Kakao Entertainment global band hrtz.wav (HaatzWave) will make a new wave in the music scene this spring.
Kakao Entertainment (co-CEOs Kwon Gi-su, Jang Yoon-joong) said that hrtz.wav (HaatzWave) will release its first mini album The First Wave (더 퍼스트 웨이브) on April 8 and begin full-scale activities.
At 12 a.m. on the 11th, hrtz.wav (HaatzWave) revealed the debut album title along with their first concept photo through their official SNS. Against a vivid blue gradient background, it showed the silhouettes of the five members—Yoon Young-jun (keyboard), Rian (vocals), Dain (bass), Kayten (guitar) and Hagiwa (drums)—announcing a powerful start. It symbolically captured the explosive energy and tension of artists moments before they first appear to the world, foreshadowing the birth of a new band at the starting line and raising expectations.
hrtz.wav (HaatzWave) is a skilled youth band made up of members who each ranked first in their positions on Mnet's global band making survival show Still Heart Club. Because each showed outstanding playing ability and distinctive stage manner in their positions during the survival show, attention is focused on the "complete band synergy" that the five members—each with different charms and musical personalities—will create as a team. True to the name, which carries the meaning of creating a new wave of band music that reflects youth, they plan to make their presence felt in the global music market as an iconic band by emphasizing fresh energy and authentic sound.
In particular, expectations are rising about what kind of harmony the members, each with unique musical personalities and styles, will achieve on the debut album The First Wave. Yoon Young-jun (keyboard) leads a stable band sound with delicate playing and balances the team; Rian (vocals) leads the band sound with a distinctive tone and wide expressive range; Dain (bass) adds depth to the sound with solid rhythm and a commanding bass line; Kayten (guitar), who honed his music at Berklee College of Music, delivers a powerful guitar sound based on solid playing skills; and Hagiwa (drums), who drew attention on social media with explosive drum performances, emits intense energy—these skilled members forming one team are already drawing interest in the completed band sound they will create.
A global push was also announced early. Despite not having debuted yet, hrtz.wav (HaatzWave) has confirmed participation as a special performer at KCON JAPAN 2026, held from May 8 to 10 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, and plans to make its presence felt on the global stage upon debut.
The debut album The First Wave by hrtz.wav (HaatzWave), which will announce the birth of a new youth band, will be officially released at 6 p.m. on April 8.
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