“Refresh” is a digital single by Kang Daniel and rapper ZICO. It was released on April 23, 2020 by Starship Entertainment and distributed by 1theK.

Background

On March 17, 2020, news outlets reported that Kang Daniel would collaborate with ZICO for Starship and Pepsi’s 2020 Global K-Pop Project titled For the Love of Korea. The digital music was in the final production stages. Starship and Pepsi’s joint project began in 2019 and features different artists launching digital music (click here for more information).[s] The song “Refresh” is co-produced by Steve Aoki and ZICO and expresses the beauty of Korea. The upbeat melody is meshed with traditional instruments.[s]

In the making film, rapper ZICO commented they tried to style the song with various traditional symbols and sounds to bring an atmosphere where Korea is represented. ZICO also shared his happiness for being able to work with Kang Daniel again since the last time they had work together was two years ago for Wanna One’s unit song “Kangaroo” from the album 1÷x=1 (Undivided). Meanwhile, Kang Daniel expressed he felt honored to have the opportunity to work with an artist he respects and be able to do an amazing project with him.

Promotional Activities

The single was not performed live on music shows. Daniel and ZICO teased the collaboration on their social media leading up to the release. TikTok Korea arranged a live broadcast on March 25, the day they had the concept photo shoot. In Daniel’s April 8 V LIVE, he talked about the song having a good beat and lyrics and showed the limited edition Korean culture Pepsi can and merchandise. Daniel posted a screen capture from the music video on Instagram on April 10, 10 days before the music teaser was uploaded. ZICO released two vlogs from the day they filmed the music video. The music video producer teased that there would be a TVC.

Music Video

The music video highlighted different aspects of traditional and modern Korean culture. It opened showing a hanok (traditional Korean house) as the setting with Daniel and ZICO dressed in hanbok and blue suits with traditional flourishes. Korean paintings used in the backdrop were reminiscent of the Ten Symbols of Longevity (십장생도) artwork from the Joseon era. The video showed the percussion quartet samulnori with four traditional Korean music instruments. Bukcheong sajanoreum, a traditional game in which the lion is used to ward off evil spirits, was featured with the lion costume. There were glimpses of modernization through the incorporation of b-boying and a boom box. Daniel and ZICO’s freestyle had movements reminiscent of traditional dances.[s] [s]

“Refresh” is a digital single by Kang Daniel and ZICO. It was released on April 23, 2020 by Starship Entertainment and distributed by 1theK.

Background

On March 17, 2020, news outlets reported that Kang Daniel would collaborate with ZICO for Starship and Pepsi’s 2020 Global K-Pop Project titled For the Love of Korea. The digital music was in the final production stages. Starship and Pepsi’s joint project began in 2019 and features different artists launching digital music (click here for more information).[s] The song “Refresh” is co-produced by Steve Aoki and ZICO and expresses the beauty of Korea. The upbeat melody is meshed with traditional instruments.[s]

In the making film, rapper ZICO commented they tried to style the song with various traditional symbols and sounds to bring an atmosphere where Korea is represented. ZICO also shared his happiness for being able to work with Kang Daniel again since the last time they had work together was two years ago for Wanna One’s unit song “Kangaroo” from the album 1÷x=1 (Undivided). Meanwhile, Kang Daniel expressed he felt honored to have the opportunity to work with an artist he respects and be able to do an amazing project with him.

Promotional Activities

The single was not performed live on music shows. Daniel and ZICO teased the collaboration on their social media leading up to the release. TikTok Korea arranged a live broadcast on March 25, the day they had the concept photo shoot. In Daniel’s April 8 V LIVE, he talked about the song having a good beat and lyrics and showed the limited edition Korean culture Pepsi can and merchandise. Daniel posted a screen capture from the music video on Instagram on April 10, 10 days before the music teaser was uploaded. ZICO released two vlogs from the day they filmed the music video. The music video producer teased that there would be a TVC.

Music Video

The music video highlighted different aspects of traditional and modern Korean culture. It opened showing a hanok (traditional Korean house) as the setting with Daniel and ZICO dressed in hanbok and blue suits with traditional flourishes. Korean paintings used in the backdrop were reminiscent of the Ten Symbols of Longevity (십장생도) artwork from the Joseon era. The video showed the percussion quartet samulnori with four traditional Korean music instruments. Bukcheong sajanoreum, a traditional game in which the lion is used to ward off evil spirits, was featured with the lion costume. There were glimpses of modernization through the incorporation of b-boying and a boom box. Daniel and ZICO’s freestyle had movements reminiscent of traditional dances.[s] [s]

Track Listing

#   Title Lyrics Music Arrangement
1.  “Refresh” – 2:35 지코 (ZICO) Noah Conrad
Parker James
Steve Aoki
지코 (ZICO)
Noah Conrad
Steve Aoki

Album Credits (Pepsi CD)

THANKS TO KOZ Entertainment, KONNECT Entertainment
HAIR Sohee, Kim Haebin (Hae Pibin)
MAKE UP Lee Anna
STYLIST Kim Youngjin, Kim Yohan (Assistant Park Hyoungho)
PHOTOGRAPHER Lee Sujin, Kim Taejong, Seo Sehyun, Kim Hyeonjin
M/V DIRECTOR Choi Youngji[ig], Kim Mihye (Pinklabel visual)
ALBUM ARTWORK & DESIGN Kim Minsu (BRED GRAPHY)
PRINT TODAY ART
P&C Starship Entertainment
DISTRIBUTED BY Kakao M Corp
MANUFACTURED BY Seoul Media

Charts

Track (Peak Charts Positions)
Korea
[Gaon] 
Billboard Korea
[Kpop Hot 100] 
113 77
Track (Realtime Debut)
MelOn Genie Bugs VIBE Soribada Flo
#24 #7 #12 #8 #5

Teasers and Behind the Scenes

Type Details Link
Video Coming soon – Daniel version IG | TWT | VL | YT
Video Coming soon IG | IG | TWT | VL | YT
Image Concept photo IG | TWT | TWT
Video M/V teaser IG | IG | TWT | VL | YT
1theK TWT | YT
Image Single cover IG | TWT
Image Behind Choi Youngpyo IG 1 | 2 | 3
Video Behind Choi Youngji IG 1 | 2
Kim June (CGI) IG
Video Making film VL | YT