Our recurring feature series Track by Track sees artists guiding readers through each song on their new release. Today, the unstoppable force of ATEEZ touches down to talk through each song on their new mini-album, GOLDEN HOUR: Part.2.
2024 has felt like a turning point for ATEEZ, the eight-member K-pop group out of KQ Entertainment. For this performance-forward act — Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho — a very strong Coachella debut was just the beginning. After releasing a bright, summery EP, GOLDEN HOUR: Part.1, ATEEZ successfully completed one of the most fun tours of the year.
Now, the band has returned with a new mini-album to round out this chapter with GOLDEN HOUR: Part.2. Known for absurd levels of energy and confidence throughout their discography, this batch of music plays up that factor even more, leveraging the dance, rap, and vocal skill sets of each member for the catchy focus track “Ice on My Teeth.”
“When I first heard the song, the catchy melody immediately grabbed my attention,” Yeosang says of “Ice on My Teeth.” “The strong beat mixed with the violin made it sound fresh and exciting.”
The new album is rounded out by tracks like the R&B-inspired “DEEP DIVE,” trap-adjacent interlude “Scene 1: Value,” and the lush synth-pop of “Selfish Waltz,” underscoring the fact that the group isn’t contained by genre.
Listen to GOLDEN HOUR: Part.2 in full below, and read on for the members’ insights into each song.
“DEEP DIVE”:
Seonghwa: From the start, we knew “DEEP DIVE” would set the mood for the whole album. It really captures that shift from the bright city lights to complete silence, reflecting the deep emotions and intensity we dive into in GOLDEN HOUR: Part.2.
“Scene 1: Value”:
Wooyoung: “Scene 1: Value” is like an intro to “Ice on My Teeth,” setting up the main themes. “Great minds think alike” shows how we’re connected and share a vision, even on different paths. It’s about staying true and confident while embracing who we are and growing together.
“Ice on My Teeth:”
Yunho: “Ice on My Teeth” is really special to us because it’s all about knowing your worth and owning that confidence. It’s about valuing yourself no matter what and showing the world that you’re not afraid to stand out.
Yeosang: When I first heard the song, the catchy melody immediately grabbed my attention. The strong beat mixed with the violin made it sound fresh and exciting.
“Man on Fire”:
Mingi: “Man on Fire” has a similar vibe to “DJANGO” with its intense and raw energy. It’s about how love can be so powerful that it makes you lose all sense of logic and can lead to chaos. It shows how love can be both amazing and dangerous at the same time.
“Selfish Waltz”:
Hongjoong: I actually wrote “Selfish Waltz” back in 2021. It’s about the complicated cycles that happen in relationships — how cracks start, tension builds, and then regret tries to fix things, only for the cycle to repeat. The waltz-like vibe of the song really captures that feeling, where no one’s in sync, showing just how messy and real relationships can get.
“Enough”:
San: “Enough” delivers strong messages to “not waver,” that “you’re doing great,” and to “stay true to your beliefs.” We wanted this song to reach people everywhere and connect with them, no matter the language.
Jongho: Recording this track was really special for us. We put our hearts into it to make sure it felt like real encouragement and strength for anyone who hears it. We wanted it to lift people up and give them confidence to keep going.