One or Eight’s NEO Talks ‘Kawasaki,’ Says J.Cole Lyrics ‘Save’

One or Eight had a breakthrough yr.

In August, the eight-member Japanese boy band launched their debut monitor, “Do not Inform No person,” together with the music video, which was written and produced by OneRepublic. Ryan Tedder. The group, nonetheless, was first launched in June with a efficiency video of “Kawasaki.” The video has been seen greater than 6 million instances in 5 days. And at first of the month, a remix of the tune and its video clip, with Massive Seandeserted. THE Bounce The singer found One or Eight whereas watching them play. NEO talked to us about what it is prefer to work with famend musicians, his largest influences, and the form of artist he strives to be.

We had the chance to play in entrance of Massive Sean…we gave it a shot,” NEO mentioned. Us each week in an unique interview. “We requested him if he might have a verse on our revamped model, and he gave us a beneficiant ‘sure’ and that is the way it all occurred.”

Whereas filming the music video in Los Angeles and Japan, when Massive Sean seen the group was nervous, he mentioned, “‘Guys, let’s have enjoyable.’ And this power actually helped us benefit from the filming, which turned out to be an incredible end result identical to the music video,” mentioned NEO. “The large lesson he taught us by the way in which he carried himself was to remain humble.”

NEO additionally shared a key reminiscence from filming: “There is a scene the place Massive Sean is true within the center, and the remainder of the eight of us have been banging our heads with helmets, however the helmets have been so heavy that our necks began to harm us after three seconds, and we needed to play the entire tune. In order that’s two straight minutes of hitting one another with an enormous ball on the pinnacle,” he mentioned. was fairly tough for us, but it surely was amusing.”

Moreover NEO, different members embrace MIZUKI, REIA, RYOTA, SOUMA, TAKERU, TSUBASA and YUGA.

NEO known as the tune’s success “disconcerting” and mentioned We how he and the members of One or Eight wish to maintain the momentum going.

“There’s lots of stress on us as a result of we insist on ‘Kawasaki’ going viral, however we’ve to repeatedly put out good music,” he mentioned. “So all of the members have been nonetheless within the studio. We at all times prepare and we’re at all times ready for a greater efficiency.

Their sound is a mix of hip-hop and pop, and NEO mentioned We that inspiration comes from these he admires within the business.

“Me, personally, I actually admire J.Cole“, he mentioned. “His phrases actually saved my life and phrases like which might be thought upsetting. It isn’t simple to write down. And with the ability to be an incredible songwriter in addition to an incredible performer, that is what I actually wish to obtain… That is my function mannequin.

He continued to elucidate how the rapper 2014 Forest Hills Drive was a “lifeline” for him: “I had some actually darkish instances in my life and listening to this actually lifted my spirits. »

NEO now needs to pay it ahead with One or Eight’s fan base, noting that he hopes the group will be “a secure house for listeners.”