ONE OR EIGHT Interview: BTS Inspiration, “Tokyo Drift” & Headlining the Super Bowl?

In this exclusive K-ALL interview, Angel sits down with the rising global Japanese group ONE OR EIGHT right before their sold-out show at Racket NYC!

The multi-talented members—Neo, Ryota, Tsubasa, Reia, Mizuki, Yuga, Souma, and Takeru—open up about their challenging survival show roots, their intense training period in South Korea, and the deep meaning behind their “all or nothing” name.

We dive deep into their musical roots, including naming BTS, Michael Jackson, and ONE OK ROCK as their ultimate performance inspirations. The group also breaks down what it was really like working with legendary choreographer Nick Joseph on their debut track “Don’t Tell Nobody.” Plus, the group shares the wild story behind their track “KAWASAKI” with Big Sean (including a surprise appearance from his dad on set) , the viral success of their “Tokyo Drift” sample, and their massive future dreams—from selling out Zepp tours to headlining the NFL Super Bowl halftime show!

Tune in next week for a special V13 Segment with ONE OR EIGHT!

Episode Transcript:

Angel: Hello, everyone!

ONE OR EIGHT: WELCOME TO K-ALL!

Souma: Hi guys, we are…

ALL: ONE OR EIGHT! Nice to meet you.

Neo: Thank you for having us.

Angel: Nice to meet you guys too. Would you like to introduce yourselves individually?

Neo: I’m Neo.

Ryota: I’m Ryota.

Tsubasa: I’m Tsubasa.

Reia: I’m Reia.

Mizuki: I’m Mizuki.

Yuga: I’m Yuga.

Souma: I’m Souma.

Takeru: I’m Takeru.

Angel: Great, well it’s wonderful to be with you today. I really want to know more about your name. I know that it stems from a Japanese idiom, but could you tell us more about the meaning of “ONE OR EIGHT?”

Souma: So the direct translation is we are “ONE OR EIGHT” which means “all or nothing”. For us, it’s a sense of meaning to bring the challenge of the Japanese sentiment “Ichika Bachika” to the world.

Angel: And I mean, your music really demonstrates that because you have so many different sounds. And I’m wondering for overseas listeners who might be getting to know the group for the first time, how did you all come together?

Reia: We auditioned on a show. The seven of us were selected as finalists and we joined NEO, and from that we became the eight.

Tsubasa: Mic?

Reia: Oh mic…

Tsubasa: We’re very close now. We have a really good bond, but that audition we did on the show was like a survival format and it was really challenging. The first performance, even afterwards, I really can’t say it was even over. It was still stressful and I didn’t get those nerves out, per se, even when the group began. But then we went to Korea and trained together and spent time together for over a year. We really bonded from that experience and because we did that, we got to understand each and make our debut from that experience as a group. Now I feel we’re really close.

Angel: And you see that in the choreography because your dances are so amazing and you have really good synergy. And I know–

Souma: Thank you.

Angel: You’re welcome! I also know that you worked with the choreographer, Nick Joseph for “Don’t Tell Nobody.”

Souma: Yeah.

Angel: And that choreography was spectacular. Could you walk me through a little bit of that project working with Nick Joseph and what that was like?

Takeru: Yeah, you know, personally, I have great respect for him. I like him a lot. There was that feeling of working with someone you respect. “Don’t Tell Nobody” was our debut song. It took a lot of time to put it together. There’s the feeling of the song and the words “Don’t Tell Nobody” expresses that itself, but it’s also a feeling for us of all the work it took to get there. Nick Joseph was extremely professional. He was able to see all the details and catch things and coach us in meaningful ways, so it was really exciting to have that as our debut.

Angel: You really feel the energy through the performance. It’s super good. You’re very welcome. And speaking of performances, what are your biggest musical influences that inspire you to do those performances?

Souma: Michael Jackson.

Tsubasa: ONE OK ROCK. Do you know ONE OK ROCK? Japanese.

Angel: Yes, of course, of course. Yeah.

Reia: BTS.

Angel: BTS? I love BTS. I’m right there with you. And Nick Joseph, he choreographed the “3J Butter Remix.”

Reia: “Swim!” *Correction. Nick Joseph choreographed “2.0” by BTS.*

Angel: And “Swim,” yeah. *Again. It should be “2.0.”*

Angel: Awesome, awesome. So another question that I have for you is: I would love to talk about your collaboration on “KAWASAKI” with Big Sean. How did that come about and what was the experience like for you?

Neo: You know, it’s truly an honor and we actually met him in LA…I think? We performed “KAWASAKI” in front of him and he really vibed with the song and he said, “yeah, let me hop on.” That’s crazy. So yeah, so everything happened with a blink of an eye. We shot a music video with him in LA.

He pulled up with his dad, which is crazy. We had some pep talk with his dad and stuff. Some weird experiences, but it was fun. Overall, he’s really down to earth. Although he’s a superstar in the scene, he really looked out for us because we were rookies and we were kind of stiff.

In front of a superstar, you know, it’s not easy to be like, you know, loosened up and like, swagged out for the music video. But yeah, he really helped us out. Like he kind of cheered up the mood and he also kind of showed us examples of how to carry ourselves out on the set. Overall, it was a crazy learning experience as well as a feature. We’re really grateful to have him on the track and just have his name on a discography.

Angel: It’s really wonderful. I mean, you guys have superstardom within yourselves. So you really held your own in that music video. And it was amazing to see you both shine together.

Neo: Thank you.

Souma: Thank you so much.

Angel: You’re very welcome. And following that collaboration, do you have any other dream collaborators that you would really love to work with?

Souma: Usher. Legend.

Neo: Nettspend.

Reia: CORTIS.

Angel: CORTIS? “I just gotta get it watch me go, go.”

