Close Your Eyes has released their fourth mini-album, ‘256th Note’, presenting a fresh chapter and unique sonic identity for the K-pop rookie act.
The seven-member group (JEON MINWOOK, MA JINGXIANG, JANG YEOJUN, KIM SUNGMIN, SONG SEUNGHO, KENSHIN and SEO KYOUNGBAE) debuted just last year with Eternalt, but has since released multiple mini-albums, singles, soundtracks, and received a number of rookie music awards.
“In the beginning, we were in the process of finding our own color,” member Ma Jingxiang told The Knockturnal. “Now, I think we’re slowly starting to understand what that color really is. We want to keep challenging ourselves with new genres and styles and make our musical identity even more distinct.”
That distinction is evident within the intro of “Open Your Eyes” itself; the title track for 256th Note kicks off with a piano arpeggio and fuses together jazz, hip-hop, and R&B to create a unique sound that carries throughout the album, particularly in “Drop That!” and “Vibe Check”. Their authenticity shines through with “Eternity”, which was written by the members themselves as a heartfelt tribute to their fans.
Prior to the mini-album’s release, the members had the chance to speak with The Knockturnal about the inspiration behind the album title, their favorite songs on the tracklist, growing as artists, and more. Read our full conversation with them below.
Photo Credit: UNCORE
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Thank you for speaking with The Knockturnal today! For those who are just getting familiar with you all, could you each introduce yourself along with something people might not know about you?
JEON MINWOOK: Hello, I’m the leader, Jeon Minwook.
MA JINGXIANG: Hello, I’m Ma Jingxiang, in charge of the low notes in CLOSE YOUR EYES! I like seeking out new hip-hop-leaning music to listen to, and a fact people might not know about me is that I’m actually really calm and quiet when I’m alone.
JANG YEOJUN: Hello. I’m Jang Yeojun of CLOSE YOUR EYES. I’m someone with a hidden reversal charm.
KIM SUNGMIN: Hello, I’m Kim Sungmin of CLOSE YOUR EYES. I might look really calm on the outside, but I actually have a really quirky, offbeat charm, so please keep an eye on me.
SONG SEUNGHO: Hello! I’m Song Seungho of Close Your Eyes! Fans often call me a bright, lively puppy, but actually I have a fur allergy, so I can’t touch dogs even though I love them.
KENSHIN: Hello, I’m Kenshin! I’m in charge of bringing bright energy and performance to the team. Also, it takes me a really long time to pick out my clothes in the morning, so I’m sometimes late.
SEO KYOUNGBAE: Hello! I’m Seo Kyoungbae, the youngest member of CLOSE YOUR EYES! I’m the one in charge of a positive mindset, easygoing charm, and good looks, and I’m someone who always approaches everything with a happy heart!
I was interested in learning about the album’s title, 256th Note. What was the inspiration behind that name?
JANG YEOJUN : I feel like the name came about because this is the first genre we’re taking on, and it’s a track that blends K-pop and jazz, so I think we used this name to give it something special.
SONG SEUNGHO: Among musical notes, there’s something called a ‘256th note’, which represents an incredibly brief moment in music. It was created with the meaning that we want to show music that can be remembered even in the shortest of moments.
Listening to this album, I was impressed at how many different genres it covered within just seven songs. From hip-hop to jazz funk to a ballad, you guys are able to showcase such a diverse range. How do you determine what music genres you want to try with your releases? Are there any that you haven’t done yet that you want to take on with later projects?
JEON MINWOOK: I think we and everyone on our team give their opinions, and we decide from among those. For our next project, I’d really love to try proper hip-hop and R&B.
SEO KYOUNGBAE: We always think that taking on a new genre is both our own rule and our own wish! Our goal is to keep releasing songs in new genres and to let more and more people hear our diverse sides and diverse melodies!
Playing on one of the songs, “Vibe Check,” what is the general vibe you want people to catch if they’re discovering your group for the first time?
KIM SUNGMIN: I want people to feel comfortable listening to a rap and vocal that flow naturally like calm waves, and to feel like it’s a vibe they want to come back to after just one listen. When I wrote the lyrics, I pictured myself alone on a quiet beach, and I hope that relaxed, comfortable mood comes across well even to people encountering us for the first time. I also hope people get the feeling that ‘this group’s music is something you just keep listening to.’
KENSHIN: I hope people seeing us for the first time feel like ‘this group has really great energy.’ I hope they feel that good energy not just from our stages, but from our bright, natural selves too.
