More than a year after their debut, J-pop sensations WOLF HOWL HARMONY From EXILE TRIBE have finally unveiled their first studio album, “WOLF”. Featuring some of their biggest hits and newly released tracks, this debut album marks a major milestone in the group’s journey and showcases the members’ growth as artist.
In celebration of the release of “WOLF”, we spoke to the members of WOLF HOWL HARMONY – RYOJI, HIROTO, GHEE AND SUZUKI – to learn more about the album, their favourite tracks, and what they have planned for the future. Keep on reading to discover more about the group and read a special message for their Malaysian fans:
1. Can you share more about your upcoming album, “WOLF”?
RYOJI: Our first album, WOLF, is a statement of who we are as a group and the kind of music we aim to create moving forward. With the theme of both classic and avant-garde, we poured our hearts into this album to introduce WOLF HOWL HARMONY to as many people as possible. Through our past songs and the new tracks included in this album, we hope you’ll enjoy the world of WOLF HOWL HARMONY!
HIROTO: This album features not only the songs we’ve released so far but also new tracks like “Letters” and “BAKUON -爆音-“. Beyond the music, it embodies our growth, our journey, and our hopes for the future. We want listeners to feel excited about what’s next for WOLF HOWL HARMONY!
2. The album’s lead single, “BAKUON -爆音-“, is said to be a powerful track. What do you think is the highlight point of this track?
GHEE: The highlight of this song is its dynamic shift in styles—starting off as an edgy, up-tempo track before switching into a smooth, swing-heavy R&B vibe. There are also sections with intense dance breaks, making the song full of dramatic transitions. I’d love for listeners to pay attention to these exciting changes in the music!
SUZUKI: We incorporated Baile Funk, a genre originating from Brazil, which is not commonly heard in boy group songs. The track also features big, swinging 90s R&B transitions, creating an unpredictable and thrilling musical experience. Lyrically, the song carries the message, “Make way, because WOLF HOWL HARMONY is coming through.” The lyrics are also crafted in a unique way, so I hope listeners pay attention to them as well!
3. Do you have a favourite track from the album? Why?
GHEE: My favorite song is “BAKUON -爆音-“. Since the track incorporates elements of Baile Funk, which originated in Brazil, I feel a deep, instinctive connection to it because of my Brazilian heritage. It’s also a song that encapsulates everything leading up to our first album, so I have a lot of confidence in it!
RYOJI: Definitely “BAKUON -爆音-“! Both the recording process and the performance were challenging, but I love the unique world the song creates. I practiced a lot for this one and even discovered new sides of myself through it. I can’t wait to share it with as many people as possible!
SUZUKI: “BAKUON -爆音-” for sure. It’s the lead track of this album, and I think it’s a fresh, addictive song with a completely new vibe. Honestly, I’m already addicted to it!
HIROTO: For me, it’s “Letters”! Of course, “BAKUON -爆音-” is incredible, but Letters is special because it was our first time contributing to the lyrics. Since our real words and feelings are in this song, we’re able to convey even deeper emotions. This experience also strengthened our bond as a group, which makes the song even more meaningful to me!
4. Which song from the album do you recommend to someone who is not familiar with WOLF HOWL HARMONY? Why?
GHEE: I’d say “Letters”. This song openly expresses the struggles and battles we face behind the scenes, without hiding anything. If you want to truly understand us, I’d be really happy if you listened to songs like this!
RYOJI: “Frozen Butterfly”! This track blends the nostalgic sounds of the 2000s with a fresh, modern twist. Since we grew up listening to this kind of music, it felt natural but also exciting to make it our own. With the performance aspect included, I feel like this song truly showcases who we are!
SUZUKI: “LOVE RED”. It’s our very first original song, one we’ve been singing since before our debut. The lyrics reflect our pure passion for music and our love for our fans (LOVERED). I’d love for everyone to listen to it!
HIROTO: Definitely “Frozen Butterfly”! We originally had no dance experience, but this was the first song where we fully committed to dancing. In many ways, it became the foundation of our performance style, shaping how we present ourselves. I think it’s one of WOLF HOWL HARMONY’s signature songs!
5. How long did it take to prepare the album? What hardships did you face during the time?
GHEE: We had countless discussions during the production process, making sure every detail was carefully crafted. This album represents our strong determination to push forward, and we spent a lot of time discussing how we could take ourselves to the next level.
RYOJI: It took about six months. Recording the new songs and preparing the performances were especially challenging. We were practicing while touring different regions, and I hit a lot of roadblocks during the recording process. But thanks to the support from those around me, I was able to overcome them and discover a new version of myself.
SUZUKI: For “Letters”, we wrote letters to each other, expressing our honest feelings from our debut until now, which were then turned into lyrics. At first, I was hesitant to fully reveal my true self—there were struggles along the way, and I wondered if it was okay to show that side to our fans. But through this song, I feel like we’ve deepened our bond not only as a group but also with our fans.
HIROTO: From deciding on the album title to the visuals and design, we spent a lot of time discussing and were deeply involved in the production. For the songs, we got to work on the lyrics for “Letters”, and “BAKUON -爆音-” features our most challenging choreography yet. This album holds so much meaning for us, and we’ve put everything into it!
6. You’ve created a lot of buzz on social media recently, especially on TikTok. What do you think about your growing popularity on the platform?
GHEE: I believe these aspects evolve with time, but I enjoy seeing them as part of each generation’s unique culture. For our generation, Instagram had just come out during our teen years, and with so many platforms available now, I think it’s important to actively engage with them.
HIROTO: I’m truly grateful that so many people are watching us. I hope this exposure will help introduce not only our group but also our music to more people, both in Japan and around the world!