Angel: Cool. Nice. Well, I’m rooting for you. Anyone else have any inspirations or collaborations?

Ryota: Justin Bieber.

Angel: Did you watch his Coachella set?

ALL: Yeah!

Angel: What did you think of it?

Souma: Perfect. Really amazing show.

Ryota: *thumbs up*

Neo: *referring to Ryota* he’s very shy.

Tsubasa: YUNGBLUD.

Angel: That’d be cool. I could see that happening. Very nice. Well, your track, “Tokyo Drift,” also samples Fast and Furious. What inspired that specific direction? Are you guys fans of the franchise yourselves?

Souma: Yes, we are super excited about it. It was something we did originally starting with the rap members: Neo, Ryota, Mizuki and myself. We are huge fans of the film and for us to be able to capture that essence of that tune and capture the hearts of fans of the franchise was really special. We wanted to show it and bring that forward. We are really excited because of the response it got.

Angel: It got great feedback. I mean it became a huge trend, too, all over TikTok and other social media [platforms]. And rightfully so!

Angel: And now going into the mini album that you guys released. What is each of your favorite tracks off Gather?

Reia: “Power.”

Angel: “Power?” That’s a good one.

Tsubasa: My favorite song is “Young and Reckless.”

Angel: I love that one.

ALL: Thank you so much!

Angel: Your live performance of that is so good. You guys look like you have so much fun performing it.

Ryota: “DSTM.”

Neo: I’ll have to go with “TOKYO DRIFT.”

Angel: Of course, it’s a classic.

Takeru: “KAWASAKI.”

Souma: “BET YOUR LIFE.”

Yuga: “365.”

Mizuki: “365” too.

Angel: So why “365” for both of you?

Mizuki: For me, personally. First of all, it’s the first song we performed for our fans—1DERZ. That’s really special. It’s a very big impression. We filmed it in LA and it was on Korean shows and we performed it in front of 1DERZ. That made a very big impression on me.

Angel: Of course, those are very special memories. This is your first time touring in the US, which is super exciting. So I’m kind of curious, what city have you enjoyed visiting the most?

Mizuki: Chicago.

Souma: Argentina! Ah U.S. Tour..

Neo: Like the whole tour?

Angel: You know what? Full tour. Go. We’ll expand the question.

Souma: And Atlanta. I think we’ve had a lot of amazing performances in a lot of places. It’s very hard to pick one!

Angel: I understand. It’s all special.

Reia: I really liked the scenery and settings when we performed in Atlanta.

Angel: Is there a specific scenery in Atlanta that was really special?

Reia: During the song, “DAY ONES, there is a light up session where the fans light their phones and we can see everyone in front of us so nicely. It was a sense of all being united all at once. It was a really special moment. 

Angel: That sounds beautiful. Anyone else want answer our next question?

Tsubasa: Playing in New York today.

Angel: So exciting! What are you most excited to perform tonight in the New York show? What should I look out for?

Tsubasa: We put together the collection of music we’re playing tonight ourselves. It is our own [setlist], and so we have built it from start to finish with everything we wanted. Knowing we thought of it makes each track exciting to bring to life in New York.

Angel: For sure. The fact that you’re so hands-on and you got to format the whole thing yourselves, it’s gotta all be special.

Interpreter: Not really formed by the hands *laughs*.

Angel: Not really! I’ll be looking forward to seeing it. I’ll be at the show tonight.

Neo: Let’s do it!

ALL: Thank you so much!

Angel: Of course!

Angel: What is each of your current dreams? If it be big or small and it could be a personal dream.

Reia: Last year we played at Zepp in Osaka and Haneda, but we couldn’t sell out. This time we want to fill it up.

Neo: Last time it wasn’t a full crowd. It wasn’t a sold out show, but this time we want to sell it out.

Tsubasa: As an individual my goal is the same thing. I hope we complete this tour very successfully and everything goes well, and we return and can sell out Zepp. So I want to do my part to help the group’s goal as well.

Angel: Yeah, I believe you can do it.

ALL: Thank you.

Ryota: It’s a small goal but I dream that while being abroad, we can get together a small group to dance and perform together in unison. It’s a dream I look forward to that I think will be special.

Neo: I’d like to move to New York.

Angel: Really?

Neo: Yeah. New York and then LA, I guess. Because I’ve always lived in Japan, so I want to live abroad. The first place that comes to mind is New York. So yeah.

Angel: Well, you’re welcome here.

Neo: Thank you.

Takeru: My dream is to sell out Zepp, too. It’s in my heart. But I really do hope that ONE OR EIGHT becomes something that everyone knows. If that message connects people, that would be really special and I really want to leave with people understanding that. Knowing who we are and what our name means.

Angel: And I think because you’re so hard working, that’s going to happen naturally. The more you push your dream.

Souma: My personal dream is to headline the NFL Super Bowl halftime show.

Angel: Ooh okay. I love it. very ambitious!

Interpreter: I think you got it. I don’t think I need to translate!

Souma: and Madison Square Garden. I’d like to do a live show at Madison Square Garden as well.

Yuga: Last time we were here, I thought I want to play at Madison Square Garden too.

Angel: Yea, that would be pretty cool.

Mizuki: My goal is to improve my skills and wake up early. ⁓

Angel: That’s a good one. I get that it’s important to get up early. You get a lot more done!

Angel: Thank you for joining the show. you have any final words you want to say?

Souma: Thank you everyone! We are really looking forward to being at the Racket NYC stage today with our 1DERZ fans.

Neo: Sold out show tonight.

Angel: Yea sold out show! Amazing, wonderful. Thank you so so much guys.

Neo: Thank you so much!!

Neo: Aye what’s up this is ONE OR EIGHT for K-ALL.

ALL: Check out!