ONE OR EIGHT Discuss New Single ‘365,’ International Acclaim and Their Love for 1DERZ
Japanese boy group ONE OR EIGHT are one of the country's most popular acts on the international level, and with each new release, they're only getting bigger.
In May, the eight-member group announced an exciting new partnership with Atlantic Music Group, and on June 18, they released their most recent single—and first-ever love song—"365." The smooth and emotional song has a pulse-pumping beat and enchanting melody as the group sings about wanting to be with the one they love every moment of every day. It's romantic while also serving as a love letter to their fans, 1DERZ, and promising to keep that powerful connection going for as long as they keep making music.
ONE OR EIGHT also began their global fan meeting tour, SHŪKAI, in April traveling across North and South America, and will continue the adventure in Thailand on July 26 and in Japan on Aug. 24 and 26. As the festivities continue, we got the chance to speak with the group to get their insights on the new song, their story so far and what their powerful relationship with 1DERZ means to ONE OR EIGHT in the interview below.
Sweety High: Congratulations on your new single "365!" Can you tell us about the meaning behind the song?
TSUBASA: This song is ONE OR EIGHT's first straightforward love song, which expresses the feeling of wanting to be with a special someone 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. We dedicate this song to our devoted fans that are by our side 365 days a year, now and forever.
SH: It's been almost a full year since your debut as a group. What have you learned from being a member of ONE OR EIGHT during this time?
RYOTA: When I performed for the first time overseas, I began to really reflect on how to express myself. Also, as I interacted with foreign cultures, environments and people, it made me want to reexamine my own style, fashion and even my practice methods. I really gained a lot and learned so much abroad.
(Image courtesy of avex Entertainment)
SH: Last year you released "KAWASAKI (with Big Sean), the six-time Grammy-nominated rapper. What was it like working with him?
SOUMA: Actually, before our debut, we had the opportunity to show Big Sean our performance in L.A. We made a connection there, and it led to this collaboration. His respectful attitude towards everyone around him during the video shoot had a big influence on me. I hope we can stay that way even when we become big stars like him.
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SH: ONE OR EIGHT has already made history several times including being the first Japanese boy group to be featured on Spotify's "New Music Friday" in 16 countries and to appear on a Times Square billboard. What's next for you? What do you hope to accomplish as a group?
TAKERU: Thank you! It's a tough world out there, and sometimes we lose faith in ourselves, but by going after seemingly impossible challenges, we hope that we can inspire people all over the world to take pride in themselves, and enjoy facing new challenges. Our first goal is to make our name known to everyone worldwide by working hard and spreading our music!
Our group name is ONE OR EIGHT, but the challenge is not "All or Nothing"—we truly believe that this group, together with our fans, can definitely achieve our goals.
SH: What does the group's tagline "bet on yourself" mean to you?
MIZUKI: We don't consider ourselves to be special. We've all faced many moments when we struggled with things going wrong and even thought about giving up. Sometimes we get criticized or even laughed at. But that's exactly why we want to show everyone how we "enjoy challenging ourselves."
Challenges are scary and sometimes painful, but there's something more to be gained. By showing people what we do, we hope to instill some courage in people like "maybe it's fun to challenge myself" or "maybe I can do something too". Only those who face challenges can forge their own future. That's what we believe.
SH: Although you're still building your discography, you have experimented with different sounds like blending rap and pop and sampling Michael Jackson and Rihanna with your single "DSTM." What makes you want to explore all these sounds, and is there anything new you want to try in the future?
NEO: For us, experimenting with different sounds comes from a genuine love for music in all its forms. Blending rap and pop or sampling artists like Michael Jackson and Rihanna on "DSTM" felt natural because we are inspired by so many different styles. We never want to box ourselves into one sound. We are still building our discography and this is the time to explore and evolve.
Lately, we have been especially interested in diving deeper into different styles of rap. Southern rap, boom bap, trap—they all have such distinct energies and histories. We want to challenge ourselves creatively by tapping into those styles in an authentic way. There is so much to learn and experiment with, and we are excited to see where that takes us next.
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SH: What motivates you the most?
YUGA: Supportive messages from our 1DERZ, our friends, and family.
I have a dream that I've been working towards since I was young, so that's also one of my motivations.
SH: Is there anything else you would like to add?
REIA: The 1DERZ are truly special to us. We want them by our side as we go out into the world, and we will continue to work hard to grow and evolve so please continue to cheer us on! We love you forever and ever ♾️💕
For more from our J-pop favorites, click HERE to read our recent interview with girl group cosmosy.