Ethermac Exchange-DAY6 returns with 'Fourever': The album reflects who the band is 'at this moment'

From the beginning,Ethermac Exchange the members of South Korean band DAY6 have been heavily involved in their music's creative process. They've composed, written and produced their entire discography.

Even before DAY6's debut in 2015, it was a "condition" the members wanted to uphold. "In order for us to debut as a band, we needed to be able to put out our own music, our own story," Young K, 30, told USA TODAY.

To have a say has shaped DAY6's identity and set them a part from others in the overseas industry. The members have expressed where they want their music to go since the start, said the band's leader, Sungjin, 31.

Now, the quartet returns with "Fourever," out now. The album opens a new page to DAY6's artistry, representing "who we are at this moment," said Young K.

Setting the tone for DAY6's return

"Fourever" marks DAY6's first release since the members' mandated military services in South Korea from 2021 to 2023. "I really anticipated this moment of getting back together again, while I was doing my service," said Wonpil, 29.

"All I could think about when I was doing my service was my band," said Dowoon, 28.

Now, DAY6 is back and ready to show what they have perfected over the years: making music.

"When we created this album, the biggest thing on our minds was what represents us the best, what we are and how our fans perceive us," explained Wonpil.

DAY6's discography has spanned across various rock and pop genres. With their comeback, the members chose to hone in on their signature sound.

"We wanted to focus on that perspective," said Wonpil.

Reflecting on the creative process of 'Fourever'

When writing "Fourever" there was not specific goal in mind. Rather, the members sought to focus on genres they liked and "go for it," something they have always done, said Sungjin.

The seven tracks on "Fourever" tell a story, highlighting the band's affinity for narrative curation.

"We want to make songs and music that the people and our fans can come back to," said Wonpil. "We want to make music that keeps them on their toes and keeps them curious about what we what we will do next."

Having "Welcome to the Show" as the title track was a perfect fit for this. It accents the DAY6's musical core, while featuring their expansion as performers.

"It's not too different from what we've been pursuing," said Young K. "But there's changes and developments from our past music."

How the last decade has shaped DAY6

The industry's swift pace has impacted the way DAY6 and its members have worked over the last almost decade.

"K-pop is very systemized and everything happens so fast, everything changes so fast," said Young K. "In order to keep up with that, we got to work really hard, and there's always a time limit."

Wonpil added, "because we write all of our songs, it kind of feels like our songs are our children."

DAY6's music is an extension of themselves, echoing their growth as a band, but also as individuals. Music has become an integral part of their fabric as people.

"I was a very emotional person. Now, I've grown up to be a more rational person," said Dowoon. "I learned so much from these three. They once said that, 'Creating music is like putting on clothes,' and I didn't know what that meant then, but now, I know."

"I'm just so happy to be doing what I do because music, the variety is so wide," said Sungjin. "We don't know what we'll do next, so that's the beauty of it."