The last time we caught up with Wave to Earth, they were riding the high of their The First Era tour, bringing their dreamy soundscapes and signature lo-fi warmth to Singapore. They spoke about embracing imperfections in their music, the beauty of live performances, and the ever-evolving journey of their sound. Their intimate yet expansive approach to music resonated deeply with fans, leaving a lasting impression long after their set ended.
Fast forward to this year, and we found ourselves back in conversation with the trio, just before they took the stage once again in Singapore for their Play With Earth 0.03 World Tour. Amid the whirlwind of touring, they carved out a moment to reflect on their growth, share new inspirations, and dive into the little things that have shaped their journey since we last met. With the same effortless charm and introspective energy, Wave to Earth let us in on what’s changed, what hasn’t, and where they’re headed next.
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Hey guys! Since your last show and the last we spoke, how has life on the road been treating you?
John: We've just been doing more shows all around the world, having a lot of fun, though we do get a little tired here and there. But it's all good—we're getting used to the rhythm of touring. It’s been an incredible experience meeting fans from different places, seeing how our music resonates with people everywhere, and just soaking in every moment on the road.
What’s one moment from the past year of touring that really stands out to you?
Daniel: During our US tour in September, after one of our shows, we had to move to the next city by bus. Before that, we all gathered up, getting ready to leave, but Donggyu somehow managed to sneak away. At first, we thought he was just out for a quick walk like the rest of us—everyone was enjoying a little stroll. But when we got back to the tour bus, we found him outside, happily eating ramen. He didn’t want to eat inside because the smell would fill up the whole bus, so he just made himself comfortable outside. It was such a funny and unexpected moment.
Your fans always appreciate your raw and honest approach. Have there been any recent challenges that tested that authenticity?
Daniel: I think we are still quite the same. I think the main challenge is that we’ve been doing this so many times now, and things keep changing. Last year, it was just the three of us on stage, but this time, we’ve got five people, so figuring out how to bring all the sounds together has been a bit tricky. We’re still working on getting the balance right, making sure everything blends well while keeping that raw, honest vibe that our fans love.
Have there been any major shifts in your songwriting approach over the past year?
John: There really has not been any major shifts, although in the past, it used to be mostly Daniel writing the songs, but these days, I’ve been writing together with him, and we’ve been collaborating more. We’re also focusing a lot on harmonies and trying out new ideas together, which has been really fun.
If you guys had to describe the current phase of Wave to Earth in one sentence, what would it be?
Daniel: Evolving.
John: Exciting.
Donkyu: Earthquake.
So each of you has your own unique personality, right? Looking back, if you had to assign superpowers to each other, what would they be?
John: I would give Donkyu Naruto's shadow clone technique so he can be at more places at the same time.
Daniel: I honestly would love to give John the power to teleport, so that he could always teleport home to sleep and teleport back just in time for our performance.
Donkyu: I want Daniel to have the power to instantly switch guitars without needing to tune or adjust anything. That way, he wouldn’t have to spend time swapping guitars in the middle of a set—it would just magically change to whatever he needs, perfectly in tune and ready to go. It’d make things so much smoother during shows!
Final question for you guys! How do you think you've grown not as not just as musicians, but also as people over the course of your careers?
Donkyu: I think for me I have not really changed as much, I'm still just a chill guy.
John: I’ve been trying to bulk up by eating more, gaining muscle, and working out more often. The last time I checked, I had put on about 10kg, so I’d say I’m making pretty good progress!
Daniel: For me, I feel like I’ve matured a lot, especially in the way I see myself. I’m learning to acknowledge both my strengths and weaknesses, rather than just focusing on one or the other. It’s about embracing every part of who I am—the good, the bad, and everything in between—and growing from it.
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