WE: Dream Chaser is ONEWE’s third full studio album, and the group has comeback with songs full of character, passion, and heart.
The opening track is called “Alice” and starts the album off with a true rock ballad vibe. Dongmyeong and Yonghoon have very different voices, but they blend perfectly together. By adding Giuk’s distinct rapping, there is a balance of vocal tones. Breaking the song up with guitar rifts gives it an extra sprinkle of energy to balance with the slower tempo moments. Yet, the intensity of the chorus brings the song to core rock roots. It is the shortest song of the album but at 2:51, but it is still longer than many K-Pop releases.
The title track for the album is “The Starry Night,” and the astrological nature of the song is perfect for the group. ONEWE is such a diverse group, and this song is the perfect example of that, combining changes in speed and tempo to balance the rock influences and core ballad genre. Even without seeing the lyrics, the words make you feel something whether it’s being emotional or passionate, which is extremely special.
In particular, the music video doesn’t have the most explicit narrative, but the shots of the members make it open to interpretation, something that tends to be a lost art. Like always, the video matches ONEWE’s consistent “aesthetics” by focusing on the live performance aspect and intertwining it with the song’s narrative.
Given that the whole album is written and composed by the members, the next two songs, “Evildoer” and “Traffic Love,” were created by Giuk with the help of BYDORARCHIVE and JXHYUNG. Both songs give off ONEWE pre-debut vibes with a more pop and upbeat rhythm but proves how far the members have come. “Evildoer” sees Yonghoon and Dongmyeong flaunt their falsetto that blends with Giuk’s low register, while “Traffic Love” has pop-punk influences, making it easy to listen to and more suited to the general public.
Although ONEWE is so diverse, they are known for their ballads. The track written by Yonghoon called “Coincidence” is another song that has an emotional melody even without the lyric meanings. Yonghoon is undoubtedly one of the best vocalists in K-Pop (which isn’t spoken about enough), and his voice shines the most in these kinds of songs. The contrast in tone and texture to Dongmyeong also adds something extra. Another ballad on the album is “Indelible.” Drummer Harin was involved in the writing, composing, and arrangement of the song with the help of Yonghoon and Kanghyun. It is another song that proves that Yonghoon is made for ballads. The focus of the song is the soft drum beat, which creates something powerful but equally as moving.
Like Harin, while Kanghyun’s vocals might not be heard, his presence is more than just his amazing guitar skills. Along with credits on most of the songs, “Endless” was created solely by Kanghyun. Yonghoon starts the song only accompanied by a guitar, and as Dongmyeong’s voice is added, the guitar instrumental’s simplicity remains the song’s main point. It is a simple but hugely effective composition that isn’t full of smoke and mirrors, focusing on the talent of the members. It is an extremely easy listen, and the guitar solo gives jazz vibes that match with Dongmyeong’s tone.
The track “Rise Again” is quintessentially ONEWE with a heavy guitar opening, reminiscent of 5 Seconds of Summer, which quickly changed tempo to something calmer, accompanied by Yonghoon’s vocals. The melody is easy to listen to, and the soft pre-chorus gives way to a strong and bold chorus, keeping listeners on their toes. The group always knows how to perfectly intertwine different styles, tempos, and speed into one song to make something dynamic.
Although ONEWE have their own musical identity, the members each have their own unique sounds.
“Dreamcatcher” is a song written and composed by Giuk, and his influence could be felt from the beginning. The track starts with a strong bassline and has a “gamer” feel with the sound effects. Yet, it doesn’t exclude the members, as Yonghoon’s voice fits just as well and the change of tempo for the pre-chorus allows Dongmyeong’s vocals to shine.
If “Dreamcatcher” was suited to Giuk, “All The Things I Love” has the jazz feeling that fits perfectly with Dongmyeong’s velvet vocals. Unsurprisingly, looking at the song’s credits, Dongmyeong was involved in both the writing and composing.He takes the lead in the song, emphasizing his own vocals and piano playing, but is joined by the other members, whether it’s the vocals or instruments.It’s a very easy to listen to song and something different for the group.
The album ends with “Sole Star,” which is a track with a more joyful feel and upbeat tempo. Starting with the guitar intro, the beat is enough to make any listener smile instantly. As with all of ONEWE’s songs, the perfect blend of vocals, rap, and instruments add many layers to the track. It gives the listener a feeling of hope and wanting to let go of all your worries, the perfect track for a long walk in the shining sun.
ONEWE don’t just create songs when they release albums, they make stories. Each song on WE: Dream Chaser has a beautiful narrative that can stand alone, but when put with the rest of the tracks, produces a beautifully cohesive novel with an array of emotions. All of the members were involved in the writing and composing of all the songs, making it even more special for fans.
https://open.spotify.com/album/0gWM4TwSrL4t3fj4V9dfKb?si=59xZnrETSJWSTxLfPqFZIg
ONEWE can be found on Instagram and all music and streaming platforms.