Radio Play II

Jae-sung, as the oldest, took the lead to answer the host's question. "We're really excited about our debut. Our title track is a mix of powerful vocals and dynamic rap that we think will really wow the audience."

The host leaned forward, her interest piqued. "That sounds exciting! I hear you also have a music video coming up. Can you tell us more about that?"

The members glanced towards Byul-ho, who stood just outside the transparent glass of the recording booth. He gave them an encouraging nod, his eyes conveying confidence.

Hyun-woo, remembering the exact words Byul-ho had coached them on, cleared his throat and began to speak. "Ah yes, we're really thrilled about our debut music video," he said, his voice steady despite his nerves. "Without giving too much away, I can say that it's going to be quite special."

He paused, making sure he hit all the points Byul-ho had emphasized. "The video showcases not just our vocals and rap, but also our choreography in a way that we believe will captivate viewers. We've incorporated some innovative visual techniques that aren't commonly seen in K-pop videos right now."

Min-jae chimed in, building on Hyun-woo's response. "That's right. Our CEO, Byul-ho-ssi, has been very hands-on with the concept. He's pushed for a style that we think will set us apart in the industry."

The host nodded, clearly intrigued. "It sounds like you're aiming to make a big splash with your debut. When can fans expect to see this video?"

The members glanced at Byul-ho again, who mouthed "Soon" and gestured for them to be vague.

Jae-sung took over smoothly. "While we can't give an exact date just yet, we promise it will be worth the wait. We're working hard to make sure everything is perfect for our debut."

"Well, I for one can't wait to see it," the host said enthusiastically. "It sounds like Ascend is bringing something fresh to the K-pop scene."

As the interview continued, Byul-ho felt a surge of pride. His members were handling themselves beautifully, building anticipation for their debut while following his guidance to the letter.

He also appreciated the interviewer's professionalism; despite Ascend being complete newcomers with virtually no fan base, she treated them as if they were an established group with a loyal following. Her enthusiasm and the way she framed her questions gave the impression that Ascend was already making waves in the industry.

***

Meanwhile, in a bustling pojangmacha (street food tent) in Seoul, the radio played in the background. As Ascend's interview aired, the owner and patrons paused their conversations, listening with varying degrees of interest.

"Ascend? Who are they?" one middle-aged man asked, frowning as he sipped his soju.

A younger patron shrugged. "Just another rookie group, I guess. The FM station's always interviewing these hopefuls."

"They sound confident," an older woman commented, stirring her ramyeon. "But so do all the newbies. We'll see if they last."

The patrons nodded in agreement, their interest already waning as they turned back to their food and drinks. To them, Ascend was just another name in the endless parade of aspiring idols, their potential yet to be proven.

The host's voice crackled through the radio, "And now, for the moment we've all been waiting for, Ascend will perform a snippet of their debut song!"

In the pojangmacha, the patrons barely registered the announcement, continuing their conversations and meals. The owner absently turned up the volume, more out of habit than interest.

Suddenly, an upbeat, catchy melody filled the air, catching a few patrons off guard with its polished production. Then, Jae-sung's powerful voice cut through, his tone conveying a depth that contrasted with the light-hearted instrumental:

"Nune gamchugo usji

Uriui duryeoume chumchune

Sahoeui geim sogaeseo

Urineun dareudago."

(We smile while hiding tears / Dancing through our fears / In society's game / We say we're different)

The unexpected juxtaposition of the cheerful melody and the weighty lyrics caused a few heads to turn towards the radio. The owner paused while wiping a glass, his brow furrowed in concentration.

As the chorus kicked in, the other members joined in harmony:

"Mitbadageseo ireonaji

Kkumeul hyanghae naraga

Jejarireul alla hajiman

Uriga heureumi mandeureo"

(Rising from the bottom / Flying towards dreams / They tell us to know our place / But we'll create the flow)

The rap section, delivered with sharp precision by Sung-ho, further emphasized the song's underlying message:

"Jeojeshimyeon andwae, we aim for the sky

Gyeonggyereul busugo, from zeroes to heroes

Ppaeji-myeon ireona, that's our way to be

Urin Ascend, watch our destiny."

(Don't stay down, we aim for the sky / Breaking boundaries, from zeroes to heroes / If we fall, we get up, that's our way to be / We're Ascend, watch our destiny)

Min-jae's smooth vocals took over the second verse, his voice carrying a hint of defiance:

"Pyeongyeonui byeogeul buseugo

Uriui gireul gaecheokae

Natke boneun shiseon soge

Uriui gachireul jeungmyeongae"

(Breaking walls of prejudice / Pioneering our path / Amidst lowered gazes / We'll prove our worth)

As the song progressed, Sung-ho delivered another powerful rap verse:

"They say know your place, but we'll set the pace

Bureonaeryeo noryeok, it's our time to shine

Pokbal-jikjeonui volcano, ready to erupt

Urin Ascend, to the top we'll jump"

(They say know your place, but we'll set the pace / Efforts to rise up, it's our time to shine / A volcano about to erupt / We're Ascend, to the top we'll jump)

As the performance continued, the atmosphere in the pojangmacha subtly shifted. Conversations died down, and more patrons found themselves listening intently. The owner, who had initially dismissed Ascend as just another rookie group, found himself nodding along to the beat.

Hyun-woo's emotive voice carried the bridge, his words filled with determination:

"Pogihaji ana, jeoldae

Uriui shigani ol geoya

Hamkke olaga, deo nopi

Ascend, uriui unmyeong"

(We'll never give up, never / Our time will come / Together we'll rise, higher / Ascend, it's our destiny)

By the time the last note faded away, a palpable silence hung in the air. For a moment, the patrons looked at each other, surprised by the impact of the performance.

The middle-aged man who had earlier dismissed the group broke the silence. "Well, I'll be damned," he muttered, setting down his soju glass. "That was actually pretty good."

The owner nodded in agreement, still absently polishing the same glass he'd been holding throughout the performance. "The lyrics... they're not just your typical love song, are they?" he mused. "It's got some real meat to it."

A younger patron chimed in, "I couldn't catch all the English parts, but the overall message came through."

"I have to admit," an older woman added, stirring her now-cold ramyeon, "the tune is quite catchy. I could see myself humming this while working."

The patrons began to discuss the song in earnest. The light, upbeat melody contrasted beautifully with the deeper, more motivational lyrics, creating a song that was both easy to listen to and thought-provoking.

***

Meanwhile, in the radio booth, the host's professional smile had transformed into one of genuine appreciation.

She had started the interview with polite interest, expecting just another rookie group with more ambition than talent. But Ascend's performance had caught her off guard.

"Wow, that was... honestly impressive," she said, her tone sincere. "I have to admit, I hear a lot of debut songs, but this one really stands out. I'll definitely be listening to it again."

The members of Ascend exchanged surprised glances, their faces lighting up at the unexpected praise.

Jae-sung, ever the spokesperson, seized the moment. "Thank you so much. We're really excited about our upcoming EP. It has four tracks, each showcasing a different side of Ascend."

Sung-ho chimed in, "And don't forget our music video! It'll be released soon, and we think it's going to surprise a lot of people."

The host nodded enthusiastically. "I'm looking forward to it. Listeners, make sure to keep an eye out for Ascend's debut. I have a feeling we'll be hearing a lot more from them."

As they wrapped up the interview, the members bowed deeply, thanking the host for the opportunity. They filed out of the booth, still buzzing with excitement from their performance and the positive reception.

Byul-ho was waiting for them in the hallway, a proud smile on his face. "Well done," he said, his tone measured but his eyes shining with approval. "You handled yourselves well."