The group ARrC (Andy, Choi Han, Doha, Hyunmin, Jibin, Kien, Lioto) returned after four months with a story of youth. Each comeback they build ARrC's own genre with experimental concepts, and this time they wore a new outfit as well. The album sensibly expresses the recovery of youth and a cheerful rebelliousness in ARrC's own way.
ARrC released their second single, Control+Alt+Skiid (CTRL+ALT+SKIID), and made a comeback on the 3rd. The album captures the halted feelings of youth, like an "error," within a loop of exams, competition and failure, and sensibly unfolds the recovery of youth and a cheerful rebelliousness.
Returning four months after the mini album Hope (HOPE), ARrC candidly depicted the realities of youth in everyday life and elicited empathy. It was a youth completed by ARrC's fresh and distinctive music and positive message.
The title track Skiid (SKIID) is a song that captures the realities and attitudes of teenagers who record this time in their own language even amid daily moments of shaking and collapse. A striking piano riff and a minimal rhythm section intersect exquisitely, and in the intro and chorus the full instrumentation surges as if about to burst, showing a density and energy of sound that goes beyond simple genre categorization.
The album track Wow (Way of Winning) (with Moon Sua and Siyoon) explodes the message that if you're together you can start again even in Anti-Climax-like moments with no finish line, with three-dimensional and refined sound and energy. Moon Sua and Siyoon of senior group Billlie, ARrC's agency seniors, participated not only in vocals but also directly in the songwriting, completing a special collaboration.
We met ARrC, who returned with Control+Alt+Skiid, and heard about their passionate new album.
Q. How do you feel about making a quick comeback after four months?
Choi Han: I'm very happy to be able to make a quick comeback after four months. I'm glad we can soon show ARrC's performance and music.
Jibin: It feels like it was just yesterday we promoted Hope (HOPE), so I'm so happy to meet fans again after four months. We prepared a lot, so I hope you look forward to it.
Hyunmin: While preparing this album, we paid most attention to hoping it would reach many people. I want the album's meaningful message to help many people find a breakthrough.
Lioto: We worked hard in a short time and came out with good results, so I hope you look forward to it.
Kien: I'm always thinking about how to meet ARrC fans quickly and I miss them. I'm glad we could comeback quickly, and this comeback has a completely cool image, so I hope you cheer a lot.
Andy: We're making a comeback after four months, and this album shows sides we haven't shown before, so I want to show them soon.
Doha: I hope the fans who waited for four months will like it. We've come back more mature, so please look forward to it.
Q. What kind of album is Control+Alt+Skiid (CTRL+ALT+SKIID)?
Doha: The title track Skiid (SKIID) tells the story of slipping helplessly within a loop of exams, competition and lethargy but not giving up and moving forward in one's own way. The album track Wow (Way of Winning) (with Moon Sua and Siyoon) captures teenagers' cool reaction to choosing reset instead of game over. The album as a whole carries the main theme of finding a breakthrough within repeating cycles. I want to deliver the message that when you don't know what to do or have lost yourself, listen to this song to find yourself again.
Hyunmin: This is the message ARrC has wanted to convey since their debut. It is about consolidation with the positive message delivered through music. It's not a simple message; we want to deliver a message that all generations can empathize with and feel. The main theme is an attitude that lets you ride over everyday cycles coolly.
Q. Did you relate well to the message of choosing "reset" instead of "game over"?
Choi Han: I was a trainee for a long time, and when I was at another company I often saw and experienced cases where people left the company because they couldn't debut. If they'd chosen "game over" in such situations it would have been different. I think we overcame and stood up.
Q. What are the highlights to watch for in this album Control+Alt+Skiid?
Choi Han: Performance-wise, there's a movement in the chorus where you open your legs like the hangul character giyeok; the choreography emphasizes the core, so I think that movement will bring dopamine when done.
Jibin: We tried a different challenge. If you listen to Skiid, rock is included, and the intro has an atmosphere and weight that make it an exciting piece of music to anticipate. I think we can show cooler music and performance than our previous work.
Hyunmin: If you listen to the title track intro, the intense guitar riff is impressive. I choreographed a strong intro dance to match it. You can see ARrC members coming out cool in the intro and striking cool poses.
Lioto: Performance-wise, the composition includes a lot of variety. Overall, you will be able to see a cooler ARrC in expressions and such. Vocally, there are many powerful and soulful vocals, so please pay attention.
Kien: I'm thinking about a name for the intro point choreography of this title track. It's a different, cooler image than before, and I hope you pay attention to our expressions and popularity.
Andy: There is very cool choreography in the chorus. There is also a challenge focused on hand movements that many people can follow.
Doha: The bridge part of the song is a part people can enjoy. I hope the positive message in the lyrics reaches people, so the lyrics are a point.
