Watching TRENDZ blossom since their debut in 2022 has felt like witnessing dear friends graduate high school and step into university life. In just two years, these young men have left a great impression on us – not only with their superb vocal skills and diverse repertoire of songs but also with their sunny and transparent personalities.

Our first encounter with the group was back in April 2023 when they unveiled their second single album, Blue Set Chapter. New Dayz. Later that same year, in October, we had the pleasure of speaking to them again about their single, STILL ON MY WAY.

Following their successful European tour, TRENDZ are gearing up for their Japanese debut and a show in the U.S. Amidst these exciting developments, we recently had another delightful and candid conversation with the group about their latest release, DREAMLIKE. We chatted about their music, the invaluable role of their fans in their creative process, and discovered how they unwind during their free time.

While we are still waiting for TRENDZ’s arrival in London, we remain patiently hopeful for the day they grace the capital with their presence.

The title song “GLOW” is different from the music TRENDZ has done before, so we tried new things in terms of the way we dance, sing, and express ourselves on stage. – Eunil

View of the Arts: Recently, you released your fourth single album, DREAMLIKE. Can you share the inspiration behind the album title and the creative process for this single album?

Ra.L: Most of the songs on the album DREAMLIKE have a bright mood about them, and we thought the lyrics could have good messages in them, so we thought of the word ‘dream’ as a keyword. As the title says, this album contains our dreams and also supports the dreams of many people, so we felt DREAMLIKE was the perfect title for this album.

Eunil: The phrase ‘dream is like a glow’ especially comes out in our title song GLOW. We were playing around with the words ‘dream is like’ and then thought of DREAMLIKE because we felt it included some of the words from the title song and seemed like the perfect title for the album.

View of the Arts: You’ve collaborated with Kim Hyung Seok for this release. What was it like working with him and the global team of composers?

Havit: He is super famous and has had such an impressive career. He always made us feel comfortable, so we were able to enjoy ourselves every time we met. He gave us a lot of advice while keeping us at ease, and something I remember is him encouraging us by telling us we could become international artists like the Beatles or the Rolling Stones.

Ra.L: He said, “K-Pop is spreading out to the world stage, so you have to know how to look further ahead and think bigger. Music has the power to surpass the barriers of language and culture, so you have to be confident in showing everything you’ve prepared.” We kept that in mind as we practised and worked on our art.

Eunil: [As you said], a global songwriting team worked on this album, and I think that’s why the songs have a strong pop and funk feel to them. The songs felt completely new, so it was a lot more fun. I would love to meet the songwriting team in person if I ever get the chance.

View of the Arts: The title track GLOW features exotic string instruments and a funky bass. Can you tell us more about the creative process behind this song and what you enjoyed most about recording it?

Havit: When we were recording the title song, the director worked with each of us individually. He taught us how to feel the rhythm with our bodies, which helped us learn quickly and enjoy the process. Practising together was hilarious, but the results were impressive. Because we had fun and felt the rhythm naturally, we finished recording in just “five minutes”. It was like magic.

Hankook: The lyrics for the title song were written while we were on tour abroad, which made them even more special! I was worried because we didn’t have much time, but I’m quite happy with the results.

View of the Arts: Members Eunil, Rael, and Jang Hyuk contributed to the lyrics of GLOW. Can you share some insights into the lyrical themes and what inspired you during the writing process?

Eunil: For GLOW, I wrote the lyrics for the vocals. When we were discussing the main theme for GLOW, we asked ourselves, “What direction does TRENDZ want to head in? What do we want to do?” We all thought, “We want to glow together!” and so we decided on GLOW as the title. We saw our fans cheering for us on our European tour, and we wrote the lyrics thinking that we wanted TRENDZ to glow even brighter together with our fans!

Ra.L: [As Eunil said], we wrote the lyrics while on our tour in Europe; I remember the lyrics being a bit more difficult compared to the songs on our other albums. The inspiration we got from touring in Europe, a new environment for us, was quite different. The way Eunil, Hankook, and I exchanged our energy with FRENDZ also inspired us. I was prouder than ever when the lyrics for the song were completed because I felt we had produced something good. I have a soft spot for GLOW!

View of the Arts: If I am not wrong, Leon, you created the choreography for GLOW. What was your inspiration for this choreography and how did you go about developing it?

