NUERA returns with a refreshing confession, shedding their intense image

Boy group NUERA (Kihyun, Junpyo, Hyeon-jun, Yuseob, Lin, Pan, Miraku) has shed its intense image to embrace a refreshing, youthful aesthetic. On the 27th, NUERA met with fans at the YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, for a showcase celebrating the release of their fourth mini-album, '.exe'. This comeback comes just four months after they achieved a career high with their third mini-album 'POP IT LIKE', which recorded 240,000 copies in first-week sales.

The new album captures the process of fearlessly expressing one's feelings to a crush. The title track, '.exe', uses a keyword referring to a computer executable file to intuitively convey the determination to cross even dimensional boundaries for love. Blending a heavy bass, sharp hyper-synths, and irregular beats, the track sings of a boy's aggressive emotions as he enters the new world of his beloved.

Boys shedding the 'Agent' image to ride the house rhythm

For NUERA, who has built an intense and hip image as "agents" or "operatives," the keywords "refreshing" and "confession" represent a new challenge. Lin explained the shift in direction, saying, "While our previous works had an intense and cool vibe, this time we have a refreshing feel, so we believe we can show a new side of NUERA." Pan added, "We challenged the house concept for the first time," noting, "We have prepared many lovely expressions and facial movements."

The album features a total of four tracks, including the title track '.exe', along with 'LOCKED IN', 'W.T.F(un)', and 'LIFE IN COLOR'. Regarding the B-side 'LOCKED IN', Yuseob introduced it as "a confession song about being completely immersed in and charging toward the other person," performing the stage with finger hearts.

Returning to fans' arms after a world tour

This comeback is an extension of NUERA's global activities. Since last May, they have been conducting their first world tour, 'CATCH THE WAVE', which connects Asia and North America, including five European cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, and Warsaw. Recalling the tour, Junpyo said, "As we moved forward, I relaxed, and the stages became moments where we could truly connect with the audience." Miraku, a member from Japan, shared, "Through the world tour, my thoughts on live performance and skills have grown significantly."

NUERA possesses a solid fandom, 'NOVA', backed by the 240,000 first-week sales recorded during their third mini-album promotions. Hyeon-jun stated that this comeback is a process of closing the distance with fans, saying, "It's been four months since our last comeback, but we returned even sooner because we missed our fans."

A music video utilizing Volumetric technology and ambitions for a #1 win

The music video for the title track was produced with a retro game atmosphere, incorporating the cutting-edge 'Volumetric' technique during filming. Kihyun, who was filmed surrounded by 360-degree cameras, shared a behind-the-scenes anecdote: "I remember the director telling me I was a 'Chroma-key face' because the chroma key worked so well on me."

Marking their 500th day since debut, NUERA is preparing for a new leap forward. Lin remarked, "The 500th day since debut is not a time to settle, but a moment to reaffirm our original intentions. We will become a team that sets higher standards for ourselves with every comeback." Hyeon-jun expressed his goal for this promotion, saying, "I want to hear people say that a new genre was born because NUERA took on this refreshing concept." Miraku cited winning first place on a music program as the ultimate goal.

'Confession Operation' with fans

Ahead of this comeback, NUERA conducted a 'Confession Operation' to communicate with their fandom, 'NOVA'. With confession as the theme, they held a sports day with fans to get closer to their crushes. Hyeon-jun explained that he planned it because he believed one must know and get closer to the other person to make a confession. Junpyo confessed that he completely forgot it was a 'Confession Operation' and simply enjoyed it 100%.

Preparing for this album, Kihyun emphasized the attempt to break away from their previous style, saying, "I have had the desire to try a refreshing concept for a while." Miraku added, "I am happy to be back with our fourth mini-album. Through this promotion, we will bring happiness to your daily lives with new music and charms."