ILLIT, a rock sound joining hands with Yuika and Okajima Kanata
ILLIT will release their 2nd Japanese single, a collaboration with Yuika and Okajima Kanata, on the 26th. They will continue their local activities following the record of all seats being sold out for their 5-city tour.
The group ILLIT is presenting a new musical color aimed at the local Japanese music market. Belift Lab announced that ILLIT will release music based on a rock sound through their second Japanese single, 'I Got Your Back'.
ILLIT will first release all tracks of the second single through global music streaming sites on the 26th. The physical album will be released on the 29th. This album consists of a total of three songs, including the title track 'I Got Your Back', its Korean version, and 'Sunday Morning', which is the opening theme song for the second season of the TV animation 'Princess "Torture" Time'. To increase the collectible value, the Korean version of the title track is included only in the physical album, not as a digital single.
The combination of Yuika's lyrics and Kanata Okajima's rock sound
Local Japanese musicians participated to ensure the perfection of this new song. The lyrics for the title track 'I Got Your Back' were written by singer-songwriter Yuika, who gained popularity on short-form platforms like TikTok with 'Suki dakara (Because I love you)'. Through the lyrics, Yuika captured the subtle emotions of girls living through daily lives filled with anxiety and pressure.
The sound of the song was handled by composer Kanata Okajima, who has collaborated with top-tier artists such as BTS and Snow Man. Kanata Okajima focused on implementing a dynamic rock sound while maintaining ILLIT's unique atmosphere. The title track contains a message that brings to mind a friend who stays by your side even amidst daily anxieties, and through this, ILLIT delivers the message, "You are not alone."
Melody confirmed through SNS pre-release and sold-out tour records
Fan reactions have been pouring in even before the album release. On the 17th, ILLIT pre-released a portion of the 'I Got Your Back' audio through various social media (SNS) platforms. The melody of the short segment released became a hot topic among fans.
The album composition reflects ILLIT's identity. By placing the title track and its Korean version side by side, listeners can check the difference in nuance between languages, and the musical spectrum was expanded by including the animation OST 'Sunday Morning'. The schedule, where the digital music is released on the 26th followed by the physical album on the 29th, targets both Japanese and global fans simultaneously.
ILLIT will conduct a local Japanese tour alongside the release of the new album. On the 18th and 19th, they will hold the 'ILLIT LIVE 'PRESS START︎ in JAPAN'' performance at the Kobe Glico Arena in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. This tour is scheduled to tour five cities in Japan.
Local demand was evident as all seats for the Japanese tour were sold out as soon as reservations began. Due to explosive demand, restricted view seats and standing seats were additionally sold for some performances. ILLIT plans to solidify its local fandom through this Japanese single activities and tour.
