“We prepared this album as though it could be our last,” says YOONWOO.

It is a sentence that says everything about where TRENDZ are today. Four years after their debut, the seven-member group continues to move forward with the same determination that first introduced them to fans, but with an even deeper sense of purpose. Their latest single album, On My Knees, is more than just another comeback. It tells the story of the challenges they have faced together, the strength that has carried them through difficult moments, and the belief that every new opportunity is worth giving everything for.

This is our fourth interview with TRENDZ, and one thing has never changed. Despite the demands of the industry, international tours and a growing catalogue of music, they are still down-to-earth young men chasing their dreams. Throughout our conversation, the members spoke openly about creating On My Knees, revisiting some of the most difficult moments in their career, and the fans who continue to give them the strength to keep moving forward.

As TRENDZ enter their fifth year together, On My Knees feels like another important step in their journey. We sat down with the group to discuss the meaning behind the new release, how touring across Europe has changed them both as performers and individuals, and why, no matter how many obstacles they face, giving up has never been an option.

“On My Knees” reflects who TRENDZ is as we enter our fifth year since debut. Along the way, we’ve faced obstacles and difficult moments, but we’ve continued to get back on our feet, challenge ourselves and keep moving forward. – YOONWON

View of the Arts: On My Knees is your sixth single album. Looking back at everything you’ve accomplished so far this year, what emotions come to mind when you think about this comeback?

YECHAN: We’ve always given our best with every album, but for this one, we truly poured everything we had into it. Our fans waited a long time for this comeback, and honestly, we’ve been waiting just as eagerly ourselves. More than anything, we want to make sure this precious opportunity and moment won’t be wasted.

HANKOOK: With this promotion, I want us to make the most of every opportunity we’re given and cherish every single moment we get to spend with our fans. I hope we can look back on this era without any regrets.

VOA: What does On My Knees mean to TRENDZ emotionally and artistically? Could you tell us more about the creative process behind it?

YOONWOO: On My Knees reflects who TRENDZ is as we enter our fifth year since debut. Along the way, we’ve faced obstacles and difficult moments, but we’ve continued to get back on our feet, challenge ourselves and keep moving forward. You could think of this song as the story that follows My Way. We’re still chasing our dreams, and even in moments when we stumble or fall, we continue to grow and move forward with an even stronger sense of determination. We hope listeners can picture that journey while listening to the song.

EUNIL: This song was created by bringing together the ideas of all the members. During the planning stage, we spent a lot of time discussing what kind of music truly represents us. In the end, we agreed that we wanted a song that preserves K-pop’s identity, which is loved all around the world, feels as easy and enjoyable to listen to as our previous songs, NEW DAYZ and MY WAY, and at the same time showcases TRENDZ’s powerful performance style. That’s how On My Knees was born.

LEON: For the entire 3 minutes and 28 seconds, neither the song nor the performance ever lets up. It’s an emotional song, but it’s also powerful. We focused on creating a track that fully captures TRENDZ’s identity – not only through the music itself but also through the performance.

VOA: Alongside On My Knees, you released remastered versions of two of your earlier songs, Crime and Kart Racer. What made you decide to revisit and re-release those tracks now, and what do they mean to TRENDZ at this point in your journey?

ra.L: Both songs were originally released as digital singles and were never included on a physical album. Crime and Kart Racer were created during one of the most difficult periods for us. We wanted to keep meeting our fans no matter what, so we focused on what we do best. We participated in making the songs ourselves and even created the choreography ourselves as we fought to keep moving forward.

I honestly don’t think On My Knees could have existed without those two songs.

We also understand that some fans may feel disappointed that this album contains only one new track. We feel the same way. But we see this album as our own On My Knees moment – a stepping stone toward what’s next. We hope everyone can believe in us one more time.

VOA: The teaser images feature beautiful blue tones inspired by the sea and summer skies. How much does visual storytelling influence the way you approach a comeback, and what emotions did you want fans to experience before hearing the music?

HAVIT: We revealed two different teaser concepts for this comeback: the Wave version with a blue backdrop and the Dawn version with a white backdrop.

For the Wave version, we used a large blue tarp as the main visual element. The tarp symbolizes waves, representing the hardships and challenges that come our way. If you look closely at the photos, you’ll notice a mix of playful expressions and dynamic poses. That was our way of showing that instead of being overwhelmed by hardship, we choose to face it in our own way – like surfers riding the waves and enjoying the challenge.

EUNIL: The Dawn version was photographed with a completely opposite mood. Rather than being defeated by the waves or the setbacks they represent, we wanted to portray ourselves as people who have turned those struggles into opportunities to grow. It reflects both our inner and outer maturity after overcoming difficult moments.

All of the members were really happy with how the photos turned out. I think once people listen to the song, these teaser images will naturally come back to mind.

Even after our debut, countless new groups have continued to enter the industry. To keep moving forward in such a competitive environment and to show our fans the very best version of ourselves, I believe we have to keep growing and improving. – HANKOOK

VOA: Over the past two years, you’ve performed across the world. How have these international experiences changed you? Not only as performers, but also as individuals?

HAVIT: Compared to the other members, I’m naturally more introverted. Through our tours, though, I think I’ve learned a lot about how to communicate with an audience on stage.

Especially during our European tour, there were many people who came to our concerts simply because they were interested in seeing a K-pop group, even if they didn’t know TRENDZ beforehand. Those experiences taught me how to introduce ourselves with more confidence and connect with new audiences.