You guys also have credits as lyricists on “Eternity.” Tell me about what that song means to you! What was important when it came to the songwriting process for that?
MA JINGXIANG: To me, ‘Eternity’ is a special song that makes me think about the time we and CLOSER have spent together, and the time we’ll build together going forward. Taking part directly in writing the lyrics let me put feelings into words that I usually find hard to express out loud, which made it feel even more meaningful. When writing lyrics, I thought the most important thing, above all, was making sure our sincerity really comes across. Rather than crafting cool-sounding lines, I tried to honestly put in the words I really wanted to say to CLOSER.
KIM SUNGMIN: I wrote Eternity thinking of our CLOSERs. I wrote it while imagining how CLOSERs might feel if they listen to this song after a long time has passed, or when they think of us, CLOSE YOUR EYES. While writing the lyrics, I also thought a lot about our concert tours, and I kept picturing the moments when CLOSER looks at us.
My personal favorite on this EP was “Slowly Bleed,” as it had such a unique layering of vocals and instrumentation. For each of you, what is your personal favorite track on 256th Note and why?
JEON MINWOOK: “Eternity”! Because it’s a song all of the members took part in writing.
MA JINGXIANG: I like “Eternity” the most. I took part directly in writing the lyrics, and since it’s a song we made while thinking of the members and CLOSER, it feels even more special to me. If you listen closely to the lyrics, I think you’ll feel the feelings we wanted to convey even more clearly.
JANG YEOJUN: I think “Eternity” has a mood that stands apart from the other tracks — all the members took part in writing the lyrics, and it’s a track filled with the love we wanted to convey to our fans, so it’s the one closest to my heart.
KIM SUNGMIN: I think it’s “Open Your Eyes.” Honestly all the songs are great, but if I had to pick just one, I’d pick “Open Your Eyes.” Even the first time I heard the demo, I remember thinking ‘whoa‘ a lot. I kept thinking a song like this could come out of K-pop, and I feel it’s a track that never gets old no matter how many times you listen, always sounding fresh, so I recommend it.
SONG SEUNGHO: The song I like the most is “Fool For You.” I think the lyrics are so much fun, and it’s a song that’s comfortable to listen to anytime.
KENSHIN: I like “Open Your Eyes” the most. The mood of the song is great, and it’s a track that lets us show a new side we haven’t shown before, so I feel even more attached to it.
SEO KYOUNGBAE: I like “Baby Bossa Nova” best ! The song is really easy to listen to, everybody will love it! I really like the sound, so I chose it!
You debuted as a group in 2025, but since then, there’s already been a sense of establishment with all the music you’ve put out so far. How do you feel you’ve grown since starting and where do you see yourselves going in the future?
JEON MINWOOK: I think our own color is gradually becoming more defined. Just like we’ve done so far, we want to continue showing different kinds of music and different sides of ourselves. At the same time, we want to keep improving our skills as performers and make our music even more convincing and impactful.
MA JINGXIANG: In the beginning, we were in the process of finding our own color. Now, I think we’re slowly starting to understand what that color really is. We want to keep challenging ourselves with new genres and styles and make our musical identity even more distinct.
JANG YEOJUN: I think our musical spectrum has become much wider as CLOSE YOUR EYES. By sharing our music with more people, we want to tell our story and hopefully have a positive influence on them.
KIM SUNGMIN: I feel like our group is creating a new picture in K-pop. By exploring different genres and showing our own unique color, I think we’ve been able to grow a lot along the way. Through this growth, I hope our music can become a first step for global fans who may not be familiar with K-pop yet.
SONG SEUNGHO: Since our debut, we’ve continued making albums with new and different kinds of music, and we’ve grown a lot through that process. But I think CLOSE YOUR EYES still has a lot more to show. We want to keep challenging ourselves with new music and continue showing our growth along the way.
KENSHIN: Compared to when we first started, I think we’ve found more of our own color, and we’ve also had more opportunities to participate directly in our music and performances. Going forward, we want to make our own color even more distinct and become a group that can show a wide variety of music.
SEO KYOUNGBAE: We’re only in our second year since debut, but we’ve already released so many songs. By performing and singing these songs, I think we’ve improved a lot in the skills we need as artists. Whether we’re on stage or filming, I also feel that we’ve become more relaxed and confident compared to when we first debuted, when we were still nervous and a little inexperienced.
256th Note is now out on all streaming platforms. Watch the music video for “Drop That!” on YouTube.
