DAY6's Energetic New Single 'Time Of Our Life' Is The Positive Vibe You Need In Your Life

"Time of Our Life" is the sort of song that makes you hope to dance. Or sprint a mile. Or perhaps both. It is, soon considering that, a DAY6 track — raw emotion and piercing harmonies poured over electric guitar riffs, piano melodies, dynamic chords, and an anthemic pop-rock chorus. However the Korean rock band's latest single, their first in seven months, is all of that and somehow more; part triumphant anime opening, part kaleidoscopic ode to the begin of something new, "Time of Our Life" pulls you in one playful drum fill at a time and leaves you breathless.


Written by bassist Young K and composed by the members alongside their "commander in charge" producer Hong Jisang, the energetic song captures the exciting, heart-pounding feeling of a new romance — or, the begin of a pretty page of youth," sings honey-voiced keyboardist Wonpil. From the first cymbals to the sweeping vocals, the single and its prismatic visual never let up.


The message itself is stimulating and — to use Young K's favorite word — pretty even, yet the melodies take on a slightly harder and more powerful edge. Inspired by the pop-punk bands of their youth (Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, and We The Kings, to name a few), DAY6 tells MTV News that "Time of Our Life" is about human relationships.


"Since it's the very starting [of a new chapter], we wanted to deal with the begin of a relationship," they mentioned. "And group in attempt to begin a healthy relationship, we thought it's key to know yourself well enough to know others."


The theme of connection — both the connection you share with other people along with because the intimate connection you have with yourself — courses throughout their new EP, The Book of Us: Gravity. A mix of genres, sounds, and sentimental lyrics from Young K (who's a credited lyricist on all six tracks), The Book of Us is one of DAY6's "brighter," more positive releases, they mentioned, noting that there's a "time and place for all emotions," and right now felt like the correct time to emphasize hope. Although it wasn't necessarily recommended that way.


"We never really determine which direction we desire to write for a certain album," they added. "It's habitually about reaching out to areas that we haven't explored while staying true to who we are… We're curious kids and we sort of just let our musical curiosity lead us to our next album."


From left to right: Sungjin (vocals, guitar, leader), Jae (vocals, main guitar), Young K (vocals, bass), Wonpil (vocals, keys) and Dowoon (drums)


That curiosity led Sungjin, Jae, Young K, Wonpil, and Dowoon to stand-out cuts like the soulful "How to Love" — in which vocalist and guitarist Sungjin's raspy timbre really soars — and the rousing album closer "Best Part," which finds the musical group totally embracing the moment. "I’m living the 'me' today to the fullest," they sing over bouncy synths, "so the ‘me’ tomorrow can be happy."


And then there's "Wanna Go Back," a laid-back track from Young K and guitarist Jae with a catchy instrumental juxtaposed with wistful lyrics that long for the carefree days of youth. "Where did that innocent smile go? If it is possible, I wanna go back." Although longtime fans of DAY6 will likely get the most satisfaction from the song's bridge, which finally gives drummer Dowoon a chance to show off his cavernously deep vocals.)


It's songs like "Wanna Go Back" that demonstrate the band's developments from "five kids who just admired music to the musical group we are today" — a musical group that likes a challenge, that continuously experiments with genres and melodies and instrumentation. Although perhaps most impressively: a musical group that's unafraid to begin a new page nearly four years in.