CLOSE YOUR EYES Talk ‘256th Note,’ ‘Drop That!,’ and What Comes Next
From the standout moments of “Drop That!” to the creative direction of 256th Note, CLOSE YOUR EYES share what makes this comeback meaningful and what they are excited to show fans next.
CLOSE YOUR EYES (CYE) has continued to carve out their own space in K-pop with a musical identity that embraces versatility, emotion, and ever-evolving artistry. The seven-member project boy group under UNCORE debuted on April 2, 2025, with their first mini album, Eternalt, introducing a team composed of JEON MINWOOK, MA JINGXIANG, JANG YEOJUN, KIM SUNGMIN, SONG SEUNGHO, KENSHIN, and SEO KYOUNGBAE. Since then, CYE has built an increasingly diverse discography spanning multiple genres and styles, from the contrasting sounds of Snowy Summer and Blackout to collaborations, original soundtracks, and digital singles. With their official fandom, CLOSER, by their side, the group continues to explore new musical territory while strengthening the connection at the heart of their artistry.
That spirit of exploration takes center stage in CYE’s fourth mini album, 256th Note, a multifaceted release that brings together R&B, alternative R&B, lo-fi, jazz, hip-hop, pop, and bossa nova influences. The album showcases the group's willingness to move between contrasting moods, balancing laid-back grooves and playful energy with more introspective, emotionally driven moments. With seven tracks, including the previously released digital single “Open Your Eyes,” 256th Note lets listeners experience different facets of CYE's musical color. JEON MINWOOK and KENSHIN also co-wrote “Open Your Eyes,” highlighting the members' growing involvement in shaping their sound and making this release another meaningful step in their artistic journey.
In an exclusive interview, CLOSE YOUR EYES reflect on the creative vision behind 256th Note, discussing the album’s title, the emotions they hope to convey, and how its sound compares with their previous releases. The members also share personal highlights from preparing for the comeback, the details they are most excited for fans to discover in “Drop That!,” and the challenges of bringing the new music video to life. Join us as CYE discuss the making of 256th Note, their continued growth as artists, and what they hope listeners and CLOSER will discover with each note.
Hello, CLOSE YOUR EYES! Please introduce yourselves to our readers.
JEON MINWOOK: Hello, I'm JEON MINWOOK, the eldest member and the leader!
MA JINGXIANG: Hello! I'm MA JINGXIANG, the bass voice of CLOSE YOUR EYES. I'm truly happy to be able to greet our readers. Thank you!
JANG YEOJUN: Hello! I'm JANG YEOJUN, the main dancer of CLOSE YOUR EYES!
KIM SUNGMIN: Hello! I'm KIM SUNGMIN, the member of CLOSE YOUR EYES with a cuite, one-of-a-kind charm.
SONG SEUNGHO: Hello! I'm SONG SEUNGHO, the handsome puppy of CLOSE YOUR EYES.
KENSHIN: Hello! I'm KENSHIN, the cute otter of CLOSE YOUR EYES!
SEO KYOUNGBAE: Hello, I'm SEO KYOUNGBAE of CLOSE YOUR EYES!
Congratulations on your 4th mini album, 256th Note! What does the title represent, and what was the main idea you wanted to express through this album?
JEON MINWOOK: We borrowed the 256th note, the shortest note that exists, to capture the natural, honest emotions we feel in a brief instant. The core idea was to try to put spontaneous, free-spirited music into the album, like the jazz genre.
JANG YEOJUN: The title track of this album, "Drop That!", is a song that shows CLOSE YOUR EYES's unique charm and sense of freedom, and through this album we wanted to show good music that crosses genres!
What kind of emotions or atmosphere did you want listeners to feel when they listen to 256th Note from beginning to end?
KIM SUNGMIN: I hope a wide range of emotions come and go! Rather than an album made to focus on one single feeling, I hope listeners feel many different emotions, such as sadness, joy, and happiness, in each and every song.
SEO KYOUNGBAE: With the novelty we've always pursued and with pleasant songs, I hope people will listen to them as even better songs, where freshness and comfort coexist as you listen!
How would you describe the overall sound and identity of 256th Note compared with your previous albums?
MA JINGXIANG: Compared to our previous albums, I think this album lets us show a freer and more colorful side of ourselves musically. In particular, we tried to express various genres in our own colors on a jazz foundation. As the title suggests, we tried to capture even the feelings that flash by in a brief moment, so we hope listeners enjoy it freely, according to their own emotions and moods.
SONG SEUNGHO: It was our first time taking on the jazz genre, and we tried to bring a free, relaxed atmosphere to the album.
Was there a particular song on the album that felt especially meaningful to you while preparing for this comeback? What made that song stand out?
JANG YEOJUN: It's "Eternity"! It's the first song all the members wrote lyrics for, and we worked on it thinking of our fans, so it's special to us.
KENSHIN: “Open Your Eyes” stays with me the most. The song's mood is a little mysterious, and I like that various images come to mind every time I listen to it. When making the choreography, I also thought a lot about how to express the song's mood and emotions. I think it shows a new side of us, so I feel even more attached to it.
