RIIZE doubles down on performance for highly anticipated return

RIIZE members pose ahead of the release of their second mini album, “II,” June 14. Courtesy of SM Entertainment

K-pop group RIIZE returned Monday with its second mini album, "II," presenting a sharper, more self-assured sound that the members say reflects months of rehearsal and rising confidence on stage.

In a distributed interview ahead of the release, the SM Entertainment group described the title track, "Do Your Dance," as a statement meant to be felt rather than interpreted.

Below is an edited Q&A with the six-member group.

Q. How does it feel to make a comeback?

Wonbin: The album is filled with strong songs, and we feel confident returning to the stage. We want to show our music through performance rather than words.

Sohee: It has been seven months since our last comeback, and we’re really thankful to fans for waiting. We’re confident in this album and hope many people enjoy it.

Q. How would you describe “II”?

Sohee: It’s a fun album from start to finish. I hope that feeling of enjoyment reaches fans as well.

Anton: It represents a shift into a more active phase for RIIZE, moving from thinking to doing.

Eunseok: It feels like a box of many colors, with each track showing a different style.

Q. What is “Do Your Dance” like?

Shotaro: It’s trendy and playful in both sound and lyrics, with fun lines for fans to notice.

Eunseok: It’s a song you can enjoy when you want to feel confident or forget about your worries.

Sungchan: The choreography has striking pauses and head movements that stand out.

Sohee: We hope people enjoy RIIZE without overthinking.

Q. What stands out in the performance?

Wonbin: The choreography of the chorus is unusually minimal for RIIZE, and that restraint makes it more impactful.

Shotaro: Sohee’s opening choreo felt very fresh and suited him well. I also focused on keeping the vibe through subtle movements.

Sungchan: Shotaro’s dance break is really hard to replicate and stands out a lot.

Q. How have you grown with this album?

Sungchan: After the world tour, we naturally felt our growth and paid more attention to how our vocals fit each song.

Anton: We speak more freely now and contribute more ideas during recording and performance planning.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.