The group NOWZ is embarking on a new beginning.
On the afternoon of the 9th, a showcase celebrating the release of NOWZ's first mini album 'IGNITION' was held at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.
On this day, NOWZ's Hyun-bin said, "We really prepared hard, so I hope you look at us fondly," sharing his feelings about the comeback. Yeon-woo also emphasized his red hair, saying, "I am Yeon-woo who has returned as a human ignition," and Si-yoon said, "We worked really hard for this stage, so I hope you will appreciate it." Jin-hyuk joked, "I am Jin-hyuk, who burned white like my hair color. I will show you a wonderful stage as much as we prepared hard during our break," and Yoon added, "We will show you a lot of our wonderful appearance."
NOWZ, which is celebrating its first anniversary this year, recently declared a rebranding along with a name change, establishing the group's identity again and signaling that it will become a major group. As the new team name means 'at this moment, drawing infinite possibilities,' it is expected to showcase infinite charm through its first mini album 'IGNITION'.
Hyun-bin explained, "The 'now' in NOWZ represents this moment, and the 'Z' symbolizes infinite possibilities. NOWZ signifies the release of infinite possibilities in this moment," while Yeon-woo shared, "It's a name that fans have called us affectionately, so I thought it would be familiar and not difficult to hear. Since we have returned with new music, I hope you will look forward to it."
This album is a new beginning for NOWZ and captures the moment of 'ignition' that ignites the inner passion in five tracks, including the title track 'EVERGLOW.' Jin-hyuk said of this album 'IGNITION,' "The first mini album that embodies NOWZ's identity captures the essence of NOWZ, which is taking a step towards its dream but is still wandering without finding direction," while Hyun-bin stated, "As the album name 'IGNITION' suggests, this album marks the beginning of NOWZ's full-fledged journey. I want to leave NOWZ's footprints in the K-pop scene."
The pre-released track 'Fly Freely (Feat. Yuqi)' is a cinematic soul pop genre that showcases NOWZ's lyrical yet refreshing charm. Yoon expressed gratitude, saying, "Yuqi and senior Woosuk offered us the song and directed us. I think we worked hard until dawn to produce a good result, so I hope you like it."
'Fly Freely' topped the daily charts on China's QQ Music and gained popularity, with the hand dance challenge ranking high on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Yoon remarked, "When I first heard the news, it felt unbelievable. I would like to express my gratitude to the fans in China for loving the Chinese version."
When asked if there was any advice received during the production of 'Fly Freely', Yeon-woo said, "Senior Yuqi advised me to not do it too perfectly and to relax and do it naturally." Hyun-bin then shared, "I remember senior Yuqi and senior Woosuk mentioning that 'you guys are really handsome.' It was very encouraging," which made everyone laugh. Jin-hyuk added, "During the directing phase, I was rapping, and senior Woosuk gave me a lot of advice. I was crafting the flow, and he shared a lot about the direction, allowing me to learn things I didn't know before. It made me realize how different it would come out when done this way."
The title track 'EVERGLOW' is an alternative rock genre piece blended with a refreshing electric guitar and metal sound. It expresses a message and determination toward dreams, saying, 'Like the flame that burns brightly in the ashes, it will never be extinguished,' characterized by NOWZ's strong charm.
Hyun-bin explained, "This song reveals NOWZ's passion like a fire blazing in the ashes. While preparing with producer El Capitan, we created a more complete and perfect album," and Yeon-woo said, "We aimed to incorporate storytelling into our performance to express NOWZ's musicality as clearly as possible," elaborating, "We expressed the members' desire to reach for the light and the chaotic feelings when things don't go as planned through fast and flashy movements." Yeon-woo actually stood up to perform the key choreography directly.
There must be a reason for changing the team name and starting a rebranding only a year after debut. Hyun-bin explained, "We decided on a fresh start and suggested changing the name to NOWZ, aiming to convey comfort and the unique emotion of NOWZ, leading us to present emotional rock." Yeon-woo added, "I thought it would help us build our own color, so we decided to challenge the alternative rock genre."
When asked if the new album holds special significance as the first release after rebranding, Si-yoon said, "I have been preparing for a long time for this comeback, so I tried to write memorable lyrics to show our changed appearance. It's a story about our youth, and I think we all tried to capture our individual youths in it."
Additionally, Yeon-woo shared, "We tried to capture our youth by setting the overall concept around youth. I believe it's a song that reflects our direct experiences rather than someone else's story. I feel confident that it can approach listeners more genuinely, and we wanted to offer comfort in our own way."
Meanwhile, NOWZ's mini album 'IGNITION' will be released today (the 9th) at 6 p.m. on various music streaming sites.
[Photo] Reporter Cho Eun-jeong.
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