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| K-pop powerhouse HYBE's Japanese boy group &TEAM poses during a press event in Tokyo, Sunday. Courtesy of HYBE |
&TEAM to perform on Korean music shows
By Dong Sun-hwa
&TEAM, the first Japanese boy group created by K-pop powerhouse HYBE, has ascended to meteoric stardom in Japan shortly after its debut last year, dominating multiple local music charts including Oricon. It consists of one Korean (EJ), one Taiwanese (Nicholas) and seven Japanese members (K, Fuma, Yuma, Jo, Harua, Taki and Maki), who were the top contestants on the audition programs, "&AUDITION ― The Howling" (2022) and "I-LAND" (2020).
After getting off to a smooth start in Japan, the nine boys ― who all have a good command of Korean ― now aim to raise their profile in Seoul and beyond with their second EP, "First Howling : WE." The EP hit shelves on June 14.
For the first time in their career, &TEAM plans to perform on two major Korean music shows ― Mnet's "M COUNTDOWN" and KBS' "Music Bank" ― next week.
"I usually have a lot of worries, but now, I am more willing to showcase what I have in many different places," K said in Korean during a press event at the Roppongi Hills Arena in Tokyo, Sunday. The event was live streamed on YouTube.
Leader EJ said he was nervous about starting his music career in his home country, but he added that all the members have been working very hard to make it successful.
Taki elaborated, "We will continue to grow and display performances and music that can move people regardless of the language. Just like other HYBE artists, we will strive to connect different parts of the world with our music."
The nonet will be featured in many other music programs and events in Korea and Japan, according to Jo.
"We will pour a lot of effort, so that those who are not so familiar with us will also find us attractive," he said. "In September, we are scheduled to do many different things to celebrate the 1st anniversary of our debut."
&TEAM's debut EP, "First Howling : ME" revolved around the nine boys who embarked on a journey to look for like-minded people who crave challenges and growth. In their second EP, "First Howling : WE," they fulfill their wish. Its lead single, "Firework," highlights the exuberant joy and excitement they feel after the fateful encounter.
"The tune likens the moment of encounter to a burst of fireworks," Fuma explained. "I shed tears as soon as I heard the recording because it was so impressive. I am particularly fond of my part, which reminds me of my bygone days when I experienced frustration but did not give up on pursing my dream of joining &TEAM."
K added, "Its performance is so powerful that we all had to plop down on the floor right after dancing the first verse when we first practiced it."
The new EP also carries five other tunes including the Korean versions of "Firework" and "Scent of you." The latter is a modern reinterpretation of the hip-hop R&B track of the early 2000s, which was included in &TEAM's first EP.
"Its Japanese and Korean versions sound different, so I hope people pay attention to this point," Maki said.
"First Howling : WE" also offers "Blind Love," the group's first ballad track. It is a theme song for the Japanese drama, "Dr. Chocolate" starring prominent actor Sakaguchi Kentaro.
"I love this track," Harua revealed. "We give our own definition of love at the end of it."
&TEAM intends to become a genre-busting group that sings for people of all nationalities.
"Being a HYBE artist, we want to win the hearts of global fans regardless of the language and identity," EJ said. "To do so, we will collaborate with the creators of K-pop, J-pop and other diverse genres to make good music."
Fuma added, "&TEAM's music values empathy and diversity. We will try to touch people's hearts with relatable music without clinging to one specific genre."
Maki said, "Our next goal is to top the Billboard's 200 main albums chart."
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