Fresh off their sold-out arena debut and the release of their career-defining Chapter 1 best album, BALLISTIK BOYZ are hurtling into a bold new era. Known for their electrifying fusion of rap, vocals, and dance — and a multicultural edge with members fluent in English, Portuguese, and Chinese — the seven-member group are setting the tone for J-pop's global wave.
With their new single and EP called Stardust Forever leading the charge, the group leans into a gritty pop-punk, emo-inspired sound that mirrors both youthful defiance and creative rebirth. In this exclusive interview, the members dive into their new chapter, reflect on pivotal milestones, and share what’s next for the BBZ evolution.
You recently wrapped your first best album Chapter 1 and are now moving forward with a bold new sound. How has looking back helped shape where you are heading next?
RYUTA: Because we’ve challenged ourselves with so many different types of songs, we’ve come to understand what kind of music truly represents us — or what kind of music people are expecting from us. I feel like we’ve been able to strike a good balance between those two. Even so, we make sure not to lose the spirit of taking on new challenges.
MASAHIRO: Through performing live overseas, we’ve gone through a lot of trial and error to learn about our musical style and the style of our group. Amid all that, we talked together and decided that for the first work of our “second chapter,” we’d try this particular style!
You performed your first-ever arena show in Hyogo this June—a huge milestone! What was that experience like, and how did it feel to share that moment with your fans?
RYUSEI: Since it was our first solo arena show, I felt so happy — and what made it even more special was being able to share that feeling of “We finally made it!” with all our fans. That made me truly happy.
RIKI: When we finally stood on the long-awaited arena stage, it was a different kind of happiness — one I don’t often feel, even after all the experiences we’ve had so far. It took a bit longer than the plan we had set for ourselves a few years ago, but we were able to firmly achieve that goal. Seeing the faces and expressions of our fans during the live show made me feel like I want to work even harder.
‘Get Wild’ was your theme song for the film Salaryman Kintaro Akatsuki-hen. What was it like hearing your music on the big screen, and how did that collab come about?
YOSHIYUKI: I was really happy when I heard it would be the theme song for a movie, and I felt truly honoured to become a part of the film. We received the offer because Suzuki-san, who’s from the same agency, was starring in the movie.
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The IMPACT tour is taking you across Asia this year. What are you most looking forward to in connecting with your international fans?
MIKU: I enjoy learning different languages from each country and getting recommendations for local food and places to visit. Each country’s fans react in totally different ways, so I always look forward to seeing their responses.
RIKIYA: What I’m most excited about is that we’ll be performing some of our new songs, and I can’t wait to see how the audience will react! The response in Japan was really positive, so I’m expecting a different kind of reaction this time — and honestly, I’m already super excited about it!
Your show BALLI BALLI! gave fans a fun, behind-the-scenes look at your adventures in Bangkok. If you could shoot a second season anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
YOSHIYUKI: I’d love to do photo/video shoots in many different countries. Recently, I had the chance to visit Paris, France — my first time in Europe — and the cityscape was so beautiful. If we were to shoot something there, I feel like it would give birth to something entirely new.
RIKIYA: I want to shoot in New York. I used to live there, so I definitely want to go back, do a live show, and film in various places. I want to experience that same sense of excitement I felt back then, but now at this stage in my life.
You’ve dropped multiple self-produced songs recently, like ‘7’ and ‘HIGHER EX’. How has stepping into the producer’s seat evolved your approach to creating music?
MIKU: I’ve started paying more attention to how the music I usually listen to is made — like what kind of instruments are used and how the songs are constructed.
RIKI: Since I started getting involved in music production, I’ve been able to express our feelings through music using words we choose ourselves. I now make it a habit to jot down my thoughts and feelings from everyday life — whether I’m chatting with members, friends, or family. It’s been about six years since our debut, and I really feel like BBZ’s musical style has become more defined.
‘Stardust Forever’ introduces a new sonic direction influenced by emo and skater culture. What inspired this creative pivot and what does this era represent for BALLISTIK BOYZ?
RYUSEI: This year, BALLISTIK BOYZ entered our “second chapter,” and with that, we wanted to make “Impact” our theme. We had a strong desire to create something impactful, so we delivered a sound unlike anything anyone’s heard before!
MASAHIRO: Since this release marks the beginning of our second chapter, we were searching for a powerful, impactful song that would be a complete change from what we’ve done so far. The seven of us each grew up with different backgrounds and cultures, so I was really excited to see the new kind of chemistry that would emerge when we took on something new.
The lyrics of ‘Stardust Forever’ reflect themes of youth, defiance, and living fully—what message were you hoping fans take away from this track?
RYUTA: This life may seem long, but it's actually short — so I want to tell everyone to live it to the fullest, in your own way, in our way, in a way that's true to yourself, without regrets. And we want to embody that ourselves too!
How was it collaborating with vividboooy and R.I.K. on this single, and what did you learn from working with them?
YOSHIYUKI: They brought a vibe and essence that we don’t have, and by combining that with our style, I think we created something completely fresh.
How does the full EP reflect your personal and artistic growth?
RIKIYA: In our recent songs, including the latest one, I’ve been challenging myself with vocals that are more melodic and closer to singing, rather than strong rap. So I think fans will get to hear a new side of my voice again. In that sense, I feel like taking on different kinds of songs has really contributed to my growth.
MASAHIRO: This EP became a work where I was able to fully tap into vocal styles I didn’t have when our first chapter began! Of course, my singing skills have improved, but I think one of the biggest areas of growth is being able to express songs in different ways — sometimes singing with all-out passion, and other times blending in a more mature vibe.
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