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| ▲ This photo of rookie boy group NOWZ is provided by Cube Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL,
Nov. 26 (Yonhap) --
Rookie boy group NOWZ of Cube Entertainment is aiming for commercial success this fall with a new baseball-themed song, vowing to make their team name known to the public with the ambition and confidence of a group in its second year since debut.
Ahead of the release of their third single “Play Ball,” NOWZ recently met with reporters at their agency’s headquarters in Seoul’s Seongdong District, saying, “Our biggest weapon is the strong unity and solid teamwork we’ve built over a long time,” adding, “When people see the harmony of the performance we’ve prepared, they’ll be amazed.”
The members added, “For us, placing first on a music show would be our home run. We’ve been nominated for first place before, but we’ve never actually won,” saying, “Even if it’s not a grand slam, we hope this promotion becomes our first home run.”
“Play Ball” is their second release since changing their group name from NOWADAYS to NOWZ in July. While their previous release “IGNITION” featured a rough rock sound suited to the height of summer, the new single marks a musical shift with the EDM-based dance track “HomeRUN.”
Member Siyun said, “Our group’s strength is that we’re not limited to just one genre — we can pull off many styles,” adding, “Rock isn’t a genre many idol groups usually do, and intense EDM is also a challenge at a time when easy listening is trending. Expanding our spectrum through challenges is what defines our color and strength.”
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| ▲ This photo of rookie boy group NOWZ is provided by Cube Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The single contains three tracks: the title song “HomeRUN,” which sings of youth’s challenges and achievements; the old-school hip-hop track “GET BUCK”; and the ballad “In a World Without a Name,” which blends acoustic guitar strokes with dreamy synthesizer sounds.
Hyunbin described the title track as “a song about the hopes of young people who try to turn even an uncertain future into an opportunity,” adding, “We made a quick comeback in just four months, but this album is especially meaningful because it shows new sides of NOWZ we haven’t revealed before.”
Fitting the baseball concept, each member has also taken on a position: batter (Yoon), pitcher (Yeonwoo), first baseman (Siyun), center fielder (Hyunbin) and catcher (Jinhyuk).
Hyunbin explained, “Baseball has a refreshing image, and we added a unique hip-hop element on top of that. We chose the baseball concept because we thought it would allow us to show a distinctive side of NOWZ.”
Yoon added, “Baseball gives people positive energy, so we practiced fast, tightly packed choreography to give strength to listeners as well. I think the dance turned out really well, so viewers will really feel the energy.”
The group features point choreography mimicking a batter hitting a home run with a bat, while the music video incorporates various baseball gestures such as catching a ball.
Jinhyuk, who took part in writing the lyrics to “HomeRUN,” said, “I wrote the song with the determination that we would climb step by step through this process and eventually reach the top,” adding, “I imagined turning on the TV and seeing myself on screen, winning, and expressed our desire for growth and success.”
NOWZ have already completed their pre-comeback warm-up by appearing at “KCON” in Los Angeles and “WATERBOMB” in Macau this year, and even working temporary part-time jobs at a cafe on the first floor of their agency building to cheer on students preparing for exams.
Yoon said, “Since this is a baseball-themed single, it would be great if people listened to our song when they go to watch baseball games,” adding, “I’d love for ‘HomeRUN’ to be used as a cheer song at stadiums or as background music for player introductions.”
“When we show this kind of refreshing yet hip-hop vibe like in this single, I think that’s when we shine the most. Our goal? That everyone answers ‘Yes’ when we stop a random person on the street and ask, ‘Do you know NOWZ?’” (Siyun)
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