K-pop superstars RIIZE sit down with CLASH to discuss their latest mini album, ‘II’, inspiration from festival performances, and learning to become more comfortable with themselves.
After making history by performing at major festivals around the world, including Lollapalooza in South America and Austin City Limits, RIIZE returned to the studio with a new sense of confidence and inspiration.
The six-member K-pop group — consisting of Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee, and Anton — have never been afraid to experiment with different genres and sounds, from their signature brand of “emotional pop” to R&B and dance.
However, as they began work on their second mini-album, ‘II’, the group felt more empowered than ever to try something different and take creative risks.
The mini album seeks to capture this growth and maturity by reflecting on the lessons they’ve learned throughout their career, while managing to keep the essence of what has made RIIZE so popular across the globe.
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CLASH: What did you want to express with ‘II’?
ANTON: Growth and achievement have always been an important part of RIIZE’s story, going all the way back to our debut slogan, “Rise and Realize.” With II, we wanted to show where we are now after everything we’ve experienced together, and how we’re continuing to move forward through the idea of “Rise to Realize.” To me, this album reflects the lessons we’ve learned, the growth we’ve gone through, and the next step we’re taking as a team.
SOHEE: For me, ‘II’ is an album I’ll always associate with having fun. From the moment we first heard the songs to the whole process of preparing for it, we genuinely enjoyed everything. Even years from now, I think I’ll remember this album as something full of fun and excitement. I hope that feeling comes through to everyone listening too.
How did this new sound show a different side of RIIZE creatively?
EUNSEOK: I think this album shows just how many different colours RIIZE can have. All six tracks have their own distinct style and atmosphere, but they still feel connected through who we are as a team. It reminded me that RIIZE isn’t limited to one particular sound, and that we can explore different genres and make them feel like our own.
WONBIN: With this album especially, we explored a lot of styles that feel very different from one another, including some sounds we hadn’t really tried before. Because of that, it feels like RIIZE’s creative spectrum has expanded even further. The album is so diverse that I think everyone will end up having a different favorite track depending on their own taste, and that’s one of the things I like most about it.
How does ‘Do your dance’ encapsulate the energy of ‘II’?
SUNGCHAN: “Do your dance” is probably the song that captures the energy of ‘II’ the best. It has a lot of the confidence, excitement, and positivity that we wanted this album to have. The “Head, hips, shoulders, toes” hook is really catchy, and I think it’s the kind of song that stays in your head after one listen. It also highlights what RIIZE does best — performing! If you watch the stage, especially the dance break, I think you’ll really feel the energy and confidence that define this album.
SHOTARO: I think the phrase “Like a pro” really sums up the spirit of ‘II’. To me, being a pro isn’t about being perfect or being the best at something. It’s about having the confidence to enjoy challenges and keep moving forward even when things get difficult. That mindset runs throughout the album, and I hope listeners can feel that confidence and take some of it with them too.
How have recent live performances and festivals helped inspire this sound and direction of the album?
SUNGCHAN: We got a lot of inspiration from performing live. Before, I think I focused more on singing well and doing the choreography right, but through touring and festivals, I realized that performing is really about sharing energy with the audience. Every crowd reacts differently, and feeling that connection on stage taught me a lot. When we were recording this album, I found myself thinking more about how each song would feel live and how people might experience it with us in the moment.
ANTON: I think all of us grew a lot through the tour. We spent so much time preparing for shows and performing together, and I feel like everyone became more confident in their own ideas. Compared to when we first debuted, the members are much more comfortable speaking up now. Whether it’s during recording sessions or while working on performances, we are more willing to say, “What if we tried it this way?” I think that openness helped shape this album too, because everyone was actively contributing and pushing each other to make it better.
This album reflects your growing maturity as both artists and human beings… What are you most proud of during this journey of self-growth?
SHOTARO: I think I’m most proud of learning to trust myself more on stage. I used to be so focused on doing everything exactly as planned and getting every detail right, but through touring and performing at festivals in so many different places, I realised something: when you’re truly enjoying the stage, the audience can feel that. That energy travels. So for this album, I’m trying to lead with my heart and really let myself enjoy the moment.