Leon: When I first heard the song GLOW, I found it funky yet gentle at the same time. That’s why I wanted to bring a bit of Michael Jackson into it. I came up with moves that incorporated a jacket I had when I first started working on the choreography, and I’m proud of how it turned out.

View of the Arts: Out of Control and Learn to Love present different styles from hip-hop to pop ballads. How do you approach performing such varied genres, and do you have a favourite among them?

Yechan: TRENDZ has a wide spectrum of styles, so we want to try as many genres as possible and show everyone that we can handle them all! I also love hip-hop and powerful music that you can enjoy, so I want to take on some challenges with the other senior members.

Yoonwoo: What we aim to bring with each song is quite distinct, so we’ve prepared performances based on each song’s main idea. I particularly love Out of Control and look forward to performing that song later on.

I believe our fans play a crucial role. I think the role of an artist is to create music that fans want to hear and deliver performances on stage that they want to see. – Ra.L

View of the Arts: Learn to Love was first unveiled during your world tour. How did it feel to perform it live for your fans, and what was their reaction? It is worth mentioning that the song is fully in English. I am very impressed with your vocals once again, could you tell me more about how you worked on your line distribution for this song?

Havit: When we introduced it at the beginning of the tour, we were quite nervous, but the reaction from FRENDZ was good, which made me very happy [laughs]. We practised together initially, but when the producer heard us, he liked the sensitivity of both of us on this song and suggested we try it as a duet with Eunil. So we took turns singing it, divided the parts, and tried numerous approaches until we settled on singing one verse each and then singing together at the end.

Eunil: This was the first time I did a duet on stage with Havit, and since it’s a ballad, I was nervous at first. But then fans loved it and sang along, so I was happy the whole time I was singing this song [laughs]. One thing I want to mention about the entire song being in English is that Learn to Love originally had both an English version and a Korean version of the lyrics, and we had to come up with the Korean version on our own. I’d love to sing it with our whole group if we get the chance.

View of the Arts: I love the live band version of Go Up. What made you decide to reimagine this song, and how did the live band arrangement enhance its original feel?

Yechan: The original song is already upbeat, but the live version of Go Up came about because we thought it would be more liberating and more fun. While the original song shows TRENDZ having a good time, I thought the band version was better for the concert because it allowed us to jump, have fun, and interact with the audience!

View of the Arts: You mentioned feeling a sense of pride and pressure with this comeback. Can you elaborate on the challenges you faced?

Yoonwoo: The pressure was high. Eunil and Ra.L worked on the Korean lyrics, while Leon did the choreography to increase direct participation in the album. A lot of our ideas and suggestions went into the overall concept and design, so this album is filled with pride.

Eunil: The title song GLOW is different from the music TRENDZ has done before, so we tried new things in terms of the way we dance, sing, and express ourselves on stage.

View of the Arts: As a group, you have demonstrated a wide range of concepts in the past. How would you say DREAMLIKE shows your growth as artists?

Hankook: This album features a variety of genres and shows our collaborative efforts and the enjoyment we had creating it. It contains TRENDZ’s ambition as we continue to evolve and grow. Please keep an eye on us as we embark on this exciting journey!

Yechan: I can say with confidence that TRENDZ will gain experience on stage and mature even more through DREAMLIKE and that the path we take will also glow brightly just like the title song!

View of the Arts: For fans who have followed you from the beginning and new listeners just discovering TRENDZ, what do you hope they take away from this album?

Leon: We’ve been pulling off songs with different concepts on each album, so we’d like you to think of TRENDZ as a group that can take on any kind of concept. 

Yoonwoo: This album marks a bold leap into new challenges, and we hope you appreciate the fresh elements we’ve introduced. While our performances remain our strong suit, I also want people to recognize our ability to do justice to funk.

View of the Arts: Is there an artist you like who never fails to make you feel good? 

Havit: We love and respect so many artists like Park Hyo-shin, Kim Feel, Crush, Isaac Hong, Baek Hyun, IU, and Taeyeon!! We learn and grow from watching them sing and perform!!!

Leon: I watch ATEEZ a lot because they do so much that sets an example for me to follow.

Yoonwoo: V of BTS is my role model. His stage presence, expressions, and gestures are fantastic so there’s a lot for me to learn from him.

