On the afternoon of November 12, a press conference was held at Novotel Ambassador Seoul Gangnam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of ATEEZ's 15th mini album "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.6."
On this day, leader HONGJOONG shared his thoughts on the comeback, stating, "It is already our 15th mini album, but every time we release new music, I still feel nervous and excited." He added, "At the beginning of this year, the members promised each other, 'Let's do three comebacks well.' Welcoming our 8th anniversary following our contract renewal holds special meaning, and we wanted to share our ambition that ATEEZ will continue to fiercely look upward and move forward."
The title track "UP" from the 15th mini album, set to be released on November 13 at 2 p.m., is a song featuring intense brass and explosive bass, capturing the determination to surpass their own limits without stopping.
MINGI, who took part in writing the lyrics, explained, "We unraveled the narrative of the past eight years in the lyrics, drawing from our debut album 'TREASURE' series all the way to the 'GOLDEN HOUR' series." SEONGHWA also showed confidence, saying, "It is a song that clearly brings out the story we have told from our debut until now, ATEEZ's ambition to rise even higher, and our pirate concept."
The performance for this song is also a standout highlight. YEOSANG, who took center stage for the dance break in the final chorus, emphasized, "During our last promotions for 'BAD,' SAN pulled off the killing part so well that it would be a lie to say I felt no pressure, but I prepared hard with a sense of responsibility." He added, "For this stage, every member is a killing part from beginning to end, so there won't be a single section to miss."
Earlier, ATEEZ's 14th mini album, released last June, surpassed 1.88 million copies in first-week sales, and the title track "BAD" sparked a social media challenge craze, greatly expanding their domestic public recognition. SAN, a key figure behind the challenge, said, "In the past, there were many times when we had to explain ATEEZ's overseas achievements ourselves, but now many people recognize us, so we are spending dreamlike days." He shared, "I poured my heart and soul into this album to become someone worthy of that love." WOOYOUNG also offered a cheerful word of gratitude, saying, "Small perks have emerged, like people recognizing us at restaurants and giving us complimentary service."
ATEEZ topped the Billboard 200, Billboard's main album chart, with their 2nd studio album, 11th mini album, and 14th mini album, recording their third total No. 1. In particular, by achieving the meaningful milestone of charting in the top 10 with nine consecutive albums, they set a remarkable record for the most Billboard 200 Top 10 entries among K-pop groups in the 2020s.
Even amid their dazzling achievements, the place ATEEZ is looking toward remains clear. HONGJOONG firmly stated, "The reason 'BAD' went viral was ultimately thanks to our stage performance videos." He added, "The essence we want to focus on is the stage and music. Without being shaken by the success of our previous work, we want to prove ourselves through good music and performances."
As the driving force that allowed them to reach their 8th anniversary without any member departures and make three comebacks in a single year, they pointed to their fandom, ATINY. YUNHO expressed his affection, saying, "With solid teamwork, we renewed our contracts, and a virtuous cycle continues where receiving immense love from our fans makes our desire to repay them grow even bigger." He added, "ATINY is our driving force and our strength."
Finally, as seniors who wrote the "miracle of an idol from a smaller agency," they did not forget to offer warm advice to junior idols. WOOYOUNG shared heartfelt encouragement, saying, "Everyone moves at a different pace, but my favorite saying is 'Let's not rush, but let's not give up.' If you put in endless effort, it will definitely happen. Because we were able to do it, anyone can do it."
Meanwhile, featuring a total of five songs, including the pre-release track "Drip" and the title track "UP," as well as "ANEMIA," "FAITH," and "Hollow Victory," ATEEZ's 15th mini album "GOLDEN HOUR : Part.6" will be released on various online music platforms on Friday, November 13 at 2 p.m.
[Photo = Reporter Baek Seung-cheol]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)