The ideal metaphor to describe the journey of CLOSE YOUR EYES — borrowing the concept of the group’s first record — is a book with many chapters. Each one sheds light on a different nuance of the seven members who won the survival show Project 7.
Since the group’s debut in April 2025 with ETERNALT, the band has moved across genres and styles without ever losing the distinctive quality that makes them move as one body in every single track, and that speaks to their uniqueness within the K-pop landscape — a uniqueness also rewarded by the numbers: Third mini album blackout sold more than 570,000 copies in its first week, setting, at the time, the best first-week result among male groups that debuted in 2025.
That record marked a stylistic turning point for CLOSE YOUR EYES: If the first project was distinctive for its narrative style and sounds — with a lot of acoustic guitar, starting from the opening track that bears the band’s name — the second, Snowy Summer, emphasized certain aspects tied to the adolescent world with a magnetic title track, while blackout dragged the group into much faster, more electronic rhythms.
“We wanted to show a new side of us. I was looking for music in a variety of genres, and then I got to work with Imanbek. He was very interested in K-pop, so I thought, ‘If we work with him, we might be able to do something new in the existing scene, not only as CLOSE YOUR EYES, but also with a style that is quite foreign to K-pop,’” recalls the group leader JEON MINWOOK.
The third mini album is also fundamental to the band’s story because it represented one of the first instances in which the members participated even more actively in the writing and creation process. KIM SUNGMIN, during our call, underlines the importance of the influence of their creative director, LEE HAEIN, who has been with them from the very beginning: “Every time we release an album, she involves us in many activities, such as writing the lyrics, coming up with the choreography and even taking care of the styling. With every comeback we learn something more about how to define an artistic direction.”
And it is precisely for this reason that, looking back, SEO KYOUNGBAE realizes that a year and a few months since their debut, they have grown above all in terms of expression: “I think we know how to express ourselves more clearly. Also, we did a lot of cover performances at awards ceremonies, and that helped us to understand new genres and concepts better. We have a clearer idea of who we are now.”
Another fundamental figure in the band’s artistic development, particularly in the early months, was ADORA. The singer-songwriter and former Big Hit Music producer, known for hits such as BTS’ “Spring Day” and TXT’s “Our Summer,” is probably the artist who most shaped the seven members in their initial literary-boy concept. When KYOUNGBAE talks about her, a nostalgic spark is visible in his eyes: “I learned a lot from her. Both vocally, where I have no professional experience, and in the way of interpreting the atmosphere of the songs. I still remember that during the recording of ‘To the Woods,’ we stayed in the studio for five hours.”
CLOSE YOUR EYES
Billboard Korea
Yet the excursion across styles and genres is never an end in itself. As JANG YEOJUN explains, the needle of their compass is always pointing towards the creation of “songs that fans love to listen to.” MINWOOK echoes him: “I think that, regardless of the type of music we put out, the message may vary depending on the type of songs and genres, but whatever we do, we stay true to ourselves.” It is remarkable, in fact, how in the group’s latest digital single “OVEREXPOSED,” released on April 21, even while embracing Latin rhythms close to baile funk for the first time, you can tell from the very first seconds that you are listening to a CLOSE YOUR EYES record.
“When I first heard the Latin sounds, I perceived them as a rhythmic performance. I thought about the moment when I could dance to them and enjoy them together with the Closers [fans],” explains SUNGMIN, referring to “POSE.” “I recommend fans listen to it on the way to work or when they’re feeling a little down.”
Courage is perhaps the essential ingredient — as well as the secret — that keeps the band solid even when venturing into uncharted territory. “We do our best to repay the Closers by giving them everything. Rather than worrying about the future, we think about how we can improve from performance to performance,” reveals SONG SEUNGHO.
In their choreography too — which grows more complex and captivating with each album — CLOSE YOUR EYES has taken giant strides. Performance in the group’s case is not merely a display of technique and control, but a device for communicating with fans. “Dance goes beyond verbal language,” explains KENSHIN. “Although control in choreography is important, I think facial expression is even more so. Coming from another country, there are moments when I can’t express myself with words in the way I’d like to. Through body language, that difficulty disappears.”