SUNGCHAN: I’m most proud that we’ve learned to be more comfortable as ourselves. Being in our fourth year, I’ve realised that you don’t have to be perfect all the time to keep growing. Sometimes the more honest moments — laughing off mistakes, joking around with the members, showing who we really are — are the moments fans connect with the most. I still get nervous and I still want to do well, but now I’m learning to see that nervousness as part of the excitement, not something to hide.
Before approaching a new project, I’ve heard that you listen to a lot of music and think about the lyrics and themes you’re inspired by. For ‘II’, which music or artists inspired you? Any particular lyrics that stuck out to you?
ANTON: Since debut, we as a team have always explored new styles and genres, from pop and R&B to house, alt-rock, hip-hop, and more. For ‘II’, rather than being inspired by one specific artist, I think we focused more on how different sounds and emotions could still come together in a way that feels like RIIZE. Whatever style we take on, the most important thing is that the songs still sound like us. “Emotional pop” has become a keyword for that, because RIIZE’s music should make listeners feel something, whether it’s happiness, sadness, or anything in between.
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RIIZE covers a wide array of genres, which usually comes first: the genre / sound or the subject and lyrics?
ANTON: These processes really depend on the people making the songs and the goals you have in mind from the start. I think the same can be said for the artists who helped create the songs on our album. In their own ways, they helped make this six-track project feel whole. If you look at our album artwork, there’s a unifying theme across all the different backgrounds we shot in, and I think that’s the sky. The songs on the album all sound different and span different genres, but together they paint one picture, which I think was captured really well in the photos too. It’s a fun process.
Members of EXO are your role models… What inspired you about their music? And what did you learn from watching them perform?
WONBIN: The first concert I saw after joining SM Entertainment was EXO’s, and I think that was the moment I became really sure about this path. It gave me a clear goal to work toward. What inspired me most was the synergy they created as a group. Each member had their own charm, but when they came together on stage, the energy became so much bigger. I remember being completely drawn in from start to finish, without a single dull moment. Watching that made me want RIIZE to become a team that can show something just as clear and powerful on stage — something that feels unmistakably our own.
SUNGCHAN: I remember randomly coming across EXO’s ‘Growl’ performance on TV when I was in elementary school, and it really left a huge impression on me. The way all twelve members moved so perfectly together, while still showing their own individuality, felt so powerful. The beat, the live energy, and the choreography all came together in a way that immediately pulled you in.
After that, I started listening to more of EXO’s music, like ‘Overdose’, ‘Call Me Baby’, and ‘Monster’. Their songs were so addictive, and their performances were powerful but still so polished. What I learned most from watching them was how important it is to have strong teamwork and a clear identity as a group. Even now, as RIIZE, I want us to become a team that can command the stage like that and inspire others in our own way.
In ‘Do your dance’, you sing “Watchin’ us rise while you sleep’”, what keeps you motivated to rise to the next level? Anything on the bucket list which keeps driving you?
SOHEE: The support from BRIIZE is what keeps us going more than anything. When we’re on stage and hear the cheers, that energy gives me chills every time. One goal I have is for more people to get to know RIIZE and for our music to leave a strong impression — not only on BRIIZE around the world, but on anyone who enjoys music. I want people to hear our songs and feel, “This is RIIZE’s colour.”
Talk to me about the Tokyo Dome concerts, what was that experience like? And what did that achievement mean to you as a group?
SHOTARO: Tokyo Dome had been a dream stage for me even before debut, so standing there felt incredibly meaningful. More than anything, I felt grateful because it showed that so many people were supporting us and watching over us. On a Japanese broadcast a while ago, I was asked what my goal was for five years later, and I said I wanted to perform at Tokyo Dome. The fact that we actually made that dream come true still doesn’t feel real. I’m also grateful to the members, because we reached that stage together.
EUNSEOK: Even now, it still doesn’t quite feel real. Tokyo Dome was actually where I had my very first stage back when I was in SM Rookies, so going back there felt really special. This time, we got to do our own show in front of a venue full of BRIIZE, and that was just surreal and so meaningful. I’m also really thankful to the members for staying healthy, giving it their all, and making that stage such a great memory together.
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‘II’ is out now.
Words: Adam Davidson
Photo Credit: SM Entertainment
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