SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) -- K-pop boy band Close Your Eyes delved into jazz funk for its latest release, saying it wanted to break free from genre boundaries and show a more natural side of the band.

The group's fourth EP, "256th Note," set for release on Wednesday at 6 p.m., draws inspiration from the freedom and spontaneity of jazz, where musicians create fleeting moments through improvisation.

"We thought the improvisational elements of jazz funk suited us well," member Minwook said at a press conference held Wednesday in Seoul to mark the album's release. "We chose the genre because we wanted to show who we are naturally, rather than being confined to one genre."

Boy group Close Your Eyes is seen in this photo provided by Uncore. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The album's main track, "Drop That!," samples veteran singer Yoon Si-nae's "Enjoy This Night" (1979) and reinterprets it in the style of 1990s street hip-hop. The song combines jazz improvisation with the sampling techniques associated with hip-hop, according to the group.

The members had to study those genres closely, however, as jazz and 1990s hip-hop came before their generation -- the seven members were mostly born in the 2000s.

"It initially felt unfamiliar and new," said Seung-ho. "Since this was our first time sampling a song and we were doing so with a track by the highly respected senior artist Yoon, we felt pressure and worked hard, determined to do a good job."

The group was formed through local cable TV channel JTBC's audition program "Project 7," which aired in 2024.

Boy group Close Your Eyes (Yonhap)

The act debuted in April 2025 with "EternalT," an album with a lyrical mood that presented the members as literary boys. The septet followed with "Snowy Summer" in July, built around the concept of Christmas arriving in the middle of summer, and released its third EP, "Blackout," in November, which captured the members' growth as they "broke through their limits and raced endlessly forward."

The group's latest album marks another shift in style as the members seek to expand their musical range.

"We're grateful that many people have said our music is good," member Yeo-jun said when asked about the group's musical direction. "But rather than being limited to a particular genre, we want to continue challenging ourselves and growing as a team."

Including "Drop That!" and the pre-release "Open Your Eyes," the album contains a total of seven tracks spanning several genres.

"We can confidently say that you'll find every genre enjoyable to listen to," Yeo-jun added.

The group also hopes the release will introduce it to a wider audience."With this album, we want more people to know the name Close Your Eyes," member Kenshin said.