7. Last year, you participated in the LDH LIVE-EXPO 2024 -EXILE TRIBE BEST HITS- concert. What was it like performing alongside your seniors, especially EXILE?
GHEE: I once went to listen to the sound from outside when EXILE did their stadium tour, so standing on that same stage felt deeply emotional. Dancing in a stadium with my seniors was like a dream come true, and I’m really grateful that the event could take place with such great weather.
RYOJI: It was an unbelievable experience. Growing up listening to EXILE, I never imagined that I would one day stand on the same stadium stage where they performed. This experience has undoubtedly contributed to my growth and will remain one of the most important moments in my life.
SUZUKI: I’ve watched EXILE’s stadium tour FANTASY countless times since I was a kid, so being there felt surreal. Sharing the stadium stage with EXILE was such an honor, and at the same time, it strengthened my determination to return to that stage again with WOLF HOWL HARMONY.
HIROTO: I’ve been a huge fan of LDH since my student days, so performing with EXILE and our seniors was truly like a dream. Even now, I can vividly recall the view from that stage. I’m determined to make sure we return there again in the future!
8. You’ve also previously performed in Thailand. What was it like performing overseas for the first time?
GHEE: It was an incredible experience! Hearing everyone sing along and feeling a vibe that you don’t quite get in Japan was really exciting and inspiring.
RYOJI: Since it was our first overseas performance, I had no idea what to expect. But the people in Thailand welcomed us with such warmth and kindness, making it an unforgettable first experience. I also challenged myself to speak Thai during the MC, and when the audience responded, it made me so happy! It motivated me to keep learning more languages so I can connect even better with fans around the world.
SUZUKI: Our first overseas performance was at Thailand’s Songkran Festival, and I remember being super nervous. But seeing the Thai fans fully enjoying the music and giving their all to the moment made me naturally let go and have fun too. That performance left a big impact on me, and even now, when I perform live, I try to bring the same energy and excitement I felt back then.
HIROTO: Going to Thailand as WOLF HOWL HARMONY was actually my first time traveling abroad! I was filled with excitement and curiosity, wondering how the live performance would turn out. At the same time, I had some nerves because it was a completely new experience for us. But once we started performing, the crowd sang and danced along—even those who had never heard our songs before! Seeing that pure love for music made me realize how amazing live performances can be. That’s why I’m determined to do a live show in Malaysia next!
9. Do you have any plans to perform in other Southeast Asian countries?
RYOJI: We haven’t had a solo live show yet, but we’re planning to perform in Thailand a few more times this year to make that dream a reality! Whenever I’m in Thailand, I often check Google Maps, and I always notice how close Malaysia is—I keep thinking, “I really want to go there someday!”. When that day comes, I hope you’ll come see us!
SUZUKI: We’re working hard so we can perform in even more countries as soon as possible. I’ll do my best so that one day I can proudly say, “We’re finally coming to Malaysia for a live show!”. Please wait for us!
10. Besides touring and performing, do you have any personal goals you would like to achieve this year?
GHEE: I want to master English and get my body in top shape. Also, I’d like to take on more challenges in rap and music production.
RYOJI: This year, I want to develop my own unique rap skills that showcase my individuality! I want to master skills that can become the group’s strength and eventually release rap songs.
SUZUKI: Language acquisition. Right now, I’m learning languages so that I can communicate with our international fans, but I’ll keep working hard to improve my language skills even further.
HIROTO: I want more people to know about us! So far, we’ve only been to Thailand, but I want to increase our recognition in Malaysia and aim to rank on international music charts!
11. If you had the opportunity to visit Malaysia, what would you like to do or try here?
GHEE: I want to try Malaysian food and experience Malaysian culture!
RYOJI: I love nature, and I think Malaysia is a beautiful place full of nature. Someday, I want to visit Kinabalu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and see the scenery! Also, of course, I really want to do a live performance in Malaysia!
SUZUKI: I want to visit Batu Caves. I love places where I can feel the history of the land, such as limestone caves and murals!
HIROTO: Of course, I want to do a live performance, but I also want to learn about Malaysia’s culture, food, and everything about the country! There are so many places I want to visit, but I especially want to see the KLCC Park fountains, take a cruise tour on the Malacca River, and visit Batu Caves!
12. Please share a message for Malaysia fans and Hype Malaysia readers.
GHEE: Thank you all for your warm support! We are working hard so that we can one day perform in Malaysia! When we finally meet, I know it will be an amazing day. Let’s make sure we see each other in the near future!
RYOJI: To all the Malaysian LOVERED, To everyone reading Hype Malaysia, Hello! This is RYOJI! Thank you for giving us this opportunity to let the people of Malaysia know more about us! As we aim to share our music with the world, we’ve recently had more opportunities to visit Thailand, and we’ve met so many amazing people there. That makes us even more eager to bring our music to the whole of Southeast Asia! And one day, I will visit Malaysia! When that time comes, please come see us! Let’s have an unforgettable time together! Thank you for reading this article, and I hope you’ll continue supporting us!
SUZUKI: Thank you for always supporting us.The messages we receive from our Malaysian fans on social media always give us so much energy. We are confident in recommending our 1st ALBUM, WOLF, and we’re sure our Malaysian fans will love it too!! We’re working hard so that we can perform in Malaysia as soon as possible, so please wait for us!
HIROTO: We have never been to Malaysia before, so we definitely want to visit! And more than anything, we really want to do a live performance there! So when we come to Malaysia, we hope you’ll come and see us! We’ll do our best to make it an unforgettable experience! Please wait for us!
“WOLF” is now available on all streaming platforms. Check out the full album below:
The post Interview: WOLF HOWL HARMONY From EXILE TRIBE On Their Fav Track From The New Album appeared first on Hype Malaysia.
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