TRENDZ are back and even though they debuted five years agi, they’re not slowing down. With their new single On My Knees, the septet dives into a sound that leans into their K-pop roots while pushing their performance to new heights. We caught up with the members to talk favourite lyrics, dream collabs, killing parts, and what’s next for FRIENDZ.
What’s your favourite part of this comeback?
HAVIT: My favorite part of this comeback is definitely On My Knees itself — our new title track. I grew up listening to a lot of K-pop, and the moment I heard this song, it reminded me of the music from that era. I immediately thought, “This is the one!” I also got to sing the parts I had always wanted to do, and the recording turned out really well, so I truly love this song.
Which idols would you like to do the “On My Knees” Challenge with?
LEON: I actually got to film the challenge with someone I had really hoped to work with — ATEEZ’s Seonghwa sunbaenim! I was so happy we had the chance to do it together. As expected, he’s an amazing dancer. Among the artists I haven’t filmed with yet, I’d really love to do the challenge with Stray Kids sunbaenim.
YECHAN: I’d love to do it with BTS’s j-hope sunbaenim! He’s an incredible dancer, and I’ve respected him for a long time. It would be an honor to film a challenge together someday.
What was the writing process like for Ra.L, HANKOOK, Yechan & Eunil?
ra.L: For our title track On My Knees, HANKOOK, YECHAN, EUNIL, and I all participated in writing the lyrics. We each started by writing the lyrics for our own parts, then shared them with one another and gave feedback. Whenever we couldn’t think of the right word or felt there might be a phrase that flowed better, we’d ask each other for ideas and work together to make it stronger. In the end, we finalized everything through discussions with the songwriters.
What is your favorite lyric in “On My Knees”?
HANKOOK: My favorite lyric is my bridge line: “I’m on my way, still on my way onto.” To me, it means, “I’m walking my own path, and I’m still moving forward.” I think it perfectly captures the message of On My Knees — continuing to move forward no matter how difficult things become. I also love it because it references “Still on my way,” a lyric from our previous title track MY WAY, creating a meaningful connection between the two songs.
Are there any songs you want to cover?
YOONWOO: I’d love for all of TRENDZ to cover Chains from Boys Planet 2. It’s a style we haven’t tried before, but I really like songs like that, so I think it would be exciting for all of us to perform it together.
HAVIT: I’d love to cover V sunbaenim’s Christmas Tree. I’ve always loved emotional OSTs, so it’s exactly my kind of song. Christmas is also the most special day of the year for me, which makes the song even more meaningful. On top of that, it’s by an artist I truly admire, so I’d love the chance to cover it someday.
What is the next concept you want to try?
YECHAN: I’d like us to try an even more powerful performance-focused concept next. While On My Knees showcases another side of TRENDZ, we’re also very confident when it comes to intense performance songs. I’d love to show everyone another powerful stage where our performance truly takes center stage.
What is your favorite choreography “Killing Part” of On My Knees?
LEON: My favorite part is actually my own part — the moment during the final chorus when we all drop to our knees. At the climax of the song, all seven of us kneel down and look up toward the sky. I think that choreography perfectly represents our determination to never give up, even when hardships make us stumble. We worked really hard to make that move perfectly synchronized, and I think that’s what makes it even more impactful.
Why should new people stan and listen to TRENDZ?
EUNIL: If you become our fan, I’m confident you’ll never regret it. This is already our fifth year since debut, but we’re still full of passion and always eager to meet even more FRIENDZ. The seven of us constantly think about what kind of music our fans would enjoy, so we’re determined to never disappoint them.
ra.L: We also take part in creating our own music and choreography. I think one of the fun things about following TRENDZ is watching us grow with every album. We’d be so grateful if you continued supporting us and watched us improve in every area for FRIENDZ.
You just completed your Europe Tour, and even visited Ireland, which hasn’t had a K-pop concert in years; what new cities or countries do you want to visit?
YOONWOO: Honestly, we’d love to go anywhere there are people who want to see TRENDZ perform. Ireland is actually one of the places I’d love to visit again. The FRIENDZ there were incredibly passionate, and their energy left a lasting impression on me. We also didn’t get to stay very long, so if we have the chance, I’d love to return, perform again, and take some time to explore the country.
What is your dream as a part of TRENDZ?
HANKOOK: My biggest dream is for TRENDZ to perform in a huge concert venue completely filled with FRIENDZ, all enjoying the show together. Just imagining it makes me happy. Another dream of mine is for TRENDZ to become even more well-known and successful. So many people have helped us get to where we are today, and we’re especially grateful to FRIENDZ. It sometimes feels like we’ve only received love, so I want us to become successful enough that we can give back to our fans two or three times over.
ra.L: My dream is for TRENDZ to reach even greater heights and be recognised by many more people. I thought a lot about what I could personally do to help make that happen, and my answer was music. That’s why I continue working hard to write songs that can give strength to both the members and FRIENDZ. I hope our music helps introduce TRENDZ to even more people, and I’m constantly learning and growing so we can build that future together.
EUNIL: FRIENDZ! We’ve finally returned with our new single album, On My Knees. We put so much thought, effort, and heart into this comeback, so I hope you’ll enjoy it and show it lots of love!
YECHAN: We’re always working hard to meet more FRIENDZ around the world, so please continue to support and cheer us on. We’ll keep growing into an even better TRENDZ. We hope to see you all very soon!
