ZEROBASEONE members pose during a press event held to mark the release of a new album at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in central Seoul's Yongsan District, Monday. Courtesy of WAKEONE
Emerging from Mnet's 2023 survival show "Boys Planet," K-pop boy band ZEROBASEONE (ZB1) has quickly made a name for itself in the industry.
The nine-piece act — comprised of members Sung Han-bin, Kim Ji-woong, Zhang Hao, Seok Matthew, Kim Tae-rae, Ricky, Kim Gyu-vin, Park Gun-wook and Han Yu-jin — is barely a year into its idol journey since debuting last July, but is rewriting the rules of success in the K-pop scene, achieving milestones that defy its rookie status thanks to its massive fanbase.
The group's debut mini-album, "YOUTH IN THE SHADE," reached million-seller status within a day, quickly surpassing 2 million in cumulative sales. Its second mini-album, "MELTING POINT," also sold a staggering 1.45 million copies on release day and soared past 2.13 million in the first week alone.
Building on this popularity, ZB1 has returned with its third mini-album, "You Had Me at HELLO," aiming to solidify its position as a forerunner among fifth-generation K-pop groups.
According to ZB1 members, "You Had Me at HELLO" targets a wider audience while still expressing love for their fans.
"Our biggest goal in releasing this album is to have our songs make it to the top 100 on local charts," Kim Gyu-vin said during a press event held to mark the new album's release at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in central Seoul's Yongsan District, Monday.
"This time, we aimed for a more mainstream approach, filling the album with everyday music. We hope it becomes a go-to album that everyone enjoys in their daily lives."
ZEROBASEONE members pose during a press event held to mark the release of a new album at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in central Seoul's Yongsan District, Monday. Courtesy of WAKEONE
The album's lead single, "Feel the POP," encapsulates this vision.
"Feel the POP" is an energetic pop track infused with diverse rhythms such as D&B, U.K. garage and Jersey club, conveying a hopeful message to let go of worries and seize the moment.
"As summer approaches, we aimed for our music to provide moments free from stress," Zhang Hao said. "We imagined instances where worries 'pop' away and vanish, just as the lyrics suggest."
The members revealed that they invested much effort into the choreography, ensuring their moves complement the song's infectious nature.
"If you pay attention to the choreography, you'll notice how every move is meticulously synchronized, down to the smallest detail. We even took care to perfect the movements of our fingertips," revealed Kim Ji-woong.
Zhang Hao chimed in, stating, "We aimed for a choreography that's refreshing yet seductive, showcasing our unique charm."
Moreover, the album features a diverse array of tracks including "Solar POWER," "Dear ECLIPSE," the pre-released track, "SWEAT," "Sunday RIDE," "HELLO" and "Feel the POP (Sped UP ver.)."
Already having achieved remarkable feats, the members revealed that they are setting their sights on even loftier goals with this album.
"Last year, we were grateful to win the Rookie Award. However, this year, we want to make strides in our musicality," said Sung, the band's leader.
"Believing in the adage that big dreams yield big achievements, our aim this year is to clinch the Grand Prize at the 2024 MAMA Awards."