NOWZ Swings for a Homerun With Baseball-Themed Comeback 'Play Ball'

NOWZ, Cube Entertainment's rising boy group, is stepping up to the plate with its third single, "Play Ball." The latest release embraces baseball imagery, carrying the theme across everything from the tracklist to the music video.

The members sat down for an interview at a cafe inside Cube Entertainment's headquarters in Seoul to share the creative process behind the project.

The lead single, "HomeRUN," is an EDM-driven dance track built around a heavy drop and sharp, rhythmic rap. The lyrics compare an uncertain future to a pitch waiting to be swung at, turning fear of the unknown into a chance for success. The single also includes "GET BUCK," a confident song about the group's ambitions, along with the more melodic and lyrical track "Run With Me."

The baseball concept runs throughout the project. Asked about the inspiration behind it, member Yeonwoo said professional athletes spend years training and persevering just to step onto the field.

"We see ourselves in that process," he said. "We thought this theme reflected where we are right now."

Yoon also saw the concept as a way to connect with a sport that draws widespread public interest. "Baseball is a sport that consistently gets a lot of attention," he said. "I hope our music can share in that energy."

Siyun connected the concept to his own experiences, recalling childhood trips to Doosan Bears games and a recent visit to a taping of the sports variety show "A Clean Sweep." The atmosphere reminded him of his younger days training in taekwondo.

"It would be an honor to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Doosan Bears game or a 'A Clean Sweep' game someday," he said.

NOWZ has been steadily building momentum both in South Korea and overseas, recently performing at Waterbomb Macao 2025. Held at one of the city's major outdoor venues, the festival allowed the group to preview part of "HomeRUN."

Siyun revealed he was the member most eager to perform at the event. "I really enjoy that kind of festival atmosphere," he said. "I trained hard ahead of the show and performed shirtless, and fortunately, the fans responded well. It was a meaningful experience, and I'd love the chance to do it again."

He added with a laugh that he actually ate more than usual, including fried chicken, to build muscle ahead of the performance. Siyun said he typically maintains a weight of around 60 kilograms (132 pounds).

Labelmate Yuqi of (G)I-DLE also performed at Waterbomb Macao 2025. Having previously featured on NOWZ's July track "Fly to the youth," she left a strong impression on Yeonwoo.

"I learned a lot from watching her performance," he said. "I paid close attention to how she communicates with the audience and carries herself on stage."

The comeback also arrives during a period of change for the group, which recently underwent a rebranding. "We've already performed on major stages and won a rookie award," Siyun said. "Now it feels like we're building a new identity for NOWZ. If we keep moving forward, I hope we can reach even greater heights."

Yeonwoo echoed that mindset, saying he focuses on improving little by little each day. "Everyone has the same 24 hours," he said. "I'm always thinking about how to use that time better. I'm looking forward to what tomorrow brings."

Closing the interview, Hyeonbin compared the group's growth to dieting, noting that the members paid close attention to their conditioning ahead of this comeback.

"When you're dieting, you weigh yourself every day. Sometimes the number doesn't change, and that can be frustrating," he said. "But when you look back after a week, you start to see the results. Day by day it may not feel like much is changing, but when I look back at our debut, I can clearly see how much we've grown."

"If we keep moving forward one day at a time," he added with a smile, "I think the day will come when we hit a real home run."