On stage, Riize is full of energy. But behind the scenes, the six members of the K-pop boy band are much calmer and a little sillier, which is fitting for a group of young men aged 21 to 25.
Fresh from the finale of their US tour at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, Riize – made up of members Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton – enters the conference room of The Hollywood Reporter Los Angeles office.
“We really felt like we were growing with each show,” says Sohee, 22. THR through a translator about the band’s experience on tour. The band is in good spirits after the conclusion of their US leg: they will head to Mexico City to finish the North American tour a few days after this conversation.
Riize released his latest single album, Famelast month. For the members, it was an opportunity to explore sound. “I think we’re constantly trying new styles and reinventing ourselves,” says Shotaro, 25.
Below, the K-pop group talks with THR about “Fame,” what they’ve learned on tour and how they’ve learned to communicate with each other.
Can you tell me a little about your new single, “Fame”?
ANTON In addition to “Fame”, there are two other songs, titled “Something’s in the Water” and “Sticky Like”. I would say the three songs this time are styles and genres we haven’t really tried before. We always like to try new things. The title track, “Fame,” is actually a rage type beat, like a hip-hop style track which I think is a very new sound for us. Overall, I would say that the concept of this single is quite dark and brooding. I think our fans will like to see a new side of us this time.
How do you try new genres or styles?
SHOTARO I think we’re constantly trying new styles and reinventing ourselves. Every time we try a new genre as a team, we get really excited. I think we show a lot of growth trying these genres, and that’s one of the strengths of our team. However, we have our own personal tastes when it comes to gender.
Do you have any funny moments that you remember from recording these three songs? Or perhaps a challenge that you feel you have overcome by making it?
ANTON I think for “Fame,” some of the songwriters for the songs came in while we were recording, and I think they kind of made the vibe of the recording fun and engaging for us. While challenging us to try new things, I think they somehow made the experience really fun.
SHOTARO Because we are trying new styles, this also felt new to us.
Why do you think now is a good time to try a new style?
EUNSEOK I think that kind of rage that we’re trying with “Fame” is very trendy right now. But that’s not all, it’s a genre we’ve never tried before. I think learning new genres and trying new things really pushes us as a band.
ANTON Our last release was our first full album, Odyssey. With the release of Odysseywe kind of had this message of always rising, and rising since we started. Maybe “Fame” isn’t a completely different path than that, but it’s somehow a different take on Riize herself. I think we really wanted to show a new side of ourselves to our fans and just our listeners.
Can you tell me a little about the tour?
SOHÉE With each new city, we felt more and more acclimated and we felt that the fans were opening their hearts to us even more. One of the reasons we’re really looking forward to the US tour is because we really feel like we’re growing with each show.
Do you think there was a bigger lesson for yourself, as a performer, that you learned on the tour?
ANTON I believe that by simply being authentic and sincere we will always reach the one who is watching or listening. Even if this American tour was a new experience for us. I think we were able to do it quite comfortably. All the places we played at that time were theater spaces. They were like super huge arenas and everything. We could also make eye contact with our fans. It was also funny, from my point of view, to see the members trying to speak English. (Anton, a Massachusetts native who grew up in New Jersey, is a native English speaker.). Overall, it was a really fun time and I can’t wait to come back someday.
Do you feel like there was a moment on this tour that stood out to you for any reason?
SHOTARO We played the Peacock Theater yesterday, so it was so special because we played the same place last year. [for their U.S. showcase]. It felt like we got a lot back on our first overseas tour. It was nice. [It was] special.
Is there a song you sang on 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 thanks to the audience participation – and they were really involved and shouting for us – I didn’t even really feel tired. It seemed very new.
As a group, how are you feeling? You just celebrated your first two-year anniversary. How do you think things are going for you guys?
SHOTARO I think we feel more united as a group. We also experienced some musical growth.
EUNSEOK I think our teamwork has definitely improved, and there’s some back and forth or sort of call and response that we have with each other.
Is there anything in particular that you think you’ve improved on since you started?
SOHÉE One thing I realize is that it’s not just about singing and dancing on stage, but the whole approach to how I interact with the audience has sort of evolved. I really learned to enjoy the show by having open communication with the audience.
ANTON I was going to say the same thing.
What is the goal you set for yourself as a group?
ANTON I think since we’re now past our two-year mark – and while we’ll continue to explore new genres and music and try new things – I hope that Riize will one day be able to find our core identity, establish that, and build on that. I’m just excited for the future. As a team, I believe we are ready for any challenges that may arise. [our way].
Is there a dream performance, dream festival or anything you have in mind?
SHOTARO Coachella and Anton’s hometown in New Jersey. [A] New Jersey Stadium.
ANTON The Sphere in Las Vegas.
What have you learned from each other since you started? In terms of your own strengths.
SOHÉE In two years, of course, we learn a lot about each other and you know, there are a lot of strengths, but also some weaknesses because we are human. I definitely feel like I drew strengths from a lot of my members. For example, Eunseok here, he is very calm and serene. His stable mindset is something to learn from.
Being together as much as you do is not very normal for people who work together. How do you handle what will be natural disagreements or moments of simple anger toward each other?
SOHÉE I mean, we’re a band. We’re part of the same family, so I think that’s just kind of what comes with the whole thing, and we’re able to work things out as we go, like a family. We can’t break up, even if we’re upset.
How did you learn to communicate with each other? Was it easy or is it something you worked hard for?
WONBIN We have a lot of shy members, so we’re not very good at saying warm, cutesy things, but I think we’re able to come together and still be one.
SHOTARO When we first met, Sohee, for example, was very 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 an image, I would like people to really see the strengths of each member that you mentioned previously, and even though our name is Riize, we want to show continued growth.
SHOTARO Anton mentioned it earlier, but we really want to find our musical core during our career.
ANTON Even though there are things like Demon Hunters KPop and all that, Riize is just a bunch of guys in their twenties. The things that we talk about in our songs and stuff are just things that happen in the real world. We’re just going to keep doing what we’ve been doing and I hope people enjoy it.
