"I think I love you/ 'Cause it hurts so bad, so bad, so bad/ Oh yeah, I would die to/ Call you my friend," Korean indie rock quartet The Rose declare in the lyrics of their new love song, "Shift." It's a declaration of unconditional devotion from the fast-rising group, one that captures deep emotion both lyrically and melodically.
In this episode of Global Spin, the band brings their mid-tempo ballad to life with a mellow performance in California’s famed Joshua Tree. The Rose's four members trade vocals, strum acoustic guitar and tap out a beat in this stripped-down rendition of "Shift," a track from their recently released album, Heal.
The Joshua Tree backdrop — with stunning sand dunes, cacti and a breathtaking mountain range in the distance — makes the performance even more impactful. But the desert setting is more than just an aesthetic choice: It also reflects the album-making process behind Heal.
"We started [the album] in Korea and finished at a desert," singer/guitarist Kim Woo-sung told Consequence upon the project's release. "We really got to spend some time together and, you know, just hang out. And I think that's what felt the best."
Heal is the first album to come from The Rose in a few years, and during that time, they've been on hiatus, pursuing personal projects and honing in on their individual musical identities. Now reunited and rejuvenated, the bandmates suggest that their purpose as musicians — both individually and together — is stronger than ever before.
"We had so much free time, and...we were able to have a good moment of us bonding and understanding," singer/keyboardist Park Do-joon added. "That really helped us a lot writing songs."
Press play on the video above to take an emotional journey through the desert with The Rose, and keep checking GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of Global Spin.
Ten's New Era: The K-Pop Singer Promises To "Keep Changing" On Celebratory New Release