'Dream big, they said': ZeroBaseOne aims high with refreshing and sexy EP

ZeroBaseOne returns with their third EP, 'You had me at Hello,' featuring a refreshing, sexy song that aims to showcase their musical versatility.

Boy band ZeroBaseOne performs "Feel the POP," the lead track from its third EP "You had me at Hello," during a press showcase held Monday at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Yongsan District, central Seoul, ahead of its 6 p.m. release [DANIELA GONZALEZ PEREZ]

“Feel the POP?” More like “feel the bop” — ZeroBaseOne returns with an addictive song that’s both refreshing and sexy at the same time.

“I liked the song as soon as we heard the demo version of ‘Feel the POP,'” ZeroBaseOne’s Seok Matthew said during a press showcase for the band’s third EP, “You had me at Hello,” on Monday afternoon at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Yongsan District, central Seoul, ahead of the EP’s 6 p.m. release. “I think all songs on the EP are good, to the extent that I’d describe the album as a gourmet restaurant.”

“You had me at Hello” is an important EP for ZeroBaseOne: It comes six months after the band's second EP, “Melting Point” (2023), dropped last November. The album saw commercial success, selling 2 million physical copies in its first week of release — but its individual songs received weak scores and muted critical reception compared to the band's debut EP, “Youth in the Shade” (2023).

ZeroBaseOne's members are nevertheless confident about the upcoming release — and see it as an opportunity to prove themselves further as they approach the one-year anniversary of their debut this July.

Boy band ZeroBaseOne poses for the camera during the band's press showcase held Monday at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in central Seoul. [WAKEONE]

“We are at a time where we are trying to secure a clear view into our future; to [find] the path that we will be relentlessly running,” said Sung Han-bin, ZeroBaseOne's leader. “Instead of feeling pressured or worried about our release, we prepared it with nervousness and excitement,”

“I can’t think of anyone who would suit [‘You had me at Hello’] better than our members,” Park Gun-wook added.

The members added that while they could not predict the reception “You had me at Hello” would receive from fans and the general public, they “felt that the songs would do well” because they'd enjoyed the album production process “from the very beginning” in a statement a representative relayed to the Korea JoongAng Daily following the showcase.

Boy band ZeroBaseOne performs "Feel the POP," the lead track from its third EP "You had me at Hello," during a press showcase held Monday at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Yongsan District, central Seoul, ahead of its 6 p.m. release [YONHAP]

The lead track of the EP, “Feel the POP,” is a refreshing yet sexy score targeting the upcoming summer season; it aims to “pop” any negative mindsets that listeners may have, according to Zhang Hao.

“We can melt down all your worries and concerns with this summer release,” Park Gun-wook added.

It’s a different vibe from “Crush,” the lead track of “Melting Point,” that focused on the band's “dark and energetic” side. The members hope the contrasting vibe — a performance “with sexiness added” — will showcase their musical versatility.

“We’ve been thinking of different ways to show ZeroBaseOne’s unique colors,” Zhang Hao said. “And it’s not easy to mix refreshing [music] to sexy [performances]. I hope it all conveys well to Zerose.” Zerose is ZeroBaseOne’s fandom name.

The seven-track EP also features prerelease song “Sweat” followed by “Solar Power,” “Dear Eclipse,” “Sunday Ride” and a “Sped Up ver.” of the lead track. The EP notably also includes “Hello,” which DAY6's Young K wrote. The singer-songwriter has contributed lyrics to hit releases such as girl group H1-KEY’s “Rose Blossom” (2023), Jo Yu-ri’s “Lemon Black Tea” and NMIXX’s “Run For Roses,” to name a few.

“The song signifies that ZeroBaseOne will stay with Zerose forever,” Young K said in a video screened during the showcase. “It was meaningful to work with them because I, too, know how much fans mean to us.”

“I hope the relationship between ZeroBaseOne and Zerose becomes even tighter with the song.”

Boy band ZeroBaseOne performs "Feel the POP," the lead track from its third EP "You had me at Hello," during a press showcase held Monday at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Yongsan District, central Seoul, ahead of its 6 p.m. release [YONHAP]

The tracks, in total, tell a cohesive tale. “The album continues the story of meeting someone in your destiny; it talks about the stories of the youth that are straightforward and filled with shy emotions,” Sung added.

Members hope that will resonate among their fans, with whom they have a close relationship.

“We’ve had exceptional results in the past year, and I think we spent restful and valuable days,” Sung said. “Our members worked hard individually, and we also worked hard as a team. I think we were only able to achieve such records because we had our fans by our side.”

“We really enjoy when we are with our fans sharing each other’s stories,” Kim Ji-woong said. “That’s when I forget all my worries and concerns.”

“Their attitude toward the fandom is great,” added Shunsuke Fujiwara, corporate senior vice president at Sony Music, which distributed ZeroBaseOne's Japanese release, in a video message screened at the event. “People become fans of the band after reading other fans' reviews.”

But what was clear throughout the conference, corporate elements aside, was the fun the members had throughout — and the strength of the bond they'd developed since debut.

Youngest member Han Yu-jin added that “eating delicious food” helps him relieve stress, as that provides him with an “opportunity to talk frankly and improve the relationship” with his bandmates.

Boy band ZeroBaseOne performs "Feel the POP," the lead track from its third EP "You had me at Hello," during a press showcase held Monday at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Yongsan District, central Seoul, ahead of its 6 p.m. release [YONHAP]

“I forget all the hard times we've had when I talk and laugh with our members,” said Kim Gyu-vin. “I really feel like we are becoming one.”

Many ZeroBaseOne members have also kicked off individual activities, with Han Yu-jin hosting SBS's weekly music show "Inkigayo" (1998-) and Sung in Mnet's weekly music show "M Countdown" (2004-), while Kim Tae-rae sang "More Than Enough" for the tvn hit trama "Queen of Tears."

“I’m still very lacking in ways, so I’m very thankful that I was able to sing a soundtrack for ‘Queen of Tears,’” Kim Tae-rae said.

Members, too, were proud of Kim's work — Ricky was seen imitating a scene from “Queen of Tears” during the showcase alongside Kim Tae-rae’s impromptu vocals. Other members of ZeroBaseOne, alongside the reporters, were seen hiding their laugher.

And having already received multiple rookie of the year awards and broken the record for most-sold debut boy band album in its first week of release, ZeroBaseOne is eyeing another prize: good scores on streaming sites for “You had me at Hello.”

“'Dream big,' they said,” Sung Han-bin said. “We will aim to receive a grand award at the MAMA awards this year and relentlessly run toward the goal.”

To find out more about ZEROBASEONE, visit Celeb Confirmed!

Boy band ZeroBaseOne poses for the camera during the band's press showcase held Monday at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in central Seoul. [WAKEONE]

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]