NCT DREAM offers fans an escape from reality through newest EP, ‘DREAM( )SCAPE’

By: Gelene Peñalosa - 9 months ago

NCT DREAM opted out of their usual bright and youthful concepts for a darker and more mature one for this comeback.

On March 25, 2024, at 6 P.M. KST, NCT DREAM released their 7th EP titled, “DREAM( )SCAPE” on all streaming platforms, along with the music video for its title track, “Smoothie”. This is their latest release since their 3rd full-length album, “ISTJ,” which was released last July 2023.

NCT DREAM held a press conference in Seoul to talk about their newest record.

“DREAM( )SCAPE,” according to NCT DREAM themselves, is an offer of escape from reality to “those without dreams and hopes.”  According to member Jeno, the hole in the middle of the album’s name refers to an escape. “The parenthesis refers to the meaning of escape. It’s like a door and like an escape from a dream.”

Which, from a fan’s perspective, seems to be NCT DREAM’s concept of being hopeful. And it still is—“DREAM( )SCAPE” just gives those who are struggling some kind of solace.

Talking about the reason why NCT DREAM had switched up their concept, member Mark said that they had wanted to “widen their scope and make something that a wider range of young listeners will empathize with.” “We’ve only shown a bright side of ourselves, but we’re also people who’ve been hurt, felt pain and lost our dreams,” says Mark.

For NCT DREAM in this newest album, “it’s okay to not want anything or have a goal…take all the negative words from the world, blend it down into a ‘Smoothie’, suck it up, and move on.”

For member Renjun, it’s like this: “We’ve been singing a lot about hope, dream, and passion. But if you think about it, isn’t it OK to not have a hope or a dream? We want to give something to people without a clear goal—that’s how the whole album started.”

Along with the title track “Smoothie,” comes the 5 B-side tracks in their newest EP: “icantfeelanything,” “BOX,” “Carat Cake,” “UNKNOWN,” and “Breathing,” which were all made with the hope of comforting listeners and the ones who do not have dreams or hopes.

“Smoothie,” the lead single for “DREAM( )SCAPE,” is described as a hip-hop track with a classic 808 bass line and snare rhythm, with lyrics describing how one can just take all the negativity around them and “blend” it all into a smoothie.

NCTzens and DREAMzens were all over the album as soon as it came out, praising the group’s versatility, lyricism, and dedication to their craft as artists. From their concept images alone, DREAMzens knew this album would be a hit.

Congratulations on another amazing album, NCT DREAM! And, thank you for showing us that it’s definitely okay and normal to struggle with life.

 

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