CLOSE YOUR EYES are back with “Open Your Eyes,” a pre-release single from their upcoming fourth mini album, 256th Note. The song brings jazz, hip-hop and R&B together, giving the group a chance to explore a different side of their sound.
The piano immediately sets the tone. An arpeggio runs through the song while the drums pick up the pace, creating a rhythm that keeps the track moving. There’s a lot of detail in the production, especially when the piano and drums are joined by the saxophone.
(Photo credit: UNCORE)
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Pianist Yohan Kim and jazz saxophonist Jacob Scesney both appear on the track. The saxophone adds a smooth jazz element that works especially well with the faster rhythm underneath it. It gives “Open Your Eyes” some of its most memorable moments without taking away from the rest of the production.
“Open Your Eyes” follows CLOSE YOUR EYES’ third mini-album, blackout, which was released in November 2025. It is also their first release since the group began building their identity with their debut mini-album, ETERNALT.
CLOSE YOUR EYES were formed through the reality competition show PROJECT7, where 17 million global fans voted for the final seven members from 200 contestants. JEON MINWOOK, MA JINGXIANG, JANG YEOJUN, KIM SUNGMIN, SONG SEUNGHO, KENSHIN and SEO KYOUNGBAE officially debuted on April 2, 2025.
The group’s international background is also part of what makes CLOSE YOUR EYES stand out. The members come from South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Ukraine, the U.S. and Australia. In a 2025 interview with Forbes, SONG SEUNGHO described that diversity as one of the group’s biggest strengths.
(Photo credit: UNCORE)
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That variety fits well with the direction of “Open Your Eyes.” The song pulls from several different styles while still feeling cohesive, with the jazz elements giving the hip-hop and R&B production another layer.
At this point, it’s only a preview of 256th Note, but “Open Your Eyes” gives a good idea of the kind of musical space CLOSE YOUR EYES are exploring. The song feels full without losing its rhythm, and the mix of piano, saxophone, drums and vocals gives the group a sound that is distinctly their own.
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