South Korean pop-rock band CNBLUE mark a fresh chapter as they set out across New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco for the North American leg of their VOYAGE into X world tour.
Consisting of Jung Yong hwa (vocals, guitar), Kang Min hyuk (drums), and Lee Jung shin (bass), CNBLUE who returned after a three-year hiatus with recent album X have been eagerly and warmed received by their fans.
Speaking of fan reactions to the album, Min Hyuk says, “As soon as fans listened to our music, they started swaying their arms from side to side in sync with the melody and rhythm. Even though we didn’t talk to each other, it felt like we were sharing the music together, and I was really grateful.”
Jung Shin adds, “ I was happy and reassured to see many fans waiting for CNBLUE’s album. It is truly surprising when they cheer for our title track in sync with the chant during music shows.”
Already known for their penchant for experimentation and their ability to captivate audiences with their genre-spanning blend of pop-rock, alternative, and soft rock, the band hope to continue taking their audiences by surprise with each new release.
Yong Hwa explains that this new album consists of a variety of music genres. He says, “I think the style of our music has always been diverse. Thankfully, within that diversity, our music has been widely enjoyed by people. Moving forward, I hope we can continue to explore various music styles and remain a group loved by many.”
“We had a distinctive way of interpreting various genres in our style. However, what matters most is delivering meaningful messages through our music. Ultimately, we want to make songs that people can remember and cherish as part of their memories,” adds Jung Shin.
A powerhouse band who have held sold-out concerts across Asia, Europe, and North America, CNBLUE’s global influence has only gotten brighter since their debut in 2009, with the band excited to feel the buzz and atmosphere of live performances once again.
Asked what we can expect from their tour, the band says things will be “passionate, heartwarming and eternal.” Min Hyuk says, “At every concert, there is the moment when CNBLUE and our fans become one as we kick off the opening. It is always a powerful feeling,” with both Yong Hwa and Jung Shin echoing how every tour ends up with new unforgettable moments and special memories.
Despite their long career, the veteran talents are also still keen for this sort of newness whether while touring or in their music. Reflecting on the sort of sonic experiments they’d like to take on in the future, Yong Hwa says “Lately, I have been drawn back to a band's raw sound, so I think we might lean more toward a fundamental band sound,” with Min Hyuk they are always up for a challenge and trying different things in their music.
Speaking of what’s next for the band, the band hint at their next musical chapter, “Our priority is to complete the ‘VOYAGE into X’ tour successfully. We are also working on a new album, and can't wait to come back with amazing music,” says Min Hyuk. Jung Shin adds, “My plan is to keep making great, beloved music and to continue as CNBLUE for a long time.
Having consistently taken the world by storm with their dynamic performances and musical versatility, CNBLUE continue to carve out new, unexplored sonic paths, reinventing themselves at every turn.
CNBLUE’s North American tour dates :
Toronto: Wednesday, April 16
New York: Friday, April 18
Los Angeles: Thursday, April 24
San Francisco: Sunday, April 27
Connect with CNBLUE : Instagram
