Group RIIZE has expressed high satisfaction and excitement ahead of the release of their new single ‘Insomnia’.
RIIZE is set to release the single ‘Insomnia’ at 0 AM on the 26th.
The new song ‘Insomnia’ is an acoustic pop genre featuring a quiet yet lonely atmosphere, highlighted by the calm yet sorrowful vocals of the six members. It adds a deep autumnal chill to the characteristic RIIZE emotional style, raising anticipation even further following the release of teasers.
In particular, this music video is produced in a drama-taize format, cinematically capturing the stories of those suffering from insomnia and generating even higher expectations.
The following is a Q&A session regarding RIIZE’s single ‘Insomnia’.
First Impressions and Vocal Challenges of ‘Insomnia’
Shotaro shared, “I remember loving it the moment I heard it and asking to listen to it over and over again (laughs). It’s a vibe RIIZE hasn’t tried before, and since we had to showcase vocals rather than performance this time, I worried about how to convey emotions in our own color. I took vocal and singing lessons, paying attention to expression, voice tone, and even the rap parts. There were also parts where we had to harmonize with the members, so I practiced balancing our voices. I felt proud to take on a new personal challenge through this process, and I hope you can feel another charm of ours!”
Sungchan mentioned, “When I first heard the demo, I really loved the calm yet heartwarming sentiment that touches the heart. I wanted to make sure we completed it properly with the members. Since it’s a song where the delicate texture of the vocals needs to stand out over an acoustic rhythm, I paid a lot of attention to tone and intonation so that the resonance and emotional lines of each lyric could be delivered.”
Sohee stated, “When I first heard the song, the guitar sound stood out to me the most, and I thought it was a song where listeners could feel different vibes depending on the individual. Because of that, I felt it would showcase an even more unique and new charm of RIIZE. While preparing, I tried to make the vocals stand out within a slightly more minor mood, unlike our usual style.”
Killing Parts and Meaningful Lyrics
Eunseok picked the harmonies of all the members as the killing part, noting, “I think everyone’s voices create great synergy. The lyric that touched my heart was ‘When I’m caught in the night, when I’m trapped inside myself, every time those thoughts…’ Isn’t it special to have someone whose mere thought gives you strength and comfort? For me, BRIIZE (our official fandom) is that kind of existence.”
Wonbin shared, “The part ‘When I’m caught in the night’ lingers with me the most. At first, Eunseok-hyung and Anton sing together, and then I sing with Shotaro-hyung, and since it’s a part where harmonies naturally blend in, it makes me focus even more on the emotions whenever I sing it.”
Anton selected Wonbin’s first verse as the killing part, explaining, “It starts with Sohee-hyung’s calm intro, and then the beat comes in at Wonbin-hyung’s part, completely shifting the atmosphere. That transition is very impressive and makes you more immersed in the song. The lyric that resonated with me is the chorus part ‘I stay up all night till I see the morning’. Staying up late and facing the morning is a situation I’ve experienced myself, and I thought many people could relate to it. Whether it brings comfort to listeners or feels meaningful in another way, I think it’s one of the song’s key points.”
Behind the Scenes and Musical Goals
Shotaro recalled the music video shooting, saying, “I cut my hair short and tried special effects makeup for the first time. The other members also underwent various visual transformations, so we laughed and filmed positively while saying how fascinating it looked. Expressing emotions like shouting and shedding tears was difficult, but the acting coach taught us in detail how to catch our emotions on set, so we were able to pull it off well.”
Eunseok recalled, “The music video shooting was the most memorable. The character I played had many scenes where I had to convey emotions just through my gaze. It was a new challenge so I was nervous, but thanks to that, it was a unique experience. I hope you enjoy watching it.”
Sungchan added, “While recording, I had many detailed conversations with the members and worked hard to practice vocal harmony because I wanted to bring out the song’s poignant vibe. It came out wonderfully thanks to all our hard work and deliberation. In fact, the members gave me feedback that my parts sounded calm yet conveyed emotions very well! Thanks to that, I gained more confidence in my preparation.”
Wonbin expressed his wish for the track: “A mysterious song. While it’s great to constantly give strength and comfort through music, I think it’s okay to feel a bit alone with ‘Insomnia’. I hope it becomes a song where everyone can fully experience their own emotions. Sometimes, you just need a song like that.”
Sohee concluded, “I hope it becomes known as a song where RIIZE’s vocals stand out the most, a song that immediately comes to mind when thinking of RIIZE vocals. I hope it is remembered not only by BRIIZE but also by the general public.”
Anton shared, “I hope it becomes a song that is long remembered by everyone. I believe music has the power to make us relive the memories and emotions of a specific time. Even a long time from now, when people listen to ‘Insomnia’, I hope the moments and memories of 2026 naturally come to mind. Anyway, I want to wrap up this year well together with ‘Insomnia’.”
