RIIZE confidently steps into a new chapter, tackling the complexities of growth and celebrity with their single album, ‘Fame,’ which dropped on Nov. 24. Following the release of the EP, the group secured the FANS’ CHOICE MALE TOP 10 award at the 2025 MAMA Awards, confirming their powerful global influence.
This release follows their ambitious journey, first defining their aspiration through the mini-album ‘RIIZING’ in June 2024 and then solidifying their identity with their first full album, ‘ODYSSEY,’ in May 2025. However, this single specifically turns the spotlight inward, focusing on the hidden narratives behind their intense rise to fame. The members openly convey the anxiety and emptiness they occasionally face amid their fierce growth, channeling these passionate feelings directly into their distinctive genre, ‘emotional pop.’ This artistic evolution showcases the group moving beyond primarily bright and challenging themes.
The concept video, shot at Kent’s historic Linton Park estate, offers an old-world, period-film atmosphere, making the entire production feel cinematic and ambitious due to its grand setting. The choreography begins with the members doing their own unique things, enhanced by the stunning color grading. Despite the rich setting, the core message remains simple, as RIIZE aims to show the parts of themselves that fans rarely see.
The 3 Tracks: A Journey from Insecurity to Idealism
The single features three tracks that guide listeners through an emotional flow. It begins with “Something’s in the Water,” which subtly suggests acknowledging and accepting deep-seated anxiety. The journey continues to the title track, “Fame,” which expresses their true ideal as ‘emotional pop artists,’ and concludes with “Sticky Like,” a dramatic story of devoted love.
01. Something’s in the Water
“Something’s in the Water” is a dreamy R&B pop track. It features a heavy, sinking bass and delicate, calm vocals that create a strong sense of stillness. The lyrics acknowledge that anxiety experienced in the depths of one’s self is, in the end, a part of who one is, and that accepting it allows one to grow as a person.
This song has a sophisticated, almost eerie mood. While the instrumental nods to trip-hop and space pop styles, the vocal melody is reminiscent of R&B, a style not often heard in K-pop. The song evokes visuals of being deep underwater or seeing a single drop of black ink falling into a large, transparent pond, suggesting a mood that is calm but unsettling. The vocals are delicate and dreamlike, perfectly conveying the theme of inner insecurities, a nuance the group aimed to add during recording. The preparation for this new sonic direction included drawing inspiration from artists like The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, and DEAN.
02. Fame (Title Track)
The title track, “Fame,” marks RIIZE’s first attempt at rage-style hip-hop. The music features an intense rhythm structure that boldly pushes forward, accented by the raw texture of an electric guitar, creating dynamic energy. This aggressive, dynamic sound aligns perfectly with the track’s central message. Although the title suggests a focus on celebrity, the song is actually the complete opposite. RIIZE communicates that love and real emotions matter much more than fame, and the track aims to share the group’s ideal as ‘emotional pop artists,’ emphasizing that what they genuinely want is to share emotions and love, not just stardom.
The group enjoyed the process of making this rage-style track, particularly playing with the drum and guitar groove. When performing the song, the group expresses their desire to chase a higher version of themselves, viewing the line “running towards you” as running towards their ideal self. The group affirms that they appreciate being famous and acknowledge that recognition is critical to their continued ability to make albums. However, they stress that fame should not be the end goal, emphasizing the importance of holding onto their true self in the process. They believe acknowledgement is the true goal, and people who work hard in their area of expertise will naturally receive this recognition, which may be called ‘fame.’
03. Sticky Like
Rounding out the single, “Sticky Like” is a powerful, emotional pop-rock dance track. It showcases dramatic drum, guitar, and piano performances. The song depicts a sincere and desperate love story, declaring that the speaker will devote everything to one single person.
The Era’s Conceptual Snapshot
The single’s concept is deeply introspective. Since their debut, RIIZE has created music about their ‘rising’ process, realizing their dreams, and the struggles of their trainee days. This single, the first since then, explores the feelings and struggles that come with achieving fame, connecting all three songs under this theme.
The ‘Odyssey’ era was described as being very energized and focused on cheering themselves on. The ‘Fame’ era, however, is defined as an introspective snapshot taken behind the scenes while preparing for the album. The group confirmed that they completely switched up their sound with this release, noting that the B-sides offered a new vocal challenge and allowed them to fully immerse themselves in the mood.
They continue to see ’emotional pop’ as the best fit for their genre because they pour their own stories and emotions into their music, viewing the genre like a big tree with different fruits, all different stories, and emotions that fans love. This exchange of love is why they strive to be better artists. The group’s current success, which includes their first world tour, RIIZING LOUD, proves their limitless potential with every activity. Overall, this single is a meaningful gift to all who have unwaveringly followed RIIZE’s growth story.
Which ‘Fame’ track stood out to you, and how does this era shift your view of their journey? Let us know in the comments below or on Instagram and Twitter/X!
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Featured Image Credit: SM Entertainment Official Website
