With Their Debut, AND2BLE Wants to Take You Back to the 2010s
AND2BLE (pronounced “And-Double”) is trying to take fans on a blast to the past, back to third-generation K-pop.
Trot, a traditional Korean pop genre, is experiencing a resurgence as a new group, AND2BLE, has released their debut album, Sequence 01: Curiosity. The five-member group, consisting of Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, Han Yujin, and Yoo Seungeon, hails from previous K-pop acts ZEROBASEONE and EVNNE. The album pays homage to the 2010s K-pop sound, eschewing bombast and extravagant vocal performances in favor of a more innocent and vintage style.
The title track, "Curious," showcases the group's vocal prowess with Hao's steady, warm tone complementing Zhang Hao's clarity. Ricky's softer, R&B-inspired delivery adds variety, while Gyuvin and Yujin contribute smooth, understated tones. The song's high-energy synth-pop and future-house architecture, with its anthemic hook, encapsulates the nostalgic yet contemporary sound that AND2BLE aims to bring.
The remaining tracks—"Aura," "Sugar Rush," "Bed," and "Happy &"—each delve into different aspects of AND2BLE's sound and identity. "Aura" offers a more intimate, gauzier pop-R&B experience, while "Sugar Rush" is a bright, boyish bubblegum track that emphasizes momentum. "Bed" provides a tender, emotional centerpiece with its metaphorical exploration of dreams, and "Happy &" concludes the album on a communal, uplifting note.
AND2BLE's album is a testament to the idea that reinvention can be achieved through a return to the fundamentals, emphasizing the voice and narrative storytelling that have become increasingly rare in K-pop. In an era where concepts, lore, visual worlds, and genre hybrids dominate the industry, AND2BLE's focus on independent identity and the power of the voice stands out as a refreshing and radical approach.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
