Long before SOUMA and TAIKI had groups of their own, they were trainees chasing the same goal, as they practised together, competed with each other and pushed one another through all the uncertainty that comes before a debut. These days, their careers have taken them in different directions – SOUMA with eight-member group ONE OR EIGHT and TAIKI with STARGLOW – but their collaboration, “ONE WHO GLOWS”, brings the old friends back together for something that feels much more personal than your usual collaboration.
Built as a three-song beat-jack session, this song gives the pair a chance to tell their story in their own words, as there’s nostalgia in looking back at those trainee years, but the interesting part is hearing that history from two people who actually made it through to the other side. However, both artists can now rap about wanting to become artists while living the reality they once imagined, and because they already know each other’s journey so well, the back-and-forth has a natural competitive energy to it — less about trying to outdo one another and more like two friends discovering that they’re still pushing each other to get better, just on a much bigger stage.
This song lets SOUMA and TAIKI take enough time to step outside their respective groups for a moment and put their individual voices front and centre for the world to see. Which sometimes is needed…. Their flow, writing and delivery become the focus, turning the session into something closer to a musical conversation between old friends. That’s ultimately what makes this song such a cool reunion.