Hankook: I like the music of BewhY, the rapper. His beat is spot on and his killing beat boosts my morale, so I listen to it whenever I need to feel energised!

Ra.L: The artist that makes me feel good is DPR LIVE! His sensitive music and witty lyrics provide tremendous stimulation for me and always cheer me up! As a group, we want to keep working toward the day when we can be the artists who can give a big boost to someone else.

Eunil: D.O. and ATEEZ! I listen to D.O.’s songs a lot. He sings very well and is the best at conveying emotion; he’s my role model and I want to learn from him. I saw ATEEZ on stage with WORK which they released recently and they were fantastic. Their stage performance was so amazing that it made me feel good.

Yechan: I admire and love Han of Stray Kids. I think his dancing, rap, vocals, and appearance are perfect in every way, so just seeing him puts a smile on my face and I feel excited because he makes me want to follow in his footsteps!

I can say with confidence that TRENDZ will gain experience on stage and mature even more through “DREAMLIKE” and that the path we take will also glow brightly just like the title song! – Yechan

View of the Arts: It is the job of the artist to win over an audience, but listening is also an active, rather than a passive, process. How do you see the role of your fans in the musical communication process?

Havit: I always think that without our fans, we couldn’t exist! The fact that we can go on stage and create music as artists is all thanks to FRIENDZ rooting for us and sticking with us. This motivates us to work even harder to create better music and put on great performances in return for their support!!!

Ra.L: I believe our fans play a crucial role. I think the role of an artist is to create music that fans want to hear and deliver performances on stage that they want to see. Fans who witness artists doing this will shower them with support and love. I believe this kind of interaction is a tremendously positive aspect of K-pop culture, and it’s something we must always keep in mind and be deeply grateful for. That’s why TRENDZ’s dream is to consistently provide music and stage performances that FRENDZ will want to listen to and watch throughout our entire lives.

View of the Arts: When you are not working and writing songs, what do you do to get away from it all and relax? 

Havit: I usually spend time alone! I watch movies, go to exhibitions, or search for a delicious restaurant and good bread. Sometimes, I binge-watch a drama or anime series at home and play games. Going around by myself makes me feel disconnected from my daily life and the rest of the world, so it’s therapeutic for me. I also have a strong sense of curiosity and love to try new experiences, so I enjoy various hobbies.

Leon: I stayed glued to the bed all day.

Yoonwoo: I usually meet up with my friends to eat something or go to a café. But recently I enjoy watching a series or a movie so I spend time lying down on my own or sleeping.

Hankook: I think I put everything down for a while and sleep or go for a walk with the wind in my face but without music! I also like meeting my friends and talking about anything to relieve stress.

Ra.L: I mostly listen to music! I love the thrill I get from coming across music that perfectly matches my taste, so I spend time healing as I listen to music.

Eunil: I watch a lot of movies and drama series. I stay in bed catching up on movies and series I’ve wanted to watch, which makes time fly and is therapeutic for me! Occasionally, I go outside for a walk to breathe fresh air, which relieves stress. So, most of my free time is spent watching movies and drama series and taking walks.

Yechan:  I enjoy playing games. When I’m immersed in gaming, it’s a time when I can completely disconnect and focus solely on the game. Besides gaming, I also watch TV dramas and engage in active pursuits, whether alone or with friends, which helps me relax and unwind. It’s a way for me to give myself and my brain the necessary rest!

View of the Arts: You are now prompting DREAMLIKE, and in July, you will release a Japanese debut mini-album Rebirth: Season of You. Apart from that, what else can we expect from you this year?

Eunil: TRENDZ is planning a concert in the U.S.! We’re thrilled at the prospect of meeting our fans in the U.S. following our March tour in Europe. We are preparing a variety of performances, so get ready to be impressed!

Hankook: That’s correct! We have a U.S. concert scheduled after our debut in Japan, and we’re diligently preparing for it to meet many fans. We’re striving to create joyful memories with our fans in 2024 as well, so please keep an eye on TRENDZ’s upcoming activities and continue to support us with your love. We’re actively promoting GLOW, so please continue to show it lots of love too!

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Interpreter / Translator: Roc Lee

Featured image © Global H

_{View of the Arts is an 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.}