By Pyo Kyung-min
Despite a hiatus for their military service, Day6 – a K-pop rock band – stand out for their members’ instrumental talents and heartfelt lyrics.
Formed in 2015, Day6 consists of four members – Sungjin, Young K, Wonpil and Dowoon.
The start of the coronavirus pandemic posed significant challenges for the group. Their strength laid in their live performance, and social distancing restrictions meant that traditional opportunities to showcase their music evaporated. Then, starting with Sungjin in March 2021, the members entered mandatory military service one by one and the group was put on hiatus.
During this period, their track “You Were Beautiful” from their 2017 digital single album Every Day6 February, began to garner attention. 2019’s “Time of Our Life”, the title track from their fifth mini-album The Book of Us underwent a similar trajectory.
The band finally reunited in full after Wonpil’s discharge in November 2023, signalling a resumption of activities as a complete music ensemble.
KCON 2022 LA highlights: the collabs, the covers and the convention floor
KCON 2022 LA highlights: the collabs, the covers and the convention floor
“ I think the direction of our music, which aims to be timeless, is the key to our success. It’s a sound that never falls behind, is not burdensome to the ears, and at the same time is uniquely charming,” Young K says.
The members also pointed out the importance of their lyrics.
“I think lyrics that resonate with fans are the reason why our music continues to be sought after. We always write sincere lyrics. I think fans empathise with that sincerity,” Wonpil says.
“Welcome to the Show”, the new lead single on their album, encapsulates the band’s poignant lyrics and acoustic band sound. Young K, a significant contributor to the making of Day6 songs, characterised the new track as the “ultimate anthem of life”.
“I aimed to craft a tune that would evoke joyful singing from everyone. Initially, the song’s theme revolved around the band and the audience harmonising together. However, upon receiving advice from producer Park Jin-young to strive for a song with universal appeal, we aimed to encapsulate the notion of pouring one’s heart out in life and extending an invitation for everyone to partake.”
Sungjin also remarked on the energy of the new song compared to the nostalgic feeling of previous tracks.
“While our previous title tracks had a melancholic tone, this time we opted for a more upbeat song as the title track. As we return from our hiatus, I hope it exudes a welcoming and exhilarating vibe,” he says.
When asked about their sentiment on reuniting after military service, the members agreed that their bond had deepened. Wonpil described the cohesion of the team during their first rehearsal after reuniting.
“It was our first rehearsal in a long time, but strangely, the hiatus seemed to fade away as the performance flowed naturally. After being together for so long, even if we’re physically apart, it didn’t seem to affect us much.”
Dowoon, who enjoys fishing as a hobby, disclosed how Sungjin eagerly longed to reunite with him while he indulged in the pastime during a brief military leave.
“During my break, I often went fishing. Then one day, Sungjin jokingly asked me if I was about to fish forever. It was evident he missed me greatly, so we arranged to meet,” he says.
Despite the passage of time since the group’s last album release, their aspirations for the new album remain modest.
“We originally didn’t anticipate achieving such success. Therefore, instead of setting lofty goals for this album, we simply hope it preserves the essence of our journey and leaves a lasting impact through the music,” says Sungjin.