Is there a particular part of “Drop That!”—whether it’s a lyric, vocal part, choreography, or killing point—that you’re especially excited for fans to experience?
JEON MINWOOK: The hook part. Since it's a repeated phrase, I hope it stays in our fans' memories.
SONG SEUNGHO: The part I want people to make sure they watch in the title track "Drop That!" is the whispered part in the bridge. The choreography there also lets each of us show our own personality.
If you could describe each song on 256th Note as a different mood, color, or season, what would they be?
JEON MINWOOK: "Vibe Check" feels like early autumn arriving with a cool breeze after summer has passed. The relaxed, refreshing feeling after the sweltering heat suits it well.
MA JINGXIANG: “Baby Bossa Nova.” The relaxed rhythm unique to bossa nova pairs well with its bright, warm melody, so listening to it feels like a pleasant walk on a breezy day. I think its charm lies in a comfortable, natural atmosphere rather than a flashy one.
JANG YEOJUN: "Eternity" is autumn! It's a wistful, nostalgic song that lets you get lost in memories and emotions!
KIM SUNGMIN: "Slowly Bleed" brings to mind a burgundy color like autumn foliage, and I picture leaves falling in an autumn forest.
SONG SEUNGHO: I'd like to describe the song "Fool For You" as a summer night sky. It wasn't included when I first started writing the lyrics for this song, but I had actually used it, and listening to it gives me a fresh, cool feeling, so I wrote the lyrics with the mindset of starting a story about memories.
KENSHIN: I'd like to describe “Drop That!” as summer. I think it's a song that's full of energy just from listening, and that everyone can enjoy together excitedly. It feels like everyone dancing and having fun together on a hot summer night!
SEO KYOUNGBAE: For "Open Your Eyes," I'd like to use the color brown! The song has a woody scent, and its mood is a little muted yet luxurious, so I chose brown, which I think suits it well!
What was the most challenging part of filming the music video for this release? Was there a scene or performance that required more preparation than you expected?
KENSHIN: In this shoot, it was a little difficult to express the facial expressions and movements that fit the mood of the song. Beyond simply dancing, I paid attention to even the smallest details so the song's charm would come across well on camera. Checking again and again while filming was tough at times, but it made me even happier when I saw the finished video.
SEO KYOUNGBAE: In the "Open Your Eyes" music video, I think the drum-playing scene took the most preparation! I took drum lessons and put a lot of effort into that scene.
If you could recommend just one song CLOSE YOUR EYES discography to someone who has never listened to CLOSE YOUR EYES before, which song would you choose, and what would you want them to pay attention to?
JANG YEOJUN: It's "X"! It's the song where we first made a change, and many people loved it as a really good song to listen to! It's an R&B-style song, so please focus on that charm when you listen!
KIM SUNGMIN: I'd like to recommend "All the Poems and Novels Within Me." The title alone already feels poetic. I think the atmosphere created when the melody and vocals blend together is captivating. I think it would be even better to listen to when you're quietly spending time alone!
As you embark on the North American leg of your first world tour, CLOSE YOUR EYES 1st Tour [Beyond Your Eyes]. What are you most excited to experience with your North American fans?
JEON MINWOOK: Just the fact that we're going to meet the CLOSERs who cheer us on from the other side of the world makes me really look forward to it and feel excited. Since we can't go often, I want to give them memories they'll never forget.
JANG YEOJUN: Since it's our first time visiting our North American fans, I think I'm most looking forward to and excited about the energy of meeting and interacting in person!
MA JINGXIANG: I'm so, so excited to meet our CLOSERs in North America in person and enjoy our music and stage together. Some of you cheer for us from far away, so meeting face to face, making eye contact, and communicating will feel really special. I also want to feel that, even across different countries and cultures, we can become one through music. Through this tour, I want to make unforgettable memories with our North American CLOSERs, and I hope it stays in our memories for a long time!
KIM SUNGMIN: I've heard North American fans have amazing energy. So I want to feel the energy and heat of the North American CLOSERs firsthand. I'd also love to sing our songs together with them in a big sing-along.
SONG SEUNGHO: When we had a concert in Canada last time, what stayed with me was how the CLOSERs enjoyed it with us to the point that I was overwhelmed by their energy, and I'm looking forward to a stage on this North American tour where we enjoy ourselves together, and we get energy from the CLOSERs and the CLOSERs get energy from us too.
KENSHIN: What I'm most looking forward to is meeting all of you CLOSERs in North America in person and enjoying music together in the same space. I think it's a wonderful thing that, even when our countries and languages differ, we can become one through music. I want to give my best on stage so that even people seeing our stage for the first time can make unforgettable memories!
SEO KYOUNGBAE: I'm really looking forward to seeing how much the North American CLOSERs will love our performances, and I think doing eight shows will be a big help to our growth!
There are seven members, each with their own personality and strengths. What is one quality or “color” that you think each member brings to CLOSE YOUR EYES?
JEON MINWOOK: I think I'm the member who adds stability to the team. I work hard so the team doesn't waver or fall apart and can move in the right direction.