Many of the venues also had the audience standing very close to the stage, which gave me more opportunities to interact directly with fans. I think I’ve become much more comfortable and proactive in those moments.

LEON: I think we’ve developed a much stronger sense of teamwork when it comes to building a performance. It’s something we’ve built over many years together, ever since our trainee days. Whenever we arrive at a venue during a tour, everyone naturally takes on their own role.

I usually focus on the choreography, checking the formations, spacing, and movements. EUNIL, as our main vocalist, checks the overall sound and audio. HANKOOK, as our leader, oversees the performance as a whole. The rest of the members point out anything we might have missed, and together we complete the stage as one team.

I think that’s one of the greatest strengths we’ve developed over the years.

VOA: You met fans across Europe during your recent tour. Is there one memory or experience that has stayed with you the most?

HAVIT: One memory that really stays with me is when we attended Megacon in Genoa, Italy. There were various experience booths around the convention, and while I was walking around, a very young fan came up to me, handed me a handmade cherry blossom, and then shyly ran back to their parents.

Cherry blossoms are actually my favorite flowers, so receiving one from a young FRIENDZ who had gathered the courage to approach me so far away from Korea meant so much to me. I’ll never forget the thought and sincerity behind that gift.

Another special moment was performing not only during our own European tour, but also at conventions like Megacon in Genoa, K-Pop Revolution in Mainz, Germany, and Art to Play in Nantes, France. Hearing so many people sing along to our songs in Korean and even perform our fan chants always gave me so much confidence and made every performance even more enjoyable.

ra.L: Every city we visited during our European tour left us with wonderful memories because fans welcomed TRENDZ so warmly wherever we went. 

If I had to choose one, it would be our concert in Bucharest, Romania. We’ve visited Bucharest three times, and starting from our second visit, we were able to perform in a much larger venue. Seeing an audience full of people who came to support us was an incredibly emotional experience.

Another memory that always makes me smile is that every time we visit Romania, we eat at the same restaurant and even sit in the same seats. Since 2024, we’ve been fortunate enough to visit many places across Europe. But there are still so many FRIENDZ waiting for us in cities we haven’t been able to visit yet. That’s what keeps motivating me to work even harder until we can finally meet every one of them.

YECHAN: During our recent tour, I prepared a solo stage performing a Bruno Mars song. It was a fairly long performance, and I had to carry the stage by myself, but the fans sang along with me and truly enjoyed every moment. Because of them, I never felt alone on stage. That experience gave me a lot of confidence. It also made me want to prepare an even better performance next time so we can share that same feeling together again.

VOA: You’ve consistently pushed yourselves with every release and every tour. Where does that drive come from? Is it ambition, passion, competition with yourselves, or something else entirely?

HANKOOK: Even after our debut, countless new groups have continued to enter the industry. To keep moving forward in such a competitive environment and to show our fans the very best version of ourselves, I believe we have to keep growing and improving. Through our promotions in Korea and our many tours across Europe, we’ve realized that one of TRENDZ’s greatest strengths is our ability to deliver both powerful performances and stable live vocals at the same time. Recognising that has given us an even stronger sense of purpose and motivation to keep refining what we do best.

VOA: Since this is our fourth interview together, I’ve always been struck by how determined and optimistic you remain. When things get difficult, what helps TRENDZ keep pushing forward?

YOONWOO: This year is our fifth year as TRENDZ. We’re part of a small company, but every single staff member has been working solely for TRENDZ ever since our debut. There have been many difficult times for the company, and even now things aren’t always easy. But knowing there are people working so hard for our success gives us the strength to keep going without giving up. Especially with this album, every one of us prepared it as though it could be our last. We truly poured everything we had into it because we didn’t want to leave ourselves with any regrets.

Our fans have also stood by us no matter what. Even when we didn’t achieve the results or accomplishments people could easily see, they continued to support us with unwavering love. That’s what gives us the strength to never stop moving forward.

Every city we visited during our European tour left us with wonderful memories because fans welcomed TRENDZ so warmly wherever we went. – ra.L

VOA: Finally, if the TRENDZ of 2026 could give one piece of advice to the TRENDZ members who debuted, what would you tell yourselves?

HANKOOK: If I could meet the TRENDZ of January 2022, I’d tell them to enjoy every moment a little more, no matter what situation they’re in. Rather than worrying too much about every little detail, I’d tell them to focus on making the most of every opportunity they’re given and simply do their best. It’s easy to be hard on yourself when you notice your shortcomings, but instead of blaming yourself, you can overcome them little by little through consistent practice. Most importantly, I’d want them to keep enjoying the journey as they move forward.

EUNIL: There’s something I’d really like to tell my younger self. When we first debuted, I constantly wondered, “Can I really fulfill the role of the main vocalist for this team?” I worried so much that I didn’t even feel confident calling myself the main vocalist. So, if I could go back, I’d tell myself that it’s okay to have worries, but I should have much more confidence in myself. Those worries definitely pushed me to improve as a vocalist, and of course there are still many areas where I want to keep growing. But now I’ve realised that when I have confidence in myself, our team’s vocals become even stronger as well.

That’s why the one thing I’d want to tell my debut-era self is simple: Believe in yourself.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image © 2026 GLOBAL H

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to film, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. As we continue to grow, we aim to deepen our coverage of Asian music while remaining committed to exploring and celebrating creativity across the global arts landscape.}