ATEEZ tell us about their new mini album ‘GOLDEN HOUR: Part 2’

ATEEZ members Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho, are back with their 11th mini album, GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2. They have already amassed a massive 16 million views in two days on Youtube for the music video for their lead track ‘Ice on My Teeth’ with includes the group immersed in a big budget world of museum halls, stately homes with balaclava’ed ballerinas, flaming bonfires and cooly-lensed opulence  Yunho and Yeosang open things up, causing havoc on the tennis court, before Hongjoong and Mingi produce some cleverly creative rap. Seonghwa serves his ever outstanding editorial looks, as Wooyoung leads up the first of many cleverly choreographed dance break, and of course, it would’t be an ATEEZ music video without Jongho’s robust vocals and San somehow managing to lose his shirt – this time swinging from a chandelier. 

’Deep Dive’ starts the album with a cerebral tone with a song that explore more existential themes of loneliness, longing and anxiety. As Wooyoung and Seonghwa open with airy and delicate high notes,Yeosang and Yunho take care of the lower register of the song. Lyrically, it straddles the universal experience of how modern-day life has become more transient. There is a deeper, perhaps more personal layer to the song- that of the experience of a K-pop idol. They constantly circle the globe drifting from country to county, traversing multiple timezones, experiencing cities through hotel room service and the tinted lens that is the window of a sprinter van. ‘Enough,’ at the end of the record, acts as a bookend with the opener ‘Deep Dive’ with Hongjoong using references from the opening song, but now encouraging reminiscing and the idea of togetherness and shared experience as Yeosang sings the bridge about finding your place in the world, reconciling doubts and backing ones self.

The middle act of the album, that houses their lead single ’Ice on my teeth’ and ‘Man on Fire.’ Both have the sexiness and production value similar to Justin Timberlake’s much lauded noughties ‘Futuresex/LoveSound.’ Just like JT’s critically acclaimed sophomore album, GOLEN HOUR: Part.2 is full of heavy breathing, sultry raps, hypnotic bass lines, sweaty lyrics and beautiful vocals which creates a potent sonic combo that’s fast becoming the octet’s trademark. 

ATEEZ’s discography has a history of utilising ever instrument in the orchestra. They have previously used the brass and wind sections of the pit, on songs such as ‘WORK’ which featured a playful clarinet. Jongho seemingly mistakenly played the flute in that music video, so it been universally decided by ATINY (ATEEZ’ fanbase) that if Jongho says that he is playing a flute, he is so talented, that it is in fact a flute, not a clarinet- even it if sounds like the latter. For ‘Ice on My Teeth’ the K-pop idols have plucked at the string section, pairing the violin with an R&B foundation of the track. As the group evolve, so has the depth and range of their vocals. Mingi and Hongjoong both temper their usually more energetic rap styles, melting them to a more mellow sound to give a sexier energy to things.

Vocally, their evolution follows the same ascend as their rapping. Jongho, known for his spine-tingling powerful voice, shows his craftsmanship by often exercising control, softening the power with his impossibly high notes that works well with Seonghwa, Wooyoung, Yeosang, Yunho and San’s silky smooth vocals. They’re so in sync, their vocals blend together with a beautiful softness, creating deep valleys of low notes from Mingi, Yunho and Yeosang, as San’s impressive range travels through the scales from a caramel-smooth, thick and sultry low tone to meet Jongho, Hongjoong, Wooyoung and Seonghwa perfectly on the high notes. 

Latin flare, that the group often gravitate to, is on display for ‘Man on Fire. The track adopts a winding bass, picking up the tempo, but keeping the sound sensual with more mature syringes about ‘waning you bad’ and ‘unbearable longing’ before they moving the needle slightly  again, this time towards funk, for ‘Selfish Waltz’ a song that tackles the frustrations of a relationship that repeats toxic patterns all whilst retro synths lace the song. 

