Ever so often, a new group emerges that shifts the energy in the room—and ONE OR EIGHT is exactly that. Meet the dynamic Japanese boy group poised to make global waves through their bold sound, and a genre-blending style.

Known for their cross-cultural music and boundary-pushing collaborations, the group has released their recent offering “DSTM"; a track showcasing a vibrant amalgamation of Japanese and English lyrics.

“DSTM” acts as a fresh reimagining of Rihanna’s iconic track "Don’t Stop The Music”—blending energetic modern tunes with a nostalgic Y2K flair.

With an array of an impressive work that fuses cultures and eras, ONE OR EIGHT are quickly becoming one of the most exciting acts in the musical landscape. 

From their debut track produced by the legendary Ryan Tedder to their recent collaborations with 'Big Sean" and 'pH-1', the group has carved out a sound that is both nostalgic and completely novel.

We sat down with ONE OR EIGHT to discuss their creative process behind "DSTM", how they spun the track distinct from Rihanna's iconic version while also giving tribute to the original, insights into their professional journey so far, their message to their fans, and what can their supporters expect from their forthcoming projects. 

Hi there, boys. Thank you for joining us on ReVamp! I mean let's obviously begin by asking about your surreal new track "DSTM" First of all, huge congratulations on the launch of this amazing single!

Kindly walk me through the overall creative process of this project as well as what the initial inspiration was behind this remake? 

NEO: For this project, we focused on preserving the essence of the original song while incorporating fresh arrangements and interpretations. The idea for this remake came from our belief that the song’s timeless appeal and cultural significance could be reimagined in a new way. While staying true to the emotions and message of the original music, we wanted to create an arrangement that resonates with today’s audience, our fans, and reaches even more people.

Do you remember your first impressions of meeting each other when you initially formed this group? 

REIA: When I first met the members, I thought they had a completely different kind of charm compared to Korean trainees. Everyone had their own style, their own way of thinking, and came from completely different backgrounds. I still clearly remember how surprised I was. At the same time, because we were all so different, I felt it would be a new kind of challenge, and I started to feel really excited and hopeful for what was ahead.

How do you as a group ensure each and every one of your artistry is equally contributed within a project? 

MIZUKI: During the production period, we had detailed discussions with each other about how to express the melody lines and rap parts. We make sure to align our understanding and work together to create something that truly represents the unique style of ONE OR EIGHT.

"Don't Stop The Music" has been such a global sensation so I'm sure remaking this track into an official release as you take inspiration from the original while adding your own unique spin to the song might have not been a smooth sailing as there's a lot of expectations set there.

YUGA: Since we sampled both Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” and Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop The Music”, we feel incredibly honored to have added to the music of such legendary artists. At the same time, we felt a huge amount of pressure to not just sample these two tracks but add our own artistry to “DSTM” while still honoring these two songs. We developed a strong determination in this process to pave a way for a new era for ourselves and our music. With “DSTM,” we hope to express that music doesn’t disappear, it gets passed down, and we want to be a part of carrying it forward.

So, I'm very curious to know, did you face any challenges during the production stage of 'DSTM'? If so, how did you overcome those obstacles?  

TSUBASA: I really struggled with the vocals. There was this frustration of not being able to fully express what I wanted to convey, so I worked with the vocal producer to create an ad-lib for the final chorus that wasn’t in the demo.

Since it brought a nuance that wasn’t present in Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop The Music,” I felt a lot of pressure. But in the end, it turned out really well, and I now feel confident to keep singing it moving forward.

I mean it's been a few days since the track has been out, so are you currently enjoying the reception you have received on your phenomenal track so far? 

TAKERU: Because the sample music for “DSTM” has been passed down through generations, when we performed it for the first time and saw the audience instantly singing along, it made me truly feel that this track has lived through many eras. I'm also really happy that, thanks to the arrangement that reflects ONE OR EIGHT’s unique style, it has become a song that many of our fans have come to love.

Having worked in this phenomenal group for such a long time, what according to all of you is the biggest lesson that you have all learnt from working with each other?

RYOTA: During the audition period, I was mainly focused on discovering my own strengths and refining my individual skills. I was constantly training and preparing for each performance with a “me-first” mindset. But through STAGE ZERO, which took us to various countries before our official debut, we experienced performing in front of a live audience as ONE OR EIGHT for the first time. Our goal then was to pull the audience into the world of ONE OR EIGHT, entertain them, and get as many people as possible interested in us. That experience helped expand our awareness and improve our ability to perform as a group.

STAGE ZERO varied greatly depending on the country and culture, the size of the stage, the environment (like universities, elementary/middle schools, streets, clubs), and the audience type were all different. So each time, we had to figure out how to adjust our performance style and express the right nuance for that moment. I think those experiences really helped us develop our adaptability.

How do you think have your artistry evolved ever since you marked your debut as compared to this latest offering?

SOUMA: I believe that performing in many different countries has really expanded the range of expression that’s unique to ONE OR EIGHT.

Since each country has its own culture, the way people enjoy live shows also varies. For example, in Thailand, there's a culture of "living in the moment," so the audience goes all out and their cheers are incredible. That’s why I focus on how we can amplify that energy without being overwhelmed by it.

On the other hand, in places like Japan and Vietnam, the audience tends to seriously take in our performance, and listen quietly as we perform. So we focus on how to maintain our intensity and deliver a powerful performance without holding back.

Having the opportunity to perform in various countries has definitely helped us broaden our expressive abilities more than anything else. 

If you could describe this track in your own words, how would you define "DSTM"? 

SOUMA: Music doesn’t stop. This track samples Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop The Music,” and its theme is: as long as the music keeps playing, I won’t stop. In life, there are times when we lose confidence or feel like we’ve lost our sense of pride. I hope that when people listen to this song, even just a little, it helps them regain their confidence and feel inspired to enjoy the present moment freely.

Garnering such an established fanbase with so many supporters from around the world, does it ever get pressurising for you to release music knowing there's such a vast amount of people out there extremely eager to listen to your track?

NEO: Of course, releasing new music with so many fans around the world comes with a great sense of responsibility and pressure. But rather than seeing it as something negative, we take it as a source of creative energy. Knowing that our fans are looking forward to our music motivates us to push ourselves and deliver the best work possible. We also believe that embracing new challenges allows us to grow and expand our artistic potential.

What's next for you, ONE OR EIGHT? Any other projects currently in the pipeline for the rest of this year? Or perhaps anything on your bucket list that you would love to achieve in 2025?

TSUBASA: We’re planning to hold overseas fan meetings called “SHUKAI,” and we’re also preparing lots of new songs, so please look forward to it!!

Ending Note:- Thank you for joining us on this lovely interview, guys! Wishing you all the very best with this project!

Lastly, I'd love to know if there's any message that you'd wish to convey to your fans and supporters currently reading this interview?

YUGA: To all our fans, thank you always for your support. Have you listened to our track “DSTM” yet?

The message of the song is: as long as the music doesn’t stop, our challenges won’t stop either. And we hope you can connect that message to your own challenges, too. Please continue to support us from here on out!