On September 6th, K-pop group TRENDZ made their latest comeback with single album, Still On My Way. In stark contrast from previous releases, particularly Blue Set, this album features songs that have a lighthearted and positive energy, conveying the keywords they chose for this release: dreaminess and youth. ra.L shared that “the message conveyed in this album, Still On My Way, is about seven youths pursuing their dreams and goals.”
Eunil shared that the single album came out at the end of summer to match the feel of the season: “The bright image of youth and our message go together really well to bring that summery vibe alive.” Yechan noted that the song reflects their “determination to overcome any difficulties or barriers that stand in their way” and “urge listeners to come with us” on their musical journey.
Inevitably, there will be challenges along the way. Hankook, leader of the group, explained his process for staying motivated in the face of obstacles. “When I encounter challenges or feel down, I often turn to those who are close to me, especially my fellow members with whom I spend a lot of time with. Though I’m the leader of the team, I often seek advice and guidance from my teammates. We support and motivate each other through both the tough and uplifting moments, and this is what has kept me going.” The creation of this album itself was not without its own roadblocks, as Yoonwoo shared, “We filmed the music video during the summer, so I remember all the members struggling with the heat. However, the director and the staff were incredibly passionate, which motivated us to give our best performance on set.”
In addition to the title track, “My Way,” the album features two other songs: “Ven Conmigo” and “O.Y.E.” Members Hankook, ra.L, and Yechan took part in writing the lyrics of their previous releases, and they continued to do so for this album as well. “While crafting the lyrics for this album, our primary emphasis was on fostering strong communication among the members. I engaged in extensive discussions with Hankook and ra.L, assessing which parts would complement the song best and determining the overall direction,” Yechan shared. “We also provided feedback to one another after listening to the completed rap verses. We would also talk to the vocalists of the team, ensuring a collaborative effort to achieve the highest quality outcome.”
While TRENDZ members took part in the songwriting process, the group also enlisted composer and songwriter LEEZ, who’s known for his work as a writer and producer for groups such as Dreamcatcher and ATEEZ, to participate in creating the album. Eunil noted that there had been some changes in the writing process since they began working with LEEZ. “In the past, we would practice and record only our designated parts in the songs. However, when we started working with LEEZ, we began practicing all parts, and he would assign the most suitable parts to each member.” This method is something LEEZ has had success with groups he’s worked with in the past.
Although album promotions have ended, the group still has a lot of work ahead of them, including preparations for their upcoming world tour. Leon stated that one of their goals for the rest of the year is to “showcase our stages to fans worldwide” and that “this tour will be a valuable opportunity for us to grow as artists. In addition to showing off the performance skills the group is known for, ra.L shared another reason they’re excited to tour. “We really look forward to meeting our FRIENDZs who have been always supporting us in person and putting on energetic performances for them. TRENDZ’s live stage presence is something to behold, and witnessing it will definitely be a pleasant surprise.”
Looking towards the future, ra.L shared his thoughts on the group’s growth and ambitions. “As we progress in our careers as idols, I’ve noticed that our teamwork has improved significantly, and it feels like the team has become more unified. Through this growth, we aim to become a group that can positively influence others.”
