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| K-pop boy band DAY6 will release its fifth mini-album "The Book of Us : Gravity" Monday. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment |
By Dong Sun-hwa
JYP Entertainment, one of the "Big 3" music powerhouses in Korea, has long been noted for its ability to cultivate A-list K-pop idol singers. It is home to several prominent groups including TWICE, GOT7 and 2PM.
Hence, its launch of boy band DAY6 in 2015 came as a surprise to many people, for DAY6 literally being a "band." It has guitarists, vocalists, bassist, synthesizer/keyboardist and a drummer.
Without focusing on dance and performances, the five-piece band has successfully differentiated itself from other K-pop groups with its broad musical spectrum and self-written songs.
"We want to sing about every moment in life," Young K, the bassist/lead vocalist said in a recent interview with The Korea Times and other media outlets at a cafe in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. "I would be more than happy if people could link every phase of their life to our tracks."
Leader Sungjin added: "We have been dealing with diverse musical genres, so listeners can choose to appreciate what they prefer."
The band is set to release its fifth mini-album "The Book of Us : Gravity" on Monday. Fronted by lead number "Time of Our Life," the EP contains five additional cross-genre songs ― including "For me," "How to love," and "Best Part" ― that deal with different relationships and stories.
"The album in general has an exciting atmosphere that matches well with summer," Young K said. "We attempted to mingle the oriental and Western styles to create uniqueness."
Above all, "Time of Our Life" is a rock-flavored track with a refreshing sound. While its familiar melody reminds listeners of DAY6's original style of music, the addition of a powerful rock sound creates a sense of novelty. The lyrics aim to deliver hope and confidence.
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| DAY6 will embark on a world tour on August 9 in Seoul. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment |
But the quintet ― Sungjin, Young K, Dowoon, Jae and Wonpil ― also faced hurdles as they geared up for a comeback. One of the most demanding tasks was to avoid cliches.
"As I worked on the lyrics this time, I realized I have been using the word 'beauty' repeatedly," Young K said. "Thus, I had to search for a better expression that could still deliver my feelings. Working on the songs is becoming increasingly challenging as we go on, but I think this is something to overcome."
Sungjin said: "I review my previous works again and again (to avoid being trite.)"
He said his daily life is a well of inspiration.
"I take notes whenever I am inspired," he said. "I focus on trivia such as gestures and small talks. Nature frequently inspires me too."
The band rounded off the interview by disclosing its plans.
"We will kick off our world tour on August 9 in Seoul," Sungjin said. "We will spread our music around the world and give off energy. Please look forward to it."
The members will head for 26 cities, including New York and London, during the "DAY6 WORLD TOUR 'GRAVITY'" tour.
