NCT U - Rain Day (SM Station: NCT Lab)

I. Introduction

"Rain Day" is a digital single from NCT U, a rotational sub-unit of the boy group NCT . It is the third single of SM Station NCT Lab and was released on July 19, 2022.

II. Background

SM announced a new project under SM Station to focus around the boy group NCT on January 30, 2022. NCT is unique among K-Pop groups due to the fact that the concept of NCT is an ever expanding group with "unlimited" members and is comprised of several individual sub-units. There are currently four sub-units: NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV and NCT U.

NCT Lab will include solo songs, self-composed tracks and sub-unit work outside of the group's albums. This song is the second song of the season and features the NCT U sub-unit. The NCT U sub-unit is a special promotional unit within the NCT boy group that is made up of rotational members. Members are chosen to perform based on the song and concept. Taeil, a main vocalist in NCT 127, and Kun, a main vocalist in WayV, pair with WayV's main rapper, YangYang.

The song was announced as Kun's song production and concept in April 2022, but it was later clarified three members would participate on the song. Kun is one of the co-writers on the song and the song's producer. He explained in interviews on his radio show and a launch live on Weibo that he had written the song two years ago and had it approved by SM. He was then told it would be used in the SM Lab project and continued to refine it, working with songwriters and producers JUNNY and SQUAR. This included adding English lyrics instead of Chinese ones, which he felt would be easier for Taeil to sing as he is not a Chinese speaker.

Kun has previously written and produced songs for WayV special projects, NCT members' covers, his own projects like his vlog, his SoundCloud and remixes of WayV songs. However, this is his first release on official streaming platforms like Melon, Spotify and Apple Music.

The song is in English. All three members have recorded entirely English songs before.

He described the song as "a protagonist driving in the night rain, listening to the radio and hearing a familiar track that brings back memories."

JUNNY is a frequent collaborator on SM songs, especially NCT, as a songwriter and producer as well as background vocals. SQUAR is also a collaborator on NCT songs as a songwriter, producer and remixer.

III. Tracklist

IV. Spotify

V. Video

MV:

Teaser:

VI. Concept Photos