ATEEZ make sure nothing goes bubblegum in terms of their pop output. ‘Enough’ – a personal favourite of Yeosang’s, has a cinematic sound, with a crashing crescendo of a chorus, akin to a Taylor Swift anthem that builds up the emotions with more synths, percussion and otherworldly high notes. Yeosang takes the beautiful bridge, before the chorus explodes wonderfully with San, Wooyoung, Seonghwa and Jongho. In terms of line distribution, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang and Wooyoung all take bigger roles when it comes to the singing portions, and in doing so, has really added depth and layers to their vocals.

Over their past few albums, the group have definitely planted their flag concerning the kind of sound they are going for. It has clearly paid off with their incredible popularity in the Americas, with the smoothness and sexiness of modern greats of both the North and South American continents, such as The Weeknd and Bad Bunny, that has ensured them a number 1 album on the Billboard 200 with their album ‘The World EP.Fin: WIll’ and becoming the first k-pop boyband to perform at Coachella. Confidence is sexy, and the ATEEZ have that in bucketloads, whether they go bold and experimental like ‘Ice on MyTeeth’ or mellowing things out with ‘Deep Dive’ they trust in their sonic direction. Their quasi-formal motto ‘eight makes one team’ is never more evident in this album- that is distinct, confident, cohesive and it’s bringing sexy back. 

Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho make up the amazing eight-ATEEZ, so it made sense for Rolling Stone UK to ask them eight questions on GOLDEN HOUR Part.2:

How does ‘GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2’ connect sonically and lyrically to ‘GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2’? 

Hongjoong: ‘GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2’ picks up where ‘GOLDEN HOUR : Part.1’ left off. While ‘GOLDEN HOUR : Part.1’ was all about ambition and pushing higher, ‘GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2’ focuses more on pride and our strong bond. It still has ATEEZ’s powerful sound and emotion but with more depth. The lyrics touch on self-worth and love, showing the pride we have as a group

What themes do you like to explore most in your music?

Seonghwa: In our music, we’re drawn to themes that everyone can connect with, like self-worth, love, and resilience. We want to express emotions that ATINY can relate to—whether it’s the joy of winning, finding the courage to face challenges, or chasing dreams passionately. These themes help us connect our experiences with those of our fans.

Do any members have a favourite song from ‘GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2’? And if so, which one, and why is it special to you?

Yeosang: Each member has their personal favourite, but “Ice On My Teeth” and “Enough” stand out for many of us. To be honest, we can’t choose just one song because we love each of them equally.

You have had incredible chart success in both the UK and US and were the first K-pop male group to perform at Coachella. How does it feel to get this success?

Mingi: It still feels surreal and humbling. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come and knowing that our music resonates with so many ATINYs is a constant source of motivation.

Do you have a favourite achievement in your career so far?

San: Meeting ATINYs worldwide is our greatest achievement! From Latin America to Africa and beyond, connecting with our ATINYs means everything to us. It’s truly our favourite part of this journey. 

When you were working on ‘미친폼 (Crazy Form)’ and ‘WORK’, did you get a feeling that they would go viral worldwide? Or was it a surprise both times? Can you tell when a song is going to have a special moment?

Wooyoung: While it’s hard to predict if a song will have a special moment, there are instances when the energy in the studio feels different—almost electric. We sometimes sense when a track might resonate strongly with our fans.

Do you have any feelings like this about any tracks in ‘GOLDEN HOUR : Part.2’? And if so, why does that song feel special?

Jongho: Our title track “Ice On My Teeth” shows a new side of ATEEZ. It’s a song that fits any moment, whether it’s morning, afternoon, or night. We hope everyone can enjoy it whenever they want!

Where is the craziest/loudest/most overwhelming place you have heard the ‘BREAK THE WALL’ chant? 

Yunho: Every single time we are surprised by how loud and passionate fans are when they chant with us. To be honest it’s hard to pick a singular moment because each time it always feels so moving and beautiful to hear them cheer so loudly with us.