For CNBLUE, a band with 15 years of experience, the current surge of interest in bands on K-pop stages brings a range of emotions. While they are glad to see that the public’s barriers toward band music have lowered, they also feel the weight of the responsibility to prove themselves during this time.
This is why Yonghwa, Jungshin, and Minhyuk, who have been active as actors over the past three years, “carved out time from their busy schedules to take lessons again and prepare for the new album.”
CNBLUE proudly presents their 10th mini album, ‘X,’ set to release on the 14th, filled with six self-composed tracks by the members. They confidently describe it as “an album that truly showcases the unique color we’ve honed over 15 years.”
"The reason we decided that no matter what, we had to release a ‘full-band album’ this year is because we could feel the resurgence of the band scene," they explained. “We’ve been consistently working on songs, but couldn’t find the right timing. But now, we realized that we couldn’t wait any longer. We felt confident that now is the time when people can distinguish between what’s real and what’s not. We’ve spent more than half of the year fully dedicated to performing, and now it's time to bring out our 'weapon.'”
CNBLUE is eager to showcase their latest work, feeling confident about the fresh direction they’ve taken with their new album. With laughter, they revealed their strong motivation behind their latest album, saying, “We’re ready to show you what we’ve got.”
The group has carefully curated their new album, including the title track ‘A Sleepless Night’ and other songs that focus on “raw band sounds.” Their confidence is higher than ever, with Yonghwa even reaching out personally to Ha Sangwook, a poet known as the “SNS Poet,” to incorporate a line from his poem into the title.
Reflecting on the creative process, Yonghwa shared a particularly nostalgic moment, “While working on this song, I thought about the times I missed the most. I remembered the period right after we finished recording our first album in 2009, just before our debut. I used to drive from Yeongdeungpo to Hongdae in Seoul, blasting ‘Alone’ from the car so people outside could hear it. I felt proud when I saw people wondering, ‘What song is that?’ I miss those days when we were purely focused on music.”
The band recently attended 2NE1's 15th-anniversary concert, as both groups debuted around the same time. CNBLUE admitted they were moved during the event, saying, “Watching them, we realized that we, too, are a group that brings memories to others, and somehow that brought tears to our eyes.”
Yonghwa also spoke about their relationship with ‘Alone’ their debut and signature song, "There were times when we felt like ‘Alone’ was holding us back. We even tried to distance ourselves from it. But over time, we realized that for those who remember the song, it brings warmth to their hearts. Knowing that made us proud to keep performing it. It also strengthened our desire for CNBLUE to continue and never end.”
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