The perfect metaphor to explain the journey of CLOSE YOUR EYES — borrowing the idea of the group’s first file — is a e-book with many chapters. Every one sheds gentle on a special nuance of the seven members who received the survival present Venture 7.
For the reason that group’s debut in April 2025 with ETERNALT, the band has moved throughout genres and kinds with out ever dropping the distinctive high quality that makes them transfer as one physique in each single monitor, and that speaks to their uniqueness throughout the Ok-pop panorama — a uniqueness additionally rewarded by the numbers: Third mini album blackout offered greater than 570,000 copies in its first week, setting, on the time, one of the best first-week consequence amongst male teams that debuted in 2025.
That file marked a stylistic turning level for CLOSE YOUR EYES: If the primary undertaking was distinctive for its narrative fashion and sounds — with quite a lot of acoustic guitar, ranging from the opening monitor that bears the band’s identify — the second, Snowy Summer season, emphasised sure elements tied to the adolescent world with a magnetic title monitor, whereas blackout dragged the group into a lot quicker, extra digital rhythms.
“We needed to point out a brand new facet of us. I used to be searching for music in quite a lot of genres, after which I started working with Imanbek. He was very enthusiastic about Ok-pop, so I assumed, ‘If we work with him, we would be capable to do one thing new within the current scene, not solely as CLOSE YOUR EYES, but additionally with a method that’s fairly overseas to Ok-pop,’” remembers the group chief JEON MINWOOK.
The third mini album can also be basic to the band’s story as a result of it represented one of many first cases by which the members participated much more actively within the writing and creation course of. KIM SUNGMIN, throughout our name, underlines the significance of the affect of their artistic director, LEE HAEIN, who has been with them from the very starting: “Each time we launch an album, she entails us in lots of actions, reminiscent of writing the lyrics, developing with the choreography and even caring for the styling. With each comeback we be taught one thing extra about easy methods to outline a creative path.”
And it’s exactly for that reason that, wanting again, web optimization KYOUNGBAE realizes {that a} 12 months and some months since their debut, they’ve grown above all when it comes to expression: “I feel we all know easy methods to specific ourselves extra clearly. Additionally, we did quite a lot of cowl performances at awards ceremonies, and that helped us to know new genres and ideas higher. Now we have a clearer thought of who we at the moment are.”
One other basic determine within the band’s inventive growth, notably within the early months, was ADORA. The singer-songwriter and former Large Hit Music producer, identified for hits reminiscent of BTS’ “Spring Day” and TXT’s “Our Summer season,” might be the artist who most formed the seven members of their preliminary literary-boy idea. When KYOUNGBAE talks about her, a nostalgic spark is seen in his eyes: “I discovered quite a bit from her. Each vocally, the place I’ve no skilled expertise, and in the way in which of decoding the environment of the songs. I nonetheless do not forget that in the course of the recording of ‘To the Woods,’ we stayed within the studio for 5 hours.”
CLOSE YOUR EYES
Billboard Korea
But the tour throughout kinds and genres is rarely an finish in itself. As JANG YEOJUN explains, the needle of their compass is at all times pointing in direction of the creation of “songs that followers like to hearken to.” MINWOOK echoes him: “I feel that, no matter the kind of music we put out, the message might range relying on the kind of songs and genres, however no matter we do, we keep true to ourselves.” It’s exceptional, the truth is, how within the group’s newest digital single “OVEREXPOSED,” launched on April 21, even whereas embracing Latin rhythms near baile funk for the primary time, you may inform from the very first seconds that you’re listening to a CLOSE YOUR EYES file.
“After I first heard the Latin sounds, I perceived them as a rhythmic efficiency. I assumed in regards to the second once I might dance to them and luxuriate in them along with the Closers [fans],” explains SUNGMIN, referring to “POSE.” “I like to recommend followers hearken to it on the way in which to work or once they’re feeling just a little down.”
Braveness is maybe the important ingredient — in addition to the key — that retains the band stable even when venturing into uncharted territory. “We do our greatest to repay the Closers by giving them every part. Fairly than worrying in regards to the future, we take into consideration how we are able to enhance from efficiency to efficiency,” reveals SONG SEUNGHO.
