23 Voices And Limitless Possibilities: How NCT Became One

Inside, NCT members Taeyong, Doyoung, Xiaojun, Lucas, Jaemin, Jaehyun, and Shotaro are wide awake, sipping on iced Americanos as they make fun of each other, pick at each other’s clothing, and chat excitedly via Zoom about the group’s most ambitious project yet: their two-part album NCT 2020 Resonance.“It’s a meaningful album,” 23-year-old singer Jaehyun answers in English. This is the group’s second project album featuring its entire roster; its first, 2018’s Empathy, presented a huge shift to NCT’s musical paradigm as the units performed songs that contrasted their image at the time, as when bubbly NCT Dream released the gritty "Go” and fiery NCT 127 brightened their discography with "Touch." Now, as NCT reunites for the second time, its members are pushing the musical boundaries of NCT and K-pop as a whole. The duo made their official debut in NCT through a set of sleek video teasers that saw them don navy and cornflower-blue silk suits and find their place alongside veteran members.“NCT’s a group that I’ve always loved, and just to be able to join this group is a huge honor for me,” says Shotaro, the 20-year-old from Kanagawa, Japan, who used to post videos of himself covering NCT dance routines on TikTok. Now, he smiles brightly between Xiaojun and Doyoung as he participates in his first album as an official member of NCT. While there are still unit songs — NCT 127’s “Music, Dance,” WayV’s “Nectar,” and NCT Dream’s “Déjà Vu” — Resonance’s new groupings highlight each member’s many facets, taking NCT’s musicality to dynamic heights.The entirety of Resonance was divided into two parts and released over the course of two months. But “Lightbulb” finds its roots in NCT’s personal past.Originally performed by Taeyong and Doyoung as members of SM Entertainment’s pre-debut group SM Rookies, the song received a revamp on Resonance with the inclusion of Kun and Sungchan — past, present, and future NCT members all working side by side. With all 22 other members by his side, 20-year-old rapper Jeno says that he felt “well-supported” throughout the creation of Resonance, and 23-year-old singer Winwin calls every moment spent creating the album with the rest of NCT a “cherished memory.” For multilingual singer Ten, 24, part of the reason why “90’s Love” is his favorite song on the album is that the recording process felt like hanging out with friends.