Rol3ert reignites the glory of his breakout hit as he unveils '(how could i be) honest? - DAUL mix (feat. THAMA)'. The track is beyond just a reworked version of his milestone track as it stands as a border defying collaboration that blends musical styles and the unique Rol3ert touch the song has.
The track sees Rol3ert team up with Korean producer DAUL and acclaimed R&B artist THAMA as they elevate the existing track beyond it's smashing success as it was rearranged in a more versatile way, beyond traditional remixing methods. Infusing Korean lyrics written THAMA. Being a seamless medley between Japanese and Korean musical sensibilities, the track continues to radiate the rich emotion through the newly introduced lyrics, preserving the heart of the song.
DAUL shares more insight about choosing to work with Rol3ert on the song as he muses, "When I first heard the original track, what stood out most was the vocal melody. It has a strong hook that stays with you, and I felt the natural energy and dynamism of the band sound. Rather than drastically changing the song, I focused on preserving its emotional core and melody while expanding that energy through electronic elements. By reconstructing it around synthesizers and electronic drums, I aimed to create a denser, more three-dimensional soundscape. With THAMA joining, the color of the track became even richer. The combination of Rol3ert and THAMA’s distinct styles, along with the production, creates a piece that reveals more depth the more you listen."
First released in December 2025, '(how could i be) honest?' rapidly picked up momentum across global and regional platforms. The track was added to Spotify’s official playlists in 18 countries, charted on viral rankings in Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, received heavy airplay on Singapore’s 987FM, and climbed to No. 5 on Singapore’s Shazam charts. It also crossed 500,000 Spotify streams within its first month, making it Rol3ert’s fastest-growing release so far.
THAMA echoes a similar sentiment as DAUL as he shares, "The original track had a rock texture that I don’t usually work with, which made it feel very fresh. Rol3ert’s voice and melody were especially memorable—they reminded me of the emo rock bands I listened to growing up. During production, I focused on preserving the tone, rhythm, and lyrical appeal that Rol3ert brings, while adding a new interpretation on top of that foundation. The synth-forward sound is a key element of this version. I’d also love for listeners to pay attention to the newly written first verse, which wasn’t in the original. I hope people enjoy hearing how the song transforms through my voice."
With DAUL and THAMA on board, the track became more vibrant with a diverse range of musical sensibilities painting a more vivid picture of the original narrative of the track. The colour of the reimagined version comes through in the music video that was released alongside it as it was filmed in Korea as an homage of the heritage of the duo that collaborated with Rol3ert on the track.
Rol3ert looks back on the process behind the tracks reinvention as he reflects "The main thing I focused on was creating something completely different while still inheriting the original’s charm—its slightly absurd, chaotic, and imperfect qualities in a good way. I referenced sounds from ’80s video games to bring in a bit of playfulness. When I first heard DAUL’s demo, I was really happy to hear how that sense of playfulness was already embedded in the track. By combining that with THAMA’s voice and the addition of Korean lyrics—which was a completely new challenge for me—I think we were able to create something that feels like a different song, while still preserving what made the original special.”
With '(how could i be) honest? - DAUL mix (feat. THAMA)', Rol3ert breathes new life into one of his most defining releases, transforming it into a cross-border collaboration that feels both familiar and entirely fresh. By blending the original track’s emotional core with DAUL’s layered production and THAMA’s distinctive touch, the reimagined version stands as a bold new chapter for the song, proving just how far its resonance can reach.
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