Rising K-pop team POW has officially debuted! The global boy group released its first EP Favorite and title track “Dazzling” on October 11th at 6 p.m. KST.
The song reimagines the live band sound of 80’s soul and funk music into the UK Pop genre. The delicate yet catchy melody is pleasant and mesmerizing with its airy and laid-back vibe while the members’ sweet and captivating vocal colors shine effortlessly throughout the track. POW’s debut EP Favorite contains four songs which we will dive a little deeper into below. But first, let’s learn more about these rising K-pop rookies!
About POW
POW consists of five talented members: Jungbin, Yorch, Hyunbin, Dongyeon, and Hong whose official group slogan is “CREATING CULTURE EVERYDAY.” The quintet is the first artist from the newly created agency GRID Entertainment which was established by the co-CEO of subsidiary 131 Label (founded by rapper B.I.).
The name “POW” is meant to imitate the sound of an explosion to represent the group’s desire to explode onto the K-pop scene. It is a fitting name for the group who have made a powerful impact since before their official debut. Anticipation for the new team was already high since two members in particular, Yorch and Dongyeon, were already familiar to the public.
Yorch has been an actor in his native country Thailand since he was 10 years old, with over 25 acting credits and over 2 million Instagram followers, while Dongyeon was a contestant on the survival show “LOUD” as a JYP trainee. The intrigue surrounding the other members also created increasingly excited buzzing about the new team.
Additionally, members Yorch and Hong attended the Helmut Lang show at New York Fashion Week while Yorch and Hyunbin appeared as guests on DIVE STUDIOS’ “Unbelievable” Podcast with WayV’s Ten and Yang Yang and singer Han Heejun.
On September 13th, POW released the pre-debut track “Favorite” which captures the emotions of youth and nostalgia. The song is easily identified by its attractive 00s pop-punk sound and gloriously shot music video.
The group showcases a different side of themselves in “Amazing” which was released a week prior to POW’s debut. The boys’ passion and determination to reach their goals are expressed strongly in the tough electric guitar sound paired with its performance-heavy music video.
Members
Jungbin (born July 22, 2003) is the leader of the team and has become instantly recognizable by his fluffy curls and positive aura.
Yorch (born April 11, 2002) was originally set to debut as a member of the boy group Trainee A. Earlier this year, the former BigHit trainee made his Thai solo debut with the song, “Seven.”
Hyunbin (born May 29, 2003) is a former IOK Company trainee. He joined GRID Entertainment after tagging along to his younger sister’s audition, where he ended up getting cast himself instead.
Dongyeon (born September 26, 2003) is a former JYP and Fantagio trainee who is of Korean-Filipino descent.
Hong (born June 23, 2005) is the youngest member of the group. Like teammate Hyunbin, Hong formerly trained under IOK Company before debuting in POW.
All the members hold the position of vocalist, but unlike most groups comprised of only vocalists, POW doesn’t lean into the assumed balladeer or crooner concept (despite a shoutout to Frank Sinatra in the B-side track, “Slow Dancing”).
This noteworthy detail not only makes them stand out from among the many K-pop groups today but is obviously reflected in their music and informs POW’s own refreshing musical identity.
Continuing to showcase the many different facets of that musical journey is POW’s four-track debut EP Favorite which contains all the songs mentioned in this article. The digital version of the EP is out now while fans will have to wait a bit longer for the physical album which is out November 6th KST.
The music video for the title track “Dazzling” also connects to the MV for “Favorite,” making the entire journey come full circle and bringing a satisfying cohesiveness to POW’s concept.
Connect with POW through their official X/Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and POW Official Community accounts and check out their explosive MV below!
Let us know your thoughts by tweeting to us @whatthekpop1 or leaving us a comment on Facebook and Instagram!
Justin loves all types of music including K-pop, he is especially passionate about underrated and lesser-known artists. He is also an avid TV show and soap opera fan.
MEDIA: GRID Entertainment