How NCT Made An Album With 23 Members

With all the world’s social distancing and coronavirus concerns, releasing any album in 2020 is cause for celebration. But the feat calls for another level of celebration when you successfully bring together 23 different artists to work on the same album like NCT.

As a part of K-pop superlabel SM Entertainment’s ambitious boy-band project that boasts an unlimited, ever-growing amount of members who promote together and in various splinter groups, the NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 album is just the first step to showcase the brand’s current roster of 23 singing, rapping, dancing superstar idols.

Whether it’s the quartet of Taeyong, Kun, Doyoung and Sungchan handling hip-hop standout “Light Bulb” or the seven-member lineup of Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Lucas, Xiaojun, Jaemin and Shotaro introducing the album with the hook-heavy lead single “Make a Wish (Birthday Song),” not to mention blending Korean, Chinese and English on second single “From Home,” Resonance delivers some never-before-heard mixing and matching in the K-pop world for tracks that are as satisfying as they are experimental.

NCT say that they typically record with their separate groups—currently NCT has four main groups of the Seoul-based NCT 127, the China-focused WayV, a fixed seven-member group called NCT Dream while the overarching NCT U includes each and every member—with music producers finding the right combination of voices. While Resonance took more than a full month of vocal recording, the results have connected in a reported one-million-plus albums pre-ordered worldwide and 4,000 album-equivalent units earned in the U.S. in under a week. And there’s still more to come in what’s anticipated to be a deluxe version with more new songs coming soon.

Future NCT releases also mean more mixing, matching and mingling between the nearly two-dozen members themselves. Talking on a video conference call approaching midnight local time in Seoul, the “Make a Wish” team all appear in high, brotherly spirits with one another. Despite sitting in the center position, Taeyong spends a portion of the call cozily resting his left arm on Lucas’ leg, patting his younger band mate’s thigh for extra encouragement or when someone cracks a joke. Meanwhile, Xiaojun dotingly hypes up Shotaro—one of two new members who officially joined NCT with this album—putting his arm around his junior’s shoulders when Shotaro answers his first question in the interview, adding that “he’s really doing a great job so far;” making sure both their audience, and Shotaro himself, know there’s no growing pains in this ever-expanding musical family.

But before the next NCT family affair, let the “Make a Wish (Birthday Song)” unit give you more insight into the intricacies of how 23 guys work, record and deliver an album together like the impressive feat that is Resonance Pt. 1.

Jeff Benjamin: Hello NCT! Great to see you guys. I talked to Taeyong and Lucas just a few weeks ago; long time no see for some and nice to meet some of you as well. I’m so happy to talk to this unique unit. But first, can you help me understand how this massive project comes together?

Doyoung: Long time no see and thanks for having us. So when the 23 members come together that’s when the different NCT U units come out. They’re usually selected by our producing team and we try to figure out what songs showcase the best synergy or which members should be or would do best by being on this genre or this track. We try to mix it up in that sense.

Jaehyun: We record our parts separately, it took over a month to just prepare and record this album. I think it’s a lot longer of a timeline than it would take in the smaller, individual groups.

Jeff Benjamin: Taeyong, I saw in an interview that you said, “Nowadays, I have 22 children in NCT.” How do you lead such a big group?

Taeyong: Oh you seen that? [Laughs] Yeah, I’m not actually the lead of NCT right now because the 22 other members are very awesome and these guys don’t need a lead. So I’m not the leader of NCT. I just say, “Hi, guys” and “Hana dul set… [1, 2, 3…]” to start our greeting.

Jeff Benjamin: When I first heard “Make a Wish (Birthday Song),” I thought it was so cool especially with the seven of you. What is this unit’s energy like?

Jaemin: Honestly, it’s just great to have such awesome synergy coming together between the WayV members, 127 members and NCT Dream members. I think “Make a Wish (Birthday Song)” showcases each of our strengths and each of our charms. You can really see that in each individual through this song. I really like how it turned out—it’s really awesome to be a part of it.

Jeff Benjamin: Doyoung, I wanted to ask you in particular because you were a part of “Make a Wish” but also the second single from Resonance “From Home.” I’m curious what the differences in your experiences with these two NCT U units?

Doyoung: Both of these songs felt experimental. To me, and for NCT itself, these two songs are very very different styles. For instance, in the “Make a Wish” unit, this is more performance-based and all of these members here are so great at performing on stage—there’s not much that I do. [Laughs] Just kidding, I just try my hardest and do my best. When it comes to “From Home,” that song is more vocal-focused ballad which is not something NCT has done frequently so I really wanted to make sure that song showcases that aspect of NCT. But I worked really hard to prepare of these challenges.

Taeyong: [While all members clap for Doyoung] Doyoung, yeah! Double music videos!

Jeff Benjamin: The individual NCT groups also got their own song on Resonance as well. Can you tell me about the process for each of these songs?

Doyoung: For “Music, Dance” in particular, the song itself is very energetic. I just remember having a lot of fun recording it, but we also trying to deliver the same energy when I recorded it. I remember kind of sweating it out actually in the studio.

Jaehyun: Yeah, very hot in the studio.

Jaemin: “Déjà Vu” is a track where all seven of the original NCT Dream members were able to come back together. The theme of the song was, “Let’s go back on stage together.” It was great to be reunited again as seven and to be able showcase that reunion on Resonance Pt. 1. I also had so much fun recording it.

Lucas: WayV’s song is sexy! WayV are the bad boys.

Xiaojun: Yes! All the members, when we were recording the song, we wanted to use that feeling—like bad boys with this very special juice. We called it that. [Xiaojun and Lucas laugh] We are also getting a lot of love for working on this song.

Jeff Benjamin: And Shotaro, I haven’t forgotten about you! The newest member! The NCT universe is always expanding. Congratulations on joining this great team. What has it been like and what does your future hold?

Shotaro: It was a huge honor for me to be able to join, especially through “Make a Wish” because it is such a great and awesome song. On top of that, I do have a lot to showcase in the future so please look forward to me and I will continue to work hard. 

Xiaojun: Yeah, Shotaro is so talented and has so much potential. And he’s really doing a great job so far. I want to add that I also think you can look forward to Shotaro.

Jeff Benjamin: Your dancing is crazy good, Shotaro. I’ll definitely look forward. As a fun wrap-up question, my favorite lyrics from the English version of “Make a Wish” were Lucas and Jaemin’s lines in the second verse listing all these great desserts. Can you each share your favorite desserts?

Taeyong: Oh you heard that? Wow. Well, for me, I like waffles with maple syrup.

Lucas: Chocolate cake.

Jaemin: Americano, tiramisu and, I don’t know if you know it but it’s actually really popular in Korea right now, a croffle. It’s a combination of a croissant and a waffle.

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Xiaojun: Green tea and mint chocolate ice cream. I love ice cream.

Shotaro: Crepes. And ice cream.

Doyoung: Chocolate, but chocolate that’s not too sweet

Jaehyun: I like Häagen-Dazs bars.

Jeff Benjamin: Lastly, any messages you’d like to leave for your international fans to know?

Jaehyun: We want everyone to be safe and healthy, and get through this with love and positivity. Our album, our music and our performance, may give you strength and energy to everyone outside. I want everyone to be safe and healthy.

Taeyong: Let’s get through this together.