Having made their mark in Japan, Japanese boy group BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE has started their run in Thailand. Up next? The rest of the world.
Pictured Above: Jacket, shirt, pants, all Ferragamo; Hoodie, pants, all Ferragamo; Jacket, jeans, all MCM
Pursuing music is supposed to be straightforward. When there is passion and a will to act on it, the next step is clear: do whatever it takes to get there. But the reality of creative pursuits begs to differ, especially if the scale of one’s targeted reach is global — nobly gargantuan, as is the courage it takes to dive head-first into an industry where measures of success are innately subjective.
But that is what makes these adventures worth the ride, and luckily for RYUTA, YOSHI, RYUSEI, MIKU, RICKY, RIKI and MASA of BALLISTIK BOYZ, the forerunners of these once uncharted paths are also their designated guides.
Hoodie, pants, Jacket, shirt, pants, all Ferragamo; Tanktop, Stylist’s own
The sixth group to come out of the supergroup collective, EXILE TRIBE, is the first “tribe”, with all members tackling everything from singing to dancing to rapping. They have been gathering loyal fans since their debut in 2018 and were recently based in Thailand for half a year. It stemmed from a partnership between their management, LDH Japan, and High Cloud Entertainment to gain newfound inspiration, experience and perspective that could gift their craft a new multicultural flavour. Their latest release with Thai artist Gulf Kanawut, an upbeat dance track titled “All I Ever Wanted”, perfectly demonstrates that — but that is not all they have taken away from this extended play overseas.
Jacket, turtleneck sweater, pants, all Tod’s, Sweater, turtleneck sweater, pants, all Loro Piana
Earlier this month, when the septet visited Singapore for the first time for some agency meetings, we caught them right after their early morning flight from Bangkok for a chat. BALLISTIK BOYZ gives us the low down of their highlight reel to date: their roots, growth, the present, and their dreams — a preface for when the world’s stage comes their way.
RYUTA
Of the whole group, I think I have the most distinct J-pop flair in my songs and appearance, although these days, I quite like DPR’s IAN, not only for his music but also for his style. As a group, we aim to conquer the world, so I would love to see this distinctive creative colour as a strength. However, I also value the part of me who always keeps my antennae up to readily adapt to the changing times while learning to stay true to myself. I am sure that what we have to offer as members of EXILE TRIBE is worth slowing down to appreciate.
After all, EXILE TRIBE’s music was what made me fall in love with standing on stage and doing this for life. Despite going through a troubling time between the ages of 19 and 20, I am proud of going through and overcoming all that, taking all these memories forward as experiences that invaluably make me who I am right now.
YOSHI
I used to be embarrassed to sing in front of others, although that is what kickstarted and continues to lead my music journey. Overcoming that fear and performing in front of thousands of friends my age was my first step towards being the best version of myself. However, I am still quite conscious about enjoying the part of showing off, even though that comes with the job. I am particularly impressed with how RIKI has handled that part of our public life over the years; he really knows how to present himself well nowadays. I am so proud.
These days, seeing people who experience our performances for the first time and enjoying themselves is a sign to me that what we do is real, and I get excited just thinking about that. Besides performing live, recording also presents another opportunity to discover a new version of myself. It is especially fun to create something new and good; the surprise and joy of being able to do that never gets old. I cannot wait to give back to all of the friends and family who have supported us since the beginning.
RYUSEI
If I could go back to a time in the past, I would like to go to when I started dancing. I grew up in a family that loved music, but there were not many guys dancing back then, and I have many memories of dancing shyly. I wish I could show the little me who I have become so he can lift his chin a little higher and smile a little harder. I believe that music can change a person’s life, and it is something that will last a lifetime as a memory; he would have been so excited to know he could do that.
Being half Brazilian has also urged me to set sights on expanding my group’s activities to South America. Going global is especially exciting for me, and the similarities in the music we produce as a team with the various South American music styles thrills me — it would be a dream to perform and sing live there one day.
MIKU
In my eyes, simple is beautiful. I have always loved to create things, even my accessories, and this minimalist tendency has shown in all my style and design choices. I take a lot of inspiration from the fine arts.
It is a much more complex matter with regard to music. My parents have always loved hip hop and that passion has trickled down to me since I was young, but it is without a doubt that production is the aspect that gets me the most excited when making music now. I love spending time being surrounded by equipment. The three years I spent in New York studying how to make my tracks have urged me to take every opportunity I can to make my music — from soundtracks for the cover videos I post on my social media to remixes of my group’s songs; I love doing it all.
RICKY
Making music is a vulnerable process, and while I have been writing my lyrics for a long time, it has taken a lot to find the confidence to release the words I have penned. I want to deliver something tangible, something real to the world because that is what I believe music should be. I am glad to see now how much the look and vibe of our group have changed over time. We have taken on so many more music genres to challenge ourselves with, and it gives me pride to see this breadth we have come to adopt as artistes.
I am also very proud about living in New York for three years. It allowed me to grow in so many unexpected ways as both an artist and human, and I owe a lot of my current values and perspectives to it. I am so glad I can share what I have learnt and loved in live concerts with our fans; it’s the best feeling in the world.
RIKI
Adrenaline pumping, mind on fire, getting my message across in the exact way I want it to be received in my music and then seeing my audience enjoy it; living the dream I’m passionate about right now is something I do not take for granted every day. I am someone who really enjoyed school, so being able to dabble in multiple creative pursuits like singing, acting and modelling all at once is fulfilling for me. Being able to do all that, and above all, have my members write songs for fun on our off days, is why I love working in music.
I guess my parents’ influence on dance plays a part in why I ended up in entertainment. Music was already in my life before I could comprehend it, so starting to dance at seven is only natural and is most likely when my love for music began. But my relationship with music and dance has changed over time — the way I dance and rap has matured over much practice, and I can’t wait to show the world what more I have in store.
MASA
Being a people person is my strength. I get along with anyone. I am always open and optimistic. I find inspiration in almost everything I see on screen or what I chance upon via social media; I always make it a point to, somewhere or somehow, note it down the minute I feel new ideas coming to me. Music is an indispensable part of my life, and I’m so glad it’s part of my life and work.
Maybe it was my long hair. I like Johnny Depp and had long hair for a few years before my debut, but I have now been more open to trying other styles. I have learnt to dress according to my mood or tension at the time instead because I know how important versatility is when you want to pursue acting; I really hope to try some acting auditions, maybe in Japan, before aiming for Hollywood. It’s always been a dream of mine to work internationally, be it through music or movies, but now I feel like it’s a mission of mine to do so.
Photography Mun Kong
Styling Izwan Abdullah
Grooming Eric Tan, Leny Fu, Adelene | Paletteinc. using M.A.C Studio
Hair Karol Soh | Paletteinc.
Photography Assistant Melvin
Styling Assistants Manfred Lu, Vanessa Grace Ng, Lance Aeron
Once you’re done with this story, click here to catch up with our October 2023 issue.
