Come and discover NOWZ’s brand-new single!
The male group NOWZ — formerly NOWADAYS — from CUBE ENTERTAINMENT, composed of members HYEONBIN, YOON, YEONWOO, JINHYUK, and SIYUN, welcomes us for a round-table interview at the agency’s café, alongside several other journalists, to talk about their newest single, “PLAYBALL.” The single includes three tracks: “Get Buck,” “Home Run,” the title track, and “이름 짓지 않은 세상에.”
The group is steadily making a name for itself on the international scene, especially after performing at KCON Los Angeles and Waterbomb Macao. This “global idol” status increases fans’ anticipation for this comeback, all the more since this single marks a new challenge for the group. After debuting in April 2024, NOWADAYS officially changed its name in June of this year, in order to showcase a new facet of its young members. With this release, the boys present a broader musical spectrum and look toward the future, showing that they have no limits.
The interview begins. The five members enter the room, introduce themselves one by one, and sit down, ready to answer the press’s questions. A medley video is shown to briefly introduce the songs from the single, featuring the group in a sporty universe somewhere between baseball and relaxed moments. Then the “Home Run” MV is screened, alternating intense and dynamic scenes in a dark and powerful setting, marked by lightning and flames. The boys start by expressing how they feel about this comeback, arriving only four months after the previous one. They are eager to hear fans’ reactions, especially since this is their first attempt at EDM with “Get Buck.”
The members’ assigned positions allow them to complement one another effortlessly in this comeback, as they aim to become true “aces” in the music field. They also believe that this new title track suits the group’s current identity and their chemistry best. Within the group, JINHYUK and SIYUN take on the roles of rappers. The concept revolves around baseball, which pairs well with hip-hop and conveys an energy as dynamic as the album itself. It hasn’t even been two years since their debut, yet the boys enjoy exploring various musical genres to figure out what fits them best — and they believe they’ve found both their path and their voice with this comeback.
Each member was also given a phrase to represent them:
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HYEONBIN: NOWZ’s captain
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YOON: The most beautiful voice of the 5th generation
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YEONWOO: CUBE ENTERTAINMENT’s Ohtani (one of Japan’s most famous baseball players)
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JINHYUK: NOWZ’s MVP
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SIYUN: The man of Waterbomb Macao
Sports are a central theme in this single: the group seeks to push its limits with every comeback while continuing to run toward its dreams. Several sports were considered, but baseball matched hip-hop the best. The members thus tried their hand at baseball for this concept — and for some, like YOON, it brought back school memories, when he used to be a fan of a team. SIYUN, who as a child was a fan of the DOOSAN Bears, also gained a deeper understanding of what baseball means to its fans.
More specifically, the crucial symbol here is the home run, which inspired the single’s title. A home run is a ball that cuts through the air at full speed, scoring like a goal — a metaphor for the group’s desire to make just as strong an impact in the industry. The musical direction draws on old-school hip-hop, paying homage to its roots. As rappers, JINHYUK and SIYUN took part in writing the lyrics for “Home Run” and explain that they wanted to highlight the idea of running endlessly toward the future.
Switching topics, the group looks back on its participation in Waterbomb Macao, an event that SIYUN had long dreamed of joining and hopes to attend again. It was a truly joyful and fun memory for them, as they met and interacted with other artists. SIYUN, who made waves thanks to his physique, says he gained about 4kg of muscle and ate mainly chicken breast to achieve that result. The boys still have many dreams they hope to achieve and many shows and festivals they want to attend. Although they currently have no overseas plans scheduled, they hope opportunities will arise again very soon.
Returning to the main subject, this single also highlights the members’ charms. Their goal is to prove that they are a group that excels live while delivering polished performances that leave a mark. Before the name change, NOWADAYS had specific keywords defining the group, which disappeared with the new name. Although these words are gone, the members feel they compensate with their energy and music. Moreover, during a comeback, it’s not only the music that matters — appearance is equally important. JINHYUK says that hairstyles and outfits also breathe life into a new single. A comeback can only succeed if every element is in harmony.
KSTATION TV then asks:
“Do you have any particular routine when preparing for a comeback?”
“Rather than a specific routine, we focus on sports and how our energy is conveyed on camera and on stage. We spent a lot of time immersed in baseball and sports in general.” – SIYUN
“Our facial expressions were something we worked on a lot, especially to bring baseball to life and make the concept believable on screen.” — YEONWOO
“One of the key colors of this comeback is red, so I dyed my hair to match the concept. Taking care of my hair has become a routine.” – HYEONBIN
This last comment makes the other members laugh. Team spirit is essential in a group — giving each member their place and communicating well are vital for good harmony. They introduce two new keywords: synergy — the team spirit — and visual, which shouldn’t be overlooked during comeback preparations. As the maknae, SIYUN points out that some members have a soft, delicate first impression, and visuals can help them fit more naturally into the expected comeback concept — hip-hop, in this case. This remark again makes the older members laugh, especially YOON and YEONWOO, who were likely the target of these affectionate comments.
“Just as the world is vast, so is the world of music, with many genres and therefore many challenges to explore.” – YEONWOO
YOON continues, saying that being an artist is genuinely fun for him, and each challenge creates good memories with the members. They also enjoy comparing themselves in music videos or solo activities. HYEONBIN says he thought he looked the best while filming the « Let’s get it » music video. He also wants to appear on cooking shows so he can eat good food, especially meat.
Day by day, they reflect on their achievements, on every stone they add to their foundation. Even though their days often look similar, they hope to grow through everything they do and remain focused on the future rather than the present. HYEONBIN — clearly the philosopher of the group — says that life is like a diet: you must be mindful every day, but not to the point of depriving yourself.
If they had to choose a goal for this comeback, it would be to create an album that becomes legendary and to enter the charts and win awards as recognition for their efforts. YOON also hopes to have opportunities to release solo work so each member can reveal a unique facet of their personality, all while ensuring the group lasts as long as possible. They also want to develop their lyric-writing skills so they can take greater ownership of their music. With each comeback, the boys hope to make their name — NOWZ — known to as many people as possible.
Throughout the interview, the members’ naturalness is obvious. They seem to genuinely enjoy responding to the various questions, creating a smooth and cheerful exchange with the journalists. During a fan meeting, SIYUN mentioned wanting to go skydiving — something he still hasn’t done but hopes to achieve someday. This brings the interview to a close, with the members taking time to thank the journalists personally, full of plans for the future.
Words from our reporter: “It was a pleasure to talk with such a touching and hardworking group. These boys are full of talent — I wish them great success with this comeback!”
Journalist : Pillet Anaïs
Photos : CUBE ENTERTAINMENT
Source : KSTATION TV
