Plus Magazine

The growth story of someone radiating hope always captivates our hearts. RIIZE, the artist who captures such excitement, has garnered significant attention with their music releases. From the reminiscent song ‘Memories’, to the funky groove of ‘Get A Guitar’, their embarkation on this youthful journey is undoubtedly filled with anticipation. We, M Countdown Magazine, met RIIZE, the boy band that became a million-seller upon their debut.

Welcome, RIIZE. Please greet the readers of M Countdown Magazine.

Hello, we are RIIZE~!

You've debuted with a lot of attention. How do you feel finally meeting the fans?
 

To be honest, the attention we received even before our debut took us by surprise. We kept an eye on updates and reactions from fans on social media. Now that we've debuted and met our fans in person, our excitement has intensified, driving us to work even harder.

The name “RIIZE” stands out. What does it mean?

Our team name, RIIZE, combines ‘RIIZE(Rise),’ signifying ‘growth,’ with ‘RealRIIZE(Realize),’ which means ‘to bring into reality’. It signifies a team that ‘grows collectively and actualizes dreams’!

What is the charm or characteristic you most want to showcase as a team?

In line with our team concept, 'Real-time Odyssey,' we strive to instantly share snippets of our daily lives with fans, highlighting our unique charm.

The debut single often sets the first impression of a group. Could you introduce us to your album [Get A Guitar]?
 

Our song ‘Get A Guitar’ belongs to the emotional pop genre with an attractive funky guitar sound. As the seven members gather around the sound of the guitar, the song depicts the process of understanding and empathizing with each other through music, eventually becoming one team. It contains a message of unveiling our radiant dreams, making it a song unique to RIIZE!
 

Both the pre-released track ‘Memories’ and the title song ‘Get A Guitar’ from your latest single emanate a refreshing and emotional ambiance. Were there specific intentions or aspects you focused on to create such an ambiance?

In sync with our songs' uplifting messages, we strive to maintain a joyful atmosphere during our performances. We focus on facial expressions and connect with each other through eye contact, ensuring we genuinely enjoy our time on stage.

In your song ‘Memories,’ the varied expressions of each member's musical charm are indeed splendid. What was the most important thing you considered while recording?

When we first heard the song ‘Memories,’ we felt that it was a song based on the memories and experiences from our trainee days and the beginning of RIIZE. Thus, we recorded with an intention to convey those feelings. If you listen to the lyrics carefully, you'll be able to sense the journey of the RIIZE members, approaching the ‘Star’ we've dreamt of and worked towards since our younger days. We hope that those who listen to our song feel inspired and motivated to chase their dreams, similar to the sentiments we harbored while preparing the song.

Your lyrics that depict the memories of dreaming stand out. Could you share a memorable anecdote from your trainee days?

During our trainee days, after watching the performances of our seniors, EXO, we often imagined and dreamed of ourselves on stage in the future and devoted ourselves to practice. In fact, we frequently covered songs by EXO and even remember performing their songs during trainee showcases.

You first released the song ‘Memories’ that speaks of the dream of becoming artists, followed by ‘Get A Guitar’ depicting the act of playing music. Is there a narrative reason behind this sequence?

The prologue single ‘Memories’ that was released first is a song reflecting our memories from our trainee days and the new beginnings as artists, while ‘Get A Guitar’ captures the story of RIIZE coming together as a team. As RIIZE symbolizes a team evolving together and actualizing dreams, we wanted this growth narrative to resonate throughout our songs.

Unlike the song ‘Memories,’ where each member showcased their individual charms, ‘Get A Guitar’ exudes a sense of team unity and shared sentiment. What musical atmosphere were you aiming to convey through your songs?

As you've rightly sensed, through ‘Get a Guitar,’ our aim was to depict the process of understanding and empathizing with each other through music, becoming a united team. Even during our dance practices, we often make eye contact with each other to show this connection and understanding. We also incorporate paired choreography and have worked hard to convey our joy on stage.
 

In ‘Get A Guitar,’ there's a lively groove that naturally makes one want to move. Are there any dance moves or points in the choreography that we should pay special attention to?

The choreography during the “Get get get get a guitar~” or the “dun dun dun” sections aligns seamlessly with the music. We believe these key dance points might resonate with listeners, making them want to dance along when they hear the song.

What do you think is the ‘killing part’ of ‘Get A Guitar’?

We believe the paired choreography in the second verse, performed by ANTON and WONBIN together, is the ‘killing part’! Their chemistry is delightful to watch. There's a part at the end where the two face each other and hold hands, and it feels incredibly sweet.

Among the members, is there someone who can play the guitar, like the lyrics of ‘Get A Guitar’ suggest?

WONBIN is really good at playing the guitar. He's been playing since he was 10 years old. I remember during our trainee evaluation, WONBIN sang while playing the guitar. It was so cool that all of us fell for him instantly.

The diverse color palettes of the two music videos you released are impressive. Do you have any memorable experiences from filming the music videos that stood out to you?

During the filming of the ‘Memories’ music video, we had a scene where we were playing joyfully in a pond. Seeing our spontaneous expressions and actions as we conversed and swam added a delightful touch to the video.

One standout moment from the ‘Get A Guitar’ music video shoot was on the final day. We filmed a dance sequence on a bridge that had a clear view of the LA skyline during sunset. It was awe-inspiring to witness that breathtaking scene replicated in the music video. Perhaps because it was the last day of filming, it feels like a moment that will stay with us for a long time. It was truly a happy day.

As a multinational team, I assume there are many fans from abroad that support RIIZE. Do you have a message for your international fans?

Before our debut, we attended KCON LA and were amazed by the vast number of fans cheering for us there. It was invigorating to hear fans at the venue sing along with our songs. In the future, as we continue to create diverse music, we plan to visit our international BRIIZE fans. Please be ready and continue to wait for us! ♡

Lastly, what are RIIZE's goals that you'd like to achieve this year?

Since it's our debut year, our aspiration is to expand RIIZE's reach even further. We wish for an increasing number of people to love our songs and performances! We're also eager to share more progressively with our fans and deepen our connection with them. And, with our hard work, we'd love to win a rookie award!