Boy band SF9 is back as team of six for new EP 'The Wave Of9'

K-pop

Published: 13 Jul. 2022, 17:23 Updated: 13 Jul. 2022, 19:47

Boy band SF9 is back as team of six for new EP 'The Wave Of9'

SF9 performs during Wednesday's showcase for its new EP "The Wave Of9." [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

Boy band SF9 is ready to make a wave in the summer K-pop scene.

The boy band introduced its 11th EP “The Wave Of9,” which dropped Wednesday, during a showcase on the same day at Konkuk University’s New Millennium Hall in eastern Seoul.

The band performed its lead track “Scream,” a summery dance track, and “OK OK” from the new EP, a bubbly tune about staying positive in life. According to Zuho, “Scream” is a number that shows off the members’ “refreshing, natural sexiness.”

“In K-pop, ‘mature and sexy’ is quite a common theme, but we wondered why there aren’t ‘mature and refreshing’ concepts,” said Jaeyoon. “We can convey both moods at the same time.”

SF9 poses during Wednesday's showcase. [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

SF9 Scream (2022) [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

The boy band's return comes with a noticeable change: The originally nine-member boy band will be active as a team of six for “The Wave Of9” as members Youngbin and Inseong are currently serving their mandatory military service and Rowoon is currently filming for a new drama series.

Members Jaeyoon, Dawon, Zuho, Yoo Tae-yang, Hwiyoung and Chani have also been building solo careers in various fields — musical theater, plays and K-dramas — during SF9’s eight-month break, but are back together for a summer comeback.

“The Wave Of9” features the lead track “Scream,” “OK OK,” “Summertime Bounce (Don’t Kill My Vibe),” “Driver,” “Crazy Crazy Love,” and “Butterfly,” a song written by member Hwiyoung.

“Since this is our first time as a team of six, each member had a whole lot more to do,” said Hwiyoung. “We put extra effort into this EP, and I’m honored to have a self-written song on it.”

SF9 performs during Wednesday's showcase. [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

“We went from nine members to six this time, which means the share of responsibility got much bigger for each of us,” said Jaeyoon. “During the preparation process, it felt like we had so much more to pay attention to, like details in the choreography.”

While going through changes, the group celebrates its sixth anniversary this October.

“The fact that we’re in our seventh year doesn’t feel real to me yet,” said Tae-yang. “We’ve stepped on a wave of change for this EP, and I hope we adjust ourselves well to improve even more through this phase.”

The tracks will be available on music streaming platforms from Thursday at 6 p.m.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]