When the survival show Project 7 concluded in December 2024 with the formation of CLOSE YOUR EYES, it signalled a definite shift in the next wave of K-pop. The series had already drawn huge attention for its global reach and fan-driven concept, but few expected the final seven to amass such a powerful early following: over seventeen million votes, ninety-one per cent from overseas. Before they had even debuted, CLOSE YOUR EYES embodied something different: a team built not just through training or label vision, but through public anticipation and emotional investment from fans worldwide.

By the time they officially stepped out with ETERNALT on 2 April 2025, the curiosity, pressure and expectations were palpable – but so were the results. Their debut sold over 300,000 copies in its first week; their second release, Snowy Summer, arrived in July and pushed combined sales past half a million. The numbers are some of the most impressive sales of 2025, but more striking was how natural the momentum felt.

Their story moved fast. Within months of debuting, CLOSE YOUR EYES were earning a Best New Artist nomination at the MAMA Awards. They were also collecting trophies across The Show, Show Champion, and Music Bank – making CLOSE YOUR EYES the fastest fifth-generation act to secure a win on the latter and the second fastest in the show’s history. It’s an early sign that their impact is being felt across both fan and industry circles.

Now, with their third offering ‘blackout’, that purpose starts to take shape. The new mini-album feels even more deliberate; the sound of seven artists testing how far they can stretch without losing centre. If ETERNALT introduced who they are and Snowy Summer captured their first wave of success, blackout is where they begin defining their identity.

The record opens with “X,” a low-burn R&B title track written by Min-wook, channeling determination into motion. “We wanted to express CLOSE YOUR EYES’ determination to push past our limits and move forward,” Sung-min tells us via email. That emotion runs through the album’s DNA: the bright, runway-ready hook of “CHIC”; the weightless falsettos and dreamlike haze of “Who’s Dat (Jane Doe)”; and the rhythmic shifts of “2.0” that blur between R&B and pop. Even “SOB,” their first international collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Imanbek, doubles as a milestone and a bridge between their Korean roots and an increasingly global sonic palette.

In conversation, they carry the tone of artists still discovering their rhythm but aware of what binds them together. “There are moments when we really feel how different we are from one another,” Min-wook explains, “but when it comes to creating our music, we all look toward the same goal.” Kenshin reflects on the making of blackout as a turning point in teamwork: an unspoken understanding that’s developed through long hours of rehearsals and recording. These comments reveal a band less concerned with speed and more focused on sustainability. It’s the kind of grounded perspective that turns rookies into long-term fixtures. For them, growth is measured in how naturally they move as one.

Still, beneath that composure lies ambition. They speak about wanting to collaborate with Justin Bieber, about pushing into new genres without hesitation, and about holding onto the work ethic that’s carried them this far. “Hard work never lets you down,” Min-wook says. Their words don’t sound rehearsed, but steady and confident. “We hope listeners can feel the rush of emotion we put into this album,” he adds. “It tells the story of CLOSE YOUR EYES overcoming fear and breaking our own limits.”

For a group less than a year into their official debut, blackout arrives with a rare balance of hunger and self-awareness. It proves their momentum but also reframes it as a continuous movement forward. In an era where many chase instant recognition, CLOSE YOUR EYES are showing how to grow at their own pace, guided by instinct, unity, and a vision that’s already reaching far beyond their first chapter. They might be called rookies for now, but everything about blackout suggests something larger – this is the beginning of a story that’s only just opening its eyes.

You’ve been called one of the fastest-rising fifth-gen groups. Does that kind of title motivate you, or create pressure to outdo yourselves?

KYOUNG-BAE It’s such a huge motivation for us, and we truly feel thankful for those words. We are doing our best to live up to that kind of support and expectation.

With seven members bringing different energies and styles, how do you find balance when creating one cohesive sound as CLOSE YOUR EYES?

MIN-WOOK There are moments when we really feel how different we are from one another, but when it comes to creating our music, we all look toward the same goal and try to understand each other to find the right balance. That’s why our team’s color isn’t based on one member’s individuality, and it’s a shared color that represents all of us together.

