NCT Dream released their new mini-album ‘Dream( )scape‘ (pronounced “dream escape”), alongside a music video for title track ‘Smoothie‘.
‘Dream ( )scape’ marks NCT Dream’s seventh mini-album with six new tracks:
- ‘icantfeelanything’
- ‘Smoothie’
- ‘BOX’
- ‘Carat Cake’
- ‘UNKNOWN’
- ‘Breathing’
According to SM Entertainment’s statement, the album is about the band’s “first journey in search of an ideal dream in a dark and difficult reality, incorporating various emotions experienced in the escape process into the music (…) Through this, NCT DREAM sympathizes with the worries and pains of young people living in the same era as them and delivers a message of comfort and support for their dreams, drawing attention to the diverse youth portrayed in this album.”
“We’ve so far shown our passionate, hopeful and bright sides, but this time we’ve prepared an album that those without a dream or those searching for a dream can sympathize with,” said Mark, the group leader, during a press conference in Seoul. “We also have pain, and there were times when we didn’t have a dream, so I think we can embrace people who have a similar feeling.”
A music video for ‘Smoothie’ was also released. Behind the song’s groovy style, lies a strong message about the judgements of society: “As we journey through life, we inevitably face judgments and stereotypes that we’d prefer to avoid,” Renjun explained. The song symbolizes their “determination to ‘blend away’ and ‘drink up’ these negative perspectives, empowering us to forge our own path.” As for the color of the smoothie being black in the video, they wanted to change the “refreshing and sweet vibes” the drink gives off with the concept of “a ‘dirty’ smoothie” that represents the prejudices and criticism towards them as they ” blend away all the negativities”.
NCT Dream are also set to embark on their third world tour, THE DREAM SHOW 3, kicking off with three shows in Seoul in May 2024. The group will announce more dates for Europe, Latin America and North America in May.
