Brazilian Tour, New Single ‘EVOL’ & Extra – Billboard

Japanese dance and vocal group ONE N’ ONLY dropped its new tune “EVOL” digitally on Wednesday (Aug. 16). The newest monitor is an upbeat, passionate reggaeton-flavored quantity becoming for the place the ever-evolving band at present stands.

Billboard Japan chatted with the six members of the group celebrating its fifth anniversary this 12 months — HAYATO, REI, TETTA, NAOYA, EIKU, and KENSHIN — about “EVOL” and likewise requested them to share their impressions from the group’s headlining Brazilian tour from earlier this 12 months.

You toured Brazil this spring and carried out in your followers there finally. May you share your ideas on the trek?

HAYATO: We have been actually blissful to have the ability to go there to do our personal reveals as a substitute of being a part of a much bigger occasion. We got here up with a setlist with about the identical variety of songs as we do in Japan, and spoke to our viewers fully in Portuguese. However once we first determined to tour three cities in Brazil, we weren’t certain simply what number of SWAG (ONE N’ ONLY followers) can be there. It felt so shifting on our first day of the tour in Sao Paulo once we noticed the faces our followers, understanding so many individuals had been ready for us to come back.

REI: Their reactions have been wonderful too, weren’t they?

HAYATO: Yeah. Everybody reacted so enthusiastically to what we did onstage. Everybody sang and danced and all these reactions have been simply superior, so it was lots of enjoyable to do.

What about you, TETTA?

TETTA: To inform you the reality, I’m not fully used to performing dwell but. [Laughs] I assume I’ll simply must maintain doing it to really feel really snug with it. It was such an important expertise, although, and I actually felt the power of the folks of Brazil. SWAG in Brazil have been so energetic and I couldn’t outdo them in that regard! I’ll do higher subsequent time!

HAYATO: Yeah, they have been so filled with power.

NAOYA: I acquired injured a number of days earlier than we left for Brazil and couldn’t be part of our performances. However everybody over there gave me such a heat welcome and I felt what a beneficiant nation it’s. I really wasn’t certain till shortly earlier than we departed if I might come alongside or not, so I used to be so glad to have been in a position to be part of it. And the band members all stepped up for me so I actually recognize them.

At what level did you’re feeling they stepped up for you?

NAOYA: I had an opportunity to see them performing onstage after I couldn’t take part, and felt so proud to see the 5 of them commanding the stage with such vitality. Our SWAG had such energy and fervour, too. They tell us they have been having lots of enjoyable, similar to we thought they might!

EIKU: I assumed it was a rustic overflowing with love. There was no reserved seating within the venues we performed in, and everybody ran to seize the seats up entrance. Once I noticed that, it actually hit house simply how a lot our followers love us. Oh, and at any time when considered one of our crew members crossed the stage earlier than we went on, the gang made a lot noise!

HAYATO: Oh, yeah! Our crew was so happy about that.

EIKU: Yeah. They went up there about 4 instances on objective and appeared to experience all that focus. [Laughs] Every of the three cities we visited had totally different vibes and that was fascinating, too.

KENSHIN: Once you cease and give it some thought, with the ability to tour on the opposite aspect of the planet is such an incredible factor. We had a particular place in our hearts for Brazil, and it was such a contented feeling sharing the identical house with our SWAG in that nation.

You had two Portuguese-language songs in your set. Have been your followers excited to listen to them?

KENSHIN: They cherished these probably the most! The way in which they expressed their pleasure was superior. However they have been additionally hyped about our Japanese songs as nicely, so I felt that our songs have been getting via to the viewers. I’d love to go to once more.

REI: Everybody was so upbeat! Their reactions to each single factor we did have been simply superior and it was lots of enjoyable.

The group’s new tune “EVOL” dropped this month. It’s additionally a extremely upbeat quantity.

HAYATO: I want we might have carried out this one throughout our Latin American tour!

Appears like it could have been lots of enjoyable! Did you begin discussing what sort of music to launch subsequent across the finish of your fifth anniversary tour?

HAYATO: Sure. We’ve gone into depth concerning the idea for every tune we’ve been releasing recently each time we produce a brand new one. For this we determined to provide you with a summery monitor and incorporate a Latin taste as one of many group’s new distinctive types. It turned out to be a tune with a catchy refrain over Latin and reggaeton beats, which fits us.

REI: Once I first heard it, it took me without warning as a result of I’d by no means heard something prefer it earlier than. However I knew we’d in a position to specific it and that we have been those who might do it justice due to the place we at present are as a bunch proper now.

KENSHIN: I’m in control of the opening strains and the rap a part of the second verse. The monitor is constructed to hype folks up and plunge them into the music. The sultry vibe of the second verse additionally has a summery really feel to it, so I hope folks get pleasure from that.

You’ve all in all probability matured as you’ve grown older because you first acquired began. Which member do you suppose has modified probably the most in that regard?

REI: I believe EIKU is extra enticing now.

TETTA: I do know what you imply! EIKU is the youngest and it’s like he’s upgraded. To begin with, he’s larger in physique. Which suggests his model of dancing has modified and he has a person’s face now.

HAYATO: He’s gone from cute to chill.

REI: EIKU might be the one who’s modified probably the most each externally and internally. He was once the quiet sort earlier than, however now he steps ahead much more.

TETTA: Oh, I do know! That’s in all probability as a result of he modified his bangs and commenced parting it within the center. After which he modified once more by dyeing his hair and stuff. By the best way, I used to be the one who stated he’d look higher if he parted it like that.

So that you’re saying he modified because of you?

TETTA: Yeah!

REI: Why do you at all times attempt to take credit score for every part? [Laughs]

TETTA: I’m the sort who says, “I knew them earlier than they have been massive” greater than anybody! [Everyone laughs]

EIKU, are you conscious of those adjustments they’ve identified?

EIKU: I assume I’m. I believe the adjustments within the sort of songs we do now might need one thing to do with it, however I do suppose I specific myself otherwise now… from round after I started parting my hair down the center. [Laughs] I additionally examine movies of different folks performing in several methods.

What is going to the choreography for the brand new tune be like?

NAOYA: We simply started studying the strikes. MONA, the choreographer who got here up with the dance for Na-Yeon from TWICE’s “POP!,” is dealing with the dance for this one.

TETTA: We frequently had male choreographers dealing with our performances up to now, so I hope everybody enjoys our new catchy dance strikes which can be totally different from earlier than. We’d like to see you dancing on TikTok!

NAOYA: Yeah, for the reason that tune is so catchy, too. It’d be nice in case you all have enjoyable with it!

—This interview by Kana Yoshida first appeared on Billboard Japan