October 28, 2026 · KPOP-NEW · Germany
For a group known for its sharp choreography, RIIZE’s latest release has given overseas writers something else to focus on: the voices. German-language coverage of the new single “Insomnia” has highlighted its layered harmonies, while a fresh interview with GQ Germany offers a closer look at how the members approached the quieter song.
“Insomnia” was released at midnight Korean time on October 26, 2026, alongside its official music video. The acoustic-pop track opens with guitar and gradually adds rhythm, putting the six members’ voices in front of a restrained arrangement rather than a large dance production.
Why the harmonies became the talking point
Germany-based K-Pop HQ published a video review on October 27 that paid attention to the arrangement’s gradual build and the way the members’ voices fit together. The review also noted the video’s imagery, including a spoken sequence about a whale toward the end. Those details help explain why this release invites a different kind of listening than a choreography-led comeback.
There is a small but important correction to make when reading that coverage: the K-Pop HQ article lists October 25 as the release day. RIIZE’s official Japanese site and SM Entertainment confirm October 26, 2026. For an international audience, the correct Korean release date is the one used here.
The song’s melody has an open, almost unfinished quality at first. Instead of filling every space with dense synthesizers, the arrangement lets individual tones emerge, then brings voices together. A strong harmony does not have to be complicated to be effective; in “Insomnia,” the effect comes from hearing different textures support the same emotional line.
What RIIZE told GQ Germany
In an interview published on October 26, GQ Germany asked the group about the recording process, sleeplessness and how their style has developed. ANTON said the acoustic character of the song made emotional expression through singing the main priority. SOHEE remembered being asked to deliver one high note with the force of a cry, a small recording-room instruction that changed how the moment landed.
Other answers moved away from studio technique and into ordinary life. EUNSEOK spoke about clearing his mind when he cannot sleep. SHOTARO described his own unconventional approach involving fruit, which should be read as a personal anecdote rather than medical advice. The exchange suited the song’s subject: the restless thoughts that appear when the day gets quiet.
GQ also asked how the members understand their musical identity. SUNGCHAN reflected on a shift from the bright, youthful sound of their early work toward music that communicates more of what they actually think and feel now. That helps put the single in context. RIIZE have not abandoned performance, but here they ask listeners to pay attention to their vocal delivery first.
Watch the official “Insomnia” Instagram Reel
The official short-form teaser below was posted in the days leading up to the single. It offers a direct visual reference for the atmosphere discussed by German media and is a teaser, not the full music video.
Video: RIIZE Official Instagram — “Insomnia” teaser, October 25, 2026.
A quieter step before their next album
“Insomnia” is being presented ahead of RIIZE’s second full-length album EMOTIION, currently planned for spring 2027. The single does not attempt to predict what the full album will sound like. It offers a moment to notice the group differently, without the pressure of turning every chorus into a dance challenge.
There is a reason a German fashion-and-culture magazine and a specialist K-pop outlet both found an angle here. A vocal-driven release makes RIIZE’s changing identity easy to hear, even for an international listener who does not follow every Korean music-show stage. The interest is not in a chart position or a viral dance, but in how six familiar voices sound when they leave a little more space between the notes.
For the full single and members’ profiles, see the RIIZE A–Z profile. KWaveScope’s earlier “Insomnia” report covers the original comeback announcement; this article focuses on its reception in Germany.
Sources: GQ Germany interview, October 26, 2026; K-Pop HQ video review, October 27, 2026. Release date cross-checked with RIIZE’s official site.