CLOSE YOUR EYES

Let's dive right in!

Boy group Close Your Eyes is turning heads with their fourth mini-album titled 256th Note, and critics are calling it a bold step forward for the group's sound.

The seven-track project leans into jazz, hip-hop, country, and bossa nova influences, all wrapped around the members' signature soft vocals, with standout single Open Your Eyes setting the tone for the record's relaxed yet adventurous mood.

Industry observers are also praising the group's producer, director Lee Hae-in, for crafting a style that feels natural rather than forced, highlighting how each of the six members, Jeon Min-wook, Ma Jing-shang, Jang Yeo-joon, Kim Song-min, Song Seung-ho, and Genshin Seogyeong-bae bring distinct personalities while blending beautifully as a vocal unit.

The same creative team behind Close Your Eyes is also behind former Lovelies member Ru Soo Jung's solo release All the Colors I Am, which blends dreamy indie pop textures with her signature husky vocals to explore vulnerability and emotional honesty.

Fans and critics alike are embracing this understated, thoughtful approach to K-pop production, noting that both projects avoid flashy overproduction in favor of genuine artistic growth, making this a quietly exciting moment for fans who appreciate substance over spectacle.

Band Wave to Earth is giving fans an immersive way to connect with their second full album ahead of their big soul show.

Yeah.

Okay, so now we only have one more group to talk about today and that would be Close Your Eyes.

Now, closer.

Please stay with us.

We are only talking about the pre-release Open Your Eyes today.

I know this is the September Comebacks episode and Close Your Eyes is having their comeback in September.

However, it's on the 30th.

We are recording this episode before the 30th.

Fans are hoping for a speedy recovery so Tzuki can get back to showcasing that same fierce spirit on stage soon.

Close Your Eyes is proving they're anything but predictable, diving headfirst into jazz for their fourth mini-album, 256th Note, released today.

The seven-member group held a showcase in Seoul, where they revealed how they blended jazz improvisation with 90s street hip-hop influences, Even sampling Yoon Sinae's classic Enjoy This Night for their title track Drop That, member John Minwook shared that the genre's freeform nature matched the group's creative spirit perfectly, while other members admitted studying jazz and vintage hip-hop together to nail the unfamiliar sound.

The album also marks a special milestone, with all seven members credited as lyricists on the closing track Eternity, pouring their genuine emotions into the final song as a testament to their growth two years into their career.

Looking ahead, Close Your Eyes is gearing up for their first solo tour in the United States next month, with members expressing hopes of landing their first music show win and continuing to expand their artistic range beyond music into acting.

Baseball and K-pop are teaming up again as Lyceum's Gina and Wonhee head to Daegu this week.

Industry reports confirm the two members will take part in the season's exciting match-up between the Hanwha Eagles and Samsung Lions on October 1st, with Gina throwing the ceremonial first pitch and Wanhee stepping up for the ceremonial first hit.

We only covered one, though.

Close Your Eyes, pre-release Open Your Eyes.

There are some massive scores that have been given out this week, guys.

Surprising.

So we have two songs from last week, two songs from this week.

We have IU Unknown Planet, which is like the second track, which is like the preview for the album coming out next year.

We have Close Your Eyes with their pre-release Open Your Eyes.

I don't know why we named it like that, but we did.

It releases on Sunday night, September 27th, for us on Eastern Time.

And then on September 30th, both Close Your Eyes, they're back with their fourth mini-album, 256 Note, that you know I will be streaming.

And I'm also very excited because of that.

Same day, Cravity are releasing their new EP, Sonore.

With Finna KL back together and ready to create fresh memories with their fans, this reunion is definitely one of the biggest K-pop comeback stories of the year.

K-pop group Close Your Eyes, known as CLYA, threw an exciting surprise for fans this weekend, hosting an impromptu busking performance in Seoul's Mapo District ahead of their highly anticipated comeback.

The group gave fans an up-close and personal experience, kicking things off with their unreleased group track Best Life to get the crowd energized right from the start.

Throughout the set, members shared behind-the-scenes stories about creating their upcoming fourth mini-album, playfully titled 256th Note, and even took time to snap photos with fans in attendance.

And first I'm going to mention my very favorite release of the week.

Close Your Eyes put out their pre-release single, Open Your Eyes, which is off their upcoming album.

256th note, we got K-pop jazz! I'm so excited.

This track has the impeccable vocals I've really come to love from Close Your Eyes, especially Kyungbae's ad-libs paired with this like funky jazz piano and moments where their vocal delivery, it hits on the beat so cleanly.

It is so fun.

The music video has such an amazing vibe too.

One of my favorite things Close Your Eyes has consistently done is explore sounds that feel genuinely different from what we're normally hearing in K-pop, at least at the time.

I mentioned last week how much I love when K-pop fully embraces the art of it all, and this is exactly what I mean.

Following the album release, Lee Chang Sub will embark on a nationwide solo concert tour called Unknown, visiting seven cities including Seoul, Busan, Suwon, Jeonju, Ulsan, Daegu, and Goyang starting in October.

Close Your Eyes has given fans an exciting preview of their fourth mini-album, 256th Note, through a highlight medley released on their YouTube channel.

The seven-track album showcases the group's versatility, ranging from jazz reinterpreted through hip-hop and R&B in Open Your Eyes to the title track Drop That.

which samples Yoon Sinae's classic Korean jazz funk song, Enjoy This Night.

It's not.

Is it Close Your Eyes?

Nope.

Is it Even?

Exactly.

Oh my God, I got it.

Okay, that's Close Your Eyes, Pose.

No.