K-Pop RIIZE talk about their brand of ’emotional pop’ and being Spotify’s first K-pop boy group RADAR Korea artist

Like their name suggests, fifth-gen K-pop group RIIZE are on the ascent. Debuting in 2023, Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton have amassed millions of fans with their brand of emotion pop (which they explain as expressing emotion to their audience, using their individual personalities to build a connection as a team) with songs such as Get a Guitar, Love 119, Memories and Boom Boom Bass. As well as being announced as house ambassadors for luxury brand Louis Vuitton, the group have been picked as Spotify’s newest RADAR Korea artist. The streaming giant’s RADAR project is a global music program by Spotify to spotlight and support emerging artists from around the globe. RIIZE are the first ever K-pop boy group to be selected for Spotify’s program, following a list of illustrious alumni including K-pop girl groups NMIXX and Le SSERAFIM. The group, who are popular on TikTok, have been having a BRAT summer, often making content to Charli XCX songs, tell us about their favourite British music artists, as well as their music, and being selected for Spotify’s RADAR global music programme.

How would you describe the sound of your first mini album?

SHOTARO: Each of the songs in our first mini album “RIIZING” holds different vibes and it’s an album that best expresses RIIZE’s original genre ‘emotional pop.’ A song that we are able to best connect with BRIIZE would be ‘One Kiss’. The following lyrics, “Like I’ve been waiting so long for you, it feels so like that (when I see you),” “No need to say it, I already know it,” describe RIIZE’s feelings of when we waited to meet BRIIZE, as well as our relationship with BRIIZE. This song is also a track that makes me happy every time we sing it because we are able to connect with BRIIZE on stage emotionally.

EUNSEOK: There are various styles of tracks in our first mini album “RIIZING” so I would describe it as an album that is fun to listen to. A song that we connect emotionally with BRIIZE the most would be ‘One Kiss’. It’s a song dedicated to our fans and the lyrics well describe our feelings towards them. 

How does it feel to be selected for Spotify’s RADAR global music programme as the first K-pop boy group?

SHOTARO: I’m happy and thankful that we were selected as Spotify’s RADAR artist and that we are able to introduce RIIZE to global listeners.

EUNSEOK: I’m thankful that we were the first K-pop boy group to be selected as Spotify’s RADAR artist and we will work hard till the day the whole world recognizes RIIZE.

When traveling for the FAN-CON tour, did you find any fun or interesting facts or habits that fellow members had that you didn’t know before? 

SHOTARO: I realized that SOHEE and WONBIN always eat cup noodles in addition to their meal.

EUNSEOK: I noticed that the members are quite light eaters. 

How did you find your 2024 tour? Which song has been the most fun to perform on tour? 

SUNGCHAN: We were able to feel so much passion and energy from the crowd as we did our tour. ‘Siren’ was the most fun song to perform. It was a song that announced the start of the concert and the cheers from the fans were strong and memorable. 

WONBIN: The energy we received while we performed on tour was amazing and it was especially touching how all the foreign BRIIZE sang along with us despite the Korean lyrics. The most exciting song to perform was ‘Talk Saxy’. I was able to feel the adrenaline running as soon as the song started. 

Have any of you been to London before? What would you most like to see or do in London when you next visit? 

SUNGCHAN: I haven’t been to London yet, but because I enjoy watching the Premier League, I someday want to watch a game in the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. 

WONBIN: I haven’t been to London but if I get to visit, I would love to stroll through the beautiful streets and enjoy the scenery. 

Are there any British artists that you like? 

SOHEE: I listen to a lot of Ed Sheeran’s music. 

ANTON: I personally am a big fan of UK artists, particularly UK bands such as Radiohead, Jamiroquai, The Brand New Heavies, Incognito, and Corduroy. I also enjoy music from more modern artists such as Dua Lipa, Jorja Smith, Raye, etc. 

What are you most looking forward to next with the group? 

SOHEE: I’m looking forward to the ongoing memories we will make with BRIIZE, and will try my best to work hard as a member of RIIZE. 

ANTON: I’m looking forward to the rise of RIIZE through endless growth. There may be hard times in the process so it may be hard to rise upwards all the time. However, I want to show that RIIZE can do it as a group. 

Who is the mischievous/playing pranks in the group? What’s the best prank they have done?

SHOTARO: It would be WONBIN. He sometimes appears out of nowhere and pokes me, and leaves. 

Who shares the most clothes/outfits in the band?
EUNSEOK: Since we each have our own style, we usually wear our own things. 

Who is the loudest?And who is the shyest in the group?

SUNGCHAN: The most talkative member would be SHOTARO. The shyest member is ANTON.

Who likes their own time the most? 

WONBIN: EUNSEOK tends to enjoy his own time the most.

Which member does the group go to if they need cheering up, or need advice?

SOHEE: I think it would be SHOTARO, our eldest member (hyung) in the group.

 Can you tell us somethinga bout RIIZE that BRIIZE might not know? 

ANTON: RIIZE is a group that doesn’t hide much from BRIIZE. Our behind-the-scenes footage really shows what we are like in our day-to-day lives. However, something BRIIZE might not know is that there are times when I get surprised at how sincere the members can be, especially when we discuss something as a group. And those sincere and honest moments we share are what strengthen our bond.