to tackle any challenges that will come [our way].
Is there like a dream efficiency, a dream competition or something that you simply guys have in your head?
SHOTARO Coachella, and Anton’s hometown in New Jersey. [A] New Jersey stadium.
ANTON The Sphere in Las Vegas.
What do you’re feeling you’ve realized from one another because you debuted? When it comes to your individual strengths.
SOHEE In two years, in fact, you be taught a lot about one another and , there’s plenty of strengths, but in addition some weaknesses as a result of we’re human. I actually really feel like there’s strengths I’ve taken from plenty of my members. For instance, Eunseok over right here, he’s very calm and picked up. His steady mindset is one thing to be taught from.
Being round one another as a lot as you might be, that’s not very regular for individuals who work collectively. How do you’re employed by means of what will likely be pure disagreements or moments of merely getting irritated with one another?
SOHEE I imply, we’re a bunch. We’re a part of the identical household, so I feel it’s simply sort of what comes with the entire bundle, and we’re in a position to work issues out as they go, like a household. We will’t break up, even when we get pissed off.
How have you ever realized to speak with one another? Was that simple or is it one thing you’re employed arduous at?
WONBIN Now we have plenty of shy members, so we’re not superb at saying heat, cutesy issues, however I feel we’re in a position to come again collectively and at all times change into one once more.
SHOTARO Once we met first time, Sohee, for instance, was so shy. He couldn’t say something. He’s so completely different now.
What would you like individuals to think about after they hear the title Riize?
SUNGCHAN Moderately than simply sort of one picture, I’d like individuals to essentially see the strengths of every members that you simply talked about earlier than, and likewise as a lot as our title is Riize, we wish to present continued development.
SHOTARO Anton talked about this earlier, however we actually wish to discover our musical core within the means of our careers.
ANTON Despite the fact that there are issues like KPop Demon Hunters and stuff, Riize is only a bunch of men in our 20s. The issues we discuss in our songs and stuff are simply type of issues that occur in the true world. We’ll simply proceed to do what we’ve been doing and hopefully individuals will like that.