Q. Do you feel any burden about challenging new concepts at every comeback?
Hyunmin: I think if you keep doing the same thing you can easily fall into a rut. Since debut we haven't gone with similar concepts. I think of it as showing chameleon-like variety with new concepts and styling. If you're afraid of change and only do the same thing, you become complacent; developing toward something better is constructive. I think we're heading in the right direction.
Q. How was it to work with senior labelmates Moon Sua and Siyoon of Billlie on the album track Wow?
Hyunmin: Moon Sua and Siyoon are seniors we watch, learn from and respect. They are sincere about music and consistently pursue bold changes, so when we heard Wow we thought they would fit well if they joined. We are grateful they readily accepted the offer. Their harmony is good, so I'm curious and excited to see the reaction when people hear it.
Doha: They also joined the challenge and handled the choreography exceptionally well and gave us a lot of advice. There were many points to respect, and we are very grateful.
Choi Han: They were professional, and when recording and filming videos or performance videos they gave feedback and worked very quickly. There were many professional qualities to emulate, and they gave us a lot of advice, so it was a good collaboration. They advised how to use expressions and how to plan performances, which helped a lot, and it turned out nicely.
Jibin: They have more experience than us, so they're composed and the aura from their expressions was very cool. I thought I want to become a professional and composed person like that someday.
Q. What goals have you set to achieve with this promotion?
Andy: I want to win first place on music shows, and I hope ARrC can become known to more people and be a comfort. I also want to hold a big concert in countries we haven't visited much.
Hyunmin: Of course winning first place on music shows, but I also hope more people listen to and like our music. Looking back on a year, I want people to think, 'They debuted, released three albums this year and promoted three times and grew. How much more will they grow if they keep going? I'm looking forward to next year.'
Lioto: Personally, what's important in this promotion is to perform well on stage, finish without injuries and stay healthy. The year-end is approaching and there's not much of this year left, so I want to work hard and end well.
Q. It's already been a year since your debut; looking back on a year of activities, how does it feel?
Jibin: Looking back at our early promotions, you could see our expressions were often stiff. It's very clear we've grown over time, so I'm excited to see how much more we'll change after releasing more albums and promoting more.
Hyunmin: If you watch videos in chronological order from debut to now, you can see the members gradually enjoying the stage more and becoming more comfortable. The biggest change, besides performance aspects, is team work and closeness becoming stronger. We're continuing to grow in skill and produce results. As coach Hiddink said, 'we're still hungry.'
Choi Han: The part I think has grown and changed the most in a year is the mindset. It can be described as becoming more mature; at debut everything was new and the world we hadn't seen was fascinating and anxious. Now everything is well settled and we know each other well, so the composure is well reflected in performances and on stage.
Q. Is there a team ARrC regards as a role model?
They are seniors BTS. They continue to spread good influence, and many of their songs and lyrics contain good meanings. In that respect there are many things to emulate, and we learn a lot from their influence on the K-pop scene. When we dreamed of being idols, watching BTS' stage gave us the feeling of 'that's cool,' and we wanted to work harder to become people like that.
Most members nurtured their idol dreams by watching BTS. I think their influence on our team is immense. Considering the messages and influence BTS gives, I think every team wants to follow their path and regard them as a role model.
god and SHINee are also role models. SHINee seniors try many diverse and new musical attempts and concepts. It's cool that they have established themselves as solo artists as well as a group and continue making music, and they are a team with a colorful influence.
The god seniors have been active for a very long time and seem like a tight-knit team and a support. They were the first team I heard called a 'national idol,' and musically they are approachable and a team known across generations.
Q. What achievements do you want to achieve as ARrC?
Doha: Since our music contains positive messages, I hope people who listen to our music receive those positive messages, are healed, and gain the courage and energy to stand up without getting worn out in daily life.
Andy: I want to go to a major awards show together and perform on stage in front of people who love K-pop music. I would like to hold a big concert in the United States as well.
Kien: Personally, I want to do concerts and a world tour. We can speak Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese and English, so I think we could comfortably talk with fans. I want to communicate with fans beyond language barriers.
Lioto: Musically, I hope many people listen to our songs.
Hyunmin: In fact there are so many achievements we want, such as music chart No. 1 and big overseas concerts or festivals, but we also want to collaborate with other artists who deliver positive messages. When we worked with Billlie there was synergy because we share a similar vibe though details differ. Like the collaboration between BTS and Coldplay, I want to collaborate with overseas artists. With Paul McCartney, who spans the world!
Choi Han: Personally, I want songs and lyrics I wrote to be included on our album. On Hope I and Hyunmin wrote parts of the lyrics, but in the future I want to work on music and lyrics not just in part but overall.
[Photo] Provided by Mystic Story.
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