“Onstage, Riize is full of energy. But behind the scenes, the six members of the K-pop boy group are much calmer, and a bit sillier, fitting for a group of young men ranging in age from 21 to 25. Fresh off the finale of their US tour at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles”, — write: www.hollywoodreporter.com
Fresh off the finale of their US tour at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, Riize — consisting of members Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton — filters into the conference room of The Hollywood Reporter’s LA office.
“We really felt ourselves growing with every show,” Sohee, 22, tells THR through a translator about the group’s experience on tour. The group’s in good spirits following the conclusion of their US leg — they’ll head to Mexico City to complete the North American tour days after this conversation.
Riize released their latest single album, Famelast month. For the members, it’s been a chance to explore sonically. “I think we’re constantly trying new styles and reinventing ourselves,” Shotaro, 25, says.
Below, the K-pop group speaks with THR about “Fame,” what they’ve learned on tour and how they’ve learned to communicate with one another.
Can you tell me a bit about your new single, “Fame”?
ANTON Along with “Fame,” there’s two other songs, called “Something’s in the Water” and “Sticky Like.” I would say all three of the songs this time are styles and genres that we haven’t really tried before. We always like to try new things. The focus track, “Fame,” is actually a rage-type beat, like a hip-hop-style track that I think is a very new sound for us. Overall, I would say the concept for this single album is sort of dark and kind of moody. I think our fans will like to see a new side of us this time.
How do you take on trying new genres or new styles?
SHOTARO I think we’re constantly trying new styles and reinventing ourselves. Whenever we try a new genre as a team, we get really excited. I think that we show a lot of growth by trying these genres, and that’s one of our team’s strengths. However, we do have our own personal taste within the genre.
Do you have fun moments you remember from recording these three songs? Or maybe a challenge that you feel you overcame when making it?
ANTON I think for “Fame,” some of the songwriters for the actual songs came while we were recording, and I think they sort of made the vibe of the recording fun and engaging for us. While also challenging us to try new things, I think they sort of made the whole experience really fun.
SHOTARO Because we’re trying new styles, it felt new for us as well.
Why do you think now feels like a good time for you to try a new style?
EUNSEOK I think this genre of rage that we’re trying with “Fame” is very trendy right now. But not only that, it’s a genre we haven’t attempted before. I think in learning new genres and attempting new things, it really pushes us as a group.
ANTON Our last release was our first full-length album, Odyssey. With the release of Odysseywe sort of had this message of always rising, and rising since our debut. Maybe “Fame” is sort of not like a whole different path from that, but it’s sort of a different take on Riize itself. I think we wanted to really showcase a new side of ourselves to our fans and just listeners.
Can you tell me a bit about what the tour has been like?
SOHEE With every new city, we could feel ourselves getting more acclimated, and we could feel that the fans were opening their hearts even more to us. One of the reasons we really look forward to the American tour is because of this, and we really felt ourselves growing with every show.
Do you feel that you had a biggest lesson for yourself, as a performer, that you learned over the span of the tour?
ANTON I think just being genuine and sincere, we’ll always make it to whoever’s watching or listening. Even though this US tour was a new experience for us. I think we were able to do it pretty comfortably. All of the places that we performed at this time around were theater spaces. They were like super huge arenas and anything. We could make eye contact with our fans as well. It was funny, also, from my perspective, seeing the members trying to speak English. (Anton, a Massachusetts native who grew up in New Jersey, is a native English speaker). It was just a really fun time overall, and I can’t wait to come back someday.
Do you guys feel that there has been like a moment on this tour that felt special to you for any reason?
SHOTARO We performed at the Peacock Theater yesterday, so it felt so special because we performed at the same venue last year [for their U.S. showcase]. It felt like we had a lot coming back with our first overseas tour. It was nice. [It was] special.
Is there a song that you’ve been singing for the tour that you gained a new appreciation for after playing it every night?
WONBIN I would say “Impossible.” The chorus repeats three times, and it’s stationed at the end of our show. It can be a bit exhausting, but because of the audience participation — and they were really involved and yelling for us — I didn’t even really feel tired. That felt very new.
As a group, how are you feeling? You’ve just had your two-year debut anniversary. How do you think things are feeling for you guys?
SHOTARO I think we feel tighter knit as a group. We’ve had some growth musically as well.
EUNSEOK I think our teamwork has definitely improved, and there’s a back and forth or kind of a call and response that we have with each other.
Is there anything in particular you feel you’ve either improved on since your debut?
SOHEE One thing I realize is it’s not just singing and dancing on stage, but the very approach to the way I interact with the audience has kind of grown. I’ve really learned how to enjoy the show by having open communication with the audience.
ANTON I was going to say the same thing.
What is a goal you have for yourself as a group?
ANTON I think since we’ve now passed our two-year mark — and while we will continue to explore new genres and music and try new things — I think hopefully Riize will someday get to find our core identity, establish that and build upon that. I’m just excited for the future. As a team, I think we’re ready to take on any challenges that may come [our way].
Is there like a dream performance, a dream festival or anything that you 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 feel you’ve learned from each other since you debuted? In terms of your own strengths.
SOHEE In two years, of course, you learn so much about each other and you know, there’s a lot of strengths, but also some weaknesses because we’re human. I really feel like there’s strengths I’ve taken from a lot of my members. For example, Eunseok over here, he’s very calm and collected. His stable mindset is something to learn from.
Being around each other as much as you are, that’s not very normal for people who work together. How do you work through what will be natural disagreements or moments of simply getting annoyed with each other?
SOHEE I mean, we’re a group. We’re part of the same family, so I think it’s just kind of what comes with the whole package, and we are able to work things out as they go, like a family. We can’t break up, even if we get pissed off.
How have you learned to communicate with each other? Was that easy or is it something you work hard at?
WONBIN We have a lot of shy members, so we’re not very good at saying warm, cutesy things, but I think we are able to come back together and always become one again.
SHOTARO When we met for the first time, Sohee, for example, was so shy. He couldn’t say anything. He’s so different now.
What do you want people to think of when they hear the name Riize?
SUNGCHAN Rather than just kind of one image, I’d like people to really see the strengths of each member that you mentioned before, and also as much as our name is Riize, we want to show continued growth.
SHOTARO Anton mentioned this earlier, but we really want to find our musical core in the process of our careers.
ANTON Even though there are things like KPop Demon Hunters and stuff, Riize is just a bunch of guys in our 20s. The things we talk about in our songs and stuff are just sort of things that happen in the real world. We’ll just continue to do what we’ve been doing and hopefully people will like that.