The Japanese group One Or Eight is officially starting their activities in Korea with 'DSTM'.
One Or Eight (レイア, Mizuki, Yuga, Souma, Tsubasa, Ryota, Takeru, Neo) held a global showcase to celebrate the release of their second digital single 'DSTM' on the afternoon of the 26th at Ilji Art Hall in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
When asked about her feelings on debuting in Korea, Leia expressed, “I am happy to be able to appear on Korean music broadcasts that I wanted to join even before debuting. I hope this activity will lead to more opportunities on other broadcasts.”
One Or Eight debuted with the single 'Don't Tell Nobody' in August 2024 and made a comeback with their second single 'DSTM' on March 19.
Leia shared her experience of being a trainee in Korea for three years, saying, “We had monthly evaluations, and during that time, I realized that the only people I could rely on while chasing my dream of becoming an artist were my fellow trainees.” She added, “Although the systems in Japan and Korea are different, the training and activity methods are similar, so my trainee experience in Korea has helped me in my activities in Japan.”
One Or Eight's new song 'DSTM' samples Rihanna's hit 'Don't Stop The Music', which elevated her to superstar status. The theme of the song, “As long as the music continues, our challenges will not stop,” is complemented by catchy rap, melodies, and feel-good hip-hop beats, evoking the image of One Or Eight enjoying the present moment.
When Leia introduced 'DSTM' as “a song that officially samples Rihanna's masterpiece,” Mizuki remarked, “I thought, ‘I can’t believe we can sample such a song,’” and explained the differences from the original by saying, “We added rap that wasn’t in the original and mixed in some Japanese.”
Mizuki mentioned, “It was a burden to include elements that weren’t in the original, but I enjoyed the process,” adding, “There is choreography that pays homage to Michael Jackson. Also, Takeru's back tumbling might be a highlight.”
One Or Eight stated that they plan to continue their activities in Korea starting with this showcase.
Leia said, “We have been preparing to debut in Korea until now. We plan to be active not only in Japan and Korea but also around the world,” while Souma expressed, “Since our team name means ‘one or the other,’ we want to convey our enjoyment of challenges to those who watch us.”
So, who are the K-pop artists that One Or Eight likes?
Takeru mentioned Taemin from SHINee, saying, “I was captivated by his powerful and beautiful movements. I originally intended to pursue a career as a dancer, so Taemin is my role model.”
Meanwhile, Souma expressed, “I respect TVXQ and hope to collaborate with them someday,” and Yuga added, “I find Jungkook from BTS's singing style and stage presence to be sexy, and I hope to sing on the same stage with him someday,” with shining eyes.
[Lee Da-gyeom, Star Today Reporter]
