Korean singer-songwriter WOODZ, also known as Cho Seungyoun, made an emotional comeback with the first full album of his solo career, ‘Archive. 1’. The release comes several months after his official discharge from military service and marks his first extended recording since his enlistment in 2023.
Initially debuting with the K-pop group UNIQ, WOODZ officially began his solo work in 2016 before his brief stint with X1. At just 29 years old, WOODZ has had a long career in the music industry, establishing and building upon his identity as an artist. With this latest release on March 4, WOODZ has formed his own collection, or archive, of his artistic self-expression and self-identity, opening up about his struggles with mental health and showcasing his wide range in musical ability.
Track List
Across a total of 17 tracks, WOODZ demonstrates his strength in vocals and range in genres, from loud scream-your-heart-out songs like “Stray” and country rock songs like “Downtown” and “Bloodline” to the mellow, jazzy R&B of songs like “Samo.” The themes on the album are also varied, touching upon falling in love in “Beep,” his deep-rooted passion for rock in “Bloodline,” and his struggles with playing pretend while breaking apart on the inside in “Struggle” and “Plastic.” The complete album showcases his versatility in sound and musicality, as well as his prowess in lyricism in both English and Korean, featuring songs entirely in either language.
“00:30”
WOODZ opens his album with the loud rock sounds of “00:30” with echoes and high pitches complementing each other in a loud proclamation as if to say, “I’m back!” The track features a mix of rock and rap that’s reminiscent of old-school hip hop tracks. Throughout the song, WOODZ sings about using music as a release or escape from life, as he illustrates driving away and shaking off his overwhelming thoughts during a midnight drive. This track alludes to the purpose of the entire album as an encapsulation and outlet for all of WOODZ’s difficult emotions and experiences.
“Dayfly”
In the second track, WOODZ leans into an affinity for country rock, as he sings about having the freedom to do as you want while acknowledging that life is too short to not spend it chasing your dreams and living as you want. The title and chorus refer to the actual insects dayflys, or mayflies, which are known for their incredibly short lifespan. This comparison further cements the song’s emphasis on the brevity of human life.
“Human Extinction”
The title track “Human Extinction” carries the familiar rock sound of the beginning of the album. In a cinematic display, the music video showcases various storylines sectioned into different acts. Each story illustrates the theme of the song, about struggling to overcome life’s difficulties and personal obstacles. The lyrics of the chorus further establish this message: “We won’t outlast, We’re all the same, Can’t be free, Human extinction.” The use of first-person plural here acknowledges the shared human experience of struggling to get through the difficulties in life , no matter how those difficulties may manifest. More specifically, the phrase “human extinction” appears to draw a parallel between these troubles and a disease/life-threatening event, showing how life’s troubles will eventually catch up with us in the end.
The music video also plays heavily into the theme of light and dark, using the text on the screen to complement the message of struggling to overcome. The video opens with “Light is born in the presence of darkness” and ends with “When the LIGHT reaches you, NOTHING remains concealed, not even the DARKNESS you call YOUR OWN.” These messages, paired with the title cards for the different acts, drive home the idea of being unable to hide the truth from yourself and others and that eventually you must come to face yourself in order to overcome.
“STOP THAT”
“STOP THAT” is another scream-your-heart-out song, a vibe that feeds directly into the song’s messaging as WOODZ loudly proclaims to himself/his thoughts to stop. Like many songs on this album, WOODZ talks about the pain of always pretending to be fine even though you’re falling apart and losing control on the inside. He also touches upon the pitfalls of comparison and how it can make one feel small. In a smooth mix of rock and pop, this track makes you want to get up and dance, freeing yourself from holding it all in, and most importantly, giving you the energy to stop those negative thoughts right in their tracks.
“NA NA NA”
The track “NA NA NA” further elaborates on the state of feeling empty inside but still putting up a facade. Though the song has an upbeat sound, the lyrics remain mellow as WOODZ sings about wanting to feel emotions but being unable to. The repetition of “Na Na Na” and “La La La” in the chorus is an imitation of music that fades into the background, becoming just noise that is not really experienced. “Moving with the noise, laughing like I know, eyes are blank, heart is gone.”
“GLASS”
Turning towards a more mellow and ballad-like sound, “GLASS” continues the theme of being perceived as doing well when in reality you’re struggling. The song highlights the state of fragility where one is prone to cracks that can’t be fixed, much like a piece of glass.
“CINEMA”
The pre-release single “Cinema” came out a month before the full album was released. Though it still carries a sad and mellow sound, the theme here focuses on romantic love, highlighting the dichotomy of the exciting start to a loving relationship and the heartbreak of a relationship falling apart. In the end, you’re only able to replay the memories as they’re all that you have left.
“To My January”
“To My January” brings a mellow yet uplifting end to the album as WOODZ talks about persisting and keeping on, with the knowledge that a new beginning will eventually come. The lyrics of the song circle back to the theme of light/dark in the title track, stating that “someday the light will find its way.”
Throughout his career, WOODZ has been quite open about his personal struggles with mental health, using his music to touch upon these topics not commonly seen in the mainstream and to offer solace to fans dealing with similar experiences. As his first album and as an archive of his artistic identity so far, WOODZ offers listeners a glimpse into his own life story, centering his relationship with mental health and music.
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