This year so far, there has been an endless flood of rookie groups hitting the Kpop scene! The competition is fierce as each of these new acts strive to make their mark. Do they have what it takes to run the course before them?? You be the judge! I’m back with another round of new favorites to share with you — from pre-debut to multiple comebacks, come check out these five enthusiastic rookie teams!!
Tempest – ‘Dangerous’
Tempest is just over a year old and going strong with the drop of their fourth mini-album, featuring the title track ‘Dangerous’. I especially enjoyed this performance video, showcasing their well-rounded vocal, rap and dance talents. They’ve got great energy and I can’t help but sing along every time the chorus hits!!
VI’ENX – ‘On My Way’
This up-and-coming group doesn’t have an official debut date just yet, but based on this early release single, I will be keeping an eye out for them. I’m really liking the mature rock-pop sound of ‘On My Way’ — it reflects the fact these five members are all a bit more seasoned than their high-school-aged rookie-group peers!
8TURN – ‘Excel’
“Cute rebels” best describes the vibes in this first-comeback release from 8TURN! As another youthful and energetic group, these eight members bring a lot swag and fun to their MV for ‘Excel’. With solid music and dance skills, I hope to be seeing more of them in the near future!
LUN8 – ‘Wild Heart’
From the opening whistle to the catchy chorus I was hooked — I’m loving this debut title track from LUN8!! ‘Wild Heart’ is definitely one of those songs that gets you up and dancing along before you know it. I’m hopeful this rookie group is able to find the same success as fellow label-mates ASTRO!!
BOYNEXTDOOR – ‘But I Like You’ & ’One and Only’
BOYNEXTDOOR is a brand new 6-member group under ZICO’s label KOZ Entertainment. My anticipation was high after viewing the introductory teasers, and these two official debut releases do NOT disappoint! You can definitely feel ZICO’s influence in the songs and choreo, plus I love the fresh and bright concept they are kicking things off with — perfect additions to my summer playlist!!
This collection of new artists barely scratches the surface — if you have any rookies that you think deserve a little more attention, hype them up in the comments below!
화이팅!
MiataMama
Dramas with a Side of Kimchi