Okay-pop septet NCT Dream dropped a brand new mini album on Monday morning (March 25), DREAM()SCAPE [pronounced “Dream Escape”], the follow-up to their 2022 EP, Sweet. In response to a launch saying the six-song venture — that includes writing and manufacturing from a number of of the members — it “highlights extra mature and intensified musical colour from the Okay-pop phenoms… organically empathiz[ing] with the common issues and struggles of younger individuals, whereas concurrently presenting the hopeful message of overcoming adversities and rising collectively.”
The venture is fronted by the hip-hip-flavored single “Smoothie,” whose action-packed video finds members Jaemin, Park Ji-sung, Jeno, Renjun, Haechan, Mark Lee and Chenle taking part in an IRL recreation of “Fruit Ninja.” Wielding swords, lengthy weapons their fists and toes, the boys smash fruit and battle baddies as they sing the hooky refrain, “Smoothie Smoothie Smoothie, shake all of it out and mix it / Smoothie Smoothie Smoothie, Smoothie Smoothie Smoothie / Soiled style, drink it.”
The album opens with the dreamy, effervescent “icantfeelanything,” and consists of the hip-hop-inflected Mark co-write “Field,” the low-key flexfest “Carat Cake,” mid-tempo burner “UNKNOWN” and the EP-ending ballad “Respiration,” with lyrics co-written by Mark, Jeno, Jaemin and Jisung. The group will even hit the street for his or her The Dream Present 3 world tour later this 12 months, which can kick off in Seoul in Could, with U.S., Latin American and European dates to be introduced on Could 8.
DREAM()SCAPE’s launch comes eight months after the group dropped their third full-length studio album, ISTJ.
Hearken to DREAM()SCAPE and watch the “Smoothie” video beneath.