A decade into their career, ASTRO’s third unit, ZOONIZINI (MJ and JINJIN), has officially launched with their first mini album, "DICE".
Dropped at 6 p.m. on Aug. 13 across digital platforms, "DICE" packs six tracks around a simple credo: ditch the labels and live in the moment. The title track, “Some Things Never Change,” is an emotive hip-hop cut written and composed by JINJIN that blends the polish of 10-year veterans with the wide-eyed spark of their early days.
ASTRO’s main vocalist MJ (Kim Myung-jun) and main rapper JINJIN (Park Jin-woo) leaned into the playful synergy behind the unit name “ZOONIZINI,” pulled straight from their nicknames. “We wanted something anyone could remember and chant,” they said, underscoring their aim to close the distance with listeners.
Both self-professed ENFPs, the pair carries an infectious, big-hearted energy―and they don’t hesitate to call each other family. The unit was a natural extension of that chemistry.
“It started as a joke, then turned into, ‘Wait, this could be really fun,’” MJ recalled. “We kicked into gear late last year, and the deeper we got, the more we wanted to approach people with unfiltered honesty.”
“As idol groups rack up the years, you realize honesty matters more,” he continued. “It feels like the right time to show what’s real, not just what’s wrapped in pretty packaging. Watching Super Junior’s recent comeback and how they’re still thriving onstage was moving―it made us want to push harder.”
The record jumps from hip-hop to disco to pop rock. As lead producer, JINJIN sequenced it like a journey―“takeoff, peak, afterglow, wrap, and restart”―aiming for start-to-finish cohesion.
After completing his service in 2023, MJ said, “I used to carry a constant sense of unease. Now that big weight is gone. I feel confident―ready to charge in.” JINJIN added, “He was born with that tone. During concert rehearsals, I was reminded how captivating an artist MJ is.”
Their goal: songs that click with kids and adults alike. “Everyone’s got an inner child, and if you tap into that, you’ve got a shot,” they laughed. “We’d love to be a duo like Boni Hani―a true family favorite. ‘Uncle Juni’ and ‘Uncle Jinnie’ has a nice ring to it.”
The affection runs both ways. JINJIN calls MJ “a diamond about to blow up in variety and music,” while MJ likens JINJIN to “a director who knows my strengths and weaknesses better than anyone.” He added, “If JINJIN hadn’t been hands-on with production, I wouldn’t be this satisfied with the album.”
Known with ASTRO for their bright, refreshing image, the two say this time they’re leaning into something rawer. “If we show how much we’re genuinely enjoying ourselves―onstage and in content―we’ll feel more approachable and grow even closer to fans,” MJ said.
They were just as candid about member Cha Eun-woo, who enlisted last month. “Two days before he shipped out, all the members gathered,” they shared. “You could tell he was trying not to show any worry. When it came time to say goodbye, we all got choked up.”
MJ added, “When you’re lying on your bunk in boot camp, your life flashes by. You reflect. You plan what’s next. He’ll get through it and come back strong.”
JINJIN reflected on a question he’s heard for years: what will you be like in 10 years? “We’ve reached that point now,” he said. “It never felt that far off. Maybe this is the answer. If we stay honest, I believe ASTRO’s next decade will be just as memorable.”
Photo credit: Fantagio
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)