MA JINGXIANG: I think each member's color is really distinct. MINWOOK has the strength to hold the team together reliably, and YEOJUN has a charm for creating his own atmosphere on stage. SUNGMIN expresses delicate emotion well vocally, and SEUNGHO has both energy and ease. KENSHIN has bright energy and personality, and KYOUNGBAE's stage expressiveness is captivating. Personally, I want to take on a variety of genres while showing my own tone and atmosphere. Because the seven of us each have different colors, I think we create even more colorful music and stages when we're together. I think each member's unique charm is our team's greatest strength!
JANG YEOJUN: MINWOOK -Red, XIANG-Orange, YEOJUN-Navy, SUNGMIN-Blue, SEUNGHO-Green, KENSHIN-Yellow, KYOUNGBAE-Purple. I think our team's strength is that members with deep, rich colors, like the colors of a rainbow, come together to form a harmonious, beautiful color!
KIM SUNGMIN: MINWOOK has keen observation skills and leadership, XIANG has intense energy and presence, YEOJUN can command the stage, SEUNGHO has an attractive rapping voice, KENSHIN has bright energy, and KYOUNGBAE has a musical sense. I want to add color to the team with my own tone and emotional expressiveness!
SONG SEUNGHO: MINWOOK’s leadership that holds the team's center, XIANG's own atmosphere and charm on stage; YEOJUN's bright energy and stage-commanding presence; SUNGMIN's delicate expressiveness and sensibility; KENSHIN's unique charm and vitamin-like vibe; KYOUNGBAE's own personality and fresh charm. As for me, I want to show powerful energy on stage!
KENSHIN: I think I'm the member who adds bright energy to the team! I also like thinking of new ways to express myself while listening to music and bringing my own ideas to the stage. I want to keep bringing out my own personality and become a member who adds new charm to the team.
SEO KYOUNGBAE: MINWOOK-Black, XIANG-Red, YEOJUN-Blue, SUNGMIN-White, SEUNGHO-Brown, KENSHIN-Pink, KYOUNGBAE-Purple. These are each member's favorite colors, and I think the harmony with those colors really suits them, so I chose them this way!
As you've spent more time working together, is there something you've learned from another member that has influenced you personally or as an artist?
MA JINGXIANG: I've learned so much from the members while working together. Each member has a slightly different way of preparing for the stage and expressing music, and I learn a lot from watching that. In particular, seeing each person naturally show their individuality on stage made me want to express my own color even better. Also, watching everyone lean on each other and keep working hard to the end, even in tough moments, showed me the importance of teamwork. Going forward, I hope we keep giving and receiving good influence from one another and grow together!
SEO KYOUNGBAE: I think MINWOOK's influence was big. I think I learned a lot from watching everything about him, especially his stage presence and the attitude built from his experience!
As you continue releasing music, how do you think CLOSE YOUR EYES' musical identity has developed since your debut with Eternalt?
JEON MINWOOK: In the early days after our debut, many people thought our identity was easy listening. Since then, we still make music that's good to listen to, but I think we're growing more diverse and aren't limited to that.
KIM SUNGMIN: Since our debut, by experiencing a variety of genres, I feel we've been gradually learning what kind of music we're good at and what colors we can show. In the process, our way of expressing music has broadened, and I want to keep making our own color clearer through new attempts.
Lastly, please leave a message to fans reading this.
JEON MINWOOK: CLOSERs! Did you enjoy the interview?? I'm glad we could share our thoughts through an interview like this! Have a good day today too, CLOSERs.
MA JINGXIANG: To all the CLOSERs who always support CLOSE YOUR EYES, thank you so much! I feel that thanks to the love and support you send us, we get even more strength and can work hard. I want to repay you with even better music and cooler stages, and I'm really looking forward to the memories we'll make with you. I hope you're always healthy and happy, and please stay by our side for a long, long time. I love you! To the top, CLOSE YOUR EYES!
JANG YEOJUN: CLOSERs! How was your day today? Since there are CLOSERs reading my interview, I had a happy day today too! I miss you. Let's meet soon!
KIM SUNGMIN: Thank you for reading the interview! A really diverse group of friends have come together and are active as the group CLOSE YOUR EYES. We're confident we can show you even cooler sides going forward, so please show us lots of interest!
SONG SEUNGHO: CLOSERs! I feel like we can show you such a good album because there are always CLOSERs by our side, so I'm always grateful, and I love you.
KENSHIN: First, thank you so much to all the CLOSERs who always cheer us on! Thanks to you, I feel we can enjoy music and be happy while doing our activities. I want to keep showing different sides of ourselves and become an artist who can repay your support. Please look forward to our future activities! I love you!
SEO KYOUNGBAE: CLOSERs! As I always say, let's stay happy and be together forever. Thanks to you, CLOSERs, every day is so much fun! Thank you, and I love you, CLOSERs!
Listen to CLOSE YOUR EYES discography on Spotify or Apple Music.
*Special thanks to UNCORE and the members of CLOSE YOUR EYES for this exclusive interview.
Image & Video Credits: UNCORE
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