Of their choreography too — which grows extra complicated and charming with every album — CLOSE YOUR EYES has taken large strides. Efficiency within the group’s case just isn’t merely a show of method and management, however a tool for speaking with followers. “Dance goes past verbal language,” explains KENSHIN. “Though management in choreography is vital, I feel facial features is much more so. Coming from one other nation, there are moments once I can’t specific myself with phrases in the way in which I’d wish to. By physique language, that problem disappears.”
Language was a priority for KENSHIN within the early days. Initially from Japan, he didn’t know Korean very effectively. As he recounts throughout our dialog, the help among the many numerous members was and continues to be basic. “After I face tough moments, quite a lot of questions come to thoughts, and I discover myself asking the opposite members for recommendation. I typically seek the advice of our chief, MINWOOK. He’s extra mature and at all times provides me nice recommendation. I’m very grateful to him,” says MA JINGXIANG.
Concerning language, it’s also value noting that CLOSE YOUR EYES has recorded English and Spanish variations of a few of its singles. “We set no limits for ourselves. Being a band that goals to maintain enhancing, we need to attain as many individuals as potential. There are followers who help us and converse different languages. For them, we’re able to put ourselves to the take a look at,” explains YEOJUN.
The easiest way to try this is, in fact, throughout live shows. Final January, CLOSE YOUR EYES started its first headlining tour, a basic step for any band. For YEOJUN, it’s also an indication that his dream of turning into an idol is really actual: “After I was little and watched Ok-pop star interviews, they at all times talked about how vital live shows have been. That’s why I used to be at all times curious to know what it feels wish to be on stage in entrance of followers. For me, the reveals are probably the most memorable moments of our journey, and I hope they’re for the Closers too, and that they carry lasting recollections with them as effectively.”
The tour has additionally taken the band past Korea’s borders. CLOSE YOUR EYES has carried out in Canada, and a United States leg is ready for October. “We’re really moved by the truth that, whatever the language spoken by the viewers, we nonetheless handle to discover a option to perceive one another. Once we are on tour out of the country, we attempt to be taught and discover out as a lot as potential about their tradition, their meals and their language,” reveals KENSHIN.
It’s a enjoyable element that earlier than each live performance, the entire band gathers round an inside joke born from KENSHIN’s Japanese origins. There’s a phrase, 힘 (him), which implies “power.” KENSHIN used to mispronounce it as 힘이 (himi), and so it turned a good-luck ritual among the many members. Earlier than they take the stage, they merely repeat “힘이힘이 (himi himi)” to interrupt the ice and get pumped up earlier than the stay present.
“The very best factor about stay excursions is performing the songs for the Closers. There are some we haven’t performed shortly, and others we’re performing for the very first time, and it’s great to see their response. The largest problem is that, this being our first stay tour, it may be tough to handle a long-running efficiency. The problem is maintaining the followers engaged all through,” explains SONG SEUNGHO.
As regards to songs and setlists, MA JINGXIANG has no doubts: Essentially the most stunning monitor to carry out stay stays the band’s first single, “All My Poetry”. “It takes us again to the interval of our debut and reminds us of the frame of mind we had on the time. Essentially the most demanding music, however, is ‘SOB.’ Being such an intense monitor, mastering it on stage requires a major burst of vitality.”
Describing OVEREXPOSED, CLOSE YOUR EYES referred to as it an appetizer. “In our subsequent undertaking we’ll present a change that followers received’t expect. One thing really new,” reveals MINWOOK with a smile. A touch, nonetheless, comes from the chief himself, notably relating to the potential style: “I’d actually like to make hip-hop-inspired music along with the group. By way of being more and more concerned within the writing course of, it’s the style par excellence the place you write the lyrics your self. I’m making an attempt to dedicate increasingly time to songwriting, and though the outcomes aren’t fairly there but, I preserve making an attempt.”
The members are additionally open to new collaborations. KYOUNGBAE is drawn to the thought of someday doing a function with LAUV, whereas SUNGMIN wish to come full circle and write a monitor with Peter Manos: “’In My Head’ was my alarm sound for a few years.”
Past goals and aspirations, a brand new chapter within the story of CLOSE YOUR EYES has already begun, and even making an attempt to foretell the trail they may take this time is really tough. “If I shut my eyes, I image the seven of us singing whereas wanting into one another’s eyes. My dream is that we are able to preserve doing that, fortunately, for a very long time to return,” says MINWOOK.
And that, actually, is the fantastic thing about it. Shut your eyes and you’ll think about each potential future.
This story was written by Billboard Italy’s Samuele Valori for Billboard Korea Artist.