Language was a concern for KENSHIN in the early days. Originally from Japan, he did not know Korean very well. As he recounts during our conversation, the support among the various members was and continues to be fundamental. “When I face difficult moments, a lot of questions come to mind, and I find myself asking the other members for advice. I often consult our leader, MINWOOK. He is more mature and always gives me great advice. I am very grateful to him,” says MA JINGXIANG.
Regarding language, it is also worth noting that CLOSE YOUR EYES has recorded English and Spanish versions of some of its singles. “We set no limits for ourselves. Being a band that aims to keep improving, we want to reach as many people as possible. There are fans who support us and speak other languages. For them, we are ready to put ourselves to the test,” explains YEOJUN.
The best way to do that is, of course, during concerts. Last January, CLOSE YOUR EYES began its first headlining tour, a fundamental step for any band. For YEOJUN, it is also a sign that his dream of becoming an idol is truly real: “When I was little and watched K-pop star interviews, they always talked about how important concerts were. That’s why I was always curious to understand what it feels like to be on stage in front of fans. For me, the shows are the most memorable moments of our journey, and I hope they are for the Closers too, and that they carry lasting memories with them as well.”
The tour has also taken the band beyond Korea’s borders. CLOSE YOUR EYES has performed in Canada, and a United States leg is set for October. “We are truly moved by the fact that, regardless of the language spoken by the audience, we still manage to find a way to understand each other. When we are on tour in another country, we try to learn and find out as much as possible about their culture, their food and their language,” reveals KENSHIN.
It is a fun detail that before every concert, the whole band gathers around an inside joke born from KENSHIN’s Japanese origins. There is a word, 힘 (him), which means “strength.” KENSHIN used to mispronounce it as 힘이 (himi), and so it became a good-luck ritual among the members. Before they take the stage, they simply repeat “힘이힘이 (himi himi)” to break the ice and get pumped up before the live show.
“The best thing about live tours is performing the songs for the Closers. There are some we haven’t played in a while, and others we are performing for the very first time, and it’s wonderful to see their reaction. The biggest challenge is that, this being our first live tour, it can be difficult to manage a long-running performance. The challenge is keeping the fans engaged throughout,” explains SONG SEUNGHO.
On the subject of songs and setlists, MA JINGXIANG has no doubts: The most beautiful track to perform live remains the band’s first single, “All My Poetry”. “It takes us back to the period of our debut and reminds us of the state of mind we had at the time. The most demanding song, on the other hand, is ‘SOB.’ Being such an intense track, mastering it on stage requires a significant burst of energy.”
Describing OVEREXPOSED, CLOSE YOUR EYES called it an appetizer. “In our next project we will show a change that fans won’t be expecting. Something truly new,” reveals MINWOOK with a smile. A hint, however, comes from the leader himself, particularly regarding the possible genre: “I would really love to make hip-hop-inspired music together with the group. In terms of being increasingly involved in the writing process, it is the genre par excellence where you write the lyrics yourself. I am trying to dedicate more and more time to songwriting, and even though the results aren’t quite there yet, I keep trying.”
The members are also open to new collaborations. KYOUNGBAE is drawn to the idea of one day doing a feature with LAUV, while SUNGMIN would like to come full circle and write a track with Peter Manos: “’In My Head’ was my alarm sound for many years.”
Beyond dreams and aspirations, a new chapter in the story of CLOSE YOUR EYES has already begun, and even attempting to predict the path they might take this time is truly difficult. “If I close my eyes, I picture the seven of us singing while looking into each other’s eyes. My dream is that we can keep doing that, happily, for a long time to come,” says MINWOOK.
And that, really, is the beauty of it. Close your eyes and you can imagine every possible future.
This story was written by Billboard Italy’s Samuele Valori for Billboard Korea Artist.