Let’s also talk about the new album. If “ETERNALT” was your introduction and “Snowy Summer” your breakout, what do you want “blackout” to represent in your story?

MIN-WOOK It was a meaningful growth for us as we broke out of our comfort zone. The concept is very different from our previous albums, and while some might have thought it wouldn’t match us, we managed to make it ours and show a new side of ourselves.

How did the group’s teamwork change or grow while preparing “blackout”?

KENSHIN We can really feel how much closer we’ve become as a team. These days, we understand each other so well that things often fall into place without having to say a word. And especially performance-wise, we think we’ve grown so much.

Which song was the most challenging to record, and why?

SEUNG-HO It’s “SOB.” It was our first time working on a song in this genre, so it took us a while to really grasp the mood and emotion of it. Since all the lyrics are in English, that was another challenge. But we worked really hard to fully get into the song and express it in our own way.

The lyrics for “X” talk about breaking limits and moving forward. What kind of feeling did you want to give listeners right from the first track?

SUNG-MIN With this song, we wanted to express CLOSE YOUR EYES’ determination to push past our limits and move forward. At the same time, we hoped to inspire listeners with the confidence and belief that they can do it too.

“SOB” is your first collaboration with an international producer. What was your reaction when you found out Imanbek would be part of the song?

YEO-JUN We honestly couldn’t believe it! Min-wook and Yeo-jun have recently been learning DJing, and they really love Imanbek’s music. So we were thrilled to be able to work with such an amazing artist. It was also our first time collaborating with another artist, so we were really excited.

“CHIC” has a fun, confident vibe. Which member do you think matches the song’s personality the most?

SEUNG-HO It’s Kyung-bae! He picked this song as his favorite too. He’s always so confident, and I hope both CHIC and Kyungbae continue to carry that confidence and take on the world.

“2.0” features unusual production choices, such as halftime and double-time rhythms in the chorus. How did this impact your approach when recording the vocals for this song?

SUNG-MIN Some members were used to this kind of style, while others weren’t as familiar with it. We paid a lot of attention to the rhythm and practiced a lot to make it sound perfect. Even during recording, we tried many different things to get the best possible outcome.

The vocals on “Who’s Dat? (Jane Doe)” sound very soft and airy. Was that tone difficult to get right?

KYOUNG-BAE It definitely wasn’t easy. I worked hard to create a good tone, and there were times when it didn’t go the way I wanted, which was frustrating. But in the end, we made it! The fact that you described the voices as soft and airy — we think that’s proof that we succeeded.

The name CLOSE YOUR EYES suggests imagination and introspection. What do you hope listeners feel when they do that while hearing this album?

MIN-WOOK We hope listeners can feel the rush of emotion we put into this album. It tells the story of CLOSE YOUR EYES overcoming fear and breaking our own limits as we keep moving forward. More than anything, we hope it inspires people to have the courage to face any challenge in their own lives.

I wanted to also talk more about your global appeal. You debuted through Project 7, with 91% of your pre-debut fan votes coming from overseas. How does that international support affect how you approach your music or visuals?

SUNG-MIN The love and support mean so much to us, but when we’re making music, we really focus on what we want to express and the kind of performance we want to show. We just hope our fans will enjoy what we’ve created with all our heart.

Are there any global artists or producers you’d like to collaborate with after Imanbek?

We’d really love the opportunity to collaborate with Justin Bieber. He’s an artist that all of our members admire, and we’ve been listening to his latest album a lot. It’s truly inspiring.

What musical directions are you most curious to explore next?

MIN-WOOK We don’t want to define our direction too narrowly. We hope we can always stay free to try any sound, any style, without setting limits for ourselves. And if we ever face a limit, We want us to break through it and keep growing, just like we did with this album.

Lastly, this year has been full of new experiences. What’s one thing you’ve learned that you want to carry into the next chapter?

MIN-WOOK We’ve learned that hard work never lets you down. Throughout 2025, every member put in so much effort, and we’ve grown a lot because of it. That’s why we don’t want to stop here. We’ll keep working hard in the next chapter, and the one after that.