RIIZE shares their thoughts on “Insomnia,” an acoustic pop song with a calm, lonely mood and a dramatic music video.

RIIZE showed satisfaction with their new song “Insomnia.” The song is an acoustic pop number with a calm, somewhat lonely atmosphere, where the gentle yet bittersweet vocals of the six members stand out. It is a song with RIIZE-like sensibility that is perfect for the season as it gets cooler. In particular, this music video was produced in a drama style, cinematically depicting the story of people who cannot sleep. —What was your impression when you first heard “Insomnia”? This is your first time challenging an acoustic pop song where the vocals stand out, right? Shotaro: From the moment I first heard it, I liked it, and I remember asking many times, “Please let me hear it again” (laughs). It had a different atmosphere from the songs RIIZE has sung until now, and this time, rather than performance, we had to show ourselves through vocals, so I thought about how we could convey emotion in a way that was like us. While receiving vocal and pronunciation lessons, I also paid attention to the way of expression, the tone of the voice, and even the rap parts. There were parts where we showed harmony with the members, so we practiced while being conscious of balance so that each other’s voices would blend well. Through this process, I am proud that I was able to take on a new challenge personally as well. I would be happy if you could feel our new charm! Sohee: When I first listened to the demo, I really liked the warm atmosphere that was gentle yet resonated in my chest. I wanted to finish it into a wonderful song together with the members. Since it is a song that uses an acoustic rhythm and brings out the delicate nuances of the vocals, I paid close attention to the tone and intonation of my voice so that the resonance and emotional flow contained in each lyric would come through. Sohee: When I first heard this song, the guitar sound left a particularly strong impression on me. I also thought it was a song where each listener could experience a different feeling. That is why I felt we could show a new charm of RIIZE, different from before. When preparing, I focused on making the vocals stand out within a slightly minor mood that is a little different from RIIZE’s usual songs. —Which part of “Insomnia” is especially memorable, and were there any lyrics that resonated with you while singing? Eunseok: I think the harmony of all the members is the highlight. I feel that when our voices come together, a synergistic effect is created. The lyric that resonated with me is the part that says, “When I am trapped by the night, when I am trapped inside myself, every time I think of you.” Isn’t it truly special to have someone who becomes a support and gives comfort just by being brought to mind? For me, BRIIZE (the fans’ name) is such an existence. Wonbin: The part “When I am trapped by the night” left the strongest impression on me. At first, Eunseok hyung and Anton sing it together, and then Wonbin and Shotaro hyung sing it, but it is a part where harmony naturally arises, so every time I sing it, I feel it is easy for me to put emotion into it. Anton: I would like to name Wonbin hyung’s first verse as the most impressive part. It starts with Sohee hyung’s calm intro, and when it goes into Wonbin hyung’s part, the beat is added and the atmosphere of the song changes all at once. That development is very impressive, and I think it is the part that draws you deeper into the world of the song. The lyric that resonated with me is the chorus line, “I stay up all night till I see the morning.” Staying up late and greeting the morning is something I have experienced myself, and I think many people can relate to it. It may be a comfort to listeners, or they may interpret it in a different way, but I think it is one of the important points of this song. —What was the most memorable thing during the production process of “Insomnia”? Shotaro: During the music video shoot, I cut my hair short and tried special makeup for the first time. The other members also went through various visual transformations, so we laughed and said to each other, “It’s strange,” while looking at each other’s appearances, and we had fun filming. Emotional expressions such as shouting and shedding tears were difficult, but thanks to the acting teacher on set carefully teaching us how to express emotions, I think we were able to do it well. Eunseok: The music video shoot left the strongest impression on me. The character I played had many scenes where I had to convey emotion only with my eyes, so it was a new challenge and I was nervous, but because of that, I think it became a fresh experience. I would be happy if you could watch it with warm eyes. Sohee: During recording, we discussed the fine details with the members and worked hard on practicing to match the harmonies. I wanted to express the hazy atmosphere that this song has well. Because I worried about many things, I think it turned out beautifully. Actually, the members listened to my part and gave me feedback that it was plain yet still conveyed emotion clearly! Thanks to that, I was able to prepare with even more confidence. —How would you like “Insomnia” to be received? Wonbin: It is a song with a mysterious charm. It is good to deliver strength and encouragement through music, but I think with “Insomnia,” it is also good to let listeners feel as if they are alone. I hope it becomes a song where everyone can feel their emotions as they are. Don’t we need a song like that sometimes? Sohee: It is a song where RIIZE’s vocal charm stands out the most, and I hope it becomes a song that people immediately think of when they think, “RIIZE’s vocals = this song.” I would be happy if it becomes a song remembered not only by BRIIZE but by many people. Anton: I would be happy if it becomes a song that remains in everyone’s hearts for a long time. I think music has the power to bring back the memories and emotions of a certain era. When listening to “Insomnia” years later, I hope it becomes a song that naturally brings back moments and memories from 2026. And I want to properly close out this year together with “Insomnia.”