RIIZE

The members of RIIZE sing bright, jubilant melodies as if reaching for a dream. The K-pop boy band’s name displays that point literally: a combination of the words “rise” and “realize.” It exemplifies a dedication to music’s ardent center—as heard on the gorgeous, synth-stirring single “Memories”—or, in RIIZE’s words, “emotional pop.” RIIZE made their debut together in September 2023 with the effortlessly funky “Get A Guitar,” which showcased an energetic, playful attitude befitting the K-pop rookies. They turned the dial a tad groovier with “Talk Saxy,” a slick, rhythmic maze of sound held by a hypnotic saxophone melody. But it was on the January 2024 single “Love 119” that RIIZE’s heartfelt feelings truly soared. Tapping into 2000s nostalgia by sampling a 2005 K-drama hit by Izi, “Emergency Room (응급실),” the members sing of love as if experiencing it for the first time over and over again. For RIIZE, dreams both past and future have potent meaning.