have spent their lives infatuated by music. Whether it’s making it in the studio, or performing it live, the K-Pop all-rounders put their heart and soul into every project.
But music also acts as a soundtrack to their lives – when they’re travelling, when they’re in the gym, and when they’re trying to relax.
New single – out now – is an ode to late night spells, and the power music can hold. Working alongside Grammy-winning production team , best known for their work on Bruno Mars’ hits ‘That’s What I Like’ and ‘Finesse’, I also features input from acclaimed songwriter-producer August Rigo, while the lyrics were written by renowned Korean lyricist Eana Kim.
An instant fan favourite, RIIZE launched the single with the INSOMNIA SHEEP GAME on their official website, riizeofficial.com, gaining more than 70,000 players within its first hour
CLASH spoke to RIIZE about some of their own late night favourites – the songs that soothe them, and are great to relax to. Check out their picks below.
What song helps you decompress after a long day?
I tend to listen to a lot of warm, soothing ballads. This song has such a cozy, comforting feel to it, and it really helps me unwind and drift off to sleep. It’s one I come back to pretty often.
If you were to write a song to put you to sleep, what would you call it?
I’d call it ‘Midnight Breeze’. I imagine a peaceful night with a cool breeze gently blowing as you fall asleep. I thought it’d also be a nice way to wish BRIIZE a good night’s sleep!
What song is part of your night-time routine?
RIIZE – ‘The End Of The Day’
It depends on my mood, but I usually listen to something calm before bed. Sometimes I’ll switch it up depending on how I’m feeling, though. If I had to pick one song, I’d go with our own ‘The End Of The Day’. It’s about being there for someone who’s had a tough day, and I think it can bring a little comfort and warmth as you wind down for the night.
What song helps you centre yourself and feel mellowed out?
SUNGCHAN: Joji – ‘Glimpse of Us’
I love how the gentle piano melody blends with the vocals. There’s something a little melancholic but also warm about the song. Whenever I have a lot on my mind, listening to it quietly helps me slow down and feel more at ease.
I love the soft, dreamy sound of this song. There’s something really soothing about it, and whenever I listen to it, I can just feel myself relaxing.
What song gets stuck in your head when you’re trying to sleep?
RIIZE – ‘Get A Guitar’
Once a chorus gets stuck in my head, it tends to stay there all day! Sometimes I catch myself humming it without realising, even after practice when I’m back home. Our debut single ‘Get A Guitar’ is definitely one of those songs for me.
What song gives you that 3am feeling?
I have to go with our new single ‘Insomnia’ for this one! There’s even a line in the lyrics that goes, “2 AM and no sleeping, And 3 AM and I’m creeping.” The song captures those sleepless nights when your mind starts wandering and your emotions seem to feel a little more intense. I think it really captures that unique feeling of being awake at 3am.
What song feels like a dream?
Air feat. Beth Hirsch – ‘All I Need’
I love how the acoustic guitar and bass blend beautifully with the subtle synth sounds throughout the song. Together with the soft vocals, they create this really dreamy, almost floating feeling. It’s the kind of song that makes you feel like you’re somewhere between being awake and dreaming.
What song feels dark like a nightmare?
RIIZE – ‘Something’s In The Water’
I picked one of our own songs that has this eerie, dreamlike atmosphere. The lyrics also explore feelings of anxiety and being trapped in a nightmare you can’t escape, so it was the first song that came to mind when I saw this question.
Which artist would you pick to sing you a lullaby?
I recently went to The Weeknd’s concert in Seoul, and I’ve been listening to his music a lot lately. He has such a smooth, distinctive voice, and I think hearing him sing a lullaby would be a pretty special experience.
What songs inspired insomnia?
SOHEE: Justin Bieber – ‘Off My Face’ / Bruno Mars – ‘Risk It All’
Rather than drawing inspiration from any one particular song, we each listened to a lot of music that expresses emotions through its sound as we explored acoustic pop for the first time. Justin Bieber’s ‘Off My Face’ comes to mind, with its simple guitar arrangement and understated vocals. ‘Insomnia’ also has moments where the vocals become more powerful and soulful, which reminded me of Bruno Mars’ ‘Risk It All’, a song I really like.
When recording ‘Insomnia’, I tried to capture the emotions of lying awake in the early hours of the morning, unable to fall asleep. I hope listeners can really feel that wistful, dreamlike atmosphere comes through when people listen to the song.
‘Insomnia’ is out now.