The members of Okay-pop boy band ALPHA DRIVE ONE carry out throughout a media showcase at Blue Sq. SOL Journey Corridor in Seoul’s Yongsan District, Monday. Yonhap
After months of worldwide competitors, the highest eight finalists from Mnet’s audition present “Boys II Planet” formally stepped into the Okay-pop business Monday as ALPHA DRIVE ONE (ALD1), releasing its debut mini-album, “EUPHORIA.”
ALD1, consisting of members Junseo, Arno, Leo, Geonwoo, Sangwon, Xinlong, Anxin and Sanghyeon, marked the event with a media showcase at Blue Sq. SOL Journey Corridor in Seoul’s Yongsan District forward of the album’s 6 p.m. launch.
“I am comfortable and deeply moved to have the ability to debut,” Sangwon mentioned. “This second feels extremely valuable and I need to present many good sides of ourselves going ahead. Proper now really seems like a second of euphoria, similar to our album title.”
The group title combines “Alpha,” symbolizing the pursuit of one of the best, “Drive,” that means ardour and momentum, and “One,” representing unity as a staff. Geonwoo mentioned the group shared a transparent sense of function from the beginning.
“All of us thought the title had a robust that means,” he mentioned. “We need to turn into a staff that lives as much as it and continues transferring towards the highest.”
Eight members of Okay-pop boy band ALPHA DRIVE ONE attend a media showcase at Blue Sq. SOL Journey Corridor in Seoul’s Yongsan District, Monday. Arno, second from left, was unable to carry out resulting from a fracture. Yonhap
In the course of the occasion, Arno appeared on stage utilizing crutches after struggling a fracture. His company, WAKEONE, introduced in December that he would take part flexibly in promotions, excluding performances, based mostly on his situation. He didn’t participate within the group’s debut efficiency.
“I am very comfortable that we will lastly share songs we practiced a whole bunch, even hundreds of instances,” Arno mentioned. “I labored actually laborious, so it is disappointing not to have the ability to carry out, and I really feel sorry towards the members and followers. I am going to get well shortly and return as an entire eight-member group.”
Leo, the group’s chief, added that Arno’s absence was keenly felt.
“The empty area feels large,” he mentioned. “It is unlucky {that a} valuable member could not be a part of us for our debut, however we’ll take excellent care of him so we will present all eight of us collectively quickly.”
Okay-pop boy band ALPHA DRIVE ONE performs throughout a media showcase at Blue Sq. SOL Journey Corridor in Seoul’s Yongsan District, Monday. Yonhap
Based on the members, “EUPHORIA” captures “the enjoyment and exhilaration of eight people finishing their journey towards a shared dream as one staff.” The six-track album contains the prereleased monitor “System,” the lead single “Freak Alarm,” in addition to “Uncooked Flame,” “Chains,” “By no means Been 2 Heaven” and “Cinnamon Shake.”
“This album tells the story of us changing into one staff after chasing our desires in our personal methods,” Leo mentioned. “It is meant to supply empathy and encouragement to anybody pushing ahead via their very own intense struggles.”
Whereas “System” displays the method of coming collectively as a bunch, “Freak Alarm” likens ALD1’s emergence to a primary alarm signaling its awakening.
Xinlong mentioned the debut course of itself underscored that transition.
“Each second, from recording to filming the music video, remains to be very vivid,” he mentioned. “As we mentioned suggestions and tried to point out higher sides of ourselves, I actually felt that we had lastly turn into one staff.”
Okay-pop boy band ALPHA DRIVE ONE performs throughout a media showcase marking the group’s official debut at Blue Sq. SOL Journey Corridor in Seoul’s Yongsan District, Monday. Yonhap
ALD1 follows within the lineage of boy teams fashioned via world fan voting from Mnet’s “Boys Planet” franchise, together with ZEROBASEONE, whose contract is ready to run out in March. Whereas ZEROBASEONE’s unique two-and-a-half-year contract was later prolonged by two months, ALD1 is scheduled to advertise for 5 years following its official debut.
Sangwon cited earlier challenge teams as benchmarks fairly than strain.
“We deeply respect our seniors like Wanna One and ZEROBASEONE,” he mentioned. “We need to develop whereas growing our personal coloration so we do not turn into a burden on the trail they paved.”
Xinlong emphasised the group’s collective id.
“Our allure comes from the totally different personalities coming collectively,” he mentioned. “We’ll all the time promote with a rookie mindset and provides our greatest. I hope we will sooner or later be acknowledged, like our seniors, for delivering really memorable performances.”
Okay-pop boy band ALPHA DRIVE ONE performs throughout the group’s debut media showcase at Blue Sq. SOL Journey Corridor in Seoul’s Yongsan District, Monday. Yonhap
