<\/p>\n
\n\tOnstage, Riize is full of energy. But behind the scenes, the six members of the K-pop boy group are much calmer, and a bit sillier, fitting for a group of young men ranging in age from 21 to 25.<\/p>\n
\n\tFresh off the finale of their U.S. tour at the Peacock Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, Riize \u2014 consisting of members Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee and Anton \u2014 filters into the conference room of The Hollywood Reporter\u2019s<\/em> L.A. office.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe really felt ourselves growing with every show,\u201d Sohee, 22, tells THR<\/em> through a translator about the group\u2019s experience on tour. The group\u2019s in good spirits following the conclusion of their U.S. leg \u2014 they\u2019ll head to Mexico City to complete the North American tour days after this conversation. <\/p>\n \n\tRiize released their latest single album, Fame<\/em>, last month. For the members, it\u2019s been a chance to explore sonically. \u201cI think we\u2019re constantly trying new styles and reinventing ourselves,\u201d Shotaro, 25, says.<\/p>\n \n\tBelow, the K-pop group speaks with THR about \u201cFame,\u201d what they\u2019ve learned on tour and how they\u2019ve learned to communicate with one another. <\/p>\n \n\tCan you tell me a bit about your new single, \u201cFame\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tANTON<\/strong> Along with \u201cFame,\u201d there\u2019s two other songs, called \u201cSomething\u2019s in the Water\u201d and \u201cSticky Like.\u201d I would say all three of the songs this time are styles and genres that we haven\u2019t really tried before. We always like to try new things. The focus track, \u201cFame,\u201d is actually a rage-type beat, like a hip-hop-style track that I think is a very new sound for us. Overall, I would say the concept for this single album is sort of dark and kind of moody. I think our fans will like to see a new side of us this time.<\/p>\n \n\tHow do you take on trying new genres or new styles?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tSHOTARO<\/strong> I think we\u2019re constantly trying new styles and reinventing ourselves. Whenever we try a new genre as a team, we get really excited. I think that we show a lot of growth by trying these genres, and that\u2019s one of our team\u2019s strengths. However, we do have our own personal taste within genre.<\/p>\n \n\tDo you have fun moments you remember from recording these three songs? Or maybe a challenge that you feel you overcame when making it?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tANTON<\/strong> I think for \u201cFame,\u201d some of the songwriters for the actual songs came while we were recording, and I think they sort of made the vibe of the recording fun and engaging for us. While also challenging us to try new things, I think they sort of made the whole experience really fun.<\/p>\n \n\tSHOTARO<\/strong> Because we\u2019re trying new styles, it felt new for us as well.<\/p>\n \n\tWhy do you think now feels like a good time for you to try a new style?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tEUNSEOK<\/strong> I think this genre of rage that we\u2019re trying with \u201cFame\u201d is very trendy right now. But not only that, it\u2019s a genre we haven\u2019t attempted before. I think in learning new genres and attempting new things, it really pushes us as a group.<\/p>\n \n\tANTON<\/strong> Our last release was our first full-length album, Odyssey<\/em>. With the release of Odyssey<\/em>, we sort of had this message of always rising, and rising since our debut. Maybe \u201cFame\u201d is sort of not like a whole different path from that, but it\u2019s sort of a different take on Riize itself. I think we wanted to really showcase a new side of ourselves to our fans and just listeners.<\/p>\n \n\tCan you tell me a bit about what tour has been like?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tSOHEE<\/strong> With every new city, we could feel ourselves getting more acclimated, and we could feel that the fans were opening their hearts even more to us. One of the reasons we really look forward to the American tour is because of this, and we really felt ourselves growing with every show.<\/p>\n \n\tDo you feel that you had a biggest lesson for yourself, as a performer, that you learned over the span of the tour?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tANTON<\/strong> I think just being genuine and sincere, we\u2019ll always make it to whoever\u2019s watching or listening. Even though this U.S. tour was a new experience for us. I think we were able to do it pretty comfortably. All of the places that we performed at this time around were theater spaces. They were like super huge arenas and anything. We could make eye contact with our fans as well. It was funny, also, from my perspective, seeing the members trying to speak English. (Anton, a Massachusetts native who grew up in New Jersey, is a native English speaker<\/em>). It was just a really fun time overall, and I can\u2019t wait to come back someday.<\/p>\n \n\tDo you guys feel that there has been like a moment on this tour that felt special to you for any reason?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tSHOTARO<\/strong> We performed at the Peacock Theatre yesterday, so it felt so special because we performed at same venue last year [for their U.S. showcase]. It felt like we had a lot coming back with our first overseas tour. It was nice. [It was] special.<\/p>\n \n\tIs there a song that you\u2019ve been singing for the tour that you gained a new appreciation for after playing it every night?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tWONBIN<\/strong> I would say \u201cImpossible.\u201d The chorus repeats three times, and it\u2019s stationed at the end of our show. It can be a bit exhausting, but because of the audience participation \u2014 and they were really involved and yelling for us \u2014 I didn\u2019t even really feel tired. That felt very new.<\/p>\n \n\tAs a group, how are you feeling? You\u2019ve just had your two-year debut anniversary. How do you think things are feeling for you guys?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tSHOTARO<\/strong> I think we feel tighter knit as a group. We\u2019ve had some growth musically as well.<\/p>\n \n\tEUNSEOK<\/strong> I think our teamwork has definitely improved, and there\u2019s a back and forth or kind of a call and response that we have with each other.<\/p>\n \n\tIs there anything in particular you feel you\u2019ve either improved on since your debut? <\/strong><\/p>\n