NCT Wish Aims for Stardom with New Mini Album 'Poppop'

"When we received the songs 'Wish' and 'Hands Up', we thought a lot about what our color was. But when we heard 'Poppop' and the other tracks, it felt like 'our song'. It feels like we've found our unique color." (Sion)

NCT Wish is setting its sights on becoming a leading artist. The group held a press interview on the 10th at a cafe in Yongsan, Seoul, to commemorate the release of their second mini-album 'Poppop'.

NCT Wish is making their first comeback of the year with 'Poppop'. Ryo expressed his excitement, saying, "All the songs are great. I'm really curious and excited about the fans' reactions." Sion introduced the title track, saying, "It's all lowercase 'poppop'. It's a rhythmic song with Wish's refreshing vibe. The lyrics are like a fun fairy tale."

Riku, who had paused activities last year, is rejoining the group. After participating in an Asia tour, Riku shared, "It was my first time on stage in a while. I was nervous at first, but meeting our fans, Sijeuni, made me happy, and the stage was fun." The members eagerly awaited Riku's return. Ryo noted, "During tour rehearsals, seeing all six of us together felt stable. It made me realize, 'Wish is complete with six members.'" Jaehui added, "I think our vocal harmony is great. With all six, the song's completeness feels elevated."

Now entering their second year since debut, NCT Wish has shown significant growth. Sion mentioned, "While recording the tracks, I felt my skills had improved since the last album." Jaehui praised Sion, saying, "He handled parts in a higher range than before. It was impressive. There were many high-tone parts, and he managed them well, surprising me during the recording."

The members received high praise for their title track performance from producer and senior artist BoA. Sion shared, "After filming the music video, we sent a performance confirmation video. BoA said, 'They are really good. It's impressive and moving,' which surprised us." He added, "She had praised us before, but saying she was moved this time was special."

As a group that operates between Korea and Japan, language is a crucial element. Yuushi mentioned, "When we're together, we naturally speak Korean, and it feels more comfortable now." Sion added, "Since the pre-debut tour, speaking Japanese has become second nature, even without studying. I can converse naturally in Japanese." Sakuya noted, "Sion sometimes talks like an anime character because he loves Japanese animation," while Ryo added, "Sometimes he sounds like a real Japanese person."

Some members of NCT Wish have been inspired by their senior artists since childhood. Yuushi is a fan of EXO, and Ryo was cast at an NCT 127 concert as a genuine fan. Kai, returning from military service, will release his fourth mini-album 'Wait On Me' on the 21st, coinciding with NCT Wish's comeback. Yuushi, a fan of Kai, expressed, "I've liked him since I was young. I'm grateful and hope for a good relationship between NCT Wish and him."

NCT Wish maintains warm relations with other NCT unit members. Ryo previously showcased chemistry with his favorite, Doyoung of NCT 127, during a content shoot. Sion shared, "Doyoung sent us a food truck during the Japan tour, and we enjoyed it." Doyoung also treated Yuushi to a birthday meal. Sion mentioned, "It was beef," and Jaehui added, "It was very tender. We enjoyed it after practice." Ryo expressed a desire to get closer to Yuta, saying, "As a fellow Japanese senior, there's much to learn." When asked about their 'neo' uniqueness as NCT's youngest unit, the members smiled and said, "We definitely feel a bit of that 'neo' vibe now."

SM Entertainment celebrated its 30th anniversary with the 'SMTOWN Live' concert, showcasing collaborative stages of its artists. Jaehui performed 'Polaris' with Kangta, a song released in 2003, while Jaehui was born in 2005. Jaehui shared, "It's a song from before I was born. I was really nervous singing with the director." He added, "While singing, my eyes were darting everywhere. I was so focused on the song that I didn't realize my state until I watched the monitoring. It was funny. The next day, I was more conscious while singing."

In an era where many boy groups adopt a refreshing concept, NCT Wish's unique strength lies in their performance. Sion explained, "Our songs have a refreshing and cute element, but the performance is sophisticated and intense. That's our charm." He continued, "Last year's activities had refreshing songs but intense choreography. This time, the choreography is also very intense. We want to continue with concepts that Sijeuni wants to see. If they want strong performances, we'll do that, and if they want cute and pretty ones, we'll show that."

With this album, NCT Wish aims to solidify their position as a 'trending' artist. Sion expressed his ambition, "We won the rookie award in 2024, and this year, we want to become a leading artist." The group plans to continue their efforts to achieve this goal. Sion shared, "No matter how busy our schedule is, we make time to practice and attend classes. We're often in the practice room until late at night. We still hold the record for staying the latest at the SM practice room, and I hope that continues."

The title track 'Poppop' is a dance-pop song featuring a bouncy melody, heavy bassline, and dynamic percussion sounds, complemented by bells and lead synths. The album consists of six tracks, including 'Poppop'.

NCT Wish's second mini-album 'Poppop' will be available on various music sites at 6 PM on the 14th.

Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr