Photo = UNCORE

 

[Hanteo News = Reporter KANG SUYOUNG] SONG SEUNGHO of CLOSE YOUR EYES, also known as CYE, shared the pressure and determination he felt while sampling a song by YOON SI NAE.

 

CLOSE YOUR EYES held a press conference to commemorate the release of its 4th mini album ‘256th Note’ at The Riverside Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 30th. On this day, SONG SEUNGHO said, “I felt pressure because we were sampling a song by YOON SI NAE sunbaenim, who is such a legendary senior, but I worked hard with the mindset that I had to do even better.”

 

JANG YEOJUN introduced the title track ‘Drop That!’ by saying, “It is a song that samples YOON SI NAE sunbaenim’s ‘Enjoy This Night,’ which can be seen as the beginning of Korean jazz funk, and reinterprets it in CYE’s own color,” adding, “You will be able to find our own sense of freedom and each member’s individuality in it.” SONG SEUNGHO said, “Jazz funk is a genre we do not usually come across, so at first, it felt unfamiliar and new,” adding, “Because we were taking on a song by such a legendary senior, I felt pressure, but I approached it with the mindset that I had to do even better.”

 

On why the group chose the jazz funk genre, JEON MINWOOK explained, “I thought the improvisational elements that jazz has fit us well,” adding, “Rather than being confined to one genre, we had a strong desire to show ourselves in a natural way.” He continued, “Both YOON SI NAE sunbaenim’s song and ’90s hip-hop are things from before our generation, so we needed to study them,” adding, “We spent time studying older songs, ’90s pop, and the jazz genre, and the members gave one another advice as we tried to understand the music.”

 

He also mentioned the process of receiving permission for the sampling. JEON MINWOOK said, “I understand that YOON SI NAE sunbaenim gladly gave us permission,” adding, “We have not had the chance to meet her in person yet, but if she listens to our song, I would be grateful if she says it is music that can represent this era and move ahead of its time, just like YOON SI NAE sunbaenim’s original song.”

 

The members also made efforts to bring out a ’90s sensibility. SEO KYOUNGBAE said, “Because the drum sound is impressive in the song, I watched the film ‘Drumline’ once again.” JANG YEOJUN said, “I studied other jazz music so that expressions and gestures could come out naturally, and I focused on and researched the parts of the song we worked on where the swing feel comes through.”

 

CLOSE YOUR EYES, which expressed the pure emotions of youth in its own language with its debut song ‘All My Poetry and Novels Within Me,’ has since expanded its musical range by taking on various genres and concepts. Ahead of the official release, the group also raised anticipation for its comeback by releasing the pre-release track ‘Open Your Eyes’ and holding busking events in the city.

 

The album ‘256th Note’ is inspired by the freedom and improvisation unique to jazz. Rather than focusing on standardized expressions, it centers on the emotions and flow of the moment, capturing the process in which passing moments come together to become one piece of music. The album contains a total of seven tracks, including the title track ‘Drop That!,’ and all seven members participated in writing the lyrics for the final track ‘Eternity,’ directly expressing their feelings for their fandom CLOSER in the lyrics.

 

CLOSE YOUR EYES’ 4th mini album ‘256th Note’ will be released today at 6 PM. As CLOSE YOUR EYES returns after five months with an even broader musical world, anticipation is growing for what kind of growth the group will show through this album.

 

 

grace@hanteo.com