ONEUS, "Meeting R.Tee Brings Nostalgia and Sexiness": New Transformation with 'Don't Look Away' [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Group ONEUS has joined forces with producer R.Tee to unveil a new musical color.

ONEUS (Seoho, Lee Do, Geonhee, Hwanwoong, Siwon) recently held an interview at a café in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of their twelfth mini-album 'First Light: Jeong (FIRST LIGHT : )'.

'First Light: Jeong' is an album that captures the journey of ONEUS and their fandom, Two Moon, as they have illuminated each other over time. It includes five tracks in total: the title track 'Don't Look Away', along with 'Runaway', 'Even If We Meet by Chance', 'Our Story That Won't End', and 'We Run for Youth'.

The title track 'Don't Look Away' features a pop sound with a striking drop, standing out as a powerful song. It portrays the moment when two people, like the first light finally met after passing through a dark night, shine on each other again and move forward toward a new beginning. Notably, hitmaker producer R.Tee (R.Tee) participated in the track, enhancing its quality.

Geonhee commented on the title track: "We thought it was so good that we jokingly called it 'eye-opening.' It also aligned well with the message we wanted to convey. While we have previously expressed ourselves metaphorically and beautifully, this is our first time using direct expression, which felt a bit awkward. Still, I think it suits us well."

He added, "I was worried it might seem a bit funny, but when we showed them the song and performance, there was nothing funny about it at all. We aim to convince them through our stage presence."

Siwon said, "Fans often tell us, 'Why would you turn away when you have us?' I think the title 'Don't Look Away' will make that sentiment even more memorable."

Regarding his collaboration with R.Tee, Siwon shared, "At first, I was very nervous, but he told me he wanted to write a song for ONEUS and work together, which made me grateful. We had many conversations in the studio, and he carefully oversaw the recording process. It felt like working while having fun with an older brother from the neighborhood."

Geonhee explained that R.Tee's musical style harmonized well with ONEUS. He stated, "ONEUS has taken on various challenges, such as Eastern concepts, vampire themes, and intense beats. Rather than fearing new styles, we were excited about how to showcase our unique team identity."

He continued, "R.Tee's pop colors were blended with ONEUS's nostalgic and lyrical sensibility. This concept feels refreshing yet nostalgic and sexy. We believe we can present a more nostalgic, lyrical, and sexy side than before. This time, ONEUS embodies freshness, nostalgia, and sexiness."

For this album, Hwanwoong, Lee Do, and Geonhee participated in songwriting and composition, adding their unique touch to ONEUS's identity.

Lee Do contributed to the lyrics and composition of 'Even If We Meet by Chance' and 'Our Story That Won't End'. He said, "This time, I wanted to create an ending song that fans could enjoy with us during concerts. While considering elements that would fit well with ONEUS and appeal to fans, I found joy in projecting the members' personalities into the songs."

Geonhee, who participated in 'We Run for Youth', added lyrics to a track produced by Swedish Laundry. He explained, "The song was already of high quality, but as I slowly read through the lyrics, I felt the need to include a hopeful message. Through lines like 'I will embrace even your broken heart' and 'You shine brightly in an imperfect world,' I wanted to convey a story that could reach members who might face difficulties someday."

In response, Hwanwoong said, "This was the first time I felt emotional while recording. It was enjoyable because I could immerse myself more deeply into the lyrics through expression. I also look forward to feeling how fans' emotions will resonate during live performances."

He added, "I participated in 'Even If We Meet by Chance,' a song that maximizes the charm of ONEUS's emotional vocals and rap. The members really liked it, and I am satisfied. I believe it will also have a positive impact from a storytelling perspective, so I look forward to it."

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*This content was translated by AI.