The last time we spoke to Non Smokers Club, was back in July when they released their double single, with tracks called Dickies and Bandonin. But what do we know about this fun and charismatic duo so far? Composed of Zuo and Herr Nayne, they adopted the moniker ‘Non Smokers Club’ as a symbol of their loyalty to a wholesome lifestyle and their artistic ambition to explore a collection of sounds, melding Latin music with Jersey Club beats.

Non Smokers Club have been seen as one of those artists who will, sooner or later, make their waves in the Korean music scene. And with their latest release, a double single MMATT, they proved that they have a lot to offer when it comes to music. The centrepiece of this release is the title track, MMATT, which artfully “mixes emotional flamenco guitar melody with the vibrant in the sound thump of an 808 bass drum”. La Verdad, another track on this double single, delights NSC’s fans with its R&B pop essence, revealing a story of “fervent and deep romance that depicts the emotional core of the title track.”

MMATT release was accompanied by an absorbing music video directed by  KWONEE, a well-known executive director of ESVP Film, who is also notable for collaborations with prominent artists like B.I, Blasé, Dbo, and various K-pop icons. The double single is available on all major streaming platforms, and the music video for MMATT is accessible on their official YouTube Channel. 

Straight after the release of MMATT, Zuo and Herr Nayne explained to us the significance of incorporating multiple languages (English, Spanish, and Korean) in La Verdad, “It is important since we both spent few years on foreign soil and now, we try to put ourselves in Latin American and Spanish culture. As we proceed with blurring Latin music genres, we realise there’s a certain style in them, their lyrics and storytelling which we see as bolder and more direct compared to those of K-pop. Understanding this was the key to defining Non Smokers Club not just in music but also in pride.”

This revelation underscores how their multicultural experiences have enriched their music, enabling them to build that “magical” bridge between their own backgrounds and the cultures they’ve embraced.

MMATT stands for “Meet Me At The Top,” a mantra that epitomises the duo’s journey. Herr Nayne explained, “MMATT is an abbreviation that Zuo came up with. The message is simple: two youngins try to prosper and fight the obstacles on their way to success. This is the life we chose and we are proud to talk about our positive struggle and hope our music spreads good energy to people who are just like us.”

Originally planned as a summer-vibe EP, the release date for MMATT kept getting delayed, resulting in its launch in the fall. Zuo further described this shift in plans: “We planned a summer-vibe EP but the release date for it kept being delayed so we had to switch it for the next season. Herr Nayne made the song for summer but it ended up being on the album for fall. And it happened to be the best decision we’ve made because the song suits fall! The guitar loop is emotive and romance-obvious so we decided to write more boldly just like what we hear in lyrics of genres of Latin music.”

This shows that changing seasons and musical inspiration can lead to unexpectedly creative and bold choices, resulting in a very good song and music in genearal. 

The music video for MMATT, as previously mentioned, was directed by KWONEE. Zuo and Herr Nayne also shared their thoughts on this collaboration, “Director Kang was super cool. One day we hit him up because when you watched a K Hip-hop/R&B music video from 2022, 9 out of 10 it was all him and his production ESVP Film. Our title track matches his visuals which are very invigorating, very macho, and very vivid. He is a young veteran full of knowledge and ideas so it was very sufficient to work with him.”

In addition, they also highlighted how the music video enhanced the storytelling experience: “The use of red and yellow and the rain scene in our music video satisfyingly added depth to our music.”

Non Smokers Club’s incorporation of English, Korean, and Spanish lyrics in La Verdad and English and Korean in MMATT reflects their desire to connect cultural gaps and tell their story authentically. Through their music, Zuo and Herr Nayne share their journey, struggles, and dreams with the world, spreading positivity and inspiration. Non Smokers Club’s music is not just a fusion of languages but also a fusion of cultures, a representation of the universal language of music that brings people together.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image courtesy of Non Smokers Club

_{View of the Arts